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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)

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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 22, 2013

Interview with Pope Francis While Still A Cardinal

“I admire the courage and uprightness of Pope Benedict on the subject.”—Pope Francis

Jeff Ostrowski · March 18, 2013

Msgr. Richard Schuler and the Piccoluomini

Sure enough, a few hours after the phone call, I happened to be searching the internet and I came upon the biography of Pope Pius II. What was his name before becoming pope? You guessed it !!!

Jeff Ostrowski · March 16, 2013

Dr. Theodore Marier And Pope Francis

Our new Holy Father, Pope Francis, seems to be less interested in the Liturgy than his immediate predecessor. Some are asking, “What will become of the Liturgical movement called for by Pope Benedict and popes before him?”

Jeff Ostrowski · March 15, 2013

My Reflections On The Election Of Pope Francis

It seems to me, sometimes the choice of a Pope is obvious.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 13, 2013

Yet Another Example Added I Just Had To Share

Like many of you, I read voraciously about sacred music, liturgy, and music in general . . .

Jeff Ostrowski · March 12, 2013

News About The Papal Election

We live in an age where false information can be “dressed up” and disseminated via the internet with the click of a button.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 10, 2013

Getting Rid Of “Gree-vee-uhss” (Mispronunciation)

This blog entry starts out “negative” but ends “positive.” Sadly, most people will not read the entire thing, so they’ll miss the positive section. Will you?

Jeff Ostrowski · March 9, 2013

Young Father Ratzinger Offers Mass In Bavaria

Is it allowed to use an American Flag as an Altar Cloth at Mass? That is, an Altar Cloth decorated with the stars from the American flag?

Jeff Ostrowski · March 5, 2013

Useless To Sing “Our Hearts Are On Fire” When They Are Not?

“. . . in many instances one feels that the rhyme has shaped the thought rather than the other way around.”—Rev. Francis J. Guentner, S.J.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 2, 2013

“On this day O Beautiful Mother” … Blacklisted?

“Catholics in America have been the heirs of a sentimental and subjective hymn tradition that, for some reason or other, has taken a deep and fast hold on the fancy of the average person.” —Rev. Francis Brunner, C.Ss.R.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 1, 2013

Endeavor That Playing The Organ Be Not Lascivious Or Obscene

While it is interesting to read about how the organ was used in earlier times, this can be quite shocking!

Jeff Ostrowski · February 27, 2013

The Resignation of Pope Benedict XVI

“Say not only prayers of petition, for that is the way of the greedy. Let us pray always for resignation to the will of God. That is the prayers of the saints.” —Bishop Fulton J. Sheen

Jeff Ostrowski · February 25, 2013

“Spinning The Wheel” Each Week For Hymns

Each and every week, thousands of Catholics play “Spin the Wheel for Hymns” instead of using the sacred and ancient texts prescribed by the Church. What does this have to do with a rich man born without legs and arms?

Jeff Ostrowski · February 23, 2013

The New Translation of the Roman Missal

“One is not only appalled by the banality of that English translation, but what strikes one so forcibly is the damage done to the very content of the Latin prayers in what is supposed to pass as a translation.” (1990 article by Msgr. Schuler)

Jeff Ostrowski · February 21, 2013

Easter Proclamation (Exsultet) – LOWER RECORDING – New Translation (Roman Missal 3rd Edition)

Click here to go back to the Exsultet Website. Click here to learn more about the Vatican II Hymnal.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    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
    14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. However, on the feasts website, the chants have been posted for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C), which is this coming Sunday: 6 July 2025.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)
    With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.
    —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

Using the shoddiest, sleaziest material we have for the purpose of glorifying God is not very sound theology or even very good common sense. […] (In general, when you see a diminished seventh chord in a hymn, run.) And these chords are usually used in bad hymns in precisely the same order in which they occur in “Sweet Adeline.”

— Paul Hume (1956)

Recent Posts

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  • New “Latin/English Missal” for the Novus Ordo
  • Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published
  • Bishop François Charrière Vs. Hannibal Bugnini

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