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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

Lace for an Altar Boy’s Surplice? — Yes? No?

Jeff Ostrowski · August 25, 2021

HE COMPANY OF JESUS is often referred to by the name of “Jesuits.” Many priests who belong to this religious order have fallen into dissent, scandal, and heresy; but some of the “old-school” Jesuits were intelligent, obedient, holy men. One example would be Father John Hardon (d. 2000). Another is Father Patrick T. Brannan (d. 2017), who entered the Novitiate of Saint Isaac Jogues in Wernersville (Pennsylvania) in 1950. I had the privilege to know him for about fifteen years. He was an expert in Latin and Greek. Father Brannan once wrote an article for HPR in which he said something to the effect of:

“People love to argue about Gothic vs. Fiddleback chasubles—but that’s silly. We wore both styles before the Council, and we can wear both styles after the Council.”

Another thing people love to argue about (with unrestrained passion) is: Lace or No Lace.

Some people hate lace. Others love it. I personally have no preference, but when I posted this article from 1952 on Facebook, it was viewed 9,000 times:

*  PDF Download • Lace On Altar Boy’s Surplice?
—This image was viewed 9,000+ times on our Facebook page.

For The Record: In 1999, Cardinal Ratzinger seems to have worn lace when celebrating the Traditional Latin Mass (see below). By the way, have you noticed people are trying to decide what to call celebrations according to the 1962 Missale Romanum? Some say “Extraordinary Form,” others say “Tridentine Rite,” others say “Ordo Antiquus,” others say “Usus Antiquior,” others say “Latin Mass,” and so forth. Father Fortescue said it best: “Like all other liturgical functions, like offices and ranks in the Church, indeed like everything else in the world, the religious service that we call the Mass existed long before it had a special technical name.”

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Father Patrick T Brannan, ORDO ANTIQUUS, usus antiquior Last Updated: August 25, 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

    “What Martin Luther Said…”
    My pastor asked me to write little columns for the bulletin each week. The article for 20 July 2025 has been posted, and it’s called: “What Luther Said…” Martin Luther (an ex-priest and apostate) was an infamous heretic whose ignorance of JESUS CHRIST was only exceeded by his filthy and disgusting vulgarity.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “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

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

The Princess of the Palatinate once described German Protestantism to Louis XIV with this formula: “In our country, everyone makes up his own little religion.” Every priest, or almost every priest, is at this point today. All the faithful have to say is “Amen.” They are still blessed when the pastor’s religion does not change every Sunday, at the whim of his reading, the foolery he has seen others at, or at his own pure fancy.

— Professor Louis Bouyer (1968)

Recent Posts

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  • “What Martin Luther Said…”
  • “Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • Worship the Lord in Holy Attire

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