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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

Msgr. Schuler Strikes Again!

Jeff Ostrowski · October 1, 2013

OREAN FOOD is delicious, and one of my favorite dishes is called bulgogi. I just love it. However, if you feed it to a newborn baby, the baby might die. You see, God designed babies a certain way. Their stomachs can only accept certain types of food.

Almighty God provided for babies by giving them mothers who produce the only food babies can digest. However, during the second half of the 20th century, doctors thought they were smarter than God. They no longer promoted or taught breastfeeding to mothers. My mother breastfed all five children and for doing this she was considered a lunatic, a loon, a freak. Of course, nowadays, breastfeeding is “back in style,” and as a father of two children, I can testify that doctors these days are extremely aggressive in its promotion (and so is the state of Texas).

WE NORMALLY USE the word piccoluomini when we refer to those who destroyed the liturgy. However, the doctors who thought they were smarter than God seem to have had a little bit of piccoluomini in them. It’s like St. Paul says, “Thinking themselves to become wise, they became as fools.” Speaking of the piccoluomini, here’s a two-page article by Msgr. Schuler worth reading:

      * *  “Reform of the Reform” — Msgr. Schuler (1996)

Monsignor Richard J. Schuler was a true son of the Church, and promoted the Conciliar reforms with his whole heart. However, toward the end of his life, he openly admitted that many reforms were not done according to what the Council ordered. After all, the very first document of the Council said:

“There must be no innovations unless the good of the Church genuinely and certainly requires them; and care must be taken that any new forms adopted should in some way grow organically from forms already existing.”   [Sacrosanctum Concilium, §23]

Reading that article, above, one can only agree with Msgr. Schuler: Reform the reform!

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 Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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President’s Corner

    ‘German’ Introductions for Hymns
    German organ books have an enchanting habit of including introductions for each and every hymn. For example, consider this snazzy example found in a German hymnal published in 1902. In the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal, that melody is called “Laudes Mariae” and was married to Omni Die Dic Mariae, with a popular English translation (“Daily, daily, sing to Mary”) by Father Henry Bittleston, an Oratorian priest.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Buckfast Abbey Weighs In
    Dom John Stéphan was a Benedictine monk of Buckfast Abbey in South Devon, England. On 4 February 1933, he published this interesting letter in THE TABLET. Have you seen the exterior of Buckfast Abbey? It’s beyond gorgeous. I doubt there’s a more arresting Abbey in the entire world. Dom Stéphan’s letter is concerning this momentous collection, which our organization obtained, scanned, and uploaded.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Responsorial Psalm Fauxbourdon?
    When it comes to singing Responsorial Psalms in Fauxbourdon, what does this sound like in practice? Can such a thing be done successfully with volunteer choirs in real Catholic parishes? Listen to this audio excerpt from Good Friday and see what you think. Our parish volunteer choir did so well this year—and the ceremonies were ‘standing room only’. For the record, that musical score can be downloaded (completely free of charge) from the flourishing feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    PDF • “Liturgical Law” (467 Pages)
    On Good Friday during the middle ages, the pope privately recited THE ENTIRE PSALTER. If you don’t believe me, see for yourself by reading this passage by Dom Charles Augustine Bachofen (d. 1943). His famous book—called “Liturgical Law: A Handbook Of The Roman Liturgy”—was published by the Benjamin Herder Book Company, which was the American arm (operating out of St. Louis, Missouri) of one of the world’s most significant Catholic publishers. Dom Charles Augustine Bachofen was born in Switzerland but spent his career between the Benedictine monasteries at Conception (Missouri) and Mount Angel (Oregon). His 1931 masterpiece, Liturgical Law can be downloaded as a PDF file … 467 pages!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 24 March 2026
    How well do you know your Gregorian hymns? Do you recognize the tune inserted into the bass line on this score? For many years, we sang the entire Mass in Gregorian chant—and I mean everything. As a result, it would be difficult to find a Gregorian hymn I don’t recognize instantly. Only decades later did I realize (with sadness) that this skill cannot be ‘monetized’… This particular melody is used for a very famous Gregorian hymn, printed in the LIBER USUALIS. Do you recognize it? Send me an email with the correct words, and I promise to tell everybody I meet about your prowess!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)
    I remember singing “Ubi Cáritas” by Maurice Duruflé at the conservatory. I was deeply moved by it. However, some feel Duruflé’s version isn’t suitable for small choirs since it’s written for 6 voices and the bass tessitura is quite low. That’s why I was absolutely thrilled to discover this “Ubi cáritas” (SATB) for smaller choirs by Énemond Moreau, who studied with OSCAR DEPUYDT (d. 1925), an orphan who became a towering figure of Catholic music. Depuydt’s students include: Flor Peeters (d. 1986); Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel (d. 1953); Arthur Meulemans (d. 1966); Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989); and Gustaaf Nees (d. 1965). Rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #19705. When I came across the astonishing English translation for “Ubi Cáritas” by Monsignor Ronald Knox—matching the Latin’s meter—I decided to add those lyrics as an option (for churches which have banned Latin). My wife and I made this recording to give you some idea how it sounds.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

According to the Instruction “Musicam sacram” of 5 March 1967, Article 34 §1, the polyphonic “Ordinarium Missae” can in the future still be sung suetis normis, “according to the customary norms,” i.e. by the choir. In fact, this form of the high Mass is placed in high relief compared to the other forms, among which the congregationally sung Gregorian chant Mass deserves our special attention.

— Monsignor Overath (President, “Consociatio Internationalis Musicæ Sacræ” founded by Pope Saint Paul VI

Recent Posts

  • ‘German’ Introductions for Hymns
  • Fascinating Interpretation of the “Regina Caeli” (Solemn Tone)
  • PDF Download • “Sprinkling Rite” + Psalm Verses
  • Buckfast Abbey Weighs In
  • PDF Download • “Catholic Hymnal & Service Book” (632 Pages)

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