“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)
I got this (personal) message from a choir member. I know we usually avoid sharing personal items, but hopefully this exception is warranted: “Dear Mr. Ostrowski, I read your recent article, “I Came From Somewhere.” I really enjoyed reading it. Thank you for all that you do. I appreciate your sentiments and your work to […]
Including a haunting hymn by Flor Peeters for Eastertide.
I’m desperately in need of this book!
Plainsong sung poorly—in a sluggish, lifeless manner—can leave a bad taste in people’s mouths.
We have spoken many times about the common tunes contained in the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal. I have suggested that these “shared melodies” are crucial for any director attempting to build a serious choral program in today’s environment. However, I’ve also said hymn pairings must be done with great sensitivity. Take a look at […]
Rather than allow the traditional times, the Vatican gave permission to allow the Easter Vigil to be celebrated on the morning of Easter Sunday!
Could 1% of Catholics? Or even fewer than that?
It was without question the wildest thing I ever heard.
Dallas, Singapore, Los Angeles…there’s so much good in the world!
If we feel compelled to condemn these changes, let’s at least spend time learning what they are!
Conscientious choirmasters know it’s crucial to get “as much bang for your buck” as possible.
A reader asks: “No Dotted Neumes?”
Fulton J. Sheen considered Monsignor Knox’s English translation of the Bible to be the greatest ever created.
“In nothing are English Catholics so poor as in vernacular hymns. The real badness of most of our popular hymns (endeared, unfortunately, to the people by association) surpasses anything that could otherwise be imagined.” —Father Fortescue
As Americans, we’re “bred from birth” to think of ourselves as little gods who already know everything and require no correction.
The election of Pope Leo XIV has been exciting, and we’re filled with hope for our apostolate’s future!
But we’re under pressure to transfer our website to a “subscription model.”
We don’t want to do that. We believe our website should remain free to all.
Our president has written the following letter:
President’s Message (dated 30 May 2025)
