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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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Views from the Choir Loft

In every age, the challenge is the same

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · January 17, 2013

BIBLE PASSAGE that has always struck me very forcefully is Romans 12:1–2: “I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (RSV).

Saint Paul is appealing to us by the very mercies of God, so this must be serious stuff indeed. And what is he asking us to do? To present our bodies as living sacrifices: to make of ourselves, even in our bodiliness—“from top to bottom,” one might say—a pleasing sacrifice to the Lord. And he says that if we do this, it counts as our spiritual worship. He could not be clearer in affirming the fundamental unity of man as a creature of body and soul, who worships the Lord as one being, not as a mind doing its own thing and a body left behind to do its own thing. Then, as if to explain further what he means, he says that we must not take on the form of this world, but rather be transformed through those good, acceptable, and perfect things that express God’s will. And this will amount to a re-creation of us, a making new of what has become old, stale, and wretched in our fallen nature: “Behold, I make all things new,” as Jesus says in the Book of Revelation (21:5).

There could not be a teaching more timely and more urgent in our day, when Catholicism has been reduced in its glory and transformative power by decades of facile conformism to the fads and fashions of a secular anti-culture. Nowhere can this be seen more evidently than in the realm of sacred music for the liturgy. Saint Paul’s solemn appeal to give ourselves body and soul to the spiritual worship of God, resolutely turning our backs on this world’s depraved, tawdry, or imperfect offerings, was ignored, even denied, as churches were filled with insipid or heretical lyrics, worldly rhythms, and secular styles.

Thanks be to God, a reversal is beginning to be seen, and a growing number of musicians are taking a different path—one that is genuinely new, with the freshness of the Spirit that hovers over the Church in all ages, not the oldness of the flesh celebrated in the carnal carnival of contemporary society. Centuries of magnificent musical treasures inspired by the Holy Spirit are being newly discovered and sung, in accord with the manifest mind of the Church. And new music worthy of the temple of God is being written—music that strives to be good, acceptable, and perfect, by the high standards of the Sacrifice of Praise.

In every age, the challenge is the same. Christianity should inform culture and transform the world, rather than being informed by the prevailing secular culture and being itself transformed into a second-rate image of the world. We must always be on guard lest the world mould our minds after its image, rather than letting ourselves be renewed in our minds after Christ’s image.

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Dr. Peter Kwasniewski

A graduate of Thomas Aquinas College (B.A. in Liberal Arts) and The Catholic University of America (M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy), Dr. Peter Kwasniewski is currently Professor at Wyoming Catholic College. He is also a published and performed composer, especially of sacred music.

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President’s Corner

    “Music List” • 29th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 19 October 2025, which is the 29th 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 sensational feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Liturgical Round (“Canon”) in C-Major
    Those who direct children’s choirs are always on the lookout for repertoire that’s dignified, inspired, and pleasing—yet still within reach of young choristers. Such directors will want to investigate this haunting liturgical round (PDF download) which has been married to the KYRIE from Mass VI (EDITIO VATICANA). I have provided an accompaniment, but it’s only for use during rehearsal; i.e. when teaching this round to your choristers. I also provided an organ accompaniment for the KYRIE—which some know by its trope (Kyrie Rex Genitor)—so that your congregation can take part when this round is used as a choral extension during Mass.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Latin Liturgy Association
    We note with pleasure that Mrs. Regina Morris, president of the Latin Liturgy Association, has featured—on page 4 of Volume CXXIX of their official newsletter—the three (3) terrific versions of the Stations of the Cross found in the Brébeuf Hymnal. One of the main authors for the blog of the Church Music Association of America said (6/10/2019) about this pew book: “It is such a fantastic hymnal that it deserves to be in the pews of every Catholic church.”
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    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
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

[Let there be:] “The Latin, the whole Latin, and nothing but the Latin.”

— Cardinal McIntyre (one of the Vatican II fathers)

Recent Posts

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  • Fulton J. Sheen + this Sunday’s “Entrance Chant”
  • Children’s Repertoire • Three More Recommendations by Keven Smith
  • Liturgical Round (“Canon”) in C-Major

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