Views from the Choir Loft

Does CCW Matter? Some Messages…

Jeff Ostrowski · January 10, 2018

We only exist because people from all over the world donate $5.00 per month.

Some messages we have received:

Keep on doing what you do; despite criticism.

Thanks for all the work you do for our Lord; and for His Church! It matters so much.

Keep the traditions as St Paul had admonished Holy Mother Church; no matter the battle we face. May Mother Mary protect you and may God bless you.

May God Bless your efforts to restore our Liturgical Patrimony; particularly Sacred Music; to its rightful place. The practice videos for the Propers of the TLM are what are most helpful to me; and any additional efforts in adding more Feast days is greatly appreciated!

God bless you for all you do. Wish we could do more to help.

I rely on CCW for all my Latin Mass info; God Bless you. Ours is the only parish in the Diocese that offers a weekly TLM.

Admire your work over the years.

Previous pastor at St. Jude; Martin TN; now at Ascension; Memphis TN. Music director at my new church is delighted to discover there is a more beautiful alternative to the dreadful OCP “Respond and Acclaim.”

I love your work. Please use this small donation however you can to make the Church better.

Thank you for all you do for the Church! Happy Advent.

I have wanted to do this for a long time; but just today noticed you use Cornerstone and not PayPal. So thank you for that better alternative for Catholics.

Though I spent almost all of my four decades as organist in Protestant churches; I appreciate so much your dedication to dignified music for the Catholic Church. I enjoyed “reading through” at the computer the Flor Peeters chant accompaniments. I played many of his hymn and chant settings; and once attended a recital he gave in NYC.

Many many thanks for all your hard work.

Please consider donating $5.00 per month.

If you want CCW to receive the highest percentage of money, use Cornerstone instead of PayPal.

Whenever you purchase on Amazon, please follow the directions (at the very bottom) and we get a small percentage!

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

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).

New Bulletin Article • “21 September 2025”

My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 21 September 2025) discusses some theological items—supported by certain verses in ancient Catholic hymns—and ends by explaining why certain folks become delirious with jealousy when they observe feats by Monsignor Ronald Knox.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Cheap! Cheap! Cheap!

It’s always amusing to see old diocesan newspapers—in huge capital letters—advertising the Cheapest Catholic Paper in the United States. The correspondent who sent this to me added: “I can think of certain composers, published by large companies in our own day, who could truthfully brag about the most tawdry compositions in the world!” I wonder what she could have meant by such a cryptic comment…

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • Dom Murray Harmonies

Along with so many others, I have deep respect for Dom Gregory Gregory Murray, who produced this clever harmonization (PDF) of “O SANCTISSIMA.” It’s always amazed me that Dom Gregory—a truly inspired composer—was so confused when it came to GREGORIAN CHANT. Throughout his life, he published contradictory statements, veering back-and-forth like a weather vane. Toward the end of his life, he declared: “I see clearly that the need for reform in liturgical music arose, not in the 18th and 19th centuries, but a thousand years earlier—in the 8th and 9th centuries, or even before that. The abuses began, not with Mozart and Haydn, but with those over-enthusiastic medieval musicians who developed the elaborate and flamboyant Gregorian Chant.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Karl Keating • “Canonization Questions”

We were sent an internet statement (screenshot) that’s garnered significant attention, in which KARL KEATING (founder of Catholic Answers) speaks about whether canonizations are infallible. Mr. Keating seems unaware that canonizations are—in the final analysis—a theological opinion. They are not infallible, as explained in this 2014 article by a priest (with a doctorate in theology) who worked for multiple popes. Mr. Keating says: “I’m unaware of such claims arising from any quarter until several recent popes disliked by these Traditionalists were canonized, including John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II. Usually Paul VI receives the most opprobrium.” Mr. Keating is incorrect; e.g. Father John Vianney, several centuries ago, taught clearly that canonizations are not infallible. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen would be another example, although clearly much more recent than Saint John Vianney.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Vatican II Changed Wedding Propers?

It’s often claimed that the wedding propers were changed after Vatican II. As a matter of fact, that is a false claim. The EDITIO VATICANA propers (Introit: Deus Israel) remained the same after Vatican II. However, a new set of propers (Introit: Ecce Deus) was provided for optional use. The same holds true for the feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great on 3 September: the 1943 propers (Introit: Si díligis me) were provided for optional use, but the traditional PROPRIA MISSAE (Introit: Sacerdótes Dei) were retained; they weren’t gotten rid of. The Ordo Cantus Missae (1970) makes this crystal clear, as does the Missal itself. There was an effort made in the post-conciliar years to eliminate so-called “Neo-Gregorian” chants, but (contrary to popular belief) most were retained: cf. the feast of Christ the King, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and so forth.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)

How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).

—Corpus Christi Watershed