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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

Ron Paul & Pope Francis

Jeff Ostrowski · October 10, 2013

ANY CATHOLICS have already commented on the bias and prejudice of the media, and much of what they say is true. What they often forget, however, is that many reporters and media figures are not ideologues … they’re just lazy. Others are evil. Others are sloppy. Others are greedy, and therefore embrace sensationalism beyond belief.

I’m a person who has been interviewed on film, in print, and over the phone (but I no longer accept such invitations). One learns very quickly that 99.9% of reporters could care less about accuracy or truth. This is one of the major reasons we at CCW have no interest in spending hours each day talking about, analyzing, and “spinning” the news … and I use the term “news” loosely (as Fearless Leader would say on the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show).

When I glance at today’s typical news reports, I can’t get the words of Ron Paul out of my head:

      * *  Ron Paul speaking about the media • Very Short Video

If you can’t watch that short video, I’ll spoil it for you. Ron Paul responds to a (dumb) question with the following brilliant and hilarious answer:

“No, insignificant, uh, silly things … we don’t waste a whole lot of time on things like that.”

BEARING THIS IN MIND, HOWEVER, I would like to comment on something I came across in the Associated Press:

The Rev. Thomas Rosica, who helps with Vatican media relations, later said the interview didn’t reflect Francis’ real words. He said Scalfari [an atheist] neither recorded the conversation nor took notes, reconstructing the conversation from memory and printing it as a verbatim interview. The Vatican doesn’t dispute the overall thrust of the interview, which Scalfari said he submitted to Francis for review and which the Vatican newspaper reprinted verbatim.

Folks, did you catch that? I only have one thing to say, if that’s true … and here it is:

Are you kidding me???!!!

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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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

    ‘German’ Introductions for Hymns
    German organ books have an enchanting habit of including introductions for each and every hymn. For example, consider this snazzy example found in a German hymnal published in 1902. In the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal, that melody is called “Laudes Mariae” and was married to Omni Die Dic Mariae, with a popular English translation (“Daily, daily, sing to Mary”) by Father Henry Bittleston, an Oratorian priest.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Buckfast Abbey Weighs In
    Dom John Stéphan was a Benedictine monk of Buckfast Abbey in South Devon, England. On 4 February 1933, he published this interesting letter in THE TABLET. Have you seen the exterior of Buckfast Abbey? It’s beyond gorgeous. I doubt there’s a more arresting Abbey in the entire world. Dom Stéphan’s letter is concerning this momentous collection, which our organization obtained, scanned, and uploaded.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Responsorial Psalm Fauxbourdon?
    When it comes to singing Responsorial Psalms in Fauxbourdon, what does this sound like in practice? Can such a thing be done successfully with volunteer choirs in real Catholic parishes? Listen to this audio excerpt from Good Friday and see what you think. Our parish volunteer choir did so well this year—and the ceremonies were ‘standing room only’. For the record, that musical score can be downloaded (completely free of charge) from the flourishing feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    PDF • “Liturgical Law” (467 Pages)
    On Good Friday during the middle ages, the pope privately recited THE ENTIRE PSALTER. If you don’t believe me, see for yourself by reading this passage by Dom Charles Augustine Bachofen (d. 1943). His famous book—called “Liturgical Law: A Handbook Of The Roman Liturgy”—was published by the Benjamin Herder Book Company, which was the American arm (operating out of St. Louis, Missouri) of one of the world’s most significant Catholic publishers. Dom Charles Augustine Bachofen was born in Switzerland but spent his career between the Benedictine monasteries at Conception (Missouri) and Mount Angel (Oregon). His 1931 masterpiece, Liturgical Law can be downloaded as a PDF file … 467 pages!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 24 March 2026
    How well do you know your Gregorian hymns? Do you recognize the tune inserted into the bass line on this score? For many years, we sang the entire Mass in Gregorian chant—and I mean everything. As a result, it would be difficult to find a Gregorian hymn I don’t recognize instantly. Only decades later did I realize (with sadness) that this skill cannot be ‘monetized’… This particular melody is used for a very famous Gregorian hymn, printed in the LIBER USUALIS. Do you recognize it? Send me an email with the correct words, and I promise to tell everybody I meet about your prowess!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)
    I remember singing “Ubi Cáritas” by Maurice Duruflé at the conservatory. I was deeply moved by it. However, some feel Duruflé’s version isn’t suitable for small choirs since it’s written for 6 voices and the bass tessitura is quite low. That’s why I was absolutely thrilled to discover this “Ubi cáritas” (SATB) for smaller choirs by Énemond Moreau, who studied with OSCAR DEPUYDT (d. 1925), an orphan who became a towering figure of Catholic music. Depuydt’s students include: Flor Peeters (d. 1986); Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel (d. 1953); Arthur Meulemans (d. 1966); Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989); and Gustaaf Nees (d. 1965). Rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #19705. When I came across the astonishing English translation for “Ubi Cáritas” by Monsignor Ronald Knox—matching the Latin’s meter—I decided to add those lyrics as an option (for churches which have banned Latin). My wife and I made this recording to give you some idea how it sounds.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

Palestrina wrote two Masses in honor of the Blessed Virgin—one “a 6” before the Council of Trent, consequently with the tropes, and first published in 1570. In 1599 it was republished in Palestrina “Missarum Liber III” with the tropes removed, and in their place the liturgical words of the “Gloria” reiterated.

— Henry Coates

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  • Buckfast Abbey Weighs In
  • PDF Download • “Catholic Hymnal & Service Book” (632 Pages)

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