Views from the Choir Loft

August 2025 • “Colorado Sacred Music Conference”

Corpus Christi Watershed · July 8, 2025

AINT MARK Catholic Church is excited to welcome renowned composer Paul Jernberg, who will share his three decades of experience composing sacred music for the Catholic Church. Participants will see that music is much more than just something that fills the space in our liturgies or provides emotional support; it is a radiant witness to the world. The conference will include a Mass on both days, along with rehearsal time to provide the music for the liturgy. We will be singing Paul’s music in various settings, including Mass of Saint Monica and the beautiful propers for the “Mass for Holy Men and Holy Women.”

* Live URL • REGISTER TODAY
2025 Colorado Sacred Music Conference • St Mark Catholic Church
9905 Foothills Canyon Blvd. • Highlands Ranch, Colorado

Summary • Paul Jernberg will share the amazing resources that he has provided for parish musicians, including scores, recordings, and continuing education. Highlighted breakout sessions:

• Renewal of a healthy music culture in parishes, schools, & families;
• 25th Anniversary of Joseph Ratzinger’s Spirit of the Liturgy;
• Accompanying choirs and cantors;
• Addressing performance anxiety as a musician.

* 2025 Colorado Sacred Music Conference (Learn More!)

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

“What Martin Luther Said…”

My pastor asked me to write little columns for the bulletin each week. The article for 20 July 2025 has been posted, and it’s called: “What Luther Said…” Martin Luther (an ex-priest and apostate) was an infamous heretic whose ignorance of JESUS CHRIST was only exceeded by his filthy and disgusting vulgarity.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (13 July 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and propers for this Sunday are also provided at the the feasts website.

—Jeff Ostrowski

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Pius XII Hymnal?

Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Hybrid” Chant Notation?

Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

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