Views from the Choir Loft

Not. Just. Catholics.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 17, 2021

AVE YOU EVER heard the word triggered ? A subject or concept that instantly makes people furious? I’m not fond that word—because it often escalates friendly conversations into sinful quarreling—but I think it applies to today’s topic. You see, certain souls become instantly “triggered” whenever somebody discusses whether particular musical styles are suitable for the Holy Mass. Over the past ten years, our blog has frequently discussed this question (e.g. 01 and 02). To be completely honest, I’m bored with it, because I’ve come to realize that some people refuse to admit certain musical styles are inappropriate for Mass…and yelling until I’m blue in the face can never change that. As a matter of fact, such people claim that all musical styles are okay for Mass: Rap, Hip Hop, Jazz, Polka, Disco, Country, Reggae, Bluegrass, Broadway—whatever you can think of. Our readers are aware we believe certain musical styles are too secular for the Holy Mass. Our readers also know we believe the Catholic Church is experiencing a liturgical crisis, and the most unthinkable sacrileges (e.g. 01 and 02) occur without any ecclesiastical sanction.

Not Just Catholic Churches :

Roman Catholics are not alone in this situation. I could easily post examples from Protestant sects—Lutheran, Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist, and so forth—where any concept of “sacred” or “other” seems lost. ¹

Here’s an example from the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. (which is not Catholic, although the building looks quite Catholic):

As I’ve said, I could easily post examples from many other Protestant sects.

I just wanted to make it clear these problems are not unique to the Catholic Church.

NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1 Not that I would ever seriously compare the Catholic Church to a Protestant sect, because Jesus Christ founded one Church; our Lord did not found many different churches. But I believe the Church teaches that even Protestant sects can contain elements of truth.

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

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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).

Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published

Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.

—Jeff Ostrowski

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Our choir is on break during the month of July. However, on the feasts website, the chants have been posted for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C), which is this coming Sunday: 6 July 2025.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)

With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.

—Jeff Ostrowski

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