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Corpus Christi Watershed

Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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The Saint John de Brébeuf Hymnal

The Saint John de Brébeuf Hymnal

INE ASSOCIATES of Corpus Christi Watershed were chosen to help produce the Brébeuf Hymnal, which (according to one of the main authors for the CHURCH MUSIC ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA) “has no parallel and not even any close competitor.” A member of the CATHOLIC ORGANIST GROUP wrote: “I have never encountered such a prolific and astoundingly interesting hymnal; I just read it for an hour and I’ve barely scratched the surface. I’m hanging on every word. It could easily stand as a primary text to a course, and is almost overkill as a pew aid.” The Brébeuf Hymnal contains three times as many hymns as its competitors. The Brébeuf series—sold exclusively by SOPHIA INSTITUTE PRESS—was designed by and for priests and musicians serving in real parishes across the globe.

*  Pew Edition • Purchase the Pew Edition (932 pages)
—Contact SOPHIA INSTITUTE PRESS for bulk discount rates.
*  CHORAL SUPPLEMENT • Purchase Link (1,192 pages)
—Must be used in conjunction with the pew edition.
*  ORGAN ACCOMPANIMENT • Three Volumes (1,292 pages)
—Sold by SOPHIA INSTITUTE PRESS; Spiral-Bound; extremely opaque paper.

The Brébeuf Portal:

* SEARCH THE HYMN PORTAL

This powerful and innovative portal can be searched for numerous hymn items. For example, search the portal for “EUCHARIST” and tons of Eucharistic hymns come up—as this result shows. You can also search for all instances of a particular melody found in the Brébeuf Hymnal. For example, when you search for the melody called “MELCOMBE,” the portal instantly pulls up these results. For tunes used no more than once in the Brébeuf Hymnal, the results reflect that. For example, if you search for the beautiful tune called “WHITEHEAD,” you get just one result (because that melody is only used once in the Brébeuf Hymnal). If you search for the ancient Latin hymn “Ad Cenam Agni Providi,” the results are splendid. Searching by liturgical season is highly recommended. For example, if you search for “ADVENT,” you get excellent results.

Access any hymn with ease! Simply type digits into the URL address shown below. (For example, #802 would be: https://www.ccwatershed.org/brebeuf/page/802/.)

(Brébeuf Hymnal) • Sample Pages
You can immediately download fifty-seven sample pages completely free of charge. Included are pages from the choral supplement & organ accompaniment volumes. In some ways, viewing these sample pages is the quickest way to learn about this exciting new book.

(Brébeuf Hymnal) • Complete Indices
You can download the complete index for the Brébeuf Hymnal. Mrs. Veronica Moreno has also uploaded a handy “seasonal index” that can be downloaded here.

(Brébeuf Hymnal) • No More Stacked Lyrics!
Lyric “stacking” has a number of major disadvantages. (If you’re confused about what “lyric stacking” is click here.) For example, when the keyboard player simultaneously serves as CANTOR, it’s virtually impossible to play all the notes correctly while attempting to sing “stacked” lyrics—especially if the hymn is unfamiliar, once you get past the first few verses. The Brébeuf Hymnal has solved this problem once and for all as you can see.

(Brébeuf Hymnal) • Additional Questions?
We’ve compiled thirty-five articles about the Brébeuf Hymnal published in various media outlets to help answer all your questions. We have included third-party reviews.

“Are These Hymn Titles in Latin or English?”
A very important thing to grasp!
Natalia explains in this video:

Here’s the direct URL link.

Free Rehearsal Videos
More than 1,000 and counting!
Natalia describes them in this video:

Here’s the direct URL link.

Alphabetizing Hymnals
Does it make sense?
Natalia answers in this video:

Here’s the direct URL link.

Notating Every Verse?
The least we can do for singers!
Natalia explains in this video:

Here’s the direct URL link.

Why Name a Hymnal After Father Brébeuf?
Who Was This Saint?
Natalia explains in this video:

Here’s the direct URL link.

What Are Its Two Sections?
Truly crucial information!
Natalia explains in this video:

Here’s the direct URL link.

Stations of the Cross by Fulton J. Sheen?
Plus Cardinal Ratzinger & Saint Alphonsus Liguori.
Natalia explains in this video:

Here’s the direct URL link.

Common Hymn Melodies
(a.k.a. “Shared Tunes”)
Natalia explains in this video:

Here’s the direct URL link.

The Father Brébeuf Hymnal is distributed exclusively by SOPHIA INSTITUTE PRESS, and has been featured in their Annual Report. Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity. In the interest of full disclosure, any artists who contributed to the Brébeuf hymnal—texts, melodies, harmonizations, artwork, and so forth—receive standard royalties. Please contact Sophia Institute Press with questions about the Brébeuf Hymnal: liturgy.sophiainstitute.com. Beautiful and powerful images of Saint Jean de Brébeuf—one North America’s patron saints—can be downloaded by clicking here.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Typo in the “Missale Romanum” (1962)
    The 1962 MISSALE ROMANUM was a transitional missal. It was on its way to becoming the 1970 version, but wasn’t there yet. It eliminated certain duplications, downplayed the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar, expanded the role of laymen, minimized the Last Gospel, made many items optional, and so forth. Father Valentine Young spotted many typos in the 1962 MISSALE ROMANUM, especially incorrect accents. The Offertory Antiphon for this coming Sunday (OF kalendar) contains an error, citing the wrong verse from Psalm 118. It should be 118:107b, not 118:154. If you read verse 154, you’ll understand how that error crept in. [In this particular case, the error pre-dates the 1962 Missal, since the 1940s hand-missal by Father Lasance also gets it wrong.]
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 30th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 26 October 2025, which is the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the top-notch feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Little Encouragement?
    In the Gospel, our Savior tells about 10 lepers who were healed. Only one went back to give thanks. Precious few express gratitude, yet many have endless energy to complain. For that reason, I deeply appreciate receiving messages like the following, which arrived a few days ago (about the parish where I direct in Michigan): “Last Sunday, a couple I knew from Grand Rapids was at Mass at 10:00 a.m. I got a chance to talk to them after Mass. I wanted to let you know what they said about the choir. They were absolutely floored by our sound!!!!! They both said they could continuously listen to our choir and the beauty of it. They asked me: “Do you always sound like that?” And they were also very surprised at how packed the church was. They said it was nice for them to be in such a full church. I just thought you would be interested to know their thoughts about our choir.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Our Father” • Musical Setting?
    Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 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 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Franz Liszt was an eminent keyboard virtuoso but a dangerous example for the young. … As a composer he was terrible.”

— Clara Schumann

Recent Posts

  • Typo in the “Missale Romanum” (1962)
  • “Music List” • 30th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • “Our Father” • Musical Setting?
  • Little Encouragement?
  • Children’s Repertoire • Mueller’s Recommendations

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