Solemn Mass • Ruins of Saint Mary’s Cathedral (Nagasaki, 1949)
Due to government restrictions, California has been “locked down” since March, and all our Masses are celebrated outside.
Catholic Artists and “Self Hatred”
Sviatoslav Richter couldn’t function—much less perform—unless he carried around his pink, plastic lobster for comfort • Have you ever become discouraged about your abilities? Have you ever felt contempt for your early artistic creations? Typos from beautiful books are included in this reflection+
6 November 2020 • FEEDBACK
The director of music at EWTN wrote to us about the Brébeuf hymnal: “I do believe your hymnal has the best harmonizations available. We have used several of your harmonizations on EWTN. I have recommended to other hymnal editors that they get aligned with Corpus Christi Watershed to improve their harmonizations. Take care.”
Msgr. Schmitt backs up Rev. Fortescue
My colleague, Andrea Leal, recently posted something extraordinary: an English translation of a NOTITIAE document from 1970 which explains why the reformers did such violence to the ancient Proprium Missæ. The author of that document erroneously claims that Gregorian composers changed the wording for musical purposes, but the real reason Missal and Gradual don’t always […]
“Polyphonic Credo” during Communion?
It sounds strange to Americans, but a very common European tradition is to sing a polyphonic “Agnus Dei” during the distribution of Holy Communion, famously defended by Cardinal Ratzinger in 1995. Monsignor Francis P. Schmitt wrote about visiting Saint Joseph Oratory in Montreal, and says: “A polyphonic Creed was sung during the distribution of Communion.” […]
“Christ as Creator” • Remarkable Findings in Ancient Hymns !
Archbishop Sheen immediately replied: “Then I didn’t explain it correctly, because it should be a mystery” • Including Rex Sempiterne Caelitum, Jesu Nostra Redemptio, Vexilla Regis Prodeunt, Auctor Beate Saeculi, A Solis Ortus Cardine, Jesu Redemptor Omnium, Conditor Alme Siderum, Corde Natus Ex Parentis, Pange Lingua Gloriosi, Veni Creator Spiritus, and more!
The Best We’ve Done?
Perhaps the most significant item we’ve yet had the honor of producing is an English translation of an extremely rare document from 1970. A member of the Consilium—Father Adalbert Franquesa Garrós—explains why the reformers felt it necessary to destroy most of the ancient Mass propers. In particular, this reformer priest claims that unless verses of […]
“Homily — 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A” • Father Valentine Young, OFM
Knowledge is having the facts. Wisdom is knowing what to do with them.
PDF Download • Vespers for the Dead
Mr. Albert Bloomfield kindly sent me “Vespers for the Dead”—which does not fulfill a priest’s obligation to pray the Divine Office, yet is often prayed when a loved one dies. Here is formatting A, and here it is again with formatting B.
“Homily for the Feast of All Saints” (November 1st) • Father Valentine Young, OFM
My mother told me that my father used to stop at the rectory every Saturday afternoon to go to confession to the priest. He died when I was eight, leaving my mother with six children…
* Live Rec. • “Absolution of the Body” (Gregorian Chant)
When a catafalque is used—instead of a dead body—the priest does not say the “Non Intres” prayer.
PDF Download • Beautiful Requiem Mass Image
“Every diocese, almost every church, had its own customs. Our present rule dates from the revived missal of 1570.”
“New” Cracked Altar Defaces Baroque Church
This travesty has been called “extensive restoration.”
ICEL added “Died” to the Nicene Creed • (I am not kidding!)
I bet you never noticed this, but here’s the proof! • Believe it or not, the Nicene Creed never says Our Lord “died,” and this article provides full documentation; also included are beautiful manuscript images from the greatest Dutch illuminated manuscript in the world: Catherine of Cleves Hours (15th century MS.)+
“Homily for the Feast of Christ the King” (EF) • Father Valentine Young, OFM
In many of His parables and teachings, Christ let us know that His Kingdom on earth was always what I am going to call “an unfinished product.”
PDF Download • Extremely Simple (Yet Gorgeous) Polyphonic Funeral Mass
These rehearsal videos were recorded by one person, and he apologizes for the poor singing quality…
20 October 2020 • “What we can’t share”
Almighty God has given to us the example of the Jesuit Martyrs of North America, whose feast day we celebrated yesterday. Of course, along with those eight martyrs we honor their associates, e.g Father François Bressani. I can’t share with you the torments Father Bressani underwent at the hands of Iroquois: it is too brutal. […]
19 October 2020 • Feast of Father Brébeuf
When the young priest saw the burnt and bleeding body of his superior, aghast and trembling he spoke the words of St. Paul: “We are made a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men.”
Dom Pothier • “To The Eyes And To The Ears”
For years, I couldn’t understand this business about “the eyes and the ears.” What did Pothier mean? Then it hit me. • Topics include Dom Joseph Pothier, the mora vocis, Abbot Pothier’s brother (Dom Alphonse Pothier), Dom Lucien David, Dom Paul Jausions, and a truly magnificent story about Pope Pius X and Abbot Pothier, which is essential reading+
The “Mora Vocis” • What is that?
The “Pre-NOH” editions have quite an idiosyncratic way of lengthening the neumes. • Fulsome illustrations are included examining and explaining the mora vocis of the Vatican edition; also mentioned is Dom André Mocquereau, Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val, and Pothier’s Liber Gradualis (1883)+