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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 · March 10, 2026

Music is the “Humble Handmaid” of the Mass

“Upon hearing this, my kids immediately glanced at me with horrified looks on their faces.”

Mark Haas · February 23, 2026

My Response Surprised A Parishioner ‘Upset’ About Latin

We must resist the temptation to justify Latin—or any liturgical practice—based on personal taste.

Mark Haas · February 9, 2026

Solfege Volleyball: A Children’s Choir Game

“The children loved it instantly. The game required focus, teamwork, and listening.”

Mark Haas · January 23, 2026

“We don’t do that anymore.”

Don’t shoot the messenger!

Mark Haas · January 7, 2026

A Simple Way to Utilize Handbells

The method itself is wonderfully simple.

Mark Haas · December 26, 2025

Bing Crosby, Christmas, and Catholicism

He served as an unwitting catechist, introducing a young listener to the language and music of Catholicism.

Mark Haas · December 13, 2025

The “Word of the Father” Chord: Theology and Harmony Meet at Christmas

It is fitting that the most exquisite chord in Adeste Fideles coincides with the most profound line of theology.

Mark Haas · December 3, 2025

PDF Downloads • 5 Simple Palestrina Pieces

A collection of Palestrina works that are not only stunningly beautiful but also surprisingly accessible.

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.”

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    PDF Download • Communion (4th Snd. Lent)
    The COMMUNION ANTIPHON for this coming Sunday, which is the Fourth Sunday of Lent (Year A), is particularly beautiful. There’s something irresistible about this tone; it’s neither happy nor sad. As always, I encourage readers to visit the flourishing feasts website, where the complete Propria Missae may be downloaded free of charge.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Good Friday Flowers
    Good Friday has a series of prayers for various parties: the pope, catechumens, pagans, heretics, schismatics, and so forth. In the old liturgical books, there was no official ‘name’ for these prayers. (This wasn’t unusual as ‘headers’ and ‘titles’ for each section is a rather modern idea.) The Missal simply instructed the priest to go to the Epistle side and begin. In the SHERBORNE MISSAL, each prayer begins with a different—utterly spectacular—flower. This PDF file shows the first few prayers. Has anyone counted the ‘initial’ drop-cap flowers in the SHERBORNE MISSAL? Surely there are more than 1,000.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music List • (3rd Sunday of Lent)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for this coming Sunday, which is the 3rd Sunday of Lent (8 March 2026). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. This feast has magnificent propers. Its stern INTROIT (“Óculi mei semper ad Dóminum”) is breathtaking, and the COMMUNION (“Qui bíberit aquam”) with its fauxbourdon verses is wonderful. I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Dies Irae” • A Monstrous Translation
    It isn’t easy to determine what Alice King MacGilton hoped to accomplish with her very popular book—A Study of Latin Hymns (1918)—which continued to be reprinted in new editions for at least 34 years. This PDF file shows her attempt to translate the DIES IRAE “in the fewest words possible.” There’s a place for dynamic equivalency, but this is repugnant. In particular, look what she does to “Quærens me sedísti lassus.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Holy, Holy, Holy”
    For vigil Masses on Saturday (a.k.a. “anticipated” Masses) we use this simpler setting of the “Holy, Holy, Holy” by Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989), a Belgian priest, organist, composer, and music educator who ultimately succeeded another ‘Jules’ (CANON JULES VAN NUFFEL) as director of the Lemmensinstituut in Belgium. Although I could be wrong, my understanding is that the LEMMENSINSTITUUT eventually merged with “Catholic University of Leuven” (originally founded in 1425). That’s the university Fulton J. Sheen attended.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Grotesque Pairing • “Passion Chorale”
    One of our rarest releases was undoubtably this PDF scan of the complete Pope Pius XII Hymnal (1959) by Father Joseph Roff, a student of Healey Willan. One of the scarcest titles in existence, this book was provided to us by Mr. Peter Meggison. Back in 2018, we scanned each page and uploaded it to our website, making it freely available to everyone. Readers are probably sick of hearing me say this, but just because we upload something that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s wonderful or worthy of imitation. We upload many publications precisely because they are ‘grotesque’, interesting, or revealing. Whereas the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal had an editorial board that was careful and sensitive vis-à-vis pairing texts with tunes, the Pope Pius XII Hymnal (1959) seems to have been rather reckless in this regard. Please take a look at what they did with the PASSION CHORALE and see whether you agree.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“After the Second Vatican Council, the impression arose that the pope really could do anything in liturgical matters, especially if he were acting on the mandate of an ecumenical council. Eventually, the idea of the givenness of the liturgy, the fact that one cannot do with it what one will, faded from the public consciousness of the West.”

— Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger

Recent Posts

  • Consultor to the Vatican Council Enters the Fray • (Vis-à-vis Jeff’s Pipe Organ Assertion)
  • Palm Sunday • “Repertoire for Children’s Choir”
  • PDF Download • Communion (4th Snd. Lent)
  • Most “Congregational” Hymn • (In My Experience)
  • Music is the “Humble Handmaid” of the Mass

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