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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

Improve Your Parish’s Liturgy … Instantaneously!

Jeff Ostrowski · August 18, 2015

394 Donald Trump Hillary Clinton RAVELING BY CAR and bored, I turned on a popular radio talk show. The host kept screaming: “The Republican debate got 24 million viewers; who cares? Big deal. It wasn’t run correctly.” He insisted that debates shouldn’t have moderators, and I don’t disagree. The only “moderator” should be an hour glass, just like the Lincoln–Douglas debates of 1858. 1

But I soon switched off the radio, because his approach annoyed me. 2 It’s easy to scream into a microphone all day, but when it comes to forming a coalition to remove all moderators, he wouldn’t lift a finger. Provoking people and getting them riled up is one thing; bringing forth something positive is quite another.

Many liturgical “pundits” fall into the same category. They tell everyone else what to do, yet are unwilling to do the hard work in their own parish. Let’s be honest: working to improve liturgy at the local level—teaching real singers, educating real parishioners—is immensely challenging. Richard Clark and Aurelio Porfiri often share their stories about such difficulties, and I suspect anyone involved in Church music can relate. 3 However, a new publication has come along which should make this very tough job a little easier.

A SPECIAL TEAM OF CATHOLICS came together 4 to produce what I would suggest is the easiest way to instantly improve your parish liturgy. You’ve heard me talk about this pew book before. It’s called the JOGUES ILLUMINATED MISSAL, LECTIONARY, & GRADUAL.

996 Pentecost 995 Exterior 986 Creator Fulness


Even if your parish is nowhere near singing the Propers, this book will change lives. Rather than explain the Propers, it shows you the Propers each Sunday. Rather than explain how Catholics honor the Word of God, it shows you, by a unique & splendid formatting for the Readings. Complete keyboard accompaniments for the Gospel Acclamations & Responsorial Psalms are available online, and the book’s luscious artwork is a veritable catechism class. The formatting of the Order of Mass is unmatched, and includes ancient manuscripts demonstrating the astonishing antiquity of the Mass:

4494 Exsultet 985 4495 Petrus 001 992 Agnus 990 Per Ipsum 989 Therefore 987 Pange Lingua


The Jogues Missal avoids a “cut and paste” feel. Look at these images and see if you can understand what I’m getting at:

984 Cut And Paste 983 Cut And Paste 982 Cut And Paste


Congregations will simply ignore blobs of text like that. Moreover, such formatting is monotonous for the eye. On the contrary, the Jogues directs the eye:

997 Renovabis 993 Cease 988 For Seeing


Let me repeat: even if your parish doesn’t sing a single Mass Proper—and most do not—your congregation will still see the Propers each Sunday. Pastors can even make reference to the Entrance Chant or Offertory, e.g. during the homily. With the passage of time, your congregation will begin to wonder why the Propers are not being sung; and it’s all downhill from there!

Until we are blue in the face, we could repeat what Vatican II said about Gregorian chant. The Council declared that chant must be given “first place” in the liturgy 5 but five decades later, less than 1% of our parishes sing even 1% of the Propers. The Jogues Missal is the easiest way to begin fixing this situation.

P.S.

When discussing the sacred liturgy, always keep things on an adult level.



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   For the record, if this same radio host had been invited to ask the questions in front of 24 million viewers, he would have taken part (notwithstanding his objections). But that’s another story…involving sour grapes.

2   I’ve come to realize it’s unhealthy to spend time listening to those with unlimited energy to complain. Time is too precious a gift from God to spend it in such a way, in my humble opinion.

3   Learning to play an instrument is hard enough, but choirmasters must do so much more. Musicians are also very sensitive, so the smallest incidents cause us massive amounts of pain.

4   Our team included members of the Church Music Association of America, Corpus Christi Watershed, folks from Christendom College, experts in the Extraordinary Form, experts from the Anglican Ordinariate, and (of course) priests from the Ordinary Form.

5   Cf. Sacrosanctum Concilium, §116.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: ICEL New Translation of the Roman Missal 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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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    New Bulletin Article • “14 September 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 14 September 2025) discusses OFFERTORY ANTIPHONS and contains a wonderful quote by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • Draft Copy (Pamphlet)
    A few days ago, I posted a draft copy of this 12-page pamphlet with citations about the laity’s “full, conscious, and active participation.” Its basic point or message is that choir directors should never feel embarrassed to teach real choral music because Vatican II explicitly ordered them to do that! We’ve received tons of mail regarding that pamphlet, with many excellent suggestions for improvement. Please feel free to chime in!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Entrance Chant” • 23rd (Ordinary Time)
    This coming Sunday, 7 September 2025, is the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). You can download the “Entrance Chant,” conveniently located at the feasts website. I also recorded a rehearsal video for it (freely available at the same website). The Communion Chant includes gorgeous verses in FAUXBOURDON. I attempted to create a rehearsal video for it, and it’s been posted at the feasts website, called by some: “church music’s best kept secret.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Karl Keating • “Canonization Questions”
    We were sent an internet statement (screenshot) that’s garnered significant attention, in which KARL KEATING (founder of Catholic Answers) speaks about whether canonizations are infallible. Mr. Keating seems unaware that canonizations are—in the final analysis—a theological opinion. They are not infallible, as explained in this 2014 article by a priest (with a doctorate in theology) who worked for multiple popes. Mr. Keating says: “I’m unaware of such claims arising from any quarter until several recent popes disliked by these Traditionalists were canonized, including John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II. Usually Paul VI receives the most opprobrium.” Mr. Keating is incorrect; e.g. Father John Vianney, several centuries ago, taught clearly that canonizations are not infallible. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen would be another example, although clearly much more recent than Saint John Vianney.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Vatican II Changed Wedding Propers?
    It’s often claimed that the wedding propers were changed after Vatican II. As a matter of fact, that is a false claim. The EDITIO VATICANA propers (Introit: Deus Israel) remained the same after Vatican II. However, a new set of propers (Introit: Ecce Deus) was provided for optional use. The same holds true for the feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great on 3 September: the 1943 propers (Introit: Si díligis me) were provided for optional use, but the traditional PROPRIA MISSAE (Introit: Sacerdótes Dei) were retained; they weren’t gotten rid of. The Ordo Cantus Missae (1970) makes this crystal clear, as does the Missal itself. There was an effort made in the post-conciliar years to eliminate so-called “Neo-Gregorian” chants, but (contrary to popular belief) most were retained: cf. the feast of Christ the King, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and so forth.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)
    How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“Both of these appointments—of Cardinal Lercaro and Father Bugnini—to key positions on the Consilium made it possible for voices to be heard that could not be heard during the proceedings of the Council, and likewise silenced others.”

— Alfons Cardinal Stickler, Vatican II ‘peritus’

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