Showing Off During Mass

Aurelio Porfiri · January 20, 2015

“Many years ago I had a spiritual director that gave me a lesson that I have never forgotten…” —Aurelio Porfiri

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

About Aurelio Porfiri

Renowned as composer, conductor, theorist, author, pedagogue, and organist, Aurelio Porfiri has served the Church on multiple continents at the highest levels. Born and raised in Italy, he currently serves as Director of Choral Activities and Composer in Residence for Santa Rosa de Lima School (Macao, China).

Music List • “Ascension of the Lord”

Readers have expressed interest in examining my “music list” for this coming Sunday.

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—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “For Pentecost Sunday”

There’s a triple ‘allelúja’ and I just love the chord at the end of the 2nd iteration.

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—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Organ Accompaniment”

The following declaration will probably smack of “blowing my own horn.”

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—Jeff Ostrowski

“Thee” + “Thou” + “Thine”

Regarding approval for the “Revised Standard Version (Catholic Edition).”

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—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of May (2026)

Since a new month has arrived, it’s my pleasure to remind you that…

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—Jeff Ostrowski

Simplified Version • “Canon in D” (Pachelbel)

I don’t care what people say; I love this piece!

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—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Gelasius in his 9th Letter to the Bishops of Lucania condemned the evil practice which had been introduced of women serving the priest at the celebration of Mass. Since this abuse had spread to the Greeks, Innocent IV strictly forbade it in his letter to the Bishop of Tusculum: “Women should not dare to serve at the altar; they should be altogether refused this ministry.” We too have forbidden this practice in the same words in Our oft-repeated constitution “Etsi Pastoralis” (§6, #21)

— Pope Benedict XIV • Encyclical “Allatae Sunt” (26 July 1755)

Showing Off During Mass

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About Aurelio Porfiri

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