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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

PDF Download • “Baptism of the Lord” (Hymn)

Jeff Ostrowski · January 10, 2025

HAVE OFTEN REMARKED that musicians tend to be the best liturgists. That’s because for us, it isn’t the theoretical: we need to know. If we sing the wrong music for the wrong season, that’s bad. For instance, we need to know whether the BAPTISM OF THE LORD is part of the Christmas season. (It is.) If we go on the USCCB website and see an erroneous statement such as this one, that’s a huge problem for us. Paying attention can also help! For instance, the Magnificat Antiphon for the feast of the EPIPHANY literally says: “This day we keep a holiday in honor of three wonders: this day a star led the wise men to the manger; this day at the marriage, water was made wine; this day was Christ, for our salvation, pleased to be baptized of John in Jordan.”

A Special Hymn • For the feast of the BAPTISM OF THE LORD, we are singing a hymn based on #286 in Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal known as “Non ábluunt lymphae Deum.” Translated into English, that means: The waters do not cleanse God, but God cleanses the waters; and through the touch of his hallowed flesh he grants the power of purging wrong. I’m not a fan of my soprano voice, but I have to sing all the parts for these rehearsal videos:

*  PDF Download • SATB Hymn (BAPTISM OF THE LORD)

Free rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #28059.

A Happier Instinct • In a special book (IMPRIMATUR 27-JAN-1913) Father Adrian Fortescue wrote: “In the East the Epiphany was, and is still, the great day for baptizing; the West, by a happier instinct, has always connected the solemn administration of this sacrament with Easter.” The great theologian explains further in a footnote:

“Because our Lord’s baptism has only an external resemblance to ours. The baptism of St. John was an example of Jewish symbolic purification; it was perhaps a prophecy, not a sacrament. The sacrament of baptism was not founded till long after this. On the other hand, the Roman connection between baptism and Easter is based on a far deeper mystic idea, that of Romans Chapter vi and Colossians ii:12.”

Photographs • The following photographs show “Non ábluunt lymphae Deum” as it appears in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal. That book gives several metrical versions (in English).

28023-Photograph-A-Feast-of-the-Baptism-of-the-Lord
28023-Photograph-C-Feast-of-the-Baptism-of-the-Lord
28023-Photograph-D-Feast-of-the-Baptism-of-the-Lord

Last Chance! • My choir appreciates those rehearsal videos. As we plan Sacred Music Symposium 2025, we take into consideration suggestions for courses we should offer. If there’s demand for such a thing, I’d be happy to offer a course on how to create rehearsal videos. Suggestions for courses should be emailed to: dom.mocquereau@gmail.com. This is the last chance folks have to make suggestions. Very soon we’ll begin enrollment for Sacred Music Symposium 2025.

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

Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download Tagged With: Epiphany Hymns, Epiphanytide, Non Abluunt Lymphae Deum, Rev Fr Adrian Fortescue Liturgy, SATB Hymn Epiphany Last Updated: January 10, 2025

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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

    Liturgical Round (“Canon”) in C-Major
    Those who direct children’s choirs are always on the lookout for repertoire that’s dignified, inspired, and pleasing—yet still within reach of young choristers. Such directors will want to investigate this haunting liturgical round (PDF download) which has been married to the KYRIE from Mass VI (EDITIO VATICANA). I have provided an accompaniment, but it’s only for use during rehearsal; i.e. when teaching this round to your choristers. I also provided an organ accompaniment for the KYRIE—which some know by its trope (Kyrie Rex Genitor)—so that your congregation can take part when this round is used as a choral extension during Mass.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Latin Liturgy Association
    We note with pleasure that Mrs. Regina Morris, president of the Latin Liturgy Association, has featured—on page 4 of Volume CXXIX of their official newsletter—the three (3) terrific versions of the Stations of the Cross found in the Brébeuf Hymnal. One of the main authors for the blog of the Church Music Association of America said (6/10/2019) about this pew book: “It is such a fantastic hymnal that it deserves to be in the pews of every Catholic church.”
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Music List” • 28th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 12 October 2025, which is the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). 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 dazzling feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 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 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Much of the reordering [in 1970] of the pieces of the Roman Gradual seems arbitrary and useless; nevertheless, with some exceptions, it does not affect the shape of the service, since like pieces are exchanged for like.”

— Dr. William Peter Mahrt

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