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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

Involving Women in the Communion?

Jeff Ostrowski · October 4, 2025

OR DECADES after the reign of Pope Saint Pius X, some claimed that women were forbidden from singing Mass propers by §13 of the MOTU PROPRIO (Inter pastorális offícii) issued on 22 November 1903. Not long ago, I received a weird telephone call from a man appointed “director of music” for a large diocese in the United States. He insisted that—according to Pope Pius X—it was impossible (his word) for women to sing the Mass propers at the Traditional Latin Mass. I waited politely until he was finished speaking. Then I said: “But you realize Pope Pius X allowed Benedictine nuns to sing the Proprium Missae, right?” He immediately said: “Well, that’s fine, of course.”

Definition Of Woman • Is it possible he didn’t realize Benedictine nuns are are actually women? In my view, it seems more likely he’s confused about the meaning of the word “impossible.” Moreover, he seems not to understand the word “choir” can refer to people who sing at Mass, but can also refer to a section of the church—between nave and sanctuary—where clerics traditionally sat in choro in large churches.

Involving Our Women • At my parish, we always involve women singers in the COMMUNION by means of Fauxbourdon. Those interested in seeing how this works will find countless examples at the bodacious feasts website. For example, consider how it will be sung at our parish tomorrow:

Here’s the direct URL link.

More Like Offertory • For the record, that particular COMMUNION (“In salutári tuo ánima mea”) reminds me of an OFFERTORY, inasmuch as it weaves together ‘bits and pieces’ of different scripture verses. (The OFFERTORY ANTIPHON does that all the time.)

Carlo Rossini • In terms of people obsessed with trying to stop women from singing at church, Father Carlo Rossini’s list of rules (PDF) now seem comical.1 It’s difficult to take Rossini’s scholarship seriously, since his ‘rules’ cite the Vatican—in an attempt to force everyone to use Dom Mocquereau’s rhythm—in spite of the fact that the Vatican condemned Mocquereau’s rhythmic markings, since they contradict the official rhythm (adding thousands of pauses which don’t belong and eliminating elongations which are supposed to be there).

1 Father Carlo Rossini (1890-1975) was banished to Italy—according to Monsignor Francis P. Schmitt—because “after serving a stint with the Italian Society of Saint Caecilia during the 1950 Holy Year, Rossini was no longer welcome in Pittsburgh.” (Others disagree, claiming Rossini returned to Pittsburgh later on.) Schmitt says Rossini was basically a ‘little tyrant’ and wasn’t well-liked owing to how “with the backing of Bishop Boyle, Father Rossini frequently placed clerical violators of his interpretation of the law on a blacklist published in the diocesan paper.”

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

Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download Tagged With: Father Carlo Rossini 1890-1975, Father Carlo Rossini Sacred Music, Fauxbourdon Verses Communion, Inter Pastoralis Officii 1903 Motu Proprio Last Updated: October 4, 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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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Music List” • 27th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 5 October 2025, which is the 27th 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 spectacular feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin. Readers will want to check out the ENTRANCE CHANT posted there, which has a haunting melody (in the DEUTERUS MODE) and extremely powerful text.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Kids’ Choir Sings Thomas Aquinas
    Last Sunday, a children’s choir I’m teaching sang with us for the very first time at Sunday Mass. Females from our main choir sang along with them. If you’re curious to hear how they sounded, you can listen to a ‘live’ recording. That’s an English version of TANTUM ERGO by Saint Thomas Aquinas. That haunting melody is called GAUFESTRE and was employed for this 2-Voice Arrangement of a special hymn for 9 November (“Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome”) which replaces a Sunday this year.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Prex • Particularly Powerful
    The Third Edition of the SAINT EDMUND CAMPION MISSAL contains a Latin-English translation for the ‘old’ Holy Week published by Monsignor Ronald Knox in 1950. His version is utterly splendid, and it’s astonishing it was totally forgotten for 70+ years. I find his translation of a prayer from Palm Sunday (Deus qui dispérsa cóngregas) particularly powerful: “O God, who dost mend what is shattered, and what thou hast mended, ever dost preserve, thou didst bless the chance comers who met Jesus with branches in their hands. Bless these branches too, of palm or olive, which we take up obediently in honour of thy name; rest they where they will, let them carry thy blessing to all who dwell there. All harm thence banish, and let thy power defend us, in proof that thy Son, Jesus Christ, has redeemed us…”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Reminder” — Month of September (2025)
    Those who don’t sign up for our free EMAIL NEWSLETTER miss important notifications. Last week, for example, I sent a message about this job opening for a music director paying $65,000 per year plus benefits (plus weddings & funerals). Notice the job description says: “our vision for sacred music is to move from singing at Mass to truly singing the Mass wherein … especially the propers, ordinaries, and dialogues are given their proper place.” Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —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
    Did they simplify these hymn harmonies?
    Choirs love to sing the famous & splendid tune called “INNSBRUCK.” Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1952, I discovered what appears to be a simplified version of that hymn. In other words, their harmonization is much less complex than the version found in the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal (which is suitable for singing by SATB choir). Please download their 1952 harmonization (PDF) and let me know your thoughts. I really like the groovy Germanic INTRODUCTION they added.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Participation” in the Mass does not mean hearing our own voices. It means God hearing our voices. Only He knows who is “participating” at Mass. I believe, to compare small things with great, that I “participate” in a work of art when I study it and love it silently.

— Evelyn Waugh

Recent Posts

  • Involving Women in the Communion?
  • “Toward a More Sacred Style With Pastoral Charity” • Guest Article by Dr. Myrna Keough
  • “Music List” • 27th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • Kids’ Choir Sings Thomas Aquinas
  • “Fulfilled!” • Bride’s Musical Request

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