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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

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger Liturgy

Jeff Ostrowski · July 18, 2021

Restricting the Extraordinary Form? • Cardinal Ratzinger’s Video Interview

“We are today not another Church as 500 years ago; it’s always the same Church.” —Cardinal Ratzinger on EWTN

Corpus Christi Watershed · July 1, 2020

Monsignor Georg Ratzinger Has Died

He died on the Feast of the Most Precious Blood (at least according to the EF calendar) at age 96.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · April 3, 2018

Ratzinger’s 1987 Letter to a Former Catechism Student

The Pope Emeritus presents church music as something central to life.

Fr. David Friel · January 17, 2016

Sacra Liturgia UK — Registration Now Open

An International Conference on Liturgical Formation in Light of the New Evangelization

Fr. David Friel · January 10, 2016

Whose Responsibility Is It To Establish New EF Communities?

We must respect the vision of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

Fr. David Friel · June 1, 2015

Sacra Liturgia 2015 — Update I

Cardinal Sarah reveals the instructions he received from Pope Francis upon his appointment as Prefect of the CDW.

Fr. David Friel · April 12, 2015

Sacra Liturgia USA 2015

An International Conference on Liturgical Formation in Light of the New Evangelization

Fr. David Friel · March 22, 2015

Adoremus & the Way Forward

Continuing the Work of Helen Hull Hitchcock

Fr. David Friel · January 18, 2015

Praise of God Demands Song

Impromptu Address of His Holiness Benedict XVI to the Members of the Pontifical “Sistine” Choir

Jeff Ostrowski · January 7, 2015

Rare Photograph: Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen With Father Joseph Ratzinger in 1965

Archbishop Sheen said nary a word about any liturgical reforms following the Council.

Aurelio Porfiri · August 4, 2014

Modernity Impact

For me tradition is not going to the past, but going to the origins.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Spectacular Communion Setting!
    The FAUXBOURDON setting of the Communion for the Baptism of the Lord (which will occur this coming Sunday) strikes me as quite spectacular. The verses—composed by the fifth century Christian poet, Coelius Sedulius—come from a long alphabetical acrostic and are deservedly famous. The feast of the LORD’S BAPTISM was traditionally the octave day of Epiphany, but in the 1962 kalendar it was made ‘more explicit’ or emphasized. The 1970 MISSALE ROMANUM elevated this feast even further.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF • “Music List” (Sunday, 11 January)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (SUNDAY, 11 January 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The FAUXBOURDON verses for the Communion Antiphon—to say nothing of the antiphon itself—are breathtaking. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are available at the monumental feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Epiphany Hymn • “New 2-Voice Arrangement”
    The Von Trapp Family Singers loved a melody that was featured heavily (perhaps even “too heavily”) in the Brébeuf Hymnal. It goes by many names, including ALTONA, VOM HIMMEL HOCH, and ERFURT. If you only have one man and one woman singing, you will want to download this arrangement for two voices. It really is a marvelous tune—and it’s especially fitting during the season of Christmas and Epiphany.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Reminder” — Month of January (2026)
    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
    PDF Download • “In Paradisum” in English
    We always sing the IN PARADISUM in Latin, as printed on this PDF score. I have an appallingly bad memory (meaning I’d be a horrible witness in court). In any event, it’s been brought to my attention that 15 years ago I created this organ accompaniment for the famous and beautiful ‘IN PARADISUM’ Gregorian chant sung in English according to ‘MR3’ (Roman Missal, Third Edition). If anyone desires such a thing, feel free to download and print. Looking back, I wish I’d brought the TENOR and BASS voices into a unison (on B-Natural) for the word “welcome” on the second line.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    What does this mean? “Pre-Urbanite”
    Something informed critics have frequently praised vis-à-vis the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal is its careful treatment of the ancient hymns vs. the “Urbanite” hymns. This topic I had believed to be fairly well understood—but I was wrong. The reason I thought people knew about it is simple; in the EDITIO VATICANA 1908 Graduale Romanum (as well as the 1913 Liber Antiphonarius) both versions are provided, right next to each other. You can see what I mean by examining this PDF file from the Roman Gradual of 1908. Most people still don’t understand that the Urbanite versions were never adopted by any priests or monks who sang the Divine Office each day. Switching would have required a massive amount of effort and money, because all the books would need to be changed.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

Last Fall, however, the bishop of Augsburg in West Germany, the Most Rev. Josef Stimpfle, ordered all parishes in his diocese to have a Latin High Mass at least once a month. This policy drew a letter of warm commendation from the apostolic nuncio to West Germany, Archbishop Guido del Mestri, who termed the decree “exemplary” and added, “The way chosen by you is one desired by the whole Church.”

— Latin Liturgy Association “Newsletter” (September 1980)

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