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

Corpus Christi Watershed

Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

  • Donate
  • Our Team
    • Our Editorial Policy
    • Who We Are
    • How To Contact Us
    • Sainte Marie Bulletin Articles
    • Jeff’s Mom Joins Fundraiser
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • Repository • “Spanish Music”
    • KYRIALE • Saint Antoine Daniel
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Catechism of Gregorian Rhythm
    • Father Enemond Massé Manuscripts
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
    • Feasts Website
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster
    • “Wedding March” for lazy organists
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
    • The Eight Gregorian Modes
    • Gradual by Pothier’s Protégé
    • Seven (7) Considerations
Views from the Choir Loft

Has Our Catholic Culture Been Completely Dismantled?

Dr. Alfred Calabrese · August 31, 2016

160 Calabrese RECENTLY watched a two-part special on JFK that focused on his early political campaigns through to his presidency. My wife and I noted that his speech, and that of his colleagues and opponents, was nothing like the political discourse of today. Their words were almost always refined and elegant. They were masters of the language. It was beautiful to hear, and it was inspiring. Kennedy’s speeches in particular, with phrases such as “ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country,” or “sending a man to the moon and returning him safely to the earth, not because it is easy but because it is hard” and “we must never forget that art is not a form of propaganda; it is a form of truth” were important because they assumed that most listeners would understand that striving for excellence is important and that not everything should be so watered down as to be easy or require no effort.

Kennedy (no matter what you think of his politics) spoke in a way that befitted his office. His speech had a cadence and rhythm that made it elevated and aspirational. Further, his wife beautified the White House so that all would recognize it as an almost ‘sacred’ place, worthy of only the best our culture had to offer. She invited the most important musicians and artists to perform there, not because it was her preference, but because it showed that a great country should support and sustain its culture. The use of language, the promotion of beauty, and the aspirational speech galvanized the people of the nation. A bar was raised that made the people proud of their country, aware of their rich cultural heritage, and helped all to appreciate excellence. Today, many would say that we no longer care about excellence, art, beauty, and a sense of the sacred; that we no longer know how to use elevated and respectful speech; and that we have squandered the pride of our rich cultural heritage. Many would say that our country has suffered greatly for these losses.

Our Church has lost many of the same things.

Our Catholic aspirations are much higher than even those of a great nation. Our aspiration is to get to heaven—period. Many people who will read this article have already experienced these losses. They know about the climate and discourse in so many of our parishes and on the internet. Still others will never have known about our rich cultural heritage except by attending a symposium or seminar.

So here is the question: has the kind of speech that has been foisted on the liturgy under the guise of ‘contemporary’ music, and has the loss of great art and architecture, the dismissal of a refined and elegant language, and the lack of aspirational speech focused on excellence led to a dismantling of our Catholic culture?

Excellence, beauty, elegant speech, lofty ideas. Where can these be found? What is our Catholic culture? Perhaps excellence and beauty can be found in the sacred music of chant and polyphony, which the Church tells us should hold pride of place in our liturgies. Perhaps elevated and inspirational language can be found in the sung dialogues of the priest and people, and in the newly refined Collects of the Roman Missal. Perhaps a sense of the sacred can be revived in the way the priests, deacons, and servers might comport themselves during Mass. Perhaps our culture can be saved by allowing people to once again experience the wonder of traditional vestments, by adorning our churches with beautiful art, by building new churches with architecture worthy of a sacred place, and by singing chant and sacred polyphony on a regular basis. Perhaps the 50-year experiment of singing “songs” with words about us, instead of sacred words about God, has led us to lose our focus. Perhaps.

“We must never forget that art is not a form of propaganda; it is a form of truth.”

Perhaps this is about truth.

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

Subscribe

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

* indicates required

About Dr. Alfred Calabrese

Dr. Alfred Calabrese is Director of Music and Liturgy at St. Rita Catholic Church in Dallas, TX. He and his wife have two children.—(Read full biography).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Typo in the “Missale Romanum” (1962)
    The 1962 MISSALE ROMANUM was a transitional missal. It was on its way to becoming the 1970 version, but wasn’t there yet. It eliminated certain duplications, downplayed the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar, expanded the role of laymen, minimized the Last Gospel, made many items optional, and so forth. Father Valentine Young spotted many typos in the 1962 MISSALE ROMANUM, especially incorrect accents. The Offertory Antiphon for this coming Sunday (OF kalendar) contains an error, citing the wrong verse from Psalm 118. It should be 118:107b, not 118:154. If you read verse 154, you’ll understand how that error crept in. [In this particular case, the error pre-dates the 1962 Missal, since the 1940s hand-missal by Father Lasance also gets it wrong.]
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 30th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 26 October 2025, which is the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the top-notch feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Little Encouragement?
    In the Gospel, our Savior tells about 10 lepers who were healed. Only one went back to give thanks. Precious few express gratitude, yet many have endless energy to complain. For that reason, I deeply appreciate receiving messages like the following, which arrived a few days ago (about the parish where I direct in Michigan): “Last Sunday, a couple I knew from Grand Rapids was at Mass at 10:00 a.m. I got a chance to talk to them after Mass. I wanted to let you know what they said about the choir. They were absolutely floored by our sound!!!!! They both said they could continuously listen to our choir and the beauty of it. They asked me: “Do you always sound like that?” And they were also very surprised at how packed the church was. They said it was nice for them to be in such a full church. I just thought you would be interested to know their thoughts about our choir.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Our Father” • Musical Setting?
    Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

The Sacrifice is celebrated with many solemn rites, none of which should be deemed useless or superfluous. On the contrary, all of them tend to display the majesty of this august sacrifice, and to excite the faithful, when beholding these saving mysteries, to contemplate the divine things which lie concealed in the Eucharistic Sacrifice.

— Catechism of the Council of Trent (1566)

Recent Posts

  • Typo in the “Missale Romanum” (1962)
  • “Music List” • 30th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • “Our Father” • Musical Setting?
  • Little Encouragement?
  • Children’s Repertoire • Mueller’s Recommendations

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2025 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.