Views from the Choir Loft

“The Christian Can Only Be an Optimist!”

Jeff Ostrowski · March 4, 2024

ITHOUT QUESTION, the vocation of a choirmaster is filled with obstacles and crosses which can sometimes feel insurmountable. I suspect readers know exactly what I mean. My life has been blest by God, but I’ve also suffered my fair share of injustices—especially early in my career. I could probably write a book about the crazy and humiliating things Catholic priests have done to me over the years. (I’m sure many readers could likewise write a book of their own!)

Blame The Victim? • Sometimes, the injustices I’ve suffered at the hands of Catholic priests are so bizarre and disturbing I feel embarrassed even sharing them. Years ago (at an international church music conference) the participants were mentioning “insane and memorable situations” they had experienced. When it was my turn, I mentioned a few instances of shameful and reprehensible behavior by a boss I had in Texas. Afterwards, a young lady approached me and said: “I think you need psychological help.” She wasn’t joking. Isn’t that a remarkable statement she made? A normal person would say: “I feel terrible your boss did that to you!” But this young lady chose to attack me! That’s one reason I’m hesitant to share my horror stories.¹

Christian Life • At the end of the day, however, we are so blest. We have the REAL PRESENCE of Jesus in the Eucharist: Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. What more could we possibly want? Monsignor Robert Skeris reminds us of this in a classic 1998 clip from EWTN: “I always say the same thing: If we’ve got the Faith, we can’t be anything by optimists.”

Here’s the direct URL link.

1 Indeed, predators frequently avoid detection for decades because the crimes they commit are outlandish, meaning the victims are thought to be lying or exaggerating.

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

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