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Corpus Christi Watershed

We’re a 501(c)3 public charity established in 2006. We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and run no advertisements. We exist solely by the generosity of small donors.

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Views from the Choir Loft

Rev Fr Adrian Fortescue Liturgy

Jeff Ostrowski · May 27, 2025

PDF Download • “Entrance Chant” for 29 June … Which Falls on a Sunday This Year!

Growing up, we had an encyclopedia in our basement—but that was hardly the equivalent access to the internet!

Corpus Christi Watershed · March 12, 2025

“I Hate, Loathe, and Utterly Despise the Trivial Details of Ceremonies.” —Father Adrian Fortescue

“I want never to hear another word about ceremonies for as long as I live. I would rather discuss the symptoms of cancer.” —Dr. Fortescue

Jeff Ostrowski · March 8, 2025

“My Song Is Love Unknown” • Jeff Attempts to Sing All Parts … Including the Female Voices!

Few Catholics seem to realize it was Pope Pius XII who suppressed Tenebrae, a ceremony deeply loved by the faithful for centuries.

Jeff Ostrowski · February 10, 2025

The New Lectionary & “Voice of God” Hymns

The sale of indulgenced prayers is immoral. Someday they’ll have to make restitution for this.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 10, 2025

PDF Download • “Baptism of the Lord” (Hymn)

From what I have seen, musicians tend to be the best liturgists…

Jeff Ostrowski · August 6, 2024

PDF Download • “Entrance Chant in English” (19th Sunday in Ordinary Time)

Including twelve (12) different versions!

Jeff Ostrowski · July 23, 2024

PDF Download • “Entrance Chant” for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Years ABC)

Including ten (10) alternate versions!

Jeff Ostrowski · May 19, 2024

When Dr. Calabrese Addressed Me Personally

Including a ‘live’ recording of the Church’s oldest Latin Eucharistic Hymn, which comes from a 7th-century Irish manuscript.

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.”

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Jeff Ostrowski · April 25, 2024

Update (25 April) • “Forthcoming Spanish Hymnal”

“When our people have the courage to break resolutely with a bad tradition, there are unworked mines of religious poetry in the old hymns that we can use in translations.” —Father Adrian Fortescue

Jeff Ostrowski · March 31, 2024

“Strangest Of All…” • (Fortescue)

In his illustrious 1912 tome—The Mass: A Study Of The Roman Liturgy—Father Adrian Fortescue spoke of sequences, writing: “Strangest of all were the vernacular sequences in France and Germany, or those partly vernacular and partly Latin.” Our volunteer choir experimented with that on Holy Thursday, mixing Latin verses with an English refrain. For the record, […]

Jeff Ostrowski · March 22, 2024

“Victimæ Paschali Laudes” • Thirty-One (31) Different Versions — Including Organ Accompaniments

This version by Father Adrian Fortescue is fascinating!

Jeff Ostrowski · February 15, 2024

Josquin Des Prez Was A Vandal • (Not Kidding)

Also included: the day my life changed forever.

Jeff Ostrowski · February 13, 2024

“Ite, Missa Est” • What Does That Actually Mean?

Bishop Ambo’s assertion that Mass was attended—for centuries—by a single woman (and nobody else) is bizarre.

Jeff Ostrowski · February 10, 2024

Must We “Love” All Gregorian Chant?

Where “Parce Dómine” (the famous song for Lent) came from.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Luis Martínez Must Go!
    Sevilla Cathedral (entry dated 13 December 1564): The chapter orders Luis Martínez, a cathedral chaplain, to stay away from the choirbook-stand when the rest of the singers gather around it to sing polyphony—the reason being that “he throws the others out of tune.” [Excerpt from “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Urgent! • We Desperately Need Funds!
    A few days ago, the president of Corpus Christi Watershed posted this urgent appeal for funds. Please help us make sure we’re never forced to place our content behind a paywall. We feel it’s crucial that 100% of our content remains free to everyone. We’re a tiny 501(c)3 public charity, entirely dependent upon the generosity of small donors. We have no endowment and no major donors. We run no advertisements and have no savings. We beg you to consider donating $4.00 per month. Thank you!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Booklet of Eucharistic Hymns” (16 pages)
    I was asked to create a booklet for my parish to use during our CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION on 22 June 2025. Would you be willing to look over the DRAFT BOOKLET (16 pages) I came up with? I tried to include a variety of hymns: some have a refrain; some are in major, others in minor; some are metered, others are plainsong; some are in Spanish, some are in Latin, but most are in English. Normally, we’d use the Brébeuf Hymnal—but we can’t risk having our congregation carry those heavy books all over the city to various churches.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

Indeed I might add that although unfamiliar with it myself, the Extraordinary Form expressly reminds us that Mass in either form is not merely a communion meal but a ritual of love, a sacrifice at Calvary, by which, for you and for me, yes, here and now, Jesus Christ lays down his life.

— ‘Most Rev. Philip Egan, Bishop of Portsmouth’

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Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.

The election of Pope Leo XIV has been exciting, and we’re filled with hope for our apostolate’s future!

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President’s Message (dated 30 May 2025)

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