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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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President’s Corner

    PDF Comparison Chart • “Serious Problems with the Lectionary Translation”
    EARS BEFORE truly revolutionary changes were introduced by the post-conciliar reformers, Evelyn Waugh wrote (on 16 August 1964) to John Cardinal Heenan: “I think that a vociferous minority has imposed itself on the hierarchy and made them believe that a popular demand existed where there was in fact not even a preference.” We ask the kind reader— indeed, we beg you—to realize that those of us born in the 1940s and 1950s had no cognizance of Roman activities during the 1960s and 1970s. We were concerned with making sure we had the day’s bus fare, graduating from high school, taking care of our siblings, learning a trade, getting a job, courting a spouse. We questioned neither the nuns nor the Church.1 Do not believe for one instant any of us were following the liturgical machinations of Cardinal Lercaro or Father Bugnini in real time. Setting The Stage • To never question or resist Church authorities is praiseworthy. On the other hand, when a scandalous situation persists for decades, it must be brought into focus. Our series will do precisely that as we discuss the Lectionary Scandal from a variety of angles. We don’t do this to attack the Catholic Church. Our goal is bringing to light what’s been going on, so it can be fixed once and for all. Our subject is extremely knotty and difficult to navigate. Its complexity helps explain why the situation has persisted for such a long time.2 But if we immediately get “into the weeds” we’ll lose our audience. Therefore, it seems better to jump right in. So today, we’ll explore the legality of selling these texts. A Word On Copyright • Suppose Susie modifies a paragraph by Edgar Allan Poe. That doesn’t mean ipso facto she can assert copyright on it. If Susie takes a picture of a Corvette and uses Photoshop to color the tires blue, that doesn’t mean she henceforth “owns” all Corvettes in America. But when it comes to Responsorial Psalm translations, certain parties have been asserting copyright over them, selling them for a profit, and bullying publishers vis-à-vis hymnals and missals. Increasingly, Catholics are asking whether these translations are truly under copyright—because they are identical (or substantially identical) to other translations.3 Example After Example • Our series will provide copious examples supporting our claims. Sometimes we’ll rely on the readership for assistance, because—as we’ve stressed—our subject’s history couldn’t be more convoluted. There are countless manuscripts (in Greek, Hebrew, and Latin) we don’t have access to, so it would be foolish for us to claim that our observations are somehow the ‘final word’ on anything. Nevertheless, we demand accountability. Catholics in the pews are the ones who paid for all this. We demand to know who specifically made these decisions (which impact every English-speaking Catholic) and why specifically certain decisions were made. The Responsorial Psalms used in America are—broadly speaking—stolen from the hard work of others. In particular, they borrowed heavily from Father Cuthbert Lattey’s 1939 PSALTER TRANSLATION:
    *  PDF Download • COMPARISON CHART —We thank the CCW staff for technical assistance with this graph.
    Analysis • Although certain parties have been selling (!!!) that translation for decades, the chart demonstrates it’s not a candidate for copyright since it “borrows” or “steals” or “rearranges” so much material from other translations, especially the 1939 translation by Father Cuthbert Lattey. What this means in layman’s terms is that individuals have been selling a translation under false pretenses, a translation they don’t own (although they claim to). To make RESTITUTION, all that money will have to be returned. A few years ago, the head of ICEL gave a public speech in which he said they give some of “their” profits to the poor. While almsgiving is a good thing, it cannot justify theft. Our Constant Theme • Our series will be held together by one thread, which will be repeated constantly: “Who was responsible?” Since 1970, the conduct of those who made a profit by selling these sacred texts has been repugnant. Favoritism was shown toward certain entities—and we will document that with written proof. It is absolutely essential going forward that the faithful be told who is making these decisions. Moreover, vague justifications can no longer be accepted. If we’re told they are “making the translations better,” we must demand to know what specifically they’re doing and what specific criteria they’re following. Stay Tuned • If you’re wondering whether we’ll address the forthcoming (allegedly) Lectionary and the so-called ABBEY PSALMS AND CANTICLES, have no fear. We’ll have much to say about both. Please stay tuned. We believe this will end up being the longest series of articles ever submitted to Corpus Christi Watershed. To be continued. ROBERT O’NEILL Former associate of Monsignor Francis “Frank” P. Schmitt at Boys Town in Nebraska JAMES ARNOLD Formerly associated w/ King’s College, Cambridge A convert to the Catholic Church, and distant relative of J. H. Arnold MARIA B. Currently serves as a musician in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte. Those aware of the situation in her diocese won’t be surprised she chose to withhold her last name.
    1 Even if we’d been able to obtain Roman journals such as NOTITIAE, none of them contained English translations. But such an idea would never have occurred to a high school student or a college student growing up in the 1960s. 2 A number of shell corporations claim to own the various biblical translations mandated for Roman Catholics. They’ve made millions of dollars selling (!) these indulgenced texts. If time permits, we hope to enumerate these various shell corporations and explain: which texts they claim to own; how much they bring in each year; who runs them; and so forth. It would also be good to explore the morality of selling these indulgenced texts for a profit. Furthermore, for the last fifty years these organizations have employed several tactics to manipulate and bully others. If time permits, we will expose those tactics (including written examples). Some of us—who have been working on this problem for three decades—have amassed written documentation we’ll be sharing that demonstrates behavior at best “shady” and at worst criminal. 3 Again, we are not yet examining the morality of selling (!) indulgenced texts to Catholics mandated to use those same translations.
    —Guest Author
    “Music List” • 17th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (27 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 Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Communion • “Ask & You Shall Receive”
    All of the chants for 27 July 2025 have been added to the feasts website, as usual under a convenient “drop down” menu. The COMMUNION ANTIPHON (both text and melody) are exceedingly beautiful and ancient.
    —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

“Except the psalms or canonical Scriptures of the new and old Testaments, nothing composed poetically shall be sung in church, as the holy canons command.”

— ‘Council of Braga, 563AD’

Recent Posts

  • PDF Comparison Chart • “Serious Problems with the Lectionary Translation”
  • “Music List” • 17th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • Flor Peeters In A Weird Mood?
  • Communion • “Ask & You Shall Receive”
  • Jeff’s Mother Joins Our Fundraiser

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