• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

  • Our Team
    • Views from the Choir Loft • “Our Team”
    • Our Editorial Policy
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
    • Saint Antoine Daniel KYRIALE
    • Father Enemond Massé Manuscripts
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
    • Gradual by Pothier’s Protégé
    • Mass in Honor of Saint Noël Chabanel
  • Donate
Views from the Choir Loft

Does Your Bishop Enforce The GIRM?

Jeff Ostrowski · August 1, 2016

277 Cardinal Sarah “ad orientem” N 23 NOVEMBER 2014, Cardinal Sarah was appointed CDW Prefect by Pope Francis. Recently, he encouraged priests—“with prudence and the necessary catechesis”—to face the same direction as the congregation during the Eucharistic Prayer, which the current rubrics assume (though “versus populum” is also allowed). 1 Mass was said that way 99% of the time until the 1960s, and “versus populum” was never mentioned by any Vatican II document. Nevertheless, the words of the Vatican’s chief liturgical officer caused quite a stir.

Some claim the GIRM favors “versus populum” celebration, but enormous obstacles fly in the face of such an assertion. First of all, the sentence erroneously used to justify this assertion comes from the GIRM’s section on constructing new churches and simply doesn’t mean what they claim. More importantly, on 10 April 2000, the Congregation for Divine Worship specifically said nobody is allowed to say the GIRM “favors” either position. 2

Even some bishops have attempted to be “rigid” about the GIRM, trying to outlaw “ad orientem” celebrations in their dioceses. For example, Bishop Martin J. Amos (Davenport, Iowa) recently sent a letter which is absolutely bizarre considering what the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship said on 10 April 2000 (SEE ABOVE).

IF BISHOPS WANT STRICT ENFORCEMENT of the GIRM, why do they ignore certain paragraphs? For example, numerous sections of the GIRM specifically say texts replacing the 1970 propers—Entrance, Offertory, and so forth—must be approved in advance by the local bishop. This is stipulated by both the “universal” GIRM and the “American adaptation” of the GIRM. So what happened to the alleged RIGIDITY we heard so much about following the “ad orientem” suggestion of Cardinal Sarah?

Some maintain that their hymnals were approved by the USCCB, but this is not true. For more than four decades, the front of many hymnals has “approved by the United States Conference”—but that doesn’t apply to any of the hymns! The BCL has confirmed this over and over again, for example:

I point out that the designation in hymnals “published with the approval of the Conference of Bishops” applies only to liturgical texts per se, and not to hymnody or other paraphrased texts.
—Msgr. Richard Hilgartner (21 December 2011)


Monsignor Hilgartner is correct, but most Catholics will never accept that. They will assume—and why shouldn’t they?—that “approved by the USCCB” applies to the hymns and songs, although it never has. You can stand on your head and shout till your face is blue, but you’ll still be doubted. Was this counterintuitive wording written on purpose to confuse? Readers must decide for themselves…

A tremendous amount of musicians in the Ordinary Form replace the propers (illicitly) with songs not approved by the local bishop, in spite of the GIRM requirement. Again, I ask: “What happened to the rigidity?”

For example, when Bishop Amos ends his letter (SEE ABOVE) by saying “I am confident of your obedience in this matter,” does he also expect priests to obey paragraph 48 of the GIRM?



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   Furthermore, even when Ordinary Form Masses are offered “ad orientem,” the vast majority is still done facing the people (Liturgy of the Word, Homily, and so forth).

2   Let’s remember that this congregation—which Cardinal Sarah currently heads—is the same congregation which drafted the famous clause in paragraph 299 and got it approved by the pope!

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Ad Orientem, General Instruction Roman Missal, GIRM Paragraph 299, Hymns Replacing Propers, Robert Cardinal Sarah Last Updated: January 1, 2020

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

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).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    [Quiz] • “Do You Know Your Hymns?”
    In case you missed it, many readers have enjoyed taking this little Quiz On Hymns. In the context of that article, I included a sensational quote about the Holy Mass by Monsignor Ronald Knox. Moreover, I talk about how Abraham Lincoln's mother died, as well as a fabulous Eucharistic hymn by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    William Byrd • Simple “Agnus Dei” Canon
    Time flies! Back in July, I posted a PDF setting of a perfect canon by William Byrd (d. 1623) arranged as an AGNUS DEI for three voices. Last Sunday, we sang that arrangement with our volunteer choir. To hear a ‘live’ recording of it, click here (Mp3). In my humble opinion, this would be a perfect piece for a choir just beginning to experiment with polyphony.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Glory To God” • (For Choir + Congregation)
    I wish to thank everyone for the nice comments I received vis-à-vis my Glory To God setting for Choir & Congregation. A gentleman with a musical doctorate from Indiana University wrote: “Love this setting so much. And I will pray, as you asked, for your return to composition more fully. You are very very good.” A female choir director wrote: “I love your harmonizations, your musicality, and the wonderful interplay you have with dissonance and consonance in your music. So fun to listen to, and great for intellect, heart, and soul!” A young woman from California wrote: “Thank you for releasing your new Glory To God in honor of Saint Noel Chabanel. I'm enjoying reading through the various parts and listening to your recordings.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

I am convinced that if the Church is to prosper in the present age, it cannot hesitate to embrace and support traditional Catholics, traditional liturgies and traditional moral values. “Do not conform yourself to this age,” St. Paul warned followers of Christ. (Rom 12:2)

— Most Rev. Thomas Tobin, Bishop of Providence (12 August 2022)

Recent Posts

  • [Quiz] • “Do You Know Your Hymns?”
  • Eight (8) Responsorial Psalm Options • On turning the Missalette into a little “god”
  • Gregorian Rhythm Wars • “Nuances of Nuances” (28 Sep 2023)
  • William Byrd • Simple “Agnus Dei” Canon
  • Active Participation or Not?

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2023 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.