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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

“Everybody Loves Raymond” Actress Responds to Cardinal Dolan

Jeff Ostrowski · September 23, 2023

EBUKE. In this painfully polarized world, is it possible to gently “rebuke” or “correct” or “straighten out” somebody without being accused of attacking them? I have absolutely nothing against Timothy Cardinal Doland. In no way do I wish to attack him. That being said, it cannot be denied that his recent article contains flagrantly ridiculous statements about the liturgy. I don’t have time to rehash and re-litigate his entire article, but let me make a few quick points:

(1) The Second Vatican Council solemnly declared: “The treasury of sacred music [THESAURUS MUSICAE SACRAE] is to be preserved and fostered with great care.” In light of that statement, it is utterly bizarre for Cardinal Dolan to assert that music of excessive length (!) is delaying the Holy Mass and driving people away. I have spent my life making the case that far too much music sung in the Ordinary Form is goofy, undignified, secular, inappropriate, and wholly unworthy of the house of God. As Father Skeris famously asked: “Why does so much post-conciliar church music sound like a toothpaste commercial?” Time and again, I’ve made it clear the musical status quo is completely unacceptable if Catholics really believe what they say they do about the Holy Mass. I’ve publicly lamented how some priests and bishops act as though “preserved and fostered with great care” actually means “forbidden, denigrated, and outlawed” when it comes to the THESAURUS MUSICAE SACRAE. But excessive length? Are you kidding me?
(2) What he said about the Easter Vigil is misguided, and anyone who wants to learn more should purchase the third edition of the Saint Edmund Campion Missal, the preëminent resource vis-à-vis the 20th-century Holy Week changes. Is anyone willing to purchase a copy from SOPHIA INSTITUTE PRESS and present it to Cardinal Dolan in person?
(3) I have been a Catholic my entire life. I have never experienced anything even remotely similar to what he says about “excessively lengthy compositions” like the AGNUS DEI and GLORIA IN EXCELSIS in the Ordinary Form.1

Everybody Loves Raymond • My sister used to watch a show called Everybody Loves Raymond. A famous actress from the television sitcom (named Patricia Heaton) responded on 22 September 2023 to Cardinal Dolan in the following way:

This is more than sad. When the clergy treats the Mass as a chore to get finished as quickly as possible, they should step away. The Mass is the opportunity to receive the actual body and blood of Christ. When you surround that miracle with bad 70’s music and shallow, childish homilies that aren’t intellectually stimulating or spiritually challenging, you lose people. The reason that so many Catholics are asking for traditional and Latin Masses is that they are seeking to experience the sacred wonder of what God did for us over 2000 years ago. It is mystifying that Pope Francis and others seek to squash those who yearn for a true experience of Christ.

Úsqueqo, Domine?

1 However, I do admit that if people hate music, or if the music is terrible, or if somebody has only ever listened to pop songs and rock music on the radio their entire life, a 30-second piece can feel like it’s 30 minutes.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Thesaurus musicae sacrae Last Updated: September 23, 2023

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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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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    New Bulletin Article • “21 September 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 21 September 2025) discusses some theological items—supported by certain verses in ancient Catholic hymns—and ends by explaining why certain folks become delirious with jealousy when they observe feats by Monsignor Ronald Knox.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Cheap! Cheap! Cheap!
    It’s always amusing to see old diocesan newspapers—in huge capital letters—advertising the Cheapest Catholic Paper in the United States. The correspondent who sent this to me added: “I can think of certain composers, published by large companies in our own day, who could truthfully brag about the most tawdry compositions in the world!” I wonder what she could have meant by such a cryptic comment…
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • Dom Murray Harmonies
    Along with so many others, I have deep respect for Dom Gregory Gregory Murray, who produced this clever harmonization (PDF) of “O SANCTISSIMA.” It’s always amazed me that Dom Gregory—a truly inspired composer—was so confused when it came to GREGORIAN CHANT. Throughout his life, he published contradictory statements, veering back-and-forth like a weather vane. Toward the end of his life, he declared: “I see clearly that the need for reform in liturgical music arose, not in the 18th and 19th centuries, but a thousand years earlier—in the 8th and 9th centuries, or even before that. The abuses began, not with Mozart and Haydn, but with those over-enthusiastic medieval musicians who developed the elaborate and flamboyant Gregorian Chant.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Karl Keating • “Canonization Questions”
    We were sent an internet statement (screenshot) that’s garnered significant attention, in which KARL KEATING (founder of Catholic Answers) speaks about whether canonizations are infallible. Mr. Keating seems unaware that canonizations are—in the final analysis—a theological opinion. They are not infallible, as explained in this 2014 article by a priest (with a doctorate in theology) who worked for multiple popes. Mr. Keating says: “I’m unaware of such claims arising from any quarter until several recent popes disliked by these Traditionalists were canonized, including John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II. Usually Paul VI receives the most opprobrium.” Mr. Keating is incorrect; e.g. Father John Vianney, several centuries ago, taught clearly that canonizations are not infallible. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen would be another example, although clearly much more recent than Saint John Vianney.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Vatican II Changed Wedding Propers?
    It’s often claimed that the wedding propers were changed after Vatican II. As a matter of fact, that is a false claim. The EDITIO VATICANA propers (Introit: Deus Israel) remained the same after Vatican II. However, a new set of propers (Introit: Ecce Deus) was provided for optional use. The same holds true for the feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great on 3 September: the 1943 propers (Introit: Si díligis me) were provided for optional use, but the traditional PROPRIA MISSAE (Introit: Sacerdótes Dei) were retained; they weren’t gotten rid of. The Ordo Cantus Missae (1970) makes this crystal clear, as does the Missal itself. There was an effort made in the post-conciliar years to eliminate so-called “Neo-Gregorian” chants, but (contrary to popular belief) most were retained: cf. the feast of Christ the King, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and so forth.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)
    How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

The People’s Hymnal suffers from a too literal and awkward translation. And even in the lovely Slovak “Memorare” in The Saint Gregory Hymnal we are still asked to sing “that anyone who sought thee, or made to thee his moan.” Why not “groan” or “bone” or even “phone?” The only thing necessary, it seems, is that it rhyme with “known.”

— Mons. Francis P. Schmitt (1958)

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