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Jesus said to them: “I have come into this world so that a sentence may fall upon it, that those who are blind should see, and those who see should become blind. If you were blind, you would not be guilty. It is because you protest, ‘We can see clearly,’ that you cannot be rid of your guilt.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

Vatican II • What You Were Too Embarrassed To Ask

Jeff Ostrowski · March 7, 2017

321 Fr. Christopher Smith Father Chris IMAGE HE FOLLOWING audio files have been posted by permission of Fr. Christopher Smith, Pastor of Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Taylors, South Carolina. He is a member of the Catholic Theological Society of America and has been highly sought as a speaker on sacred music, liturgy, theology, and catechesis. Fr. Smith is fluent in numerous languages, and not long ago was the subject of a CWR article called “Traditional Liturgy Flourishing in the Bible Belt.”

Fr. Smith recently gave a series of seven (7) talks on the Second Vatican Council. He has generously made these available as audio files, which you can download below.

I am not aware of a more excellent series on Vatican II.

    * *  Mp3 Download • Part 1 of 7

In our first installment, we discuss why this council is so important to the life of the Church, and why it is crucial that we understand how interpretive questions really influence everything in the life of the Church.

    * *  Mp3 Download • Part 2 of 7

Part 2 asks “What is an ecumenical council anyway? Why do we have them, and why are they so important in the life of the Church?”

    * *  Mp3 Download • Part 3 of 7

In Part 3, we look at the liturgical movement, Sacrosanctum Concilium, Mediator Dei, and all manner of liturgy related questions with regard to Vatican II.

    * *  Mp3 Download • Part 4 of 7

In Part 4, we look closely at the Constitution on the Church and discuss a lot of the theological preparation for that document, including Pius XII’s Mystici corporis.

    * *  Mp3 Download • Part 5 of 7

Revelation is at the heart of the Church’s message. But what is the role of Scripture and Tradition in the deposit of faith? In Part 5, we look at everything from the theological background to Vatican II to this important document of the Council and its aftermath.

    * *  Mp3 Download • Part 6 of 7

In Part 6, we talk about one of the most controversial document of Vatican II, on the Church in the Modern World, placing in the context of everything from Humani generis to current theological debates.

    * *  Mp3 Download • Part 7 of 7

When all is said and done, what are the major unresolved issues from the four major constitutions of Vatican II, and what are we as a Church facing now that stems from those issues? Part 7 explores all of this and more.

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

    “Entrance Chant” • 4th Sunday of Easter
    You can download the ENTRANCE ANTIPHON in English for the 4th Sunday of Easter (11 May 2025). Corresponding to the vocalist score is this free organ accompaniment. The English adaptation matches the authentic version (Misericórdia Dómini), which is in a somber yet gorgeous mode. If you’re someone who enjoys rehearsal videos, this morning I tried to sing it while simultaneously accompanying my voice on the pipe organ.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music List • “Repertoire for Weddings”
    Not everyone thinks about sacred music 24/7 like we do. When couples are getting married, they often request “suggestions” or “guidance” or a “template” for their musical selections. I created music list with repertoire suggestions for Catholic weddings. Please feel free to download it if you believe it might give you some ideas or inspiration.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Beginning a Men’s Schola
    I mentioned that we recently began a men’s Schola Cantorum. Last Sunday, they sang the COMMUNION ANTIPHON for the 3rd Sunday of Easter, Year C. If you’re so inclined, feel free to listen to this live recording of them. I feel like we have a great start, and we’ll get better and better as time goes on. The musical score for that COMMUNION ANTIPHON can be downloaded (completely free of charge) from the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    When to Sit, Stand and Kneel like it’s 1962
    There are lots of different guides to postures for Mass, but I couldn’t find one which matched our local Latin Mass, so I made this one: sit-stand-kneel-crop
    —Veronica Brandt
    The Funeral Rites of the Graduale Romanum
    Lately I have been paging through the 1974 Graduale Romanum (see p. 678 ff.) and have been fascinated by the funeral rites found therein, especially the simply-beautiful Psalmody that is appointed for all the different occasions before and after the funeral Mass: at the vigil/wake, at the house of the deceased, processing to the church, at the church, processing to the cemetery, and at the cemetery. Would that this “stational Psalmody” of the Novus Ordo funeral rites saw wider usage! If you or anyone you know have ever used it, please do let me know.
    —Daniel Tucker

Random Quote

After sixty years as teacher, composer, and organist, I may state that the Gregorian Chant should be part of the basic material of any musical education, be it religious or secular. The study of it enormously enlarges the spiritual background of any musician. Whereas students in literature will always be required to study Dante, Petrarch and Chaucer, why neglect Gregorian in music education?

— Flor Peeters

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