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Corpus Christi Watershed

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

Jeff Ostrowski • Article Archive

A theorist, organist, and conductor, Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He completed studies in Education and Musicology at the graduate level. Having worked as a church musician in Los Angeles for ten years, in 2024 he accepted a position as choirmaster for Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Michigan, where he resides with his wife and children. —Read full biography (with photographs).

Jeff Ostrowski · March 30, 2014

Audrey Hepburn, Fulton J. Sheen, & Church Singers Who Can’t Read Music

Do you direct choir members with flaws? Do you direct choir members who can’t read music? BE COMFORTED!

Jeff Ostrowski · March 27, 2014

“Turn Those Altars Around!” — Cardinal Lercaro, Consilium President (1965)

Could this be the missing link explaining why “versus populum” celebrations took over?

Jeff Ostrowski · March 26, 2014

“Confusion and Annoyance” — Pope Paul VI on the New Liturgy (1965)

“Previously it was enough to be there; now we must participate. Previously one could doze or perhaps even have a chat; but no longer; now one must listen and pray.” — Pope Paul VI, 17 March 1965

Jeff Ostrowski · March 25, 2014

“The Most Beautiful Thing This Side Of Heaven”

A wonderful 18-minute sermon by Fr. Christopher Smith.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 24, 2014

What did Pope John Paul II think of the Cappa Magna?

The cappa magna has a five-meter-long train. Pius XII shortened it to 3 meters, but it’s said that John XXIII restored the ordinary length.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 19, 2014

“Anticipated” Mass or “Vigil” Mass on Saturday Night?

“Father Calewaert opposed the proposal because it would gravely damage Sunday.”

Jeff Ostrowski · March 17, 2014

Gregorian Chant As A “Weapon” — Seriously?

A drafter of USCCB guidelines on church music has said: “Some individuals and organizations seemingly use chant as a weapon to advance their agenda and judge others.”

Jeff Ostrowski · March 11, 2014

1970s Theology Has Affected The Celebration Of Mass

“The first task of all specially designated ministers is to serve the assembly. Their conscious and deliberate target is to help the assembly bring itself to life…” — Fr. Eugene Walsh

Jeff Ostrowski · March 10, 2014

“Father Bugnini has only one interest: press ahead and finish.” — Cardinal Antonelli, 1967

“Paul VI … declared that he had been hurt by certain arbitrary liturgical experiments and pained by a certain tendency to de-sacralize the liturgy.” — Cardinal Antonelli (19 April 1967)

Jeff Ostrowski · March 9, 2014

Church music need not sound “Catholic” says drafter of USCCB guidelines

The author calls people who appreciate Gregorian chant “conservative” and those who don’t “liberal.” Are such labels really helpful?

Jeff Ostrowski · March 4, 2014

How Many Syllables Does The Word “Catholic” Have?

Do you sing “ain-juhl” or “ain-jell” for the word “ANGEL” ? Do you sing “hevv-ihn” or “heav’n” for the word “HEAVEN” ?

Jeff Ostrowski · March 2, 2014

Should Catholics Kneel At Mass?

To be absolutely clear: President Barack Obama is not the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 2, 2014

Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli Speaks About Roman Missal, Third Edition

Bishop Serratelli says “most bishops are bald” because the confirmandi cannot answer basic questions when they are examined.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 2, 2014

Peter Wagner 1903 Kyriale In Gregorian Notation

Dr. Franz Karl Prassl has given us a tremendous gift.

Jeff Ostrowski · February 24, 2014

Reform Of The Reform: A Perspective

“How much annoyance among our loyal Catholics could have been avoided if evidence had been provided that various elements had been taken from old sacramentaries and were not arbitrary innovations.” —Bishop of Regensburg (1979)

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Music List” • 17th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (27 July 2025). 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 the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Communion • “Ask & You Shall Receive”
    All of the chants for 27 July 2025 have been added to the feasts website, as usual under a convenient “drop down” menu. The COMMUNION ANTIPHON (both text and melody) are exceedingly beautiful and ancient.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Jeff’s Mother Joins Our Fundraiser
    To assist our fundraiser, Mrs. Kathleen Ostrowski has drawn several beautiful sketches which she offers to all our readers free of charge. If you have a moment, I invite you download them at this link.
    —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

“Who dreamed on that day that within a few years, far less than a decade, the Latin past of the Church would be all but expunged, that it would be reduced to a memory fading into the middle distance? The thought of it would have horrified us, but it seemed so far beyond the realm of the possible as to be ridiculous. So we laughed it off.”

— Archbishop Dwyer of Portland (26-Oct-1973)

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