Views from the Choir Loft

Archives for November 2012

Fr. David Friel · November 30, 2012

Andrew’s Orations

Why I Love Being a Roman Catholic

Fr. David Friel · November 26, 2012

Vision of the Apocalypse

Perfect Harmony

Fr. David Friel · November 25, 2012

The Underground Church

Long Live Christ the King!

Guest Author · November 19, 2012

Young Catholic Musicians

A guest article by Mr. Gary Penkala.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 19, 2012

Graduale Romanum Chants And The New Roman Missal

The best kept secret of the Second Vatican Council …

Fr. David Friel · November 18, 2012

Will All Men Be Saved?

Hope vs. Certainty

Cynthia Ostrowski · November 17, 2012

Christus Rex Pilgrimage

The Christus Rex Pilgrimage is a three day walking pilgrimage held annually on the traditional feast of Christ the King.

Fr. David Friel · November 16, 2012

First Century Progressives

Really?

Corpus Christi Watershed · November 13, 2012

Chant, Polyphony, and the New Evangelization.

VIDEO: Pope Benedict tells a choir group on pilgrimage in Rome that sacred music can be an effective means of the new evangelization.

Cynthia Ostrowski · November 12, 2012

Latin Mass at the University of Steubenville

Mass in the Extraordinary Form was recently offered at the Franciscan University of Steubenville.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 11, 2012

Folding One’s Hands At Mass

“It is a queer type of mind that actually is interested in knowing whether the deacon should stand at the right or the left of someone else at some moment.” Why would Dr. Fortescue say this?

Jeff Ostrowski · November 8, 2012

The Greatest Blog Entry Ever Of All Time

Edwin Fischer was considered the greatest Swiss pianist. I believe Alfred Cortot was also Swiss, but most people considered him French.

Fr. David Friel · November 4, 2012

Right Priorities

Public & Private

Jeff Ostrowski · November 3, 2012

[Book] Benedict XVI And Beauty In Sacred Music

This book looks like it would make a wonderful Christmas gift!

Jeff Ostrowski · November 2, 2012

Liturgy And Our Television Age

Have you noticed that absolutely everything is shown on television these days?

PDF • “Music List” (4th Sunday of Advent)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 21 December 2025, which is the 4th Sunday of Advent (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The ENTRANCE CHANT is the famous “Roráte Coeli” and the fauxbourdon setting of the COMMUNION is exquisite. 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

PDF • Our Lady of Guadalupe (12 Dec.)

The Responsorial Psalm may be downloaded as a PDF file (organist & vocalist) for 12 December, which is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. When it comes to the formulary for this Mass, it’s astounding how infrequently it’s included in official books. Prior to Vatican II, one had to search through “supplemental material” printed in the back of hand-missals and graduals. But since 1970, the feast is virtually nonexistent. According to the UNIVERSAL KALENDAR, 12 December is the “Feast of Saint Jane Frances De Chantal, Religious” (Die 12 decembris: S. Ioannæ Franciscæ de Chantal, religiosæ). Why should that feast overpower Our Lady of Guadalupe? In the United States, OLG is celebrated—and I’d assume in Mexico, Central America, South America, and Canada—but, as I said, the Propria Missae are virtually impossible to locate. I possess only three books which mention this feast.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Simplified Accompaniment (Advent Hymn)

Many organists are forced to simultaneously serve as both CANTOR and ACCOMPANIST. In spite of what some claim, this can be difficult. I invite you to download this simplified organ accompaniment (PDF) which in the Father Brébeuf Hymnal is hymn #661: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” (for ADVENT). I’m toying with the idea of creating a whole bunch of these, to help amateur organists. The last one I uploaded was downloaded more than 2,900 times in a matter of hours—so there appears to be interest.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Santo Santo Santo”

Those searching for a dignified, brief, simple, bright setting of SANCTUS in Spanish (“Santo Santo Santo”) are invited to download this Setting in honor of Saint John Brébeuf (organist & vocalist). I wonder if there would be any interest in me recording a rehearsal video for this piece.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Leo XIV on Sacred Music

On 5 December 2025, Pope Leo XIV made this declaration with regard to liturgical music.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“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