Views from the Choir Loft

“Reprehensible Chrism Mass” • (Do Not Click)

Jeff Ostrowski · March 22, 2024

OT ONCE. Not one time did I ever see my parents cry growing up. Nor did I ever see them express doubt or hesitation. But I’m sure they did feel doubt. And I’m sure they sometimes felt hesitation when discerning the correct course of action. I suspect my parents hid their doubt and hesitation so we children would not feel anxiety—and looking back, I believe their actions were noble.

Exception To The Rule • Many come to this website to have their spirits lifted. Our emphasis is always on positive things. We figure anyone who’s paying attention is already aware of the depressing news in the Church. At the same time, sometimes I feel angry when I see Catholics subjected to liturgical abuses. I ask myself: “Do I have a role to play? Do I have an obligation to make others aware of scandalous actions?” Broadly speaking, I can do very little to combat liturgical abuses. But every so often I see something so egregious I feel compelled to document it … “for the record” (as my father would say).

Disturbing Video • The following disturbing video was sent to us showing a Chrism Mass celebrated on 19 March 2024 in the Diocese of Superior (Wisconsin) at the CATHEDRAL OF CHRIST THE KING. The Mass was celebrated by Bishop James Patrick Powers. Let me say it loud and clear:

This kind of stuff must end.

Here’s the direct URL link.

To add insult to injury, the weird ritual at the beginning is allowed to take place “ad orientem.”

These type of liturgical abuses are hardly confined to the United States. A few years ago, on ASH WEDNESDAY in Germany, a Mass featured utterly bizarre and offensive music by a composer named “Dominik Susteck.”

Cf. nn 85172

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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