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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.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

Giacomo Cardinal Lercaro (1891-1976)

Jeff Ostrowski · February 28, 2017

335 Cardinal Lercaro CONSILIUM PRESIDENT HE BISHOPS of Vatican II who voted for Sacrosanctum Concilium (December 1963) assumed the reforms would be undertaken by the Sacred Congregation of Rites. However, Pope Paul surprised everyone on 25 January 1964 by taking this job away from them and establishing a new body called the CONSILIUM to enact the liturgical reforms. It soon became apparent the Consilium wanted to go “beyond” Vatican II, while the Sacred Congregation of Rites attempted to retain only what the Council fathers mandated—and (sadly) met with precious little success. 1 Archbishop Piero Marini publicly admitted this in a 2007 book.

Ready for confusion? The Sacred Congregation of Rites was headed by CARDINAL LARRAONA whereas the Consilium was headed by CARDINAL LERCARO.

Larraona (1887-1973) was a Spanish Cardinal who had participated in the preparation of the 1917 Code of Canon Law. Lercaro (1891-1976) was Italian, and served as Archbishop of Bologna. He turned his episcopal palace into an orphanage and was mentioned numerous times in La riforma liturgica (Rome, 1983), a work by Annibale Bugnini which attempts to hide neither its bias nor its triumphalism.

When Bugnini’s book appeared in English in 1990, Monsignor Richard Schuler said:

Of course, there are “good guys” and “bad guys” according to Bugnini’s story. The “bad guys” are the church musicians and those wishing to retain some use of the Latin language, conservatives who evoke the anger and sarcasm of the author because of their efforts to defend the heritage of the Church in its liturgical texts and the musical settings (from Gregorian chant to modern compositions). Bugnini attributes bad will to many of those sitting with him on the various commissions, especially the members of the Consociatio Internationalis Musicae Sacrae.   [emphasis added]

You can read everything Msgr. Schuler had to say about Archbishop Bugnini in 1990, including this devastating assessment of the book:

There remains throughout the presence of Bugnini—his bias, his anger, and his prejudice—making one continuously ask the unanswerable question: “Why?”

FATHER LOUIS BOUYER, a close friend of Pope Paul VI and important member of the Consilium, had this to say about Cardinal Lercaro:

Unfortunately, on the one hand a deadly error in judgment placed the official leadership of this committee into the hands of a man who, though generous and brave, was not very knowledgeable: Cardinal Lercaro. He was utterly incapable of resisting the maneuvers of the mealy-mouthed scoundrel that the Neapolitan Vincentian, Bugnini—a man as bereft of culture as he was of basic honesty—soon revealed himself to be.

Here are some pictures and video of Giacomo Cardinal Lercaro, President of the Consilium:


(For the record, although it’s certainly not sacred music, I find that video’s soundtrack striking.)

10 Giacomo Cardinal Lercaro 9 Giacomo Cardinal Lercaro 8 Giacomo Cardinal Lercaro 7 Giacomo Cardinal Lercaro 6 Giacomo Cardinal Lercaro 5 Giacomo Cardinal Lercaro

5904 Cappa Lercaro 4 Giacomo Cardinal Lercaro 2 Giacomo Cardinal Lercaro

6x Giacomo Cardinal Lercaro 5x Giacomo Cardinal Lercaro 4x Giacomo Cardinal Lercaro 3x Giacomo Cardinal Lercaro 2x Giacomo Cardinal Lercaro 1x Giacomo Cardinal Lercaro



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   The Sacred Congregation of Rites was occasionally able to block the Consilium—such as when the Consilium tried to eliminate Hebrew words like Hosanna, Amen, and Alleluia from the liturgy.

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

Filed Under: Articles 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 Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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President’s Corner

    “Music List” • 14 September (Holy Cross)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for 14 September 2025, which is the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross. 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 spectacular feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “14 September 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 14 September 2025) discusses OFFERTORY ANTIPHONS and contains a wonderful quote by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • Draft Copy (Pamphlet)
    A few days ago, I posted a draft copy of this 12-page pamphlet with citations about the laity’s “full, conscious, and active participation.” Its basic point or message is that choir directors should never feel embarrassed to teach real choral music because Vatican II explicitly ordered them to do that! We’ve received tons of mail regarding that pamphlet, with many excellent suggestions for improvement. Please feel free to chime in!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Karl Keating • “Canonization Questions”
    We were sent an internet statement (screenshot) that’s garnered significant attention, in which KARL KEATING (founder of Catholic Answers) speaks about whether canonizations are infallible. Mr. Keating seems unaware that canonizations are—in the final analysis—a theological opinion. They are not infallible, as explained in this 2014 article by a priest (with a doctorate in theology) who worked for multiple popes. Mr. Keating says: “I’m unaware of such claims arising from any quarter until several recent popes disliked by these Traditionalists were canonized, including John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II. Usually Paul VI receives the most opprobrium.” Mr. Keating is incorrect; e.g. Father John Vianney, several centuries ago, taught clearly that canonizations are not infallible. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen would be another example, although clearly much more recent than Saint John Vianney.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Vatican II Changed Wedding Propers?
    It’s often claimed that the wedding propers were changed after Vatican II. As a matter of fact, that is a false claim. The EDITIO VATICANA propers (Introit: Deus Israel) remained the same after Vatican II. However, a new set of propers (Introit: Ecce Deus) was provided for optional use. The same holds true for the feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great on 3 September: the 1943 propers (Introit: Si díligis me) were provided for optional use, but the traditional PROPRIA MISSAE (Introit: Sacerdótes Dei) were retained; they weren’t gotten rid of. The Ordo Cantus Missae (1970) makes this crystal clear, as does the Missal itself. There was an effort made in the post-conciliar years to eliminate so-called “Neo-Gregorian” chants, but (contrary to popular belief) most were retained: cf. the feast of Christ the King, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and so forth.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)
    How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

The People’s Hymnal suffers from a too literal and awkward translation. And even in the lovely Slovak “Memorare” in The Saint Gregory Hymnal we are still asked to sing “that anyone who sought thee, or made to thee his moan.” Why not “groan” or “bone” or even “phone?” The only thing necessary, it seems, is that it rhyme with “known.”

— Mons. Francis P. Schmitt (1958)

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