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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

Holy Week

Jeff Ostrowski · March 29, 2023

“Seventy-Three (73) Changes” • Which Pope Pius XII Made to Holy Week

If we feel compelled to condemn these changes, let’s at least spend time learning what they are!

Keven Smith · March 29, 2021

A Short Reflection for Holy Week: On Love

May these thoughts on selfless love encourage you to persevere through Holy Week.

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Keven Smith · March 22, 2021

Hidden Gem: Crux Fidelis (attr. King John IV of Portugal)

I don’t know who really wrote this motet, but I do know it’s a soothing and highly accessible selection for Holy Week.

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Fr. David Friel · March 13, 2021

Holy Week Chants • Clergy Training

An introduction to the English chants of Holy Week for clergy

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Fr. David Friel · February 18, 2021

CDW Guidance for Holy Week 2021

Bishops have broad freedom to determine what adaptations may be necessary in 2021.

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Fr. David Friel · April 5, 2020

Craving the Body of Christ

Insights from Joseph of Arimathea

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Fr. David Friel · March 20, 2020

CDW Guidelines for Holy Week 2020

The Congregation has released a short document with pertinent guidance.

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Jeff Ostrowski · April 15, 2017

“Reproaches” for Good Friday (Recording)

The indispensable “Musician’s Guide to Good Friday,” including a 50-page PDF and rehearsal videos!

Fr. David Friel · January 22, 2017

Motet for Three Voices: “O Crux Ave” 1

This piece is ideal for use as a motet during the veneration of the Holy Cross at the Good Friday liturgy.

Fr. David Friel · March 6, 2016

Parish Lenten Programs • 15 Suggestions

Simply adhering to the liturgical traditions of the Church would be a wonderful Lenten program for every parish.

Fr. David Friel · January 24, 2016

Motet for Three Voices: “O Crux Ave”

This piece is ideal for use as a motet during the veneration of the Holy Cross at the Good Friday liturgy.

Veronica Brandt · April 11, 2015

How did your Holy Week go?

Singing for the Sacred Triduum and Easter ceremonies is an awesome privilege. Coming out the other side can be very sweet indeed, even when things didn’t always go quite as planned.

Fr. David Friel · March 29, 2015

Essential Resources for Holy Week

Knowing What Is Needed

Richard J. Clark · March 27, 2015

Five Things Directors and Choirs Must Remember This Week

You may forever change the lives of someone you do not know in ways you will never know.

Richard J. Clark · February 27, 2015

Helping Your Deacon or Priest Learn the Exsultet

Singing the “Exsultet” can be intimidating! Six pages of endless notes and words? Here are some helpful tools.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    PDF • “Music List” (Immaculate Concep.)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 8 December 2025, the feast of OUR LADY’S IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The fauxbourdon setting of the COMMUNION is exquisite. In Latin, the title of this feast is: In Conceptione Immaculata Beatae Mariae Virginis. 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
    “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). It would be difficult to phrase things more clearly than the pope: viz. the ADALBERT PROPERS are for recited Masses, the GRADUALE PROPERS are for Masses with singing.
    —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

I feel the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a direct war, a direct killing—direct murder by the mother herself. And we read in the Scripture, for God says very clearly: “Even if a mother could forget her child, I will not forget you: I have carved you in the palm of my hand.”

— Mother Theresa (11 Dec 1979)

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