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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

Come to Sydney for a Retreat in Silence and Song

Veronica Brandt · December 15, 2016

Ben XVI Chapel Retreatants in the chapel at the Benedict XVI Retreat Center, Grose Wold, NSW ANUARY IS THE TIME for the Australian Sacred Music Association’s annual monastic retreat for men. The retreat lasts 5 days (4 nights) from January 2 – 6 and is held at the Benedict XVI Retreat Centre, Grose Vale.

Discover the heart of monastic life. Enter into and participate in a complete monastic Horarium and the Sung Monastic Office – the retreat is guided by the liturgy alone in an atmosphere of silence. Personal spiritual direction will be available each day. Day one will be devoted to workshops and training supplied by the Australian Sacred Music Association (ASMA). Day two the retreat begins at Matins with the Rule of St. Benedict from then being observed.

Fr Glen Tattersall is the chaplain. He is the Parish Priest of the Personal Parish of Bl. John Henry Newman, the Latin Mass community in Melbourne.

Grose Vale is in the North West fringes of Sydney in the foothills of the Blue Mountains. The Benedict XVI Retreat Centre is an amazing construction coming from the archdiocese of Sydney in Cardinal Pell’s care.

For more details download the brochure from the Australian Sacred Music website.

Also in January are two mens retreat run by the Benedictine Monks from St Joseph de Clairval Abbey in Flavigny, France. These are run at Hartzer Park in Bowral, about an hour’s drive south of Sydney.

The dates for 2017 are 16-21 January and 23-28 January.

Again the Traditional Latin Mass is offered daily, but there is less focus on the music and more on the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius.

Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola from New Ark Films on Vimeo.

These ones tend to fill up, so it’s good to get in early – their December bulletin said there were still some vacancies. They also run some short ladies’ retreats, but they book out even sooner.

The community is moving down to Tasmania. You can find more information including bank details for donations in this article from Sydney’s Catholic Weekly.

If you can’t decide between the Sacred Music retreat in Grose Vale and the Ignatian retreat in Bowral, maybe you could try both?

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 Veronica Brandt

Veronica Brandt holds a Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering. She lives near Sydney, Australia, with her husband and six children.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    New Bulletin Article • “21 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 21 September 2025) discusses some theological items—supported by certain verses in ancient Catholic hymns—and ends by explaining why certain folks become delirious with jealousy when they observe feats by Monsignor Ronald Knox.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Cheap! Cheap! Cheap!
    It’s always amusing to see old diocesan newspapers—in huge capital letters—advertising the Cheapest Catholic Paper in the United States. The correspondent who sent this to me added: “I can think of certain composers, published by large companies in our own day, who could truthfully brag about the most tawdry compositions in the world!” I wonder what she could have meant by such a cryptic comment…
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • Dom Murray Harmonies
    Along with so many others, I have deep respect for Dom Gregory Gregory Murray, who produced this clever harmonization (PDF) of “O SANCTISSIMA.” It’s always amazed me that Dom Gregory—a truly inspired composer—was so confused when it came to GREGORIAN CHANT. Throughout his life, he published contradictory statements, veering back-and-forth like a weather vane. Toward the end of his life, he declared: “I see clearly that the need for reform in liturgical music arose, not in the 18th and 19th centuries, but a thousand years earlier—in the 8th and 9th centuries, or even before that. The abuses began, not with Mozart and Haydn, but with those over-enthusiastic medieval musicians who developed the elaborate and flamboyant Gregorian Chant.”
    —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

“Orlando de Lassus died in Munich on 14 June 1594, the selfsame day his employer decided to dismiss him for economic reasons. He never saw the letter.”

— New Grove

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