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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

Offensive Music in Germany • Ash Wednesday (2019)

Jeff Ostrowski · March 13, 2019

HE FOLLOWING VIDEO has been making the rounds. You’ll surely see it sooner or later, so you might as well be prepared. (I find it pretty shocking—and, trust me, I’ve seen a lot of bad stuff.) This took place in the Basilica of St. Kunibert, and the celebrant was Cardinal Woelki, Archbishop of Cologne. For the record, I have no idea why she keeps spitting into that bullhorn during Mass. Gregory DiPippo, editor of the blog for the Church Music Association of America (CMAA), wrote: Shame on them for profaning the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with that disgusting non-music.

To me, the “sacred music” chosen seems bizarre and disrespectful.

What do you think?

Cf. nn 85172

*  Direct Download • 22.4MB
—Download this video file directly from GloriaTV.

You can view it on YouTube.

It also seems to have been uploaded as a file directly to YouTube.

Make no mistake about it: this Mass did happen—you can see for yourself. It is not a YouTube prank. They will probably remove the video, so here’s proof this is not fake.

MANY HAVE BEEN asking things like: “Why is that woman clapping in Church? Why is she hissing on Ash Wednesday? Why is she spitting into a bullhorn during Mass?” …and so forth. For myself, I have some different questions. Why is there no choir? What was found so unacceptable about truly great music (Palestrina, Morales, etc.) that this music was chosen instead? Listening to the video, can we really pretend that compositions by composers such as Marenzio are “too esoteric” to be understood by modern man? I can tell you that my choir members here in Los Angeles love the traditional music—and they sing it very well. Their favorite is Father Tomás Luis de Victoria. The Soprano in that video clearly has a fantastic voice; why does she not use her voice to train a choir?

I don’t know anything about Cardinal Woelki, but several who do know him have written to say he must have been tricked into doing this. Sadly, bishops are often unaware of what they’re walking into.

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: March 1, 2021

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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 • (5th Sunday of Lent)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for this coming Sunday, which is the 5th Sunday of Lent (22 March 2026). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. Traditionally, this Sunday was called ‘Passion’ Sunday. Starting in 1956, certain church leaders attempted rename both ‘Passion’ Sunday and ‘Palm’ Sunday—but it didn’t work. For example, Monsignor Frederick McManus tried to get people to call PALM SUNDAY “Second Passion Sunday”—but the faithful rejected that. I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music List • (Holy Thursday, 2026)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for Holy Thursday, which is 2 April 2026. If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a more piercingly beautiful INTROIT, and I have come to absolutely love the SATB version of ‘Ubi cáritas’ we are singing (joined by our burgeoning children’s choir). I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “O Escam Viatorum” • (Holy Thursday)
    When I was very young, I erroneously believed the four psalms provided by the 1957 Liber Usualis—for Communion on Holy Thursday—were the “correct” music to sing on that first day of the TRIDUUM SACRUM. Those four psalms are: Psalm 22 (Dóminus regit me et nihil mihi déerit); Psalm 71 (Deus judícium tuum regi da); Psalm 103 (Bénedic ánima méa); and Psalm 150 (Laudáte Dóminum in sanctis ejus). It turns out I was way out in left field! While nothing forbids singing those psalms, many other options are equally valid. Our volunteer parish choir will sing this COMMUNION PIECE (joined by our burgeoning children’s choir) on Holy Thursday during Holy Communion. Needless to say, this will happen after the proper antiphon from the GRADUALE ROMANUM has been sung.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Stumped by “Episcopalian Hymnal” (1910)
    Some consider Songs of Syon (1910) the greatest Episcopalian hymnal ever printed. As a Roman Catholic, I have no right to weigh in one way or the other. However, this particular page has me stumped. I just know I’ve heard that tune somewhere! If you can help, please email me. I’m talking about the text which begins: “This is the day the Lord hath made; In unbeclouded light array’d.” The book is by George Ratcliffe Woodward, and its complete title is: Songs of Syon: A Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs. Back in 2016, Corpus Christi Watershed scanned and uploaded this insanely rare book. For years our website was the sole place one could download it as a PDF file.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Dies Irae” • A Monstrous Translation
    It isn’t easy to determine what Alice King MacGilton hoped to accomplish with her very popular book—A Study of Latin Hymns (1918)—which continued to be reprinted in new editions for at least 34 years. This PDF file shows her attempt to translate the DIES IRAE “in the fewest words possible.” There’s a place for dynamic equivalency, but this is repugnant. In particular, look what she does to “Quærens me sedísti lassus.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Holy, Holy, Holy”
    For vigil Masses on Saturday (a.k.a. “anticipated” Masses) we use this simpler setting of the “Holy, Holy, Holy” by Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989), a Belgian priest, organist, composer, and music educator who ultimately succeeded another ‘Jules’ (CANON JULES VAN NUFFEL) as director of the Lemmensinstituut in Belgium. Although I could be wrong, my understanding is that the LEMMENSINSTITUUT eventually merged with “Catholic University of Leuven” (originally founded in 1425). That’s the university Fulton J. Sheen attended.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Gloria, Credo, etc., may not be broken into detached fragments; it is wrong to omit or hurry over the Proper of the day; it is not permitted to substitute organ playing for the Proper; it is wrong to use, however briefly, themes from theatrical or dance music, from popular songs, love-songs, comic songs; drums, cymbals, piano, bag-pipes are too noisy for Church use .”

— Pope Leo XIII (25 September 1884))

Recent Posts

  • Music List • (5th Sunday of Lent)
  • Music List • (Holy Thursday, 2026)
  • “O Escam Viatorum” • (Holy Thursday)
  • PDF Download • Simplified Keyboard Accompaniments for Lenten Hymns
  • Ending Good Friday on “Mi” … ?

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