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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

Incorrect Statement (July 2021) by Pope Francis

Jeff Ostrowski · October 25, 2021

HOSE WHO HAVE spent more than five seconds with a catechism know that Catholics don’t adore Mary; that’s a silly Protestant myth. Similarly, it is elementary knowledge that Papal Infallibility only comes into play when certain very specific conditions are met. As Fulton J. Sheen once said: “Many a pontiff goes through life without making one single infallible decision … not one.” As a church musician, I realize full well that popes making erroneous statements is nothing new. If you doubt this, Google: Editio Medicæa.

False Statement: In a recent letter by Pope Francis (“Traditionis Custodes”) which sought to discourage the Traditional Latin Mass, Pope Francis said something incorrect. He said the 1970 version of the Missal is “the only expression of the Roman Rite.” Early in his pontificate, Pope Francis insisted that others correct him “when he gets off course”—and so I am doing precisely that. The following video clip * shows Bishop Alberto Rojas (appointed bishop of San Bernadino in 2020 by Pope Francis) celebrating the Missal of 1970 a few days ago:

This video seems also available on YouTube.

That is not
the “only expression”
of the Roman Rite.

Tough Times: I wish the pope would never make incorrect statements about the sacred liturgy, but what can I do? Nonetheless, make no mistake about it: If the Church can survive the “Cadaver Synod” under Pope Stephen VI—and she did survive—the Church can certainly make it through our current difficulties. Indeed, we have seen a remarkable, encouraging, and praiseworthy defense of the Traditional Latin Mass by many bishops, and you can monitor this: traditioniscustodes.info/.


NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

*   To those who have emailed me about this video, this is not a “spoof”—it is real. You can verify this by clicking on this link.

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

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Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Bishop Alberto Rojas, Pope Francis, Traditionis Custodes Motu Proprio Last Updated: October 25, 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 Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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President’s Corner

    (Part 2) • Did they simplify this hymn?
    Choirs love to sing the resplendent tune called “INNSBRUCK.” Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1929, I discovered what appears to be a simplified version of that hymn. Their harmonization is much less complex than the version found in the Father Brébeuf Hymnal (which is suitable for singing by SATB choir). Please download their 1929 harmonization (PDF) and let me know your thoughts. As always, the Germans added an organ INTRODUCTION. For the record, I posted a different harmonization a few months ago which was downloaded more than 2,000 times.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF • “Lectionary Comparison Chart”
    Various shell corporations (in an effort to make money selling Sacred Scripture) have tinkered with the LECTIONARY texts in a way that’s shameful. It’s no wonder Catholics in the pews know so few Bible passages by heart. Without authorization, these shell corporations pervert the official texts. Consider the Responsorial Psalm for the 1st Sunday of Advent (Year A). If you download this PDF comparison chart you’ll notice each country randomly omits certain sections. Such tinkering has gone on for 60+ years—and it’s reprehensible.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Monsignor Klaus Gamber Speaks!
    An interesting quotation from the eminent liturgist, Monsignor Klaus Gamber (d. 1989): “According to canon law, a person’s affiliation with a particular liturgical rite is determined by that person’s rite of baptism. Given that the liturgical reforms of Pope Paul VI created a de facto new rite, one could assert that those among the faithful who were baptized according to the traditional Roman rite have the right to continue following that rite; just as priests who were ordained according to the traditional Ordo have the right to exercise the very rite that they were ordained to celebrate.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 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 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Perhaps he had too much sense of humour to be altogether a great man: he lacked pomposity.”

— Msgr. Ronald Knox writing about Father Adrian Fortescue

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