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Views from the Choir Loft

“Shocking!” • What Vatican II said about Latin

Jeff Ostrowski · July 26, 2021

ARDINAL Antonelli, secretary of the Consilium for the Implementation of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, had this to say regarding Vatican II and the Latin language. Will the true defenders of Vatican II please stand up?

And here is what the Second Vatican Council mandated regarding Latin:

The Second Vatican Council said: “The use of the Latin language is to be preserved in the Latin rites.” (SC §36 n1) Canon layer Georg May says: “This sentence has imposed a command to preserve the Latin language. In contrast to the translation produced under the auspices of the German bishops, it must be observed that the official text of the document employs the subjunctive servetur and therefore expresses a command, not merely a recommendation. The Latin language must be preserved. The word usus clearly commands the actual employment of the Latin language and not simply a possibility of its being used…” —Courtesy of Monsignor Joannes Overath, President of Consociatio Internationalis Musicæ Sacræ (Translated from German by Dr. Robert Skeris)

The pope who convened the Second Vatican Council:

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Traditionis Custodes Motu Proprio, Traditionis Custodes Vernacular Last Updated: July 26, 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

Random Quote

“Worse, composers are now setting the introits of the missal [instead of the Graduale] to music, even to chant, though these texts were explicitly for spoken recitation only.”

— ‘Dr. William Mahrt (Fall, 2015)’

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