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

Corpus Christi Watershed

“A much greater source of anxiety to Us is the style of action of those who maintain that liturgical worship should shed its sacred character, who foolishly say we should substitute for sacred items & furnishings ordinary common things in daily use.” —Pope Saint Paul VI (14 Oct 1968)

  • Donate
  • Our Team
    • Our Editorial Policy
    • Who We Are
    • How To Contact Us
    • Sainte Marie Bulletin Articles
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • KYRIALE • Saint Antoine Daniel
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Repository • “Spanish Music”
    • Ordinary Form Feasts (Sainte-Marie)
  • 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
  • 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

“Promptly, Firmly, & Persistently Repressed.”

Jeff Ostrowski · December 2, 2024

PERSISTENT MYTH goes something like this: “In the olden days, the lyrics to Catholic hymns were magnificent—but the modernists of the 1960s wrecked everything by changing the original lyrics and making them politically correct.” This myth is pervasive, but it’s false. The Brébeuf Hymnal provides powerful examples demonstrating that lyrics which some believe to be “original” frequently are not original. For example, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel was originally “Draw nigh, Draw nigh Emmanuel.” The famous Christmas hymn—Hark! The Herald Angels Sing—was originally: “Hark how all the Welkin rings.” Indeed, the Brébeuf Hymnal provides extensive documentation showing that hymn lyrics have been modified for at least 500 years.

Those who carefully examine Catholic hymnals published over the last 200 years will see that many of the lyrics are utter schlock. For example, consider this horrifying example from an 1865 hymnal by Father Cornell with IMPRIMATUR by Bishop John Williams (Boston).1 What can one say about the lyrics? Simply ghastly. And notice how many times the word “breast” is used. Such lyrics could never be used in our churches today—especially in light of our society’s disgusting addiction to pornography and sins against the holy virtue of purity. Most editors of hymnals are unwilling to update problematic lyrics (because only specialists can do it, and it takes forever), but the editorial team of the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal rose to the occasion. Moreover, notice how the hymn in that 1865 hymnal “rhymes” the same words over and over again. The Brébeuf Hymnal would never allow such a thing. (Most of the poets involved in the project would swallow broken glass before they rhymed the same word more than once in the same hymn.)

You can download Father Cornell’s hymnal as a PDF file:

*  PDF • CANTICA SACRA: Hymns for the children of the Catholic Church

Broadly speaking, its music and its lyrics are nightmarish. However, I do very much appreciate this line from the PREFACE:

GIA Publications:

Even as late as 1975, GIA PUBLICATIONS had an eminently sensible policy vis-à-vis Thee, Thine, and Thou. Sadly, they abandoned their policy a few years later. Here is what they said in 1975:

Hymn texts are poetry and not conversational English.
It is the firm opinion of the editors, endorsed through
considerable consultation with noteworthy musicians
and liturgists, that the so called “translation” of English
into English, e.g., “thee” to “you” and “thy” to “your,”
is a regrettable practice that upsets the literary integrity
of a text, often results in an example of poor grammar,
and still fails to yield a “modern” text—to say nothing
of the ecumenical implications.

To these wise words of GIA PUBLICATIONS I can only say: “Hear, hear!”

1 Father John Henry Cornell (d. 1894) was also author of an 1860 publication called: A Manual of Roman Chant Compiled From Authentic Roman Sources which uses the same melody for “Vexilla Regis” as it does for “Ad Cenam Agni” (cf. page 121). That strikes me as a colossally poor choice, as does his final pairing on page 122.

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

Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download Tagged With: Cantica Sacra: Hymns for the children of the Catholic Church, Father John Henry Cornell, GIA Publications Last Updated: December 3, 2024

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

    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

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

An Indult of the “Commission for Russia” (25 November 1929) authorizes Bishops and Administrators Apostolic in Russia to permit the celebration of Mass and the reception of Holy Communion in the afternoon or evening, on condition that a Eucharistic fast of four hours from noon be observed.

— Sacred Congregation of Rites, 25 nov 1929

Recent Posts

  • Pope Saint Paul VI to Consilium (14 October 1968)
  • August 2025 • “Colorado Sacred Music Conference”
  • New “Latin/English Missal” for the Novus Ordo
  • Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published
  • Bishop François Charrière Vs. Hannibal Bugnini

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.

The election of Pope Leo XIV has been exciting, and we’re filled with hope for our apostolate’s future!

But we’re under pressure to transfer our website to a “subscription model.”

We don’t want to do that. We believe our website should remain free to all.

Our president has written the following letter:

President’s Message (dated 30 May 2025)

Are you able to support us?

clock.png

Time's up