One who translates Aquinas expects to be cross-examined by those who understand philosophy and Latin; but Bible translators are liable to be cross-examined by anybody, because everybody thinks he knows what the Bible means.
Main Content
(Ecuador) • Archbishop Poisoned on Good Friday
It happened during the “Mass of the Presanctified” celebrated on Good Friday, 30 March 1877.
Latin Mass Gospel Reading Video: Boost your Sunday
Reviewing the Sunday readings ahead of time is a highly recommended exercise. Now enjoy a crossword puzzle at the same time!
How to Help Children Match Pitch (part I)
It all starts with teaching your kids to sing in head tone. Here are some ideas on how to do it.
The “Winking” Part • Where’d Father Lasance Get It?
A curious translation which Father Lasance “borrowed” for the Ash Wednesday Introit…
A Whale of a Pulpit
An unusual genre of ambo architecture
Extremely Rare! • Pages from the “Directorium Chori” (Solesmes Abbey, 1864)
The entire edition was destroyed in a fire (circa 1866) except four rare copies.
Feast of the Holy Family • Where did it come from?
The Consilium asked (15 March 1965): “Is it pleasing that the feast of the Holy Family be suppressed?”
“Homily — 1st Sunday of Advent, Year B” • Father Valentine Young, OFM
All of us are now closer to our moment of death than we were last year or in any time in the past.
Inspiration for Organ Improvisation
Organ improvisation is on the mind of many organists these days as they cope in the absence of choirs and other musicians.
St. Matthew, St. Jane, and the End of a Liturgical Year
St. Jane de Chantal’s Prayer of Abandonment can help you make peace with a liturgical year that was not what any of us expected.
Resurgam and the Month of All Souls
Thoughts on Death from Emily Dickinson
PDF Download • Several Useful Plainsong Books
“Variae Preces” (1892) — “Cantus Varii” (1902) — “Cantus Varii” (1928) — “Cantus Selecti” (1957)
(Installment #14) “Catholic Hymnals” • Andrea Leal
I stand behind it to the extent that I have even volunteered to record several practice recordings, for which I have never received—nor will I ever receive—a single cent.
On the Dedication of Churches
Celebrating the dedication of St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Paul Outside the Walls
“Alma Redemptoris Mater” • Thirteen (13) Organ Accompaniments
When it comes to Gregorian harmonizations, this piece is surely the “pons asinorum.”
Let’s Bring Back the Thank-You Note
I’m a little early for Thanksgiving, but I think any church musician will appreciate this story of gratitude.
Wilbur Wright and the McCarrick Report
The importance of telling the truth.
Should Hymn Lyrics Be Inordinately Archaic?
The question of “Thee, Thy, Thou, Thine” • Speaks about whether referring to the “original version” of a hymn text makes sense • Treatment of the beautiful hymn melody called “Lafitau” and a harmonization by Claude Goudimel (d. 1572) with the melody placed into the Tenor voice+
“Homily — 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A” • Father Valentine Young, OFM
God has a special task and calling for each and every one of us.
PDF Downloads
PDF Download • Rare 1970 Document Explains “Spoken vs. Sung Propers”
This is perhaps the single most significant liturgical document CCWatershed has ever unearthed—and translated to English! • Explains the origin of “Gradual Antiphons” vs. “Missal Antiphons” (a.k.a. “Sacramentary Antiphons”)+
PDF Download • Beautiful Requiem Mass Image
“Every diocese, almost every church, had its own customs. Our present rule dates from the revived missal of 1570.”
PDF Download • Extremely Simple (Yet Gorgeous) Polyphonic Funeral Mass
These rehearsal videos were recorded by one person, and he apologizes for the poor singing quality…
PDF Download • “Mass Propers for Weekdays, Commons, and Saints” (1,294 pages)
Useful links as a “follow-up” to Mæstro Clark’s article about Fr. Weber’s plainsong settings.
PDF Download • “Taste and see the goodness of the Lord” (Responsorial Psalm)
Including a written tutorial on how to perform Chabanel Psalms correctly.
PDF Download • Communion Antiphon (Mt 16:24) with Organ Accompaniment
To give you an idea how this sounds, I recorded the piece on my toy organ.