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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

Readings & Prayers Used By My Family On Sunday…

Jeff Ostrowski · March 22, 2020

Will these be useful to you? I don’t know.

Nevertheless, below are some activities my family did on Sunday:


(1)

Five decades of the Rosary, with our children leading.


(2)

I read the Gospel, since we cannot currently attend Mass due to the Coronavirus situation in Los Angeles. Here is how the Saint Isaac Jogues Illuminated Lectionary prints the Gospel from Laetare Sunday, Year C:

*  PDF Download • Gospel from 4th Sunday of Lent
—To understand why Year C was chosen, see below.


(3)

Father Valentine Young, OFM, died a few months ago. But we still have his Homily that he gave on 31 March 2019. Therefore, I read the Homily:

Homily by Fr. Valentine Young, OFM (31 March 2019)

Introduction: Probably most, if not all of us can relate to this parable of the prodigal son. For a part of my life I have to admit that I did not really know the meaning of the word ‘prodigal.’ I finally looked it up and found out it means to be extravagantly wasteful. I guess I had somewhat surmised this from the context of the story. But more to the point: Most of us probably know or even have some relative or someone close to them who no longer practices their Catholic Faith. People frequently ask me what they should do in such circumstances.

The answer: I will start off by saying that I don’t have any ready-made or guaranteed answer. What I am going to say will be suggestions at best.

Example of the Father: First we have the example of the father himself. Now the story doesn’t really tell us what he did after his son left. The father didn’t seem to put up much of an argument when the son told the father that he wanted his half of the inheritance. I don’t think the father was so naïve that he thought his son was going to go out and work among the poor. The father probably figured that if his son had to learn in the school of hard knocks, then so be it.

Prayer: Jesus doesn’t say anything in this story or parable about the father praying for his son while the son was away squandering his inheritance. As a good Jew, the father would have been acquainted with the one hundred and fifty psalms, or at least some of them. Many of them contain prayers for forgiveness of sin, and can easily be prayed for oneself or for others. (I’ll admit I am only editorializing when I made these last remarks.)

The only sure thing: But in reality the only sure or certain thing that we can do for such persons is to pray for them. Believe me, I’m not saying this as a ‘cop out.’ I’m saying this because I know and believe it is true. And I’ll repeat a little incident I remember from my own mother. One of my brothers was out of the Church for years. My mother was asked once—and I happened to hear this conversation—“Do you worry about your son?” Without hesitation, she answered: “No. I don’t worry about him. I just pray for him.” I cannot think of better advice to give.

What not to do: The first thing is to be careful of what you say. Don’t be too aggressive. And if you are in doubt about saying something, it will probably be best not to say it. Early in my life I had two (2) bad experiences in taking the initiative: one with my brother, and another with an aunt who was a fallen away Catholic. Both back-fired and did absolutely no good. My mother’s prayers brought my brother back to the Church before he died. God will answer our prayers when and how he sees fit.

The Father: The father of this son had the joy of seeing his son return. I would like to think the father lived his life as normally as possible while the son was gone. And the father did not blame himself for what the son had done. Nor did the father ‘rub it in’ when the son returned. Those are also things we should remember. We can pray for those who may have gone astray, but we don’t have to lose our own peace of mind and happiness because of what they have done or are doing. God does not will that. And we are here on this earth to do the will of God.


(4)

Then, we watched this—which fit perfectly with the “Prodigal Son” theme:

[YouTube: Bishop Fulton J. Sheen speaks about Blessed Charles de Foucauld]


(5)

Finally, I recalled the prayer of Blessed Charles de Foucauld, shared with us by Fr. Robert Skeris:

Father,

I abandon myself
into Your hands:
do with me what You will.

Whatever You may do,
I thank You;
I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only Your will be done in me,
and in all Your creatures—

I wish no more than this, O Lord.

Into Your hands I commend my soul;
I offer it to You

With all the love of my heart,
for I love You Lord, and so need to
give myself, to surrender myself
into Your hands without reserve,

and with boundless confidence,
for You are my Father.


In one of his articles, Dr. Lucas Tappan reminded us that families can be called a “domestic church.”

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: March 22, 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 • “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

“Although the Mass contains much instruction for the faithful, it has nevertheless not seemed expedient to the fathers that it be celebrated everywhere in the vernacular. The holy synod commands pastors and everyone who has the care of souls to explain frequently during the celebration of the Masses, either themselves or through others, some of the things that are read in the Mass, and among other things to expound some mystery of this most Holy Sacrifice, especially on Sundays and feastdays.”

— ‘Council of Trent, XII:8 (1562)’

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