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Corpus Christi Watershed

We’re a 501(c)3 public charity established in 2006. We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and run no advertisements. We exist solely by the generosity of small donors.

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Views from the Choir Loft

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski

A graduate of Thomas Aquinas College (B.A. in Liberal Arts) and The Catholic University of America (M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy), Dr. Peter Kwasniewski is currently Professor at Wyoming Catholic College. He is also a published and performed composer, especially of sacred music. Read more.

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · December 18, 2014

A Fond Farewell

Changes in my personal life have made it necessary for me to curtail my blogging activity, and so this blog will be my last—at least for a time.

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · December 11, 2014

The Importance of Singing Carols

Let us make a point of singing good carols as much as we can throughout the whole Christmas season, rather than imitating a world that stops celebrating on December 26th.

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · December 4, 2014

Resurgent in the Midst of Crisis

A new book for those who are struggling to understand what has happened to the noble liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church and how we might find our way out of this crisis.

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · November 27, 2014

Advent Meditation

As we turn the corner to Advent, we might draw some inspiration from Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · November 20, 2014

Why Are the Readings Not Sung at Mass?

The ancient and beautiful practice of chanting readings at Mass has largely disappeared in the Ordinary Form. What happened?

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · November 13, 2014

Difference between the Two Priesthoods

What exactly is the difference between the universal priesthood of the baptized and the ministerial priesthood of the ordained?

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · November 6, 2014

How Liberalism Undermines Itself

Freedom for all sounds nice in theory, but how does it work in practice?

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · October 30, 2014

Music Never Lies

Every piece of music, great or small, contains an indefinable message of the soul, penetrating, communicative, formative.

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · October 23, 2014

The Use and Abuse of the “Via Media”

Everyone likes to think themselves at the golden mean between two extremes. The problem is, this often becomes a substitute for real thinking, and prevents us from striving for the best.

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · October 16, 2014

In Defense of the Organ Postlude

Is the organ postlude after Mass a loud distraction that stands in the way of making one’s thanksgiving? Or is it a wholly fitting conclusion to an act of public divine worship?

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · October 9, 2014

Death and Rebirth of Monastic Life

The death of the monastic life after the Second Vatican Council was the most devastating blow the Church received, and renewal will come from its rebirth.

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · October 2, 2014

Lumen Gentium on Summorum Pontificum

‘Lumen Gentium’ was given to us fifty years ago, but its provisions still apply—and they are relevant to the availability of the Extraordinary Form.

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · September 25, 2014

Confusions about Inculturation

A false notion of inculturation has allowed for a vast profanation and paganization of Catholic life and worship.

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · September 18, 2014

Have We Lost Our Sensitivity to Music?

Educated people in the 19th century feared the influence of opera on moral character. We seem to have lost any sense of music’s power to corrupt us.

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · September 11, 2014

Breaking News: The Communion Hymn is an Optional Add-On

Reading the General Instruction of the Roman Missal can bring many surprises. One of them has to do with the ubiquitous communion hymn.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Luis Martínez Must Go!
    Sevilla Cathedral (entry dated 13 December 1564): The chapter orders Luis Martínez, a cathedral chaplain, to stay away from the choirbook-stand when the rest of the singers gather around it to sing polyphony—the reason being that “he throws the others out of tune.” [Excerpt from “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Urgent! • We Desperately Need Funds!
    A few days ago, the president of Corpus Christi Watershed posted this urgent appeal for funds. Please help us make sure we’re never forced to place our content behind a paywall. We feel it’s crucial that 100% of our content remains free to everyone. We’re a tiny 501(c)3 public charity, entirely dependent upon the generosity of small donors. We have no endowment and no major donors. We run no advertisements and have no savings. We beg you to consider donating $4.00 per month. Thank you!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Booklet of Eucharistic Hymns” (16 pages)
    I was asked to create a booklet for my parish to use during our CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION on 22 June 2025. Would you be willing to look over the DRAFT BOOKLET (16 pages) I came up with? I tried to include a variety of hymns: some have a refrain; some are in major, others in minor; some are metered, others are plainsong; some are in Spanish, some are in Latin, but most are in English. Normally, we’d use the Brébeuf Hymnal—but we can’t risk having our congregation carry those heavy books all over the city to various churches.
    —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

Nothing should be allowed that is unworthy of divine worship, nothing that is obviously profane or unfit to express the inner, sacred power of prayer. Nothing odd or unusual is allowable, since such things, far from fostering devotion in the praying community, rather shock and upset it—and impede the proper and rightful cultivation of a devotion faithful to tradition.

— Pope Paul VI • 10/13/1966

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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.

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