• 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

Father Friel • Article Archive

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel served as Parochial Vicar at Saint Anselm Church in Northeast Philly before earning a doctorate in liturgical theology at The Catholic University of America. He presently serves as Vocation Director for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.—(Read full biography).

Fr. David Friel · May 17, 2020

Returning to the Sacraments • “Breathe Easter Now” (Hopkins)

Words of Hope from Gerard Manley Hopkins

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · May 3, 2020

Throwing Away Our Birthright of Beauty

Thoughts from St. Athanasius the Great

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · April 19, 2020

The Offertory Antiphons of the Easter Octave

United by the theme of sacred “commercium”

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · April 5, 2020

Craving the Body of Christ

Insights from Joseph of Arimathea

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · April 2, 2020

Repeating Repertoire? • Father Friel

The merits of repetition and variation.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · March 22, 2020

“Separated from the Sacraments” • Stories from Walter Ciszek, SJ

A missionary in Soviet Russia, Fr. Ciszek learned the spirituality of surrender through tremendous suffering.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · March 20, 2020

CDW Guidelines for Holy Week 2020

The Congregation has released a short document with pertinent guidance.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · March 18, 2020

A Word of Encouragement

For those who are separated from the liturgical life of the Church on account of COVID-19.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · March 10, 2020

Liturgical Custody of the Eyes

Guarding the Sense of Sight so as to Promote Participation

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · February 23, 2020

Exploring the 5th/6th-Century Mosaics of Ravenna

These magnificent images are not only attractive to behold, but also deeply theological.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · February 17, 2020

Imposing the Classical Style on Public Building Projects?

A rumored executive order would unify the architectural style of future projects and upgrades.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · February 16, 2020

New Work from Paul Jernberg

The composer has begun a new and worthwhile blogging project.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · January 26, 2020

The Book of Kells Online

The Book of Kells, as well as 150,000 artworks housed in Parisian museums, can be freely viewed online.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · January 20, 2020

Sir Roger Scruton

Roger Scruton, Magister Pulchritudinis

Sir Roger Scruton died January 12, 2020, leaving a mammoth legacy in the field of aesthetics.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · January 15, 2020

Digitizing the Vatican Library

One decade into the project, the results are fascinating.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Page 4
  • Page 5
  • Page 6
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 33
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
    Our readers will be interested in this job offering for Music Director at Saint Adalbert’s Basilica, located 40 minutes from where I live. My pastor was recently elevated to this basilica. He is offering $80,000 per year, plus benefits. I’m told Saint Adalbert’s Basilica is utterly gorgeous and contains one of America’s most magnificent pipe organs. It would be fantastic to have a colleague nearby!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    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

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

“Edwin Fischer was, on the concert platform, a short, leonine, resilient figure, whose every fibre seemed to vibrate with elemental musical power.”

— Daniel Barenboim (1960)

Recent Posts

  • “How to Conduct 90 Vespers Services Each Year and Live to Tell the Tale.”
  • 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • The Tallis Scholars
  • Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
  • Pope Saint Paul VI to Consilium (14 October 1968)

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