The Vatican II Hymnal • Old Website

The Vatican II Hymnal • Old Website

Corpus Christi Watershed · June 1, 2014

The Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal is available!

* Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal • PURCHASE LINK

Purchase yours today!

Some Quick Facts:

* PDF Download • SEASONAL INDEX
(For personal use, uploaded by Veronica Moreno)

* PDF Download • COMPLETE INDICES
(Material from the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal)

* PDF Download • SNIPPETS INDEX (8,000 entries)
—Please be patient as this massively helpful page loads!

* Instructional Video • YOUTUBE
(“Using the Brébeuf Index Correctly”)

* YouTube Video • “Most Catholic Indexes”
—This shows the rationale behind the Brébeuf indices.

* CCWatershed Article • ORGAN ACCOMP.
(Additional info Re: the Organ Accompaniment volumes)

* PDF Download • ADDITIONAL ARTICLES
(Ten articles about the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal)

* Blog Article • SOURCE MATERIAL
(Many of the old Catholics hymnals we scanned can be downloaded here)

* PDF Download • EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
(Salient points about this hymnal on a single sheet)

* Photographs • CHORAL SUPPLEMENT
(The Brébeuf Choral Supplement has started to arrive in mailboxes!)

* PDF • “What People Are Saying”
(Testimonials from Catholics in the pews.)

* PDF • “What Experts Are Saying”
(Testimonials from authorities on Sacred Music.)

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

“Lamb of God” (Musical Setting)

The MASS OF SAINT ANNE LINE has been quite popular ever since ROMAN MISSAL Third Edition was released circa 2011. You can now download the musical score (PDF) for this setting, placed into five (5) different keys; i.e. “pitch levels” that are high and low. This makes it possible to adjust based upon who’s singing at which time of day.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • Introit (2nd Sn. Ord.)

This coming Sunday, 18 January 2026, is the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A). The ENTRANCE CHANT is set according to the fourth mode, which sounds ‘serious’ or ‘dark’ or ‘haunting’ or ‘mysterious’—and its English adaptation corresponds to the authentic version (“Omnis terra adóret”) found in the GRADUALE ROMANUM. In this rehearsal video (click here) I attempt to sing the melody while simultaneously accompanying myself on the organ. I encourage you to print off the organ accompaniment (PDF) and play through it, because the harmonies are delightful.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Spectacular Communion Setting!

The FAUXBOURDON setting of the Communion for the Baptism of the Lord (which will occur this coming Sunday) strikes me as quite spectacular. The verses—composed by the fifth century Christian poet, Coelius Sedulius—come from a long alphabetical acrostic and are deservedly famous. The feast of the LORD’S BAPTISM was traditionally the octave day of Epiphany, but in the 1962 kalendar it was made ‘more explicit’ or emphasized. The 1970 MISSALE ROMANUM elevated this feast even further.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of January (2026)

On a daily basis, I speak to people who don’t realize we publish a free newsletter (although they’ve followed our blog for years). We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and refuse to run annoying ads. As a result, our mailing list is crucial to our survival. Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “O Come All Ye Faithful” (Simplified)

I admire the harmonization of “Adeste Fideles” by David Willcocks (d. 2015), who served as director of the Royal College of Music (London, England). In 2025, I was challenged to create a simplified arrangement for organists incapable of playing the authentic version at tempo. The result was this simplified keyboard arrangement (PDF download) based on the David Willcocks version of “O Come All Ye Faithful.” Feel free to play through it and let me know what you think.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “In Paradisum” in English

We always sing the IN PARADISUM in Latin, as printed on this PDF score. I have an appallingly bad memory (meaning I’d be a horrible witness in court). In any event, it’s been brought to my attention that 15 years ago I created this organ accompaniment for the famous and beautiful ‘IN PARADISUM’ Gregorian chant sung in English according to ‘MR3’ (Roman Missal, Third Edition). If anyone desires such a thing, feel free to download and print. Looking back, I wish I’d brought the TENOR and BASS voices into a unison (on B-Natural) for the word “welcome” on the second line.

—Jeff Ostrowski

These prayers were not peculiar to Good Friday in the early ages (they were said on Spy Wednesday as late as the eighth century); their retention here, it is thought, was inspired by the idea that the Church should pray for all classes of men on the day that Christ died for all. Duchesne is of opinion that the “Oremus” now said in every Mass before the Offertory—which is not a prayer—remains to show where this old series of prayers was once said in all Masses.

— Catholic Encyclopedia (1909)