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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

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 · May 22, 2014

Three Categories of Liturgical Problem

We need to know the different kinds of problems there are, and who in the Church is qualified or required to fix them.

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · May 15, 2014

Dogma as the Servant of Mystery

Dogmatic statements liberate the Christian intellect by establishing it in the truth.

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · May 8, 2014

Sacred Choral Works CDs Available

These 3 full-length compact discs feature recordings of nearly every score in the 273-page book.

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · May 1, 2014

A Triple Cord: Liturgy, Aquinas, and CST

The traditional liturgy, the study of St. Thomas Aquinas, and Catholic social doctrine―these three things stand or fall together.

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · April 24, 2014

“Soft Source of Calm Tranquillity”: The Quiet Mass

A poem set to music by Handel perfectly captures the feelings one has at a quiet low Mass. Here I try to say why this form of the Mass is so special and valuable.

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · April 17, 2014

Sheed on the Missal of 1968

Frank Sheed is one of my favorite Catholic authors, but when it came time for him to grapple with the liturgical revolution, either his perspicuity or his nerve failed him.

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · April 10, 2014

Music Beautiful by Nature

The “beautiful” is largely distinguished by the degree to which the beautiful “thing” is in accord with nature.

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · April 3, 2014

Why We Need the Greatest Art in Catholic Worship

Was it necessary to change our forms of worship to suit “modern man”? And do we need to set aside our glorious musical heritage? Absolutely not.

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · March 27, 2014

Why Do We Kneel in Church?

Kneeling is a sign that both signifies and helps produce in the soul the disposition of humility before the great King over all the earth.

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · March 20, 2014

Catholic Identity Crisis: Who Are We? What Do We Believe? How Should We Live?

Eastern Catholics and Christians have maintained the depth, beauty, and sacredness of their liturgical heritage. How does the institutional failure of Roman Catholics to preserve their own heritage affect their ability to evangelize, or even to live a fully Catholic life?

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · March 13, 2014

The Eternal, Not the Contemporary

Arvo Pärt speaks words of wisdom about why the music of some composers never gets old and why old texts are always young.

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · March 6, 2014

Seven Theses for the Evaluation of Music

Let us listen consistently to the greatest works in music and make them the exemplars, the teachers, the inspirations and consolations of our interior life as aesthetic beings.

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · February 27, 2014

Beethoven’s “Missa Solemnis” and the Five Ways of St. Thomas

An imaginative or imaginary (you decide) correlation between the five movements of the greatest proto-Romantic sacred work and the five greatest proofs for the existence of God.

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · February 20, 2014

Seeking Inspiration in the Renaissance

Just as those who are passionate about sacred music find great inspiration in the Renaissance, so today we can look around at a new rebirth of Catholic tradition and find hope for a renewal of Catholic culture.

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · February 13, 2014

Why Focus So Much on the Liturgy?

Sometimes people wonder why traditional Catholics make such a big deal of the liturgy. Do they really think it’s the most important thing in the world? As a matter of fact, they do―because it is.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    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
    “Reminder” — Month of October (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
    “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

Quick Thoughts

    “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
    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

“Partly on account of these alterations, and partly because I have been unable to ascertain the authorship of many compositions—which have come to me either in manuscript or through other collections—I have thought it right to publish the volume without appending the names of writers to their works. This, however, I confess to be a defect…”

— Benjamin Hall Kennedy (1863)

Recent Posts

  • “Three Reasons To Shun Bad Hymns” • Daniel B. Marshall
  • “Puzzling Comment” • By A Respected FSSP Priest
  • New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
  • “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)
  • “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)

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