Views from the Choir Loft

Father Friel • Article Archive

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel served as Parochial Vicar at Saint Anselm Church in Northeast Philly before earning a doctorate in liturgical theology at The Catholic University of America. He presently serves as Vocation Director for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.—(Read full biography).

Fr. David Friel · November 1, 2015

Should Priests Trinate on All Souls’ Day?

Whether the Permission to Do So Constitutes an Encouragement to Do So

Fr. David Friel · October 25, 2015

Catholic Artists Society 1

The Art of the Beautiful Lecture Series 2015-2016

Fr. David Friel · October 18, 2015

World Meeting of Families 2015 & the Papal Visit to Philadelphia — Part 2 of 2

Monsignor Marini’s Final Encouragement to Papal Mass Servers

Fr. David Friel · October 13, 2015

Discussion of “Inclusivity” & “Diversity” at the Synod

Remarks from Archbishop Chaput

Fr. David Friel · October 11, 2015

World Meeting of Families 2015 & the Papal Visit to Philadelphia — Part 1 of 2

A Behind-the-Scenes Look

Fr. David Friel · September 20, 2015

A Missal for the Ordinariate

Concrete gestures that enter hearts and stir consciences are essential, inspiring in everyone that inner conversion that is the prerequisite for all ecumenical progress. — Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Fr. David Friel · September 13, 2015

Brilliant Idea for A Parish Fundraiser

A Different Type of “Silent” Auction

Fr. David Friel · September 6, 2015

The Importance of Uniforms

The world needs the witness of priests in ordinary life, not just inside the church building.

Fr. David Friel · August 30, 2015

Society for Catholic Liturgy Conference 2015

Featuring Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, Dr. William Mahrt, and Fr. Uwe Michael Lang

Fr. David Friel · August 23, 2015

Vesting Prayers • Part 8 of 9

The Chasuble

Fr. David Friel · August 16, 2015

Vesting Prayers • Part 7 of 9

The Stole

Fr. David Friel · August 9, 2015

Vesting Prayers • Part 6 of 9

The Maniple

Fr. David Friel · August 3, 2015

Assumption Mass 1

A Solemn High Mass in the Extraordinary Form next Friday evening in Philadelphia.

Fr. David Friel · August 2, 2015

Vesting Prayers • Part 5 of 9

The Cincture

Fr. David Friel · July 27, 2015

The Church of Our Savior

And the Case of the Vanishing Icons

Lectionary Errors

If you look at the official Responsorial Psalm (PDF) for this coming Sunday, you’ll notice the current Lectionary has the wrong refrain. Why is this a big deal? Why even mention such a thing? Everybody makes mistakes, right? Here’s why it matters. The USCCB—which makes money by selling the sacred liturgical texts—has historically been ruthless when it comes to such matters. When various publishers point out errors to them, their response has been: “If you dare to correct the error, we’ll sue you.” These errors are not a matter of nuance; e.g. sometimes the previous (English) edition of the Lectionary got them right! Bottom Line: mandatory, indulgenced, liturgical texts shouldn’t be sold; they should be freely available to all Catholics.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • SABT Enhancement (“Our Father”)

If you direct music in the ORDINARY FORM, you’ll want to download this free PDF as fast as humanly possible. While in Europe last summer, Veronica discovered this breathtaking “polyphonic enhancement” for the Lord’s Prayer. The congregation sings their part as normal, while the choir “weaves” SATB harmonies around them. My choir is definitely going to use this!

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Entrance Chant” • Sunday (17 Nov. 2024)

Download the Entrance Antiphon in English for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (17 November 2024). It’s in mode 6—which some consider the “mode of peace”—and mimics the authentic version in a splendid and gorgeous way. Corresponding to the vocalist score is this free organ accompaniment. If you’re someone who enjoys rehearsal videos, I attempted to sing it while simultaneously accompanying my voice on the pipe organ.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Liquescent Notes in the Official Edition

The official edition—the EDITIO VATICANA itself—is somewhat inconsistent when it comes to liquescent notes. If you wish to see a perfect “apples-to-apples” comparison, click here. Such “inconsistency” was not owing to ignorance on the part of Abbat Pothier: the manuscripts themselves are inconsistent when it comes to liquescent notes.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Final Sundays after Pentecost

For those of us at a traditional Latin Mass, it’s that time of year when the sung propers for each Sunday repeat until the end of the liturgical year. What to do with the portion of your mid-week rehearsal that you normally devote to the next Sunday’s propers? I like to get a head start on propers for upcoming December feasts. We always sing Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12 because she’s co-patroness of our diocese, and we sing a Rorate Mass in addition to Immaculate Conception. There’s also the first Sunday of Advent; it often follows Thanksgiving by a few days and we don’t rehearse on Thanksgiving. In short, there’s no reason to get bored at this time of year!

—Keven Smith

Parallel Fifths In Plainsong Accompaniment?

Parallel 5ths are forbidden in Baroque music and Classical music. However, plainsong accompaniment has its own rules and modal style. The great masters sometimes even wrote parallel sevenths! Instances of parallel fifths are too numerous to list in the Nova Organi Harmonia by the LEMMENSINSTITUUT. For example, consider this one. But one must possess a certain expertise to employ them properly. By the way, if you wish to see double parallel fifths, click here.

—Jeff Ostrowski