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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

A Wonderful Woman Eviscerates The Argument Of An Infamous Liturgical Radical

Jeff Ostrowski · May 6, 2024

N THAT CLASSIC spiritual work by Thomas à Kempis (Imitation Of Christ) we read: “Seek, child, to do the will of others rather than your own.” This was not the view taken by FATHER GODFREY DIEKMANN, whom some consider the most radical of all the 1960s reformers. In opposition to Thomas à Kempis, Diekmann believed that he knew better than all the saints of the last 1,200 years. Diekmann had a deep hatred for the immemorial tradition of the church and ardently desired extensive changes to the traditional liturgy.1

In A Nutshell • Since few have time to read long articles these days, let me summarize: (a) Father Diekmann believed all the saints over the last 1,200 years—as well as the fathers of the Second Vatican Council—were dead wrong about the liturgy; (b) Diekmann’s main argument was that it was impossible for anyone to become fluent in more than one language. To give just one example, on 14 November 1963 (according to Cardinal Antonelli’s diary):

“The Conciliar Commission on the Sacred Liturgy met at 5:30 p.m. in the Aula of the Sacred Congregation of Rites. Cardinal Larraona presided. […] Father Diekmann opposed the retention of Latin in the Collects. […] The President then intervened and asked the Commission to bear in mind that only 108 of the Council Fathers had approved the use of the vernacular in the Collects. He called on the Commission to respect the wishes of the Council…”

In a private letter shortly afterwards, Father Diekmann wrote:

“Even Wagner spoke up for keeping the collect in Latin! […] We argued violently … I was so mad I could spit. Wagner, Martinmort, not honest.”

Is Diekmann Correct? • Remember that Diekmann was born in Roscoe, Minnesota, and spent the rest of his life in Minnesota. People from the Midwest (like myself) often find it hard to believe anybody could know more than one language. But if Father Godfrey Diekmann had taken the time to meet someone from Belgium, he’d have discovered that most Belgians are fully fluent in at least three languages. Communication with Belgians can be annoying because they sometimes switch languages in the middle of a sentence. It’s not uncommon for people from Africa to speak three languages. The same is true for people from the Philippines. Indeed, Monsignor Robert A. Skeris (a priest from Wisconsin) was fluent in eight languages.

The Choir I Direct • The choir I direct is quite a mixture. One choir member is a U.S. Marshall. Another is unemployed. Two members earned doctorates from major universities. Several members are from Africa. One member is a ‘platinum’ artist. Some members brought their education to a close after high school. About 50% of the members of my choir are fully fluent in English and Spanish.

Jeff Is Deficient • Most of my colleagues here at Corpus Christi Watershed are fluent in at least two languages. Today I will feature just one of them. My colleague, VERONICA MORENO is a homeschooling mother of five (5) children who also volunteers her “free” time to tutor—each day (!)—her legally blind niece. She recently published two blog articles: one in English, and one in Spanish. In spite of the fact that Father Diekmann thought of himself as very, very, very much more clever than all the saints of the last 1,200 years, Veronica’s ability to speak two languages fluently eviscerates his argument.

Summary • To summarize, Father Godfrey Diekmann believed himself to be much smarter than all the saints who lived over the last 1,200 years. In reality, Diekmann was dead wrong. The church was wise to promote (and honor) a lingua sacra for the public worship Almighty God. The Congregation of Rites (23 July 1964) reminded us:

At Vatican II “the great majority of the Fathers approved the various dispositions concerning a wider use of the vernacular precisely because of the existence of that first paragraph [Sacrosanctum Concilium §1] which ensured substantial preservation of the Latin, apart from a few particular cases (salvo jure particulari), such as the concession made to China.”

1 All this is described in a biography (or perhaps a hagiography) of Diekmann by Sister Kathleen Hughes, published by Diekmann’s monastery. So much for objectivity! Indeed, in a letter dated 3 March 1964, Father Godfrey Diekmann—who was ostensibly a Benedictine monk—accidentally said the quiet part out loud, asking: “What young candidate for the priesthood would ever consider the monastic life if there is even a possibility of having to spend three hours a day praying or singing the Office in Latin?”

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Father Godfrey Diekmann Last Updated: May 6, 2024

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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

“So, as in delirium a man talks in a long-forgotten tongue, now—when her heart is rent—the Catholic Church drops twenty centuries without an effort, and speaks as she spoke underground in Rome, and in Paul’s hired house, and in Crete and Alexandria and Jerusalem.”

— A non-Catholic describing the “Hagios O Theos” of Good Friday in 1906

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