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Corpus Christi Watershed

“A much greater source of anxiety to Us is the style of action of those who maintain that liturgical worship should shed its sacred character, who foolishly say we should substitute for sacred items & furnishings ordinary common things in daily use.” —Pope Saint Paul VI (14 Oct 1968)

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Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • Congregational “Dies Irae”

Jeff Ostrowski · October 29, 2017

4104 TE IGITUR mss Y NOW, MOST OF US have seen the video showing Jorge Cardinal Bergoglio (who would later be elected Pope Francis) celebrating Mass with ginormous walking puppets. To be completely honest, I find videos like that troubling. 1 When we see discouraging fruits of Vatican II reforms, it can be difficult to understand why liturgical reform was desired in the first place. In my view, however, there were improvements that could be made to the liturgical situation before Vatican II—and let me give two examples.

First of all, I believe there was often needless space between Altar and congregation. Many centuries ago, this was not the case—and soon we’ll publish an article with a superb explanation by a perspicacious priest. But leaving that aside, over the centuries it became common for the Altar to be extremely far away (JPEG) from those attending Mass. I have assisted at Mass in Europe where the priest was so far away I had no idea what was going on. I believe the Fathers of Vatican II wanted congregations to take a more active role during the Holy Mass, and excessive space between ceremonies and people is not a good thing. 2

Secondly, I believe we can always do a better job of helping our congregations participate. For example, many choirs will visit the René Goupil Website and download the Dies Irae sheet or rehearse using the video posted there. But what about the people? Of those who remembered to bring a hand-missal to Mass, do all know how to use it? Does it contain a literal translation, or “poetic” (rhyming) incomprehensible doggerel? The Dies Irae is one of the most powerful prayers we have; indeed, I can’t think of a more powerful one. How difficult would it be for ushers to make sure every participant was offered something like this before a Requiem Mass begins?

    * *  PDF Download • CONGREGATIONAL HANDOUT (“Dies Irae”)

Otherwise, people might listen to a very long chant without any clue what it’s about.

Did many use a missal before Vatican II? I’m convinced they did—but we can always do better. To give one example, hand-missals for the laity were almost non-existent in the Philippines before the council.

Speaking of congregational comprehension, here is a wedding booklet I was recently sent:

    * *  PDF Download • Teti Wedding Booklet

That’s for the Ordinary Form, but some parts are in Latin, as Sacrosanctum Concilium mandated. Do you see how every effort was made to explain the Mass, especially since many in attendance were not Catholic? Do you agree this is an elegant booklet that shows what can be done when the spirit is willing?



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   We should perhaps remember that Pope St. John Paul II also presided at Masses where equally scandalous things took place.

2   As someone who served as an altar boy for many years, I always loved being right up next to the ceremonies. Although there’s also something peaceful and holy about sitting privately in one’s pew.

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

Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download 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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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

“Every experienced choirmaster’s work is founded on the following three axioms: (1) Few boys have a really good natural voice; (2) No boy is able to control his voice and produce good tone without training; (3) Most boys have a good ear, and considerable imitative capacity. It is on the last of these axioms that the choirmaster must begin his work.”

— Sir Richard Runciman Terry (1912)

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