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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

Low Mass Vernacular Hymns

Jeff Ostrowski · May 15, 2024

Documentation • “In the Olden Days, Was Vernacular Sung During Liturgical Services?”

Including a splendid harmonization of “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name.”

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Jeff Ostrowski · April 14, 2024

PDF Download • “Freiburg Cathedral Hymnal” (Organ Accompaniment) — 308 Pages!

The most comprehensive German hymnal ever printed? Well, this masterpiece by Monsignor Stemmer is certainly in the top five!

Jeff Ostrowski · December 20, 2021

“Communion Service” for the Extraordinary Form?

This statement by the “Una Voce” president strikes me as inaccurate.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 14, 2021

PDF Download • Three Myths About Hymns

Did you know Catholics began translating hymns from Latin into the vernacular about 400 years before the Protestant Revolution?

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Jeff Ostrowski · May 10, 2021

Re: “Christ the King Hymnal” (Imprimatur, 1954)

Venerable Pope Pius XII explicitly allowed vernacular hymns during High Mass in 1958.

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Jeff Ostrowski · April 6, 2021

Live Recording • “Jesus My Lord, My God, My All”

Vernacular hymns at Communion during EF High Mass—your thoughts?

Jeff Ostrowski · January 31, 2020

A Traditional—But Bizarre!—Way To Assist At Mass

Just because I’m aware of something that happened in the past doesn’t mean I endorse it.

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Jeff Ostrowski · November 15, 2018

PDF Download • Mass Hymns by Fr. Seed, SJ (1906)

How utterly strange to see such items!

Jeff Ostrowski · November 6, 2018

PDF Download • “Pope Pius XII Hymnal” (1959)

Were you shocked to see the Pius XII Hymnal assigning vernacular hymns to different parts of the Mass?

Jeff Ostrowski · February 28, 2016

Catholic Hymns Before Vatican II Will Shock You!

In spite of what you may have read online, hymns in English were often sung during Low Mass.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 18, 2015

PDF Downloads • Vernacular Mass Settings Published During The 1960s

If they were set upon avoiding the word “men,” I wish ICEL would have done something like “peace on earth to *those* of good will.”

Jeff Ostrowski · April 8, 2015

Fascinating Videos From 1958 • Mass Sung In English!

A “Dialogue” Low Mass with singing (c. 1958) by choristers of St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 12, 2015

PDF Download: Rare Hymnal By Boston’s Archbishop

Can you imagine singing all those vernacular hymns while Mass is happening?

Jeff Ostrowski · November 18, 2014

“As you might imagine, it was a disaster.”

“While most worshipers were stumbling through the Introit or Collect, a few fluent in Latin would be loudly racing through the prayers.”

Jeff Ostrowski · August 19, 2013

Singing Propers and Ordinary . . . at Low Mass?

“And the practice of saying a Low Mass while the choir sings bits of things is too dreadful to be described.” — Fr. Adrian Fortescue, 1912

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Music List • “Ascension of the Lord”
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for the The Ascension of the Lord—“Festum Ascensionis Domini”—which is transferred to 17 May 2026 in our diocese. Please feel free to download it as a PDF file if such a thing interests you. The OFFERTORY (“Ascéndit Deus in jubilatióne”) is particularly beautiful and the ENTRANCE CHANT is simply splendid. As always, readers may go directly to the flourishing feasts website, where the complete Propria Missae may be downloaded free of charge.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “For Pentecost Sunday”
    Yesterday morning, I recorded myself singing the ENTRANCE CHANT for Pentecost Sunday while simultaneously accompanying myself on the pipe organ. Click here to see how that came out. At the end of the antiphon, there’s a triple Allelúja and I just love the chord at the end of the 2nd iteration. The organ accompaniment—along with the musical score for singers—can be downloaded free of charge at the flourishing feasts website. For the record, the antiphon on Pentecost Sunday doesn’t come from a psalm; it comes from the book of Wisdom.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Organ Accompaniment”
    Over the past few years, I’ve been harmonizing all the vernacular plainsong Introit settings by the CHAUMONOT COMPOSERS GROUP. This coming Sunday—10 May 2026—is the 6th Sunday of Easter (Year A). The following declaration will probably smack of “blowing my own horn.” However, I’d rank this accompaniment as my best yet. In this rehearsal video, I attempt to sing it while simultaneously accompanying myself on the pipe organ. The musical score [for singers] as well as my organ accompaniment can be downloaded free of charge from the flourishing feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Thee” + “Thou” + “Thine”
    Few musicians realize that various English translations of Sacred Scripture were granted formal approval by the USCCB and the Vatican for liturgical use in the United States of America. But don’t take my word for it! Here are four documents proving this, which you can examine with your own eyes. Some believe the words “Thine” and “Thou” and “Thee” were forbidden after Vatican II—but that’s incorrect. For example, they’re found in the English translation of the ‘Our Father’ at Mass. Moreover, the Revised Standard Version (Catholic Edition) mentioned in those four documents employs “Thine” and “Thou” and “Thee.” It was published with a FOREWORD by Westminster’s Roman Catholic Archbishop (John Cardinal Heenan).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Reminder” — Month of May (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. It couldn’t be easier to subscribe! Just scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplified Version • “Canon in D” (Pachelbel)
    I published an article on 11 November 2023 called Wedding March For The Lazy Organist, which rather offhandedly made reference to a simplified version I created in 2007 for Pachelbel’s Canon. I often use it as a PROCESSIONAL for weddings and quinceañeras. Many organists say they “hate” Pachelbel’s Canon. But I love it. I think it’s bright and beautiful. I created that ‘simplified version’ for musicians coming to grips with playing the pipe organ. It can be downloaded as a free PDF if you visit Andrea Leal’s article dated 15 August 2022: Manuals Only: Organ Interludes Based on Plainsong. Specifically, it is page 84 in that collection—generously offered as a free PDF download. Johann Pachelbel (d. 1706) was a renowned German organist, violinist, teacher, and composer of over 500 works. A friend of Bach’s family, he taught Johann Christoph Bach (Sebastian Bach’s eldest brother) and lived in his house. Those who read Pachelbel’s biography will notice his connection to two German cities adopted as famous hymn tune names: EISENACH and ERFURT.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“The Church has always kept, and wishes still to maintain everywhere, the language of her Liturgy; and, before the sad and violent changes of the 16th century, this eloquent and effective symbol of unity of faith and communion of the faithful was, as you know, cherished in England not less than elsewhere. But this has never been regarded by the Holy See as incompatible with the use of popular hymns in the language of each country.”

— Pope Leo XIII (1898)

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