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“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

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Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • Bishop Donohoe: “I wish you to definitely confront the priest…”

Jeff Ostrowski · September 1, 2021

UNTING FOR PRIESTS—when England became Anglican—was a real thing. Jesuit priests such as Father Edmund Campion, Father Edmund Arrowsmith, and Father Robert Southwell were betrayed, hunted down, tortured, and murdered in those days. I couldn’t help but think of that when I read the following letter: “I wish you to make it a matter of conscience to discover if such a Mass is being celebrated in any hall, house, or wherever within the confines or your parish. If so, I wish you to definitely confront the priest…” This was regarding a form of Mass which, according to Pope Saint Paul VI (19 November 1969), had “the same theological and spiritual import” as the Novus Ordo.

In the past, we have featured so-called Tridentine permission slips from the post-conciliar days. We have been contacted by a person who wishes to remain anonymous—and, incidentally, it was not our dear contributor Keven Smith who lives in Sacramento.

This might make your blood run cold:

*  PDF Download • Tridentine Permission Slip (1976)
—From Bishop Hugh A. Donohoe (d. 1987), at that time the bishop of Fresno.

It would be interesting to learn how Bishop Donohoe responded to Catholics in his diocese who made heretical statements, or who took part in liturgical abuses. And it would very interesting to learn what he did about goofy, disrespectful music played during the Holy Mass.

A Very Sad Comment: Speaking of the Traditional Latin Mass, on Twitter it was recently revealed that Pope Francis said the Catholic priests over the last 700 years—Saint John Vianney, Saint John Bosco, Padre Pio, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Saint Isaac Jogues, and so forth—were “laughing at God” by using a sacred language for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. This is a very sad comment … and all I can say is: if the Catholic Church survived popes such as Pope Stephen VI, we can survive these present trials. But that is a very sad comment, and I really hope Pope Francis will apologize for what he said about all those holy saints. He should not have made the claim that all those holy saints were “laughing at God” by using a lingua sacra.

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

Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download Tagged With: Traditionis Custodes Motu Proprio, Traditionis Custodes Vernacular, Tridentine Permission Slip Last Updated: September 2, 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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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
7 June 2022 • FEEDBACK

From Chelan, Washington: “CCWatershed is a God-sent resource that I can’t function without! Such great work by the team to bring beauty back to our liturgy!” From Gainesville, Florida: “I am so appreciative of the work, of my brothers and sisters in music!” From Troutman, North Carolina: “Keep up the excellent work in service of the Liturgy!”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“I left music college swearing never to write another note again … It was during the mid-1980s when esoteric and cerebral avant-garde music was still considered the right kind of music to be writing.”

— James MacMillan

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