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 · May 17, 2020

Returning to the Sacraments • “Breathe Easter Now” (Hopkins)

Words of Hope from Gerard Manley Hopkins

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · May 3, 2020

Throwing Away Our Birthright of Beauty

Thoughts from St. Athanasius the Great

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · April 19, 2020

The Offertory Antiphons of the Easter Octave

United by the theme of sacred “commercium”

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · April 5, 2020

Craving the Body of Christ

Insights from Joseph of Arimathea

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · April 2, 2020

Repeating Repertoire? • Father Friel

The merits of repetition and variation.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · March 22, 2020

“Separated from the Sacraments” • Stories from Walter Ciszek, SJ

A missionary in Soviet Russia, Fr. Ciszek learned the spirituality of surrender through tremendous suffering.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · March 20, 2020

CDW Guidelines for Holy Week 2020

The Congregation has released a short document with pertinent guidance.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · March 18, 2020

A Word of Encouragement

For those who are separated from the liturgical life of the Church on account of COVID-19.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · March 10, 2020

Liturgical Custody of the Eyes

Guarding the Sense of Sight so as to Promote Participation

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · February 23, 2020

Exploring the 5th/6th-Century Mosaics of Ravenna

These magnificent images are not only attractive to behold, but also deeply theological.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · February 17, 2020

Imposing the Classical Style on Public Building Projects?

A rumored executive order would unify the architectural style of future projects and upgrades.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · February 16, 2020

New Work from Paul Jernberg

The composer has begun a new and worthwhile blogging project.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · January 26, 2020

The Book of Kells Online

The Book of Kells, as well as 150,000 artworks housed in Parisian museums, can be freely viewed online.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · January 20, 2020

Roger Scruton, Magister Pulchritudinis

Sir Roger Scruton died January 12, 2020, leaving a mammoth legacy in the field of aesthetics.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · January 15, 2020

Digitizing the Vatican Library

One decade into the project, the results are fascinating.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Our choir is on break during the month of July. However, on the feasts website, the chants have been posted for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C), which is this coming Sunday: 6 July 2025.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)

With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.

—Jeff Ostrowski

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

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