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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 · October 11, 2013

Addams Family Theme Song … At Mass?

Is it really true that any style of music can be lawfully used at Mass?

Jeff Ostrowski · October 11, 2013

1945 Vernacular Mass Card (German)

I always enjoy seeing “participation aids” from days of old …

Jeff Ostrowski · October 10, 2013

Ron Paul & Pope Francis

A Catholic bishop once said to me: “One of the greatest proofs of the truth of Christianity is the fact that the Church is still here in spite of the incompetence and villainy of her frail priests and all-too-human bishops.”

Jeff Ostrowski · October 8, 2013

“It wasn’t supposed to happen this way.”

I took Latin in school, and one day someone asked me, “Did you know that in the Middle Ages the Mass used to be in Latin?” I thought, “I wish that still happened, somewhere on earth.”

Jeff Ostrowski · October 7, 2013

Bugnini: the word Alleluia is a “meaningless sound”

It is simply incorrect to say that a “black hole” existed from 600AD until 1965 (when the vernacular was introduced) during which Catholics were not truly adoring God at Mass.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 2, 2013

A Word On The Pope’s Interview …

I was disturbed when I read Fr. Godfrey Diekmann’s comments about the Pope.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 1, 2013

Msgr. Schuler Strikes Again!

During the second half of the 20th century, some doctors thought they were smarter than God. They no longer promoted or taught breastfeeding to mothers.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 27, 2013

Which Way Does Your Priest Face For The Prayer After Communion?

The current Missal was put together with haste, and even the Vatican dicastery had to apologize for all the errors and typos contained in those early 1969 and 1970 directives, as Msgr. Schuler has pointed out.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 27, 2013

More On “Mass Facing The People”

The current rubrics tell the priest when to turn around and face the people, which would be superfluous if he were already facing them.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 27, 2013

Subdeacon’s Role In The Ordinary Form Mass

I never realized Subdeacons were allowed to be part of the New Mass, but it makes sense since the minor orders were not suppressed until 15 August 1972.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 25, 2013

The Extraordinary Form Is Centered On Christ

Those who oppose abortion point out that very few of the 50 million abortions since Roe v. Wade had to do with “rape and incest,” but this is the weaker argument.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 23, 2013

The Popes And Bishop René H. Gracida

“I had a special relationship with Pope Paul VI that began with his election to the papacy.” — Bishop René H. Gracida

Jeff Ostrowski · September 23, 2013

Don’t You Hate It?

… when people have to read the reviews to find out if they enjoyed the concert?

Jeff Ostrowski · September 23, 2013

“And I Will Raise You Up” — Voice Of God Songs During Mass

“This is not to say that prayers in strophic form cannot be uttered with a prayerful mentality.” — Professor László Dobszay

Jeff Ostrowski · September 23, 2013

No Salvation From Decrees (3 of 3)

Fr. Georg May was a superb Canon lawyer and faithfully heard Confessions every Saturday … even during the tumultuous years following the Second Vatican Council.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Proof Which All Can Immediately See!
    “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing,” as the famous maxim goes. Over the years, I’ve observed malicious attacks on the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal. Rather than scoring a ‘hit’ on the Brébeuf Hymnal, its attackers often reveal profound ignorance. I’ve been advised never to reply … but I break that rule today. Certain voices online assert that the Brébeuf Hymnal is “untraditional” because it includes both the Urbanite and pre-Urbanite versions of the hymns. But if only they would glance at a copy of the 1913 VESPERALE (printed by order of Pope Saint Pius X) they would see how mistaken such statements are.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “8 June 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for the parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article includes a few anecdotes about Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen and Abraham Lincoln.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Gloria in Spanish” • Free Accompaniment
    Several people have requested an organ accompaniment for the GLORY TO GOD which prints the Spanish words directly above the chords. The Spanish adaptation—Gloria a Dios en el cielo—as printed in Roman Misal, tercera edición was adapted from the “Glória in excélsis” from Mass XV (DOMINATOR DEUS). I used to feel that it’s a pretty boring chant … until I heard it sung well by a men’s Schola Cantorum, which changed my view dramatically. This morning, I created this harmonization and dedicated it to my colleague, Corrinne May. You may download it for free. Please let me know if you enjoy it!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    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
    When to Sit, Stand and Kneel like it’s 1962
    There are lots of different guides to postures for Mass, but I couldn’t find one which matched our local Latin Mass, so I made this one: sit-stand-kneel-crop
    —Veronica Brandt
    The Funeral Rites of the Graduale Romanum
    Lately I have been paging through the 1974 Graduale Romanum (see p. 678 ff.) and have been fascinated by the funeral rites found therein, especially the simply-beautiful Psalmody that is appointed for all the different occasions before and after the funeral Mass: at the vigil/wake, at the house of the deceased, processing to the church, at the church, processing to the cemetery, and at the cemetery. Would that this “stational Psalmody” of the Novus Ordo funeral rites saw wider usage! If you or anyone you know have ever used it, please do let me know.
    —Daniel Tucker

Random Quote

“Gerard Manley Hopkins once argued that most people drank more liquids than they really needed and bet that he could go without drinking for a week. He persisted until his tongue was black and he collapsed at drill.”

— A biography of Fr. Gerard M. Hopkins (d. 1889)

Recent Posts

  • Proof Which All Can Immediately See!
  • New Bulletin Article • “8 June 2025”
  • “The Adalbert Propers” • Six (6) Quotations
  • PDF Download • “Entrance Chant” for 29 June … Which Falls on a Sunday This Year!
  • “Music List” • 6th Sunday of Easter (Year C)

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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.