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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

When Others Say You’re “Dumb”

Jeff Ostrowski · September 4, 2023

HEN WE WERE LITTLE, we could not abide being called “stupid” by another sibling. Our normal response as children was to punch (or even kick) that sibling. WILL ROGERS (d. 1935)—the “cowboy philosopher” who became one of the most widely-read American authors of the early 20th century—once quipped: “Everybody’s stupid, just on different subjects.” Now that I have reached maturity, I’m happy to admit my ignorance about an enormous amount of subjects. The fact that I can put my shoes on properly in the morning is (in some ways) a miracle. At the same time, many who constantly brag online about their intellectual prowess are woefully uninformed about their chosen subject matter.1

Not A Matter Of “Dumb” • A major problem today is information overload. We’re also surrounded by a zillion spammers—whose dishonesty has no limits—as well as snake-oil salesmen (who have permeated our society). Therefore, I often encounter readers who don’t know about certain items on our website, even though we have featured them in the past. A common question has to do with the hymns in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal. Specifically, whether they are in English or Latin. I hope this video will clear up matters:

Here’s the direct URL link.

Jeff’s Disability • I have come to believe I might have a disability. My brain often doesn’t seem to make “connections.” For example, for my entire life I’ve known what BURGER KING is. However, I never stopped to think about what they’re trying to say: viz. their restaurant produces the “king of burgers.” When I was little, a browser was called INTERNET EXPLORER. Now that I think about it, they were trying to say that it’s a device which “explores the internet.” I could give a zillion more examples of my disability.

“Daycare” • Something that provides care to children during the day.
“Suburbs” • An outlying district, from the Latin: Urbs, Urbis.
“Nonsense” • Literally, something that doesn’t make sense.
“Dreadnought” • A ship so powerful it fears (“dreads”) nothing (“nought”).
“Minding my own business” • Literally, tending to one’s own business.
“Disability” • Literally, an inability (“in-ability”) to do something.
“Sidewalk” • A place one can walk upon located on the side of the road.
“Airport” • A port for vehicles which fly in the air.
“Rusty” • If you leave something out in the yard, it will become rusty. “My French is rusty” means it’s been left alone for a while.
“Longshot” • The further you move a target back, the harder it is to hit. Therefore, if something is a “longshot” it’s unlikely to happen.
“Hedgehog” • Literally, a hog that likes to live around hedges.
“Keep your eyes peeled” • Quite literally, keep your eyes open.
“Assignment” • That which has been assigned to a student.
“Breadsticks” • Bread that looks like sticks!
“Garage Sale” • Literally, a marketplace selling items outside a garage.
“Fireplace” • The “place” where the fire is.
“Earring” • A ring for the ear.
“Walkie-Talkie” • A device allowing one to walk around and talk at the same time.
“Band-Aid” • Something that gives aid which looks like a band.
“Hide and go seek” • The name of this game describes what happens during it.

My entire life I have known what these words (phrases?) mean and precisely how to use them. Yet somehow I never stopped to think about their origin. I hope that makes sense.

Article Summary • Father Valentine Young (d. 2020) used to talk about “people who would suffer 1,000 deaths rather than say three simple words: I don’t know.” I think we’ve all encountered internet Catholics like that. It’s as if their entire existence is dedicated to showing everyone how much they know. The truth is, admitting one’s ignorance can be a liberating experience. The video above addresses a topic which (perhaps) should be known but often isn’t. For the record, the Brébeuf Hymnal is not the first book to use Latin titles and English songs. Even non-Catholics did this, e.g. George Ratcliffe Woodward (d. 1934) published a famous hymnal like that.

1 As someone involved with the “Traditionalist movement” since the 1990s—on multiple continents—I can affirm something with certainty. When it comes to TLM parishes, I’ve noticed that those who act the most pharisaical and judgmental are almost without exception people whose personal lives are the most disordered. Similarly, when it comes to the “ultra-traditionalist” blog world, I have noticed that those who constantly brag about how smart they are—and who never admit ignorance about anything—are almost without exception people insecure about their own knowledge.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: George Ratcliffe Woodward Last Updated: October 14, 2024

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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” • 29th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 19 October 2025, which is the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the sensational feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Liturgical Round (“Canon”) in C-Major
    Those who direct children’s choirs are always on the lookout for repertoire that’s dignified, inspired, and pleasing—yet still within reach of young choristers. Such directors will want to investigate this haunting liturgical round (PDF download) which has been married to the KYRIE from Mass VI (EDITIO VATICANA). I have provided an accompaniment, but it’s only for use during rehearsal; i.e. when teaching this round to your choristers. I also provided an organ accompaniment for the KYRIE—which some know by its trope (Kyrie Rex Genitor)—so that your congregation can take part when this round is used as a choral extension during Mass.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Latin Liturgy Association
    We note with pleasure that Mrs. Regina Morris, president of the Latin Liturgy Association, has featured—on page 4 of Volume CXXIX of their official newsletter—the three (3) terrific versions of the Stations of the Cross found in the Brébeuf Hymnal. One of the main authors for the blog of the Church Music Association of America said (6/10/2019) about this pew book: “It is such a fantastic hymnal that it deserves to be in the pews of every Catholic church.”
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

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

“For me, religious music ceased with the sixteenth century. The fresh, childlike souls of that time alone expressed their vehement, untainted fervor in music free from worldliness. Since then we have had pious musical improvisations more or less made for show. That wonderful man Johann Sebastian Bach only escaped because of his natural genius. He built harmonic edifices as a devout architect and not as an apostle.”

— Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

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