Views from the Choir Loft

Saint Edmund Campion Missal • “Third Edition”

ULTON J. SHEEN said famously: “Evil has its hour; God has His day.” Since the 1960s, Catholics have witnessed catastrophic apostasy. Yet in the year 2022, things are taking place nobody could have imagined. Five days ago, Cardinal Zuppi, head of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, led “Extraordinary Form” Vespers in the heart of Rome. Four days ago, the 1962 Missal was used in Saint Peter’s Basilica (!) by Monsignor Marco Agostini, MASTER OF CEREMONIES for Pope Francis. Three days ago, the USCCB Vice President and Archbishop of Detroit—who served on the Bishop’s Liturgy Committee alongside bishops like Cupich and Trautman—confirmed using the traditional PONTIFICALE ROMANUM. These are but a few examples.

Today, the next milestone has arrived:

* Third Edition • SAINT EDMUND CAMPION MISSAL
—Help your congregation follow the Traditional Latin Mass!
—Click here to purchase from Sophia Institute Press.

*  SAMPLE PAGES (A) • “Book Size Comparison”
*  SAMPLE PAGES (B) • “Cover Design”
*  SAMPLE PAGES (C) • “Color Pages” Ordo Missae
*  SAMPLE PAGES (D) • “Ancient Manuscripts”
*  SAMPLE PAGES (E) • “Holy Week” (1962 Version)
*  SAMPLE PAGES (F) • “Holy Week” (1950 Version)
*  SAMPLE PAGES (G) • “The Passion of our Savior”
*  SAMPLE PAGES (H) • “Gregorian Chant”
*  SAMPLE PAGES (I) • “Extremely High Print Quality”
*  SAMPLE PAGES (J) • “Additional Features”
*  SAMPLE PAGES (K) • “Explanations & Commentary”
*  SAMPLE PAGES (L) • “Artistic Woodcuts” Enhanced Digitally
*  SAMPLE PAGES (M) • “Special Alphabet for the 3rd Edition”

* PDF Summary • FIVE FANTASTIC FEATURES
—This brief list attempts to summarize the most salient aspects of this 832-page book.

Feedback: Someone who saw the draft manuscript wrote: “As a musicologist, liturgical enthusiast, and teacher I really enjoy all of the extra notes throughout (indicating propers that appear on other feasts, melodic details, antiphon verses, the prefaces on communion and offertory antiphons, references to manuscripts, papal and patristic notes and commentaries, etc.), and all of those B&W plates are just wonderful. Thank you for this book!”

“Music List” • Christ the King Sunday

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 23 November 2025, which is the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. In the 1970 Missal, this Sunday is known as: Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Universorum Regis (“Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe”). As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the magnificent feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Simplified” Keyboard Accompaniment (PDF)

I’d much rather hear an organist play a simplified version correctly than listen to wrong notes. I invite you to download this simplified organ accompaniment for hymn #729 in the Father Brébeuf Hymnal. The hymn is “O Jesus Christ, Remember.” 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 1,900 times in a matter of hours—so there seems to be interest in such a project. For the record, this famous text is often married to AURELIA, as it is in the Brébeuf Hymnal. The lyrics come from the pen of Father Edward Caswall (d. 1878), an Oratorian priest.

—Jeff Ostrowski

‘Bogey’ of the Half-Educated: Paraphrase

Father Adrian Porter, using the cracher dans la soupe example, did a praiseworthy job explaining the difference between ‘dynamic’ and ‘formal’ translation. This is something Monsignor Ronald Knox explained time and again—yet even now certain parties feign ignorance. I suppose there will always be people who pretend the only ‘valid’ translation of Mitigásti omnem iram tuam; avertísti ab ira indignatiónis tuæ… would be “You mitigated all ire of you; you have averted from your indignation’s ire.” Those who would defend such a translation suffer from an unfortunate malady. One of my professors called it “cognate on the brain.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of November (2025)

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. Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Gospel Options for 2 November (“All Souls”)

We’ve been told some bishops are suppressing the TLM because of “unity.” But is unity truly found in the MISSALE RECENS? For instance, on All Souls (2 November), any of these Gospel readings may be chosen, for any reason (or for no reason at all). The same is true of the Propria Missæ and other readings—there are countless options in the ORDINARY FORM. In other words, no matter which OF parish you attend on 2 November, you’ll almost certainly hear different propers and readings, to say nothing of different ‘styles’ of music. Where is the “unity” in all this? Indeed, the Second Vatican Council solemnly declared: “Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community.”

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Our Father” • Musical Setting?

Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?

—Jeff Ostrowski