J'Accuse!

So, let's be honest, who has betrayed "the" Council's instructions on liturgy?

Nearly every parish in the Roman Church!

A recent Washington Post article, making reference to the establishment of the Institute of the Good Shepherd in France, quotes French bishop Andre Lacrampe as saying, "We can be charitable and welcoming but we also have to be honest...I'm not ready to receive them because one cannot erase Vatican II with a stroke of a pen."

C'est strange fruit, my Modernist friend!

Let us review excerpts of the actual text [Czech, English, German, Italian, Latin, Portuguese, Spanish, Swahili] of The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium and decide who is attempting to erase "the" Council:

• 18. Priests, both secular and religious, who are already working in the Lord's vineyard are to be helped by every suitable means to understand ever more fully what it is that they are doing when they perform sacred rites; they are to be aided to live the liturgical life and to share it with the faithful entrusted to their care.
  
  Crucis' Translation: There are standards for Mass. You don't make things up as you go. You can not add things to the liturgical books.



• 36. 1. Particular law remaining in force, the use of the Latin language is to be preserved in the Latin rites.
  
  Crucis' Translation: Use Latin.



• 116. The Church acknowledges Gregorian chant as specially suited to the Roman liturgy: therefore, other things being equal, it should be given pride of place in liturgical services.
  
  But other kinds of sacred music, especially polyphony, are by no means excluded from liturgical celebrations, so long as they accord with the spirit of the liturgical action, as laid down in Art. 30
  
  Crucis' Translation: Use Gregorian chant and polyphony.



• 117. The typical edition of the books of Gregorian chant is to be completed; and a more critical edition is to be prepared of those books already published since the restoration by St. Pius X.
  
  It is desirable also that an edition be prepared containing simpler melodies, for use in small churches.


Crucis' Translation: To encourage the active participation you so ardently seek, my good men, work to make Gregorian chant accessible to those with less musical skill and talent. Do so by preparing simplier Gregorian melodies, not by bringing in simpler musicians and music.


• 118. Religious singing by the people is to be intelligently fostered so that in devotions and sacred exercises, as also during liturgical services, the voices of the faithful may ring out according to the norms and requirements of the rubrics.
  
  Crucis' Translation: See Crucis' translation for #117 above, please.
  
  
• 119. In certain parts of the world, especially mission lands, there are peoples who have their own musical traditions, and these play a great part in their religious and social life. For this reason due importance is to be attached to their music, and a suitable place is to be given to it, not only in forming their attitude toward religion, but also in adapting worship to their native genius, as indicated in Art. 39 and 40.
  
  Crucis' Translation: For people who don't have a 1,000+ year established tradition of liturgical music, let them sing Kumbaya and use drums, liturgical dance, et cetera. Europeans have their own musical tradition (chant and polyphony) that play a great part in their religious and social life. Leave it alone! (or in our present circumstances, restore it)



• 120. In the Latin Church the pipe organ is to be held in high esteem, for it is the traditional musical instrument which adds a wonderful splendor to the Church's ceremonies and powerfully lifts up man's mind to God and to higher things. But other instruments also may be admitted for use in divine worship, with the knowledge and consent of the competent territorial authority, as laid down in Art. 22, 52, 37, and 40. This may be done, however, only on condition that the instruments are suitable, or can be made suitable, for sacred use, accord with the dignity of the temple, and truly contribute to the edification of the faithful.
  
  Crucis' Translation: Out with the keyboards, in with the heavy iron.