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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

Guest Author

Guest Author · December 22, 2014

PDF Download: Father Charles Dreisoerner’s “Graduale Romanum” In English (202 pages)

Did you know the entire Roman Gradual was set to English texts in 1984?

Guest Author · October 29, 2014

True Devotion to Jesus

You will definitely want to read the quotes from Paul VI about reception of Communion in the hand.

Guest Author · October 12, 2014

The Miracle of Mozart (and Friends)

Modern evidence that “modern” music may not be so “great” as the moderns would like you to think.

Guest Author · October 6, 2014

The Legacy of Simon Le Moyne & the Jesuit Martyrs in Upstate New York

Le Moyne attained the name Ondessonk (“Leader”) among the natives—a name originally given to St. Isaac Jogues, until his martyrdom.

Guest Author · September 17, 2014

Weak-Kneed Prayers or Religious Patrimony?

“How do we answer a question posed 30 years ago about learning prayers?” — Fr. Alan Guanella

Guest Author · September 8, 2014

Fr. Alan M. Guanella Reviews The Jogues Missal

“No other pew Missal has done such a beautiful job setting the Ordinary of the Mass.” — Fr. Alan M. Guanella

Guest Author · August 19, 2014

Music & Beauty

The chants of the Sacred Liturgy in particular, form a perfect marriage of text and melody, which St. Basil describes as a type of divine pedagogy.

Guest Author · August 17, 2014

Homily: 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

How much faith and confidence do I have when I pray for the conversion of a loved one? Do I have as much faith as this woman who asked for the cure of her daughter?

Guest Author · August 12, 2014

Important Resources for Liturgical Reform (5 of 7)

“Simple English Choral Propers” by Jon Naples

Guest Author · August 10, 2014

Homily: 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

It’s easy now to say that the disciples had nothing to fear since Jesus was so close. But that is not how it works in real life situations.

Guest Author · August 10, 2014

EF Homily: 9th Sunday after Pentecost

Yes, God is merciful, but there is a limit to His mercy.

Guest Author · August 6, 2014

Forty Hours Sermon

The Church in which I was preaching happened to be one of those Churches which didn’t have the Blessed Sacrament in it, and my remark caused quite a stir.

Guest Author · August 2, 2014

Homily: 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

God is a provident God. This in turn should make us want to love God.

Guest Author · July 27, 2014

Homily: 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Not too long ago I was talking with a priest who said that he did not believe that there was anyone in hell. I told him that was a very nice thought, and I too would love to believe it, but I don’t think we can count on it.

Guest Author · July 23, 2014

Like Eve in the Garden

“The fruit in my hands was not forbidden but simply forgotten.” — Fr. Brent Maher

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Music List • (Palm Sunday, 2026)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for Palm Sunday—a.k.a. “Dominica in palmis de Passione Domini”—which is 29 March 2026. Please feel free to download it as a PDF file if such a thing interests you. The OFFERTORY (Impropérium exspectávit cor meum) is quite moving. Even though the COMMUNION ANTIPHON is relatively simple, the Fauxbourdon makes it sound outstanding.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Easter • Would You Sing This Hymn?
    He who examines Laudes Dei: a hymnal for Catholic congregations (St. Louis, 1894) will discover this pairing of a hymn for Easter. For the record, this isn’t the only Catholic hymn book to marry that text and melody; e.g. Saint Mark’s Hymnal for Use in the Roman Catholic Church in the United States (Peoria, 1910) does the same thing. Sometimes an unexpected pairing—chosen with sensitivity—can be superb, forcing singers to experience the text in a ‘fresh’ and wonderful way. On the other hand, we sometimes encounter something I’ve called “PERNICIOUS HYMN PAIRINGS.” If you find the subject in intriguing, feel free to peruse an article I published in May of 2023. As always, my email inbox is open if you have a bone to pick with my take.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Pipe Organ “Answers” in Plainsong?
    In 2003, I copied a book by Félix Bélédin (d. 1895), who was titular organist—from 1841 to 1874—at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Lyon (France). In 2008, we scanned and uploaded the book to the Lalande Online Library. Nobody knows for sure when the book was published; some believe it first appeared in the 1840s. In any event, one who examines this excerpt, showing GLORIA IX might wonder why it says the organ answers in plainsong. However, the front of the book explains, telling the organist explicitly when to “respond in plainchant.” This is something called organ alternatim. Believe it or not, the pipe organ would take turns with the choir, playing certain texts instrumentally instead of having them sung. I’m not very well-versed in this—pardon the pun—but if memory serves, ORGAN ALTERNATIM was frowned upon by the time of Pope Saint Pius X. Nevertheless, French organists kept doing it, even after it was explicitly condemned as an abuse.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 24 March 2026
    How well do you know your Gregorian hymns? Do you recognize the tune inserted into the bass line on this score? For many years, we sang the entire Mass in Gregorian chant—and I mean everything. As a result, it would be difficult to find a Gregorian hymn I don’t recognize instantly. Only decades later did I realize (with sadness) that this skill cannot be ‘monetized’… This particular melody is used for a very famous Gregorian hymn, printed in the LIBER USUALIS. Do you recognize it? Send me an email with the correct words, and I promise to tell everybody I meet about your prowess!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)
    I remember singing “Ubi Cáritas” by Maurice Duruflé at the conservatory. I was deeply moved by it. However, some feel Duruflé’s version isn’t suitable for small choirs since it’s written for 6 voices and the bass tessitura is quite low. That’s why I was absolutely thrilled to discover this “Ubi cáritas” (SATB) for smaller choirs by Énemond Moreau, who studied with OSCAR DEPUYDT (d. 1925), an orphan who became a towering figure of Catholic music. Depuydt’s students include: Flor Peeters (d. 1986); Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel (d. 1953); Arthur Meulemans (d. 1966); Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989); and Gustaaf Nees (d. 1965). Rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #19705. When I came across the astonishing English translation for “Ubi Cáritas” by Monsignor Ronald Knox—matching the Latin’s meter—I decided to add those lyrics as an option (for churches which have banned Latin). My wife and I made this recording to give you some idea how it sounds.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Holy, Holy, Holy”
    For vigil Masses on Saturday (a.k.a. “anticipated” Masses) we use this simpler setting of the “Holy, Holy, Holy” by Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989), a Belgian priest, organist, composer, and music educator who ultimately succeeded another ‘Jules’ (CANON JULES VAN NUFFEL) as director of the Lemmensinstituut in Belgium. Although I could be wrong, my understanding is that the LEMMENSINSTITUUT eventually merged with “Catholic University of Leuven” (originally founded in 1425). That’s the university Fulton J. Sheen attended.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Until Pope Paul VI, there has not been a single pope who introduced the type of fundamental changes in liturgical forms which we are now witnessing. In fact, we must note that even small changes in the liturgy introduced by a pope have never been readily accepted.”

— Monsignor Klaus Gamber (d. 1989)

Recent Posts

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  • Music List • (Palm Sunday, 2026)
  • Easter • Would You Sing This Hymn?
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  • From Sentiment to Sacrament: Reclaiming Sacred Music for the Wedding Mass

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