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Corpus Christi Watershed

“A much greater source of anxiety to Us is the style of action of those who maintain that liturgical worship should shed its sacred character, who foolishly say we should substitute for sacred items & furnishings ordinary common things in daily use.” —Pope Saint Paul VI (14 Oct 1968)

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Views from the Choir Loft

Update! • Accompaniments for the Brébeuf Hymnal

Jeff Ostrowski · February 14, 2019

E HAVE RECEIVED an update regarding the organ accompaniments for the Brébeuf Hymnal. I’ve been helping proofread for months and could not be more excited about them! To read the update, please visit the Brébeuf website and scroll to the bottom. Oh, if only…

If only you knew how much work is going on “behind the scenes” for the Brébeuf Hymnal. You ain’t seen nothing yet! We have truly amazing things planned. One of the most important is a “hymn planning guide” that will greatly assist those who use the Brébeuf Hymnal. Incidentally, here is an example of how the accompaniments sound:


Visit the Brébeuf Hymnal and locate number 266 to hear the other voices: SOPRANO, ALTO, TENOR, and BASS. Many readers won’t do that, which makes me sad. The Tenor voice is really cool. You should see it.

HE ENGLISH VERSION given in that video for Jesu Redemptor Omnium was created by Monsignor Ronald Knox, who was a total genius. Look how closely he matches the literal translation of the Latin, while still rendering the text singable:


Version by Monsignor Knox:

1. Savior of all, for ever One
With God the Father; only Son,
Whom he alone, when time was not,
Past our imagining, begot,

2. Splendor and light of his own fire,
Eternal hope of man’s desire,
Look down and hear the prayers that we
In world-wide homage make to thee.


Accurate Translation of the Latin:

O Christ, Redeemer of all,
Only-begotten of the Father,
alone born of the Father
inexpressibly and before the beginning:

2. Thou light, thou radiance of the Father,
thou undying hope of all,
pay heed to the prayers that thy servants
pour forth throughout the earth.


Now compare that to something chosen as the 2020 “synod hymn” for the (Roman Catholic) Archdiocese of Liverpool:

85408 synod hymn


You can click here to hear a performance. If you think I’m pulling your leg, visit their website, and download a pdf of that hymn.

The Brébeuf Hymnal is based on the authentic core of Catholic hymnody. We completely reject many of the modern songs found in publications by the “Big Three,” such as this example from the Worship Hymnal (GIA). I don’t wish to be divisive, hurtful, or argumentative; but neither will I pretend the Brébeuf Hymnal is “basically the same” as other publications. It’s not.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Jean de Brebeuf Hymnal 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

    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
    Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
    Our readers will be interested in this job offering for Music Director at Saint Adalbert’s Basilica, located 40 minutes from where I live. My pastor was recently elevated to this basilica. He is offering $80,000 per year, plus benefits. I’m told Saint Adalbert’s Basilica is utterly gorgeous and contains one of America’s most magnificent pipe organs. It would be fantastic to have a colleague nearby!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    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

Random Quote

These prayers were not peculiar to Good Friday in the early ages (they were said on Spy Wednesday as late as the eighth century); their retention here, it is thought, was inspired by the idea that the Church should pray for all classes of men on the day that Christ died for all. Duchesne is of opinion that the “Oremus” now said in every Mass before the Offertory—which is not a prayer—remains to show where this old series of prayers was once said in all Masses.

— Catholic Encyclopedia (1909)

Recent Posts

  • “How to Conduct 90 Vespers Services Each Year and Live to Tell the Tale.”
  • 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • The Tallis Scholars
  • Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
  • Pope Saint Paul VI to Consilium (14 October 1968)

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