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Views from the Choir Loft

Fr. Thomas Reese • “Young People Should Not Be Allowed To Attend” Latin Mass

Jeff Ostrowski · April 15, 2021

HEN PUBLICATIONS are failing, they will literally say anything to get attention. I certainly never heard of “Religion News Service” until a particularly deranged article by Father Thomas Reese (a dissident Catholic priest) was brought to my attention. I doubt our readers have heard of it either; the readership appears to be abysmal. I clicked on one of their articles—directly from their website header—and saw that only six people reacted! Truly pathetic. His article is filled with inaccurate statements, but I won’t waste time correcting his errors. I just want to point out one section. Father Thomas Reese wrote the following (and here’s proof):

“The church needs to be clear that it wants the unreformed liturgy to disappear and will only allow it out of pastoral kindness to older people who do not understand the need for change. Children and young people should not be allowed to attend such Masses.”

How old, exactly, are young people? Sixteen? Twenty-seven? Thirty-four? Father Thomas Reese doesn’t say. Regardless, readers have rejected his article:

Go add your voice to his article.

I believe Father Thomas Reese is desperate for “views” and “clicks,” so he made an attempt to draw attention to himself. He certainly succeeded…but perhaps not in the way he had hoped.

By the way, what is this obsession Father Thomas Reese has with the Second Vatican Council? Does he not realize the Council took place sixty years ago? Why does he focus on Vatican II, while neglecting all the other councils?

Father Thomas Reese, a dissident priest, has said many disturbing things, including stating that there are “more important” things that happen during Holy Mass than Transubstantiation. For myself, I would not receive Holy Communion from a person like Father Thomas Reese.

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

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Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Thomas Reese SJ Last Updated: April 19, 2021

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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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Alabama Assessment!

We received this evaluation of Symposium 2022 from an Alabama participant:

“Oh, how the Symposium echoed the words of Cardinal Merry Del Val: …choosing only what is most conformed to Thy glory, which is my final aim. In one short and fast paced week, the faculty and attendees showed me the hand of God and our Lady working in our lives. The wide range of education—from Gregorian Chant, jazz modes in organ improvisation, to ‘staying sane’ while leading a choir—were certainly first-class knowledge from the best teachers of the art. However, the most powerful lesson was learning how to pray as a choir. The sacrifice of putting songs together, taking time to learn the sacred text, meditating on the church teaching through the chants, and gaining the virtues required to persevere in these duties were not only qualities of a choir but of a saint. The sanctification of the lives of the attendees was a beautiful outcome of this event … and that in itself is worth more than a beautifully-sung Solesmes style chant!”

—Jeff Ostrowski
PDF Download • Trinity Sunday (22 pages)

Feel free to download this Organ Accompaniment Booklet for Trinity Sunday (Second Vespers). Notice how the modes progress by number. Psalm 1 is mode 1; Psalm 2 is mode 2; Psalm 3 is mode 3; Psalm 4 is mode 4; Psalm 5 is mode 5. I am told by an expert that other feasts (such as Corpus Christi) are likewise organized by mode, and it’s called a “numerical office.”

—Jeff Ostrowski
10 June 2022 • “Official” rhythm of plainsong

I continue to search for the most beautiful way to present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores. (Technically, the “pure” rhythm of the official edition is what everyone is supposed to use.) You can download my latest attempt, which is the Introit for this coming Sunday: Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Because this is not an ancient feast, the Introit had to be adapted (perhaps around 750AD). Prior Johner says the adaptation is “not an entirely happy one.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

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Religious worship supplies all our spiritual need, and suits every mood of mind and variety of circumstance.

— John Henry Cardinal Newman

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