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“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

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Views from the Choir Loft

“Episcopalian” Music vs. “Catholic” Music? Wrong question!

Jeff Ostrowski · April 22, 2013

OU WON’T BE SURPRISED when I say that I speak to many different Church musicians on a daily basis. If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard the following comment from one of my buddies, I’d be a rich man:

“You Catholics ought to learn from the Episcopal Church. In the Episcopal Church we do Sacred music correctly. Your parishes are awful, but ours are wonderful.”

When I hear comments like these, I bite my tongue. I don’t argue. I don’t respond. There’s no point in responding. But in my heart, I know the truth, and here’s the truth:

Some Catholic churches have fantastic Sacred music. Others do not. Some Episcopalian churches have fantastic Sacred music. Others do not. Some Anglican churches have fantastic Sacred music. Others do not.

Here’s a video from an Episcopal Church filmed on Easter of 2013:

The reality of the situation is that the Catholic Church is the True Church founded by our Lord Jesus Christ about 2,000 years ago. At the end of the day, the crucial question is not whether such-and-such a church has nicer music than such-and-such a Catholic church.

That being said, we are called by our Lord to take the liturgy very seriously. We are called to recognize that the Mass is the Sacrifice of Calvary. Those who insist on music contrary to what Church legislation allows will have to answer for their actions when they die. I would not want to be in their shoes. May God help us always to serve Him, so that we can one day be happy with Him in Heaven.

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 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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

    Tempo?? • 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘞𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦
    Once, after Mass, my pastor said he really loved the hymn we did. I said: “Father, that's Holy God, We Praise Thy Name—you never heard it before?” He replied: “But the way you did it was terrific. For once, it didn't sound like a funeral dirge!” Last Sunday, our volunteer choir sang that hymn. I think the tempo was just about right … but what do you think?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Don’t You Agree About These?
    If you want to make Jeff Ostrowski really happy, send him an email with effusive praise about the individual voice recordings for hymn #296. [Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass] They came out dazzlingly sensational, don't you agree?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Choral Vowels? Yes? No?
    Here's a live recording of one of the choral “warm-up” exercises my choir enjoys. It was taken during our rehearsal on 27 January 2023. It’s good to make sure each chord is perfectly in tune and balanced before moving to the next one. That only happens when each singer has the correct vowel. If you like, you can freely download that vocal exercise.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

Thus the priest-celebrant, putting on the person of Christ, alone offers sacrifice, and not the people, nor clerics, nor even priests who reverently assist. All, however, can and should take an active part in the Sacrifice. “The Christian people, though participating in the Eucharistic Sacrifice, do not thereby possess a priestly power,” We stated in the Encyclical Mediator Dei (AAS, vol 39, 1947, p. 553).

— Pope Pius XII (2 November 1954)

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