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Views from the Choir Loft

Does Our Enlightened Age Still Need “Sacred” Music?

Jeff Ostrowski · August 30, 2016

REQUENTLY, I’VE TALKED ABOUT what is—in my humble opinion 1—a serious flaw of the liturgical reformers: treating men like angels. Their mistake was an A PRIORI one which deemed physical motions unnecessary for prayer, and they eliminated hundreds of physical gestures from Mass. 2 But men are not pure spirits; we have bodies and live in the physical world. They failed to realize that such gestures had greatly assisted devotion. And whether we like it or not, music also has an effect on us.

One of my favorite films has always been Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life (1946). Can you imagine the following scene without music?


For decades, progressive liturgists have insisted that one style of music is as good as another. According to them, all styles are “equally suitable” for use at Mass. But movie directors know better! They know that different styles of music accomplish different goals.

If you ever feel mischievous, ask progressive liturgists what styles they would forbid during Mass. If you want to make them furious, ask WHY such styles are bad. (They will never answer that question.)

I believe music is powerful. Moreover, I believe certain styles are appropriate for a football game, a toothpaste commercial, a carousel ride, or a wedding reception. On the other hand, I believe other musical styles possess a “level of dignity” suitable for Mass. I became convinced of this (again) last Sunday, hearing our volunteer FSSP choir in Los Angeles sing a Viadana Gloria—so beautiful, prayerful, and uplifting.  I was blown away!

Our culture tries to convince us we can live in an alternate reality—a “computerized” reality. I believe many of our liturgical issues will be solved when our culture once again becomes fully human!



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   It is not forbidden to criticize the reforms, which were enacted with unbelievable haste. I’ve been reading the memoirs of Fr. Louis Bouyer, recently published by IGNATIUS. Bouyer, a close friend of Pope Paul VI, was deeply involved with the liturgical reforms of Vatican II. His sober assessment corroborates what many others have attested, such as the words of Cardinal Antonelli. At some point, I hope to share excerpts of what Bouyer has written. Suffice it to say, the sloppiness which characterized much (not all) of the post-conciliar reforms is horrifying.

2   The traditional rite contains numerous gestures. Examples would include physical instructions given to the celebrant, such as full bow, medium bow, head bow, striking one’s breast, kissing the Altar, holding one’s hands in a certain position, making circular motions with one’s arms, and so forth. The pre-conciliar rubrics even controlled where the priest’s eyes must look during certain times at Mass.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Louis Bouyer Oratorian Priest Last Updated: July 13, 2023

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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 Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. However, on the feasts website, the chants have been posted for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C), which is this coming Sunday: 6 July 2025.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)
    With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

It would be contrary to the Constitution to decree or even to hint that sung celebrations, especially of the Mass, should be in Latin.

— Annibale Bugnini attacking “Sacrosanctum Concilium” (§36)

Recent Posts

  • Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published
  • Bishop François Charrière Vs. Hannibal Bugnini
  • 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • “My First Year with the Latin Mass” • A Music Director’s Perspective
  • Boston Auxiliary Bishop: “In offering the Traditional Mass for the first time, after removing the vestments, I knelt in the back pew and wept.”

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