Jeffrey Tucker asks a good question: Given Pope Benedict's extensive writing on the subject of restoring the liturgy, why on earth are we preparing to assault him with Marty Haugen's "Mass of Creation" at the upcoming papal Mass in D.C.?

Surely, organizers would not shun [the Church's chant tradition] for Benedict XVI and surely they would not bypass this in favor of what might be the most embarrassing aspect of American liturgy? What signal would the organizers be sending to the Pope by scheduling the Mass of Creation by Marty Haugen? That America is stuck in the past, refuses to update itself, refuses the aesthetic leadership of the Vatican, refuses even the approved texts of the Mass, refuses to get passed the confused times of the postconciliar era and embrace the new times, and refuses to make the larger tradition of our faith a living presence in our lives?

In searching for an explanation here, Tucker turns to musical director Thomas V. Stehle, who has been put in charge of the music program for the pope's visit. Tucker is not impressed, to put it mildly:

"The most important thing to me is that everyone present is fully engaged," [Stehle] said. "The music is aimed at allowing the assembly to take up its role and not just be spectators, but full participants in the celebration, no matter where they are sitting."

Well, it so happens that Cardinal Ratzinger wrote an entire book, The Spirit of the Liturgy, to explode this anthropocentric, community-obsessed view of liturgy. In his writings, he actually said of this perspective, that liturgy is all about maximizing the singing of the congregation, is "insipid pedagogic rationalism."

Tucker closes by saying, "This isn't responsible liturgical planning. This is an insult. American Catholics should be deeply embarrassed and outraged."

I agree that this liturgical tone-deafness (pun intended) is embarrassing, but I'm with the Curt Jester here: What else could telegraph so plainly to the pope the dire straits that American liturgy is in other than having him suffer through it? Who knows, maybe it will be the first step in permanently loosening the stranglehold that the Marty Haugens of the world have had on American liturgy for the past 30 years. That would be a truly beautiful irony.

You can read the entire (unconfirmed) music line-up -- and more details covering every aspect of the pope's visit to the U.S. and Australia this year -- at the National Catholic Register's indispensable new blog, Pope2008.com.