• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

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

  • Our Team
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
    • Saint Antoine Daniel KYRIALE
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
  • Donate
Views from the Choir Loft

“Isolation Camps” for Summórum Catholics?

Jeff Ostrowski · September 14, 2022

HAVE WORKED in both the Ordinary Form and the Extraordinary Form. Neither is “perfect.” For example, I’ve been involved with TLM communities since 1994 and can affirm that such communities certainly have some bad eggs.1 On the other hand, some Ordinary Form Masses are celebrated with such monstrous irreverence it can damage one’s faith. If the celebrant truly believes JESUS CHRIST is present—Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity—it’s difficult to understand why any priest would allow such disrespect. And I’m not just talking about the recent bikini Mass. Moreover, the musical selections for the Ordinary Form are frequently profane, goofy, and embarrassing. If we truly believe the SECOND PERSON OF THE BLESSED TRINITY is present, why do we allow such things?

15th Anniversary • As we mentioned when speaking about a hymn for 14 September, today is the 15th anniversary of SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM. In the 2007 accompanying letter to Summorum Pontificum, Pope Benedict XVI declared: “What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too, and it cannot be all of a sudden entirely forbidden or even considered harmful. It behooves all of us to preserve the riches which have developed in the Church’s faith and prayer…”

Isolation Camps? • During WW2, Franklin D. Roosevelt forcibly placed Americans of Japanese descent into “isolation camps,” in spite of the fact that many Japanese-Americans fought (and died) as United States soldiers. These days, nobody defends FDR’s actions toward Japanese-Americans, especially because it made them feel like traitors. Sadly, similar things are happening in the Catholic Church. Arthur Cardinal Roche wrote a letter (4 December 2021) saying that “Summórum Catholics” are supposed to be ostracized until they learn to prefer the Missale Recens.

No Action Too Petty • No action is considered too ‘petty’ by Cardinal Roche. For example, Roche says that EF celebrations should be omitted from the parish bulletin! The Sacrifice of Calvary is considered “banned” from the parish bulletin—can you imagine? And Roche says in his declaration that ‘normal’ Catholics need to make it clear to “Summórum Catholics” they belong at the bottom of the totem pole. For instance, §13 of his letter tells ‘normal’ Catholics to give every single “parish activity” of theirs a higher priority than Holy Mass in the EF.

Bishop Michael F. Burbidge • Bishop Burbidge recently decided to publicly punish Catholics who take seriously the words of Benedict XVI cited above. Bishop Burbidge, for instance, has removed the SANCTISSIMUM from churches, placing Our Lord into ‘interment camps’ such as gymnasiums. But just look what Catholics did in response! They made their gymnasium look beautiful (as shown in photographs taken by D. McConnell), and the attendance is standing room only:

Bishop Burbidge’s Flock • These families support the Catholic Church financially. Why are they being punished by Most Rev. Burbidge in this way? Is this the “accompaniment” which Pope Francis has so frequently called for? I invite Bishop Burbidge to contact me and explain why such a punishment was necessary in light of the following:

“Unity does not imply uniformity; it does not necessarily mean doing everything together or thinking in the same way.” —Pope Francis (31 October 2014)

“Wherever any minority is persecuted and marginalized because of its religious convictions or ethnic identity, the well-being of society as a whole is endangered, and each one of us must feel affected.” —Pope Francis (24 October 2013)

“Be open to acceptance, and hence to the value of inclusion. Don’t let yourselves be drawn into short-sighted ideologies that want to show others (those who are different from ourselves) as enemies.” —Pope Francis (6 July 2022)

“The Holy Spirit does not want closedness; He wants openness, and welcoming communities where there is a place for everyone. […] We are called to build an increasingly inclusive world that excludes no one.” —Pope Francis (26 September 2021)

Concluding Thought • A thought-provoking image found on the internet:

1 When it comes to TLM communities, I’ve noticed something strange. The people who are the most judgmental, condemnatory, and self-righteous are the ones who—in their personal lives—are the most disordered, cheerless, and malicious. Be on your guard against these pharisaical “traditionalists” because they’re dangerous. As my mother would say: “Misery loves company.” But the Ordinary Form has bad eggs as well.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Anniversary Summorum Pontificum, Bishop Arthur Roche, Bishop Michael F Burbidge, Summorum Pontificum Last Updated: September 15, 2022

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

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).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    Tempo?? • 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘞𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦
    Once, after Mass, my pastor said he really loved the hymn we did. I said: “Father, that's Holy God, We Praise Thy Name—you never heard it before?” He replied: “But the way you did it was terrific. For once, it didn't sound like a funeral dirge!” Last Sunday, our volunteer choir sang that hymn. I think the tempo was just about right … but what do you think?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Don’t You Agree About These?
    If you want to make Jeff Ostrowski really happy, send him an email with effusive praise about the individual voice recordings for hymn #296. [Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass] They came out dazzlingly sensational, don't you agree?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Choral Vowels? Yes? No?
    Here's a live recording of one of the choral “warm-up” exercises my choir enjoys. It was taken during our rehearsal on 27 January 2023. It’s good to make sure each chord is perfectly in tune and balanced before moving to the next one. That only happens when each singer has the correct vowel. If you like, you can freely download that vocal exercise.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Before any seminarian is accepted for ordination, he must not only strive for chastity but actually achieve it. He must already be living chaste celibacy peacefully and for a prolonged period of time—for if this be lacking, the seminarian and his formators cannot have the requisite confidence that he is called to the celibate life.”

— Archbishop Viganò (16 February 2019)

Recent Posts

  • Tempo?? • 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘞𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦
  • PDF Download • Belgian Book of Gregorian Accompaniments (Official Edition)
  • Don’t You Agree About These?
  • Choral Vowels? Yes? No?
  • Crucial Tip For Choir Directors

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2023 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.