• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

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.”

  • Donate
  • Our Team
    • Our Editorial Policy
    • Who We Are
    • How To Contact Us
    • Sainte Marie Bulletin Articles
    • Jeff’s Mom Joins Fundraiser
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • Repository • “Spanish Music”
    • KYRIALE • Saint Antoine Daniel
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Catechism of Gregorian Rhythm
    • Father Enemond Massé Manuscripts
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
    • Feasts Website
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster
    • “Wedding March” for lazy organists
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
    • The Eight Gregorian Modes
    • Gradual by Pothier’s Protégé
    • Seven (7) Considerations
Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • “Congregational Booklet” (Printable) for Jeff’s New Mass Setting

Jeff Ostrowski · October 4, 2023

WO THINGS HAPPEN at every Mass: (1) JESUS CHRIST is made present on the Altar; (2) JESUS CHRIST is offered to His Heavenly Father. Catholics in former times had “Sunday clothes” worn only to Mass. During the mass apostasy (pardon the pun) of the 1960s, some attempted to “de-sacralize” the Mass. In response, the CONGREGATION OF SACRED RITES condemned (29 dec 1966) “travesties of worship, springing from mere private initiative” which “tend inevitably to desacralize the liturgy, the purest expression of the worship the Church offers to God.” Even Annibale Bugnini was forced to admit, during a press conference (4 jan 1967), that the Church condemned “music which is profane, thus not worthy of the place of worship; and worldly, that is, of a style whose performance requires or seems to require movements, gestures, and attitudes unworthy of a sacred service.” Here’s one of the actual songs sung at the parish where I grew up (in the 1990s):

*  Mp3 Download • Typical “Church” Song from Jeff’s Youth
—Sung in a rich, suburban, Novus ordo Catholic church in the 1990s.

Wife Gone! • Even as a youngster, I could “sense” such music was totally inappropriate for Mass. Indeed, I had to make sure my wife was out of the house when I made that recording (above) because if she heard me singing that goofy nonsense she’d tell me: “You’re clearly not working; come hold the baby.”

Paul Inwood • Many years later, I found out that “hymn” was composed by a man named PAUL INWOOD, whom I wrote about in 2015 when he praised the 1973 ICEL translation for “concealing” the true meaning of the prayers. According to Inwood: “If we had known what the prayers really said, we would not have wanted to pray them any longer.” A friend sent this recent screenshot showing a statement by Inwood riddled with basic theological errors. Notice how Inwood says nary a word (!) about the SECOND PERSON OF THE DIVINE TRINITY becoming present on the Altar. If that’s really what Paul Inwood believes about the Mass, should anyone be surprised at the type of music he produced for it? Suddenly it all makes sense.

“CONGREGATIONAL BOOKLET” •  Rather than cursing the darkness, let’s light a candle! I recently released all seven (7) movements of my Mass setting in Honor of Saint Noël Chabanel for the Ordinary Form. It involves your CONGREGATION, your CANTRIX, and your CHOIR. My setting was designed to be extremely brief. Since it’s vernacular, it works for choirmasters whose priests have forbidden the traditional lingua sacra of the church. Mr. Seth Bauer requested the following booklet for his congregation. I thought readers might appreciate seeing it:

*  PDF Download • “CONGREGATIONAL BOOKLET”
—Mass setting in Honor of Saint Noël Chabanel (Ordinary Form).

I hope my Mass setting, although relatively simple, is adequately sacred (“set apart”) in style. Rehearsal videos for each movement are available free of charge here.

Is He Proud • Am I proud of my Mass setting? On the one hand, I studied the THESAURUS MUSICAE SACRAE for decades in order to produce it. But on the other hand, we recently welcomed a new baby into our family. I’ve been thinking a lot about the Native Americans with whom Father Noël Chabanel attempted to share the Good News. In those days, what was it like when a Native American had a baby? There was no electricity, no internet, no iPad, no plumbing, no supermarket, no clothing store, no telephone, and no hospital. They were alone out in the woods. After Father Isaac Jogues surrendered voluntarily (!) to comfort the captured Hurons, he was scheduled to be burned alive on Good Friday. How could they keep track of the liturgical season? Every day for months they were placed on torture platforms and slowly burned, cut, abused, hung from cords, and sliced with knives. How could they keep track of what day it was? I mention all these things for a reason. Even though I worked really hard to produce (and record) my Mass setting, a Native American taking care of her baby for a single day probably did more work than I’ve done in my entire life. That’s also why it’s puzzling to see some current church leaders suggest a softening (or elimination) of God’s Commandments because “life in today’s age has special difficulties.”

Article Summary • When I speak of “goofy, undignified music at Mass,” people frequently demand that I cite examples. In today’s article, I recorded a “hymn” popular when I was growing up in the 1990s. I did so in the context of releasing a congregational booklet for a Mass setting I recently released. It’s worth pointing out that I do not condemn people who have sung inappropriate music at Mass. Only God can judge them. I’m sure most had the best of intentions. On the other hand, nobody has been able to persuade me I have an obligation to “hide” or “cover up” or “stay silent about” what I’ve experienced at Mass. Another way to put this would be: This is not a joke to me. I feel called by God to try to improve the church music situation. I’m not doing this because I’m bored. If we really believe what we say we believe, we should not sing goofy music at the holy Mass.

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

Filed Under: Articles, Featured, PDF Download Tagged With: MASS IN HONOR OF NOEL CHABANEL, Paul Inwood, Paul Inwood Composer, Thesaurus musicae sacrae Last Updated: October 4, 2023

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

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).

Primary Sidebar

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

“As often as possible they gathered together the children of the village and sat them down in the cabin. Father Brébeuf would put on a surplice and biretta and chant the Our Father, which Father Daniel had translated into Huron rhymes, and the children would chant it after him. Next, he taught them the sign of the cross, the Hail Mary, the Apostles’ Creed, and the Commandments.”

— Biography of St. Jean de Brébeuf

Recent Posts

  • New Bulletin Article • “21 September 2025”
  • How do you pronounce this word in Latin?
  • Cheap! Cheap! Cheap!
  • Children’s Repertoire: “3 Recommendations”
  • PDF Download • Dom Murray Harmonies

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2025 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.