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Corpus Christi Watershed

“A much greater source of anxiety to Us is the style of action of those who maintain that liturgical worship should shed its sacred character, who foolishly say we should substitute for sacred items & furnishings ordinary common things in daily use.” —Pope Saint Paul VI (14 Oct 1968)

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Views from the Choir Loft

Commercial Pop Culture + Church Music?

Jeff Ostrowski · March 29, 2017

FORMER STUDENT of mine recently attended a liturgical conference at the University of Notre Dame. One of the speakers was a well known “progressive” liturgist, Rev. Anthony Ruff, who has referred to plainsong as a “weapon.” She was troubled by the following public statement by Fr. Ruff (22 June 2016):

“I would hope there is a place for the avant-garde in the same way I think there has to be a place—and we have to be careful with this—a place for Jazz and place for Evangelical and all of that. […] On theological grounds, I do think we need interaction with the culture at the level of high art or at the level of more commercial pop culture.”

I told my student she should have asked: “Why stop at Jazz? Why not Heavy Metal? Why not Rap? Why not Grunge?” Indeed, many churches have already tried mixing pop culture with sacred music—as if we Americans have been deprived of that. The following was filmed at an Episcopalian church in 2013. Sadly, I’ve seen similar videos filmed in Catholic churches. Observe how they applaud the musicians:


It would be difficult for me to imagine anything more antithetical to what I consider authentic, reverent, and holy Catholic worship. At FSSP.la, our musicians hope never to be seen—and we would feel humiliated if anyone clapped for us. We sing at the back of the church (up in the choir loft) and our parishioners are taught the same thing I was: face forward in your pew! Growing up, we would have been severely reprimanded if we turned around in our pew. We were taught to kept the eyes forward, focused on the Tabernacle and Eucharistic Sacrifice, where Christ is made present on the Altar. I realize some no longer believe the SANCTISSIMUM to be the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our Savior—but we do. And we try to act accordingly, with St. John Vianney as our model.

All of us, myself included, should watch the organist at 1:50, asking ourselves if we are guilty of acting inappropriately in the house of God.

Having watched that video, let’s renew our good resolution never to be disrespectful in church.

GETTING BACK TO THE ISSUE of mixing in commercial pop culture, as Fr. Ruff advocates, we must exercise caution. Those who lack musical training might get confused when the issue of (for example) Renaissance adoption of secular tunes is broached. But this was covered in my article, Palestrina uses the Dragnet Theme, specifically in the context of Missa My Little Pony. In essence, using a secular tune in diminution, augmentation, or as a CANTUS FIRMUS—“elevating it,” as Dr. Mahrt says—is quite different from what’s shown in that Episcopalian video.

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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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (13 July 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and propers for this Sunday are also provided at the the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
    Our readers will be interested in this job offering for Music Director at Saint Adalbert’s Basilica, located 40 minutes from where I live. My pastor was recently elevated to this basilica. He is offering $80,000 per year, plus benefits. I’m told Saint Adalbert’s Basilica is utterly gorgeous and contains one of America’s most magnificent pipe organs. It would be fantastic to have a colleague nearby!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“If he converses with the learned and judicious, he delights in their talent—if with the ignorant and foolish, he enjoys their stupidity. He is not even offended by professional jesters. With a wonderful dexterity he accommodates himself to every disposition. As a rule, in talking with women (even with his own wife) he is full of jokes and banter.”

— ‘Erasmus on St. Thomas More (England’s 1st lay Chancellor)’

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