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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

Mark Haas • Article Archive

Mark Haas is a composer and speaker whose liturgical music has been sung in over 600 parishes and 10 countries. He lives in Florida with his wife and seven children.—Read full biography (with photographs).

Mark Haas · November 20, 2025

Kid’s Repertoire • 3 Recommendations (Mark Haas)

“My children’s choir absolutely loves this piece.”

Mark Haas · November 10, 2025

What surprised me about regularly singing the Gloria in Latin

“A chorus of groans erupted: ‘Mr. Haaaaaasssss, whyyyy?'”

Mark Haas · November 4, 2025

When Pilgrims Sing, the World Disappears

“Their culture blended into the harmony of the Church. They were no longer citizens. They were Catholic.”

Mark Haas · October 28, 2025

A Practical Method of Projecting Solfege for Chant

“The choristers are not only learning the Propers more quickly but are also internalizing the sound of solfege in relation to Gregorian modes.”

Mark Haas · October 20, 2025

A Simple Way to Sing and Notate Organum Harmony

“Organum is a humble addition to Gregorian chant, yet it opens a profound sonic world.”

Mark Haas · October 10, 2025

Every Diocesan Music Commission Should Do This

“To assist this process, I have compiled links to the documents…” —Mark Haas

Mark Haas · October 1, 2025

My choir is devoid of this generation (And it’s a healthy sign)

“This unique vitality is nowhere more visible than in the choir loft.”

Mark Haas · September 22, 2025

The Old Gaffer: Parish Choir Director of Middle Earth

“Tending the garden of the liturgy so that, in God’s time, fruit may grow that is destined for eternity.”

Mark Haas · September 11, 2025

Charlie Kirk’s Fascination with Traditional Catholic Liturgy

“Charlie Kirk has repeatedly spoken about the power of traditional liturgy.”

Mark Haas · September 5, 2025

Is ‘Chant’ a Generic Word for ‘Sing’ ? • No!

To call any form of liturgical singing “chant” is to obscure the meaning the Church has always attributed to Gregorian chant.

Mark Haas · August 26, 2025

“Cracker Barrel & Catholicism” • Logos and Lessons

“A restaurant’s niche—just like a Church’s patrimony—draws people in not by blending with the generic, but by standing apart.”

Mark Haas · August 19, 2025

An Arranger’s Walkthrough of “King’s Weston” (PDF & MP3 Downloads)

“There is a sacred calling for those of us who compose and arrange music for the Church.”

Mark Haas · August 7, 2025

Is this what the new “Youth Mass” looks like?

“We had 14 singers in the loft—nearly all of them teenagers.”

Mark Haas · August 1, 2025

False! • “Youthful” Music Attracts the Young

We often underestimate the spiritual hunger of our youth. But children and teenagers are drawn to beauty, truth, and transcendence.

Mark Haas · July 12, 2025

Worship the Lord in Holy Attire

“Dressing with care and reverence for Mass is a sign—not just to God, but to others—of our awareness of the sacred.”

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Reminder” — Month of December (2025)
    On a daily basis, I speak to people who don’t realize we publish a free newsletter (although they’ve followed our blog for years). We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and refuse to run annoying ads. As a result, our mailing list is crucial to our survival. Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Dr. Mahrt explains the ‘Spoken’ Propers
    In 1970, the Church promulgated a new version of the Roman Missal. It goes by various names: Ordinary Form, Novus Ordo, MISSALE RECENS, and so on. If you examine the very first page, you’ll notice that Pope Saint Paul VI explains the meaning of the ‘Spoken Propers’ (which are for Masses without singing). A quote by Dr. William P. Mahrt is also included in that file. The SPOKEN PROPERS—used at Masses without music—are sometimes called The Adalbert Propers, because they were created in 1969 by Father Adalbert Franquesa Garrós, one of Hannibal Bugnini’s closest friends (according to Yves Chiron).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF • “Music List” (1st Sunday of Advent)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 30 November 2025, which is the 1st Sunday of Advent (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The ENTRANCE CHANT is quite memorable, and the fauxbourdon setting of the COMMUNION is exquisite. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are available at the feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Translations Approved for Liturgical Use”
    According to the newsletter for USSCB’s Committee on Divine Worship dated September 1996, there are three (3) translations of the Bible which can be used in the sacred liturgy in the United States. You can read this information with your own eyes. It seems the USCCB and also Rome fully approved the so-called NRSV (“New Revised Standard Version”) on 13 November 1991 and 6 April 1992 but this permission was then withdrawn in 1994.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Gospel Options for 2 November (“All Souls”)
    We’ve been told some bishops are suppressing the TLM because of “unity.” But is unity truly found in the MISSALE RECENS? For instance, on All Souls (2 November), any of these Gospel readings may be chosen, for any reason (or for no reason at all). The same is true of the Propria Missæ and other readings—there are countless options in the ORDINARY FORM. In other words, no matter which OF parish you attend on 2 November, you’ll almost certainly hear different propers and readings, to say nothing of different ‘styles’ of music. Where is the “unity” in all this? Indeed, the Second Vatican Council solemnly declared: “Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community.”
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Our Father” • Musical Setting?
    Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Gregorian chant is the sacred chant, proper and principal of the Roman Church. Therefore, not only can it be used in all liturgical actions, but unless there are mitigating circumstances, it is preferable to use it instead of other kinds of sacred music.”

— §16, De Musica Sacra (1958)

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