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Views from the Choir Loft

Shocking Developments From Westminster

Jeff Ostrowski · July 13, 2016

326 Nichols Sarah AD ORIENTEM E ALWAYS TRY our best to avoid speculation, gossip, and “personality conflicts” on this blog—but I suppose there’s an exception for every rule. My article today is that exception, and let me remind everyone what is printed at the bottom of each article we post. 1

I have to be 100% honest here: I am shocked by the recent article in the Catholic Herald. Cardinal Nichols had been so welcoming to Cardinal Sarah, who was appointed by Pope Francis as Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship in 2014. To then read that Catholic Herald piece is just … well, shocking!

If Cardinal Nichols had simply sent a letter saying why he prefers “versus populum,” I believe that would have been a better choice.

But to strongly contradict one of the highlights of Cardinal Sarah’s presentation in such a way, I find … well, shocking!

CARDINAL NICHOLS DID PRECISELY the opposite of what Jorge Cardinal Medina Estévez instructed on 10 April 2000:

This Dicastery wishes to state that Holy Mass may be celebrated versus populum or versus apsidem. Both positions are in accord with liturgical law; both are to be considered correct.

It should be borne in mind that there is no preference expressed in the liturgical legislation for either position. As both positions enjoy the favor of law, the legislation may not be invoked to say that one position or the other accords more closely with the mind of the Church.

The “Dicastery” mentioned is none other than the Congregation for Divine Worship. In his capacity as CDW Prefect, Cardinal Medina led this congregation to create the 2000 (2002) GIRM, and obtained its approval by the pope. 2

Cardinal Nichols was attempting to be vigorous in following the directives of the Church with regard to the Ordinary Form. Unfortunately, he relied on a false translation, mixing up feminine & neuter, which has been explained in this article. Will Cardinal Nichols be just as vigorous when it comes to other Church directives? For example, what about the mandates of Sacrosanctum Concilium regarding Gregorian chant and Latin? (They are not phrased as suggestions.) What about the directives found in Sacramentum Caritatis and Redemptionis Sacramentum? I sincerely hope to see other letters dealing with these, because many look to the Archdiocese of Westminster for guidance.

This has already been a weird (pointless?) post on my part, so let me also toss in a cartoon which I think is cute:

330 Bus Ad Orientem




NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   Every article posted by our contributors—printed at the very bottom—makes clear:

“Opinions expressed by blog contributors do not necessarily represent those of Corpus Christi Watershed.”

2   Essentially, Cardinal Medina was the one who added that “quod” sentence (to eliminate the destruction of altars already in existence) even though the precise words may have been suggested by someone else.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Ad Orientem, Robert Cardinal Sarah, Vincent Cardinal Nichols Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    Hymn by Cardinal Newman
    During the season of Septuagesima, we will be using this hymn by Cardinal Newman, which employs both Latin and English. (Readers probably know that Cardinal Newman was one of the world's experts when it comes to Lingua Latina.) The final verse contains a beautiful soprano descant. Father Louis Bouyer—famous theologian, close friend of Pope Paul VI, and architect of post-conciliar reforms—wrote thus vis-à-vis the elimination of Septuagesima: “I prefer to say nothing, or very little, about the new calendar, the handiwork of a trio of maniacs who suppressed (with no good reason) Septuagesima and the Octave of Pentecost and who scattered three quarters of the Saints higgledy-piddledy, all based on notions of their own devising!”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Introit • Candlemas (2 February)
    “Candlemas” • Our choir sang on February 2nd, and here's a live recording of the beautiful INTROIT: Suscépimus Deus. We had very little time to rehearse, but I think it has some very nice moments. I promise that by the 8th Sunday after Pentecost it will be perfect! (That Introit is repeated on the 8th Sunday after Pentecost.) We still need to improve, but we're definitely on the right track!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplified Antiphons • “Candlemas”
    Anyone who desires simplified antiphons (“psalm tone versions”) for 2 February, the Feast of the Purification—which is also known as “Candlemas” or the Feast of the Presentation—may freely download them. The texts of the antiphons are quite beautiful. From “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium” you can hear a live excerpt (Mp3). I'm not a fan of chant in octaves, but we had such limited time to rehearse, it seemed the best choice. After all, everyone should have an opportunity to learn “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium,” which summarizes Candlemas.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“And thus, when we renounce for Thee | Its restless aims and fears, | The tender mem’ries of the past, | The hopes of coming years, | Poor is our sacrifice, whose eyes | Are lighted from above; | We offer what we cannot keep, | What we have ceased to love.”

— Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman

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