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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

Success! • Sacred Music Retreat in Ohio

Guest Author · October 5, 2018

87423 John Schauble FEW SHORT MONTHS AGO, I had the privilege of taking part in a Sacred Music Retreat near Cincinnati, Ohio. Hosted by the Oratorian Community of Cincinnati, the retreat featured Msgr. Wadsworth as the spiritual presenter, along with Kevin Allen and Nick Lemme as the music presenters. Fifty choir members from around the country—California to Maryland, Minnesota to Texas—came together for four days of intense Liturgy in the Extraordinary Form.

In general terms, a retreat is an opportunity to immerse oneself in meditation over conferences proposed by the retreat master, to spend time in individual and group prayer, all while focused on some spiritual end. Often, the traditional retreat is virtually silent except the periods of vocal prayer, and the focus is typically on the relationship of one’s soul with the Creator.

    * *  “Live” Recording • Kevin Allen “Jesu Dulcis Memoria”

This was almost exactly the same…but completely and utterly different.

87414 mass INTENDED FOR liturgical Martha’s more than liturgical Mary’s, our retreat was designed to probe the dignity and value of being a member of the liturgical choir and the corresponding responsibilities inherent therein. Spiritual conferences examined the Liturgy, the Sanctification of Time, the nature of pontifical ceremonies. The rehearsals were acts of prayer that sought to give us the tools to better accomplish our purpose. The liturgies were meditations in which we fulfilled our role of increasing the honor and glory rendered to God through participation in the worship of the Church.

The schedule was…ambitious. Prime at 6:15am followed by short meditation and Mass. Six hours of rehearsals bookending two hours of spiritual conferences. Visits to the Blessed Sacrament and time for confessions. Compline at 9:00pm followed by Grand Silence. Fourteen liturgies over the span of four days including the three public pontifical liturgies of Saturday and Sunday, celebrated by Bp. Slattery. Immersion in what defines our very purpose as members of the choir. Within these liturgies, we had an intentional range of the very simple to the very solemn. Low Mass and Prime in recto-tone without cantors; simple sung Compline with cantors; Solemn Vespers and Solemn Mass; Pontifical Vespers, Pontifical Matins / Lauds of the Dead, and two Pontifical High Masses—we ran a full gamut of different liturgical functions to illustrate the rich diversity of the Extraordinary Form. Throughout, our focus was on perfection of effort over perfection of performance, although we worked diligently for the latter with the public liturgies—no easy feat given the amount of music involved.

87422 Kevin Allen Conducting Several of the participants described the retreat as transformational in how they view their role as liturgical musicians. Of course, different things resonated with different people. For some, the musical and liturgical pedagogy while for others, the spiritual conferences. For some, the techniques gleaned from working with outstanding master musicians that we had as presenters while for others, the chance to form relationships with other directors and choir members. Relationships not merely as friends with common purpose but ordered toward aiding one another in the task of increasing the honor and glory of God through our music.

Feedback from participants revolved around two key statements. The first was the surprise that many had at discovering the deep and profound spirituality simply from chanting the Divine Office over the course of the retreat. For many, the Divine Office was a unique experience, and the hours of Prime and Compline quite moving and meaningful. The other statement was the recognition that we need more events just like this! “When will the next retreat be held?” was a question I heard frequently in the last day or two.

    * *  Facebook Page • Sacred Music Retreat

If you’d like more information about the Sacred Music Retreat or other similar events in the future, please visit the above link to our Facebook page. From that page, there are links to recordings and pictures from the retreat. Other groups have discussed hosting similar retreats in the future, and we will post information as we are made aware. Some of you may be interested to know that we are “in discovery” regarding a Sacred Music Pilgrimage to Europe in 2023 (exclusively Extraordinary Form). We’ll continue to post information about that as we explore the options that are available to us.

I leave you with the two mottos that define purpose in our choir:

Ad maiorem Dei gloriam. Da mihi animas, cetera tolle.

[All] to the greater glory of God. Give me souls, take away the rest.


We hope you enjoyed this guest article by John Schauble.



Source of Information: Official Letter

Source of Images: J. Senneff Facebook Page

Source of Recordings:     01   •   02   •   03   •   04

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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President’s Corner

    PDF Download • “Offertory” for this Sunday
    This coming Sunday, 12 October 2025, is the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). Its OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (PDF) is gorgeous, and comes from the book of Esther, as did the ENTRANCE CHANT last Sunday. Depending on a variety of factors, various hand-missals (all with Imprimatur) translate this passage differently. For instance, “príncipis” can be rendered: King; Prince; Lion; or Fierce lord. None is “more correct” than another. It depends on what each translator wants to emphasize and which source text is chosen. All these pieces of plainsong are conveniently stored at the blue-ribbon feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Why A “Fugue” Here?
    I believe I know why this plainsong harmonizer created a tiny fugue as the INTRODUCTION to his accompaniment. Take a look (PDF example) and tell me your thoughts about what he did on the feast of the Flight of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Egypt (17 February). And now I must go because “tempus fugit” as they say!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)
    Those who don’t sign up for our free EMAIL NEWSLETTER miss important notifications. Last week, for example, I sent a message about this job opening for a music director paying $65,000 per year plus benefits (plus weddings & funerals). Notice the job description says: “our vision for sacred music is to move from singing at Mass to truly singing the Mass wherein … especially the propers, ordinaries, and dialogues are given their proper place.” Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 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 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Père Joseph Gelineau represented everything that had gone wrong with the Church since the new liturgists had gained control.”

— Jean Langlais

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