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Views from the Choir Loft

Official USCCB Synod Document: “The Limited Access to the 1962 Missal Was Lamented…”

Jeff Ostrowski · September 20, 2022

HETHER ONE PREFERS the Ordinary Form or the Extraordinary Form, one thing is not open for debate: Back in the 1970s, nobody could have predicted how strong the 1962 Missal would be in the year 2022. In 2007, 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.” In 2015, Pope Francis distinctly told his (hand-picked) chief liturgist: “I want you to continue the good work in the liturgy begun by Pope Benedict XVI.”

Results Released • Bishop Daniel E. Flores has released the “National Synthesis of the People of God in the United States of America for the Diocesan Phase of the 2021-2023 Synod.” As far as I can tell, this is the official response by the USCCB to the Synod on Synodality begun by Pope Francis. In this document, we find a remarkable statement:

Transcription: “The most common issue regarding the liturgy is the celebration of the pre-Conciliar Mass.” The limited access to the 1962 Missal was lamented.

An Astounding Statement • How can that be? For decades, we have been told that those attached to the ancient liturgy constitute an “utterly insignificant minority.” Now we see in the results of the USA synods the issue of the Missale Vestustum being casually referred to as “the most common issue regarding the liturgy.” In the 1990s, when my family was helping to spread knowledge of the Traditional Latin Mass, it seemed like less than 0.01% of Catholics had ever heard of the ancient liturgy! The first time I ever experienced the Missale Vestustum I was (perhaps?) thirteen years old. If someone like Rembert Weakland were still alive (he’s not) seeing the Missale Pristinum mentioned in such a document would most likely give him a heart attack!

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Latin Mass, Missale Pristinum, Missale Vetustum, Synod on Synodality, USCCB Last Updated: September 20, 2022

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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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Quick Thoughts

    PDF • “For the Season of Pentecost”
    During the season of Pentecost, you might consider using this 2-page Piece “for the season of Pentecost.” Rehearsal videos are available at #40691, but the lyrics are different. Therefore, make sure your choir members understand that one can rehearse songs that have different lyrics (“CONTRAFACT”).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Introit • (This Coming Sunday)
    Our volunteer choir appreciates training videos, so here's my attempt at recording “Exáudi Dómine Vocem Meam,” which is the INTROIT for this coming Sunday. This coming Sunday is Dominica Post Ascensionem (“Sunday after the feast of the Ascension”). It is sung according to the official rhythm of the Catholic Church.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Volunteer Choir Attempts “Kýrie Eléison”
    My volunteer choir attempted the polyphonic KYRIE that will be sung at this year's Sacred Music Symposium. If you're interested, you can listen to the live recording from last Sunday. The piece is based on the ancient plainchant hymn melody: Ave Maris Stella. Polyphony like this is truly intricate and wonderful. It reminds me of the quote by Artur Schnabel: “music that's greater than it can be performed.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“In older times we referred to humans as the human race, but according to this foundation we are being classed with the animals on the farm, the cow, the horse, the mule […] According to this foundation, I have no right to be born, for I am the youngest of 16 children, and God bless my mother for every one of them!”

— Archbishop Schrembs (d. 1945) vs. a foundation promoting artificial contraception

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