Views from the Choir Loft

Two Upcoming Lectures on Sacred Art

Corpus Christi Watershed · November 11, 2013

Click to enlarge image NJOY SOME of the most enchanting paintings from art history on Sunday, November 24th at 12:30PM in the church basement of Mary Immaculate of Lourdes Church in Newton, MA. Gwyneth Holston, Catholic artist and Corpus Christi Watershed blogger, will be giving a lecture on the story behind sacred art from the Gothic era through the Pre-Raphaelite. Each work discussed will have a link to the Advent season and the traditional feast days for the month of December.

Some of the featured works include:

The Last Judgment by Hans Memling

The Immaculate Conception by Tiepolo

The Portinari Altarpiece by Hugo van der Goes

FORMING THE ARTIST — An evening with David Clayton

The Catholic Artists Society and the Thomistic Institute in New York invite you to this third event in The Art of the Beautiful series. Internationally known artist, writer, teacher and broadcaster, David Clayton will speak on the formation of artists. The lecture will be held at the Catholic Center at NYU on November 16th at 7:30PM

Mr. Clayton is Artist-in-Residence and lecturer at Thomas More College in NH. He wrote, produced and presented the 13-part TV series, The Way of Beauty (2011). His writing appears in many publications and websites, including his popular blog:

* * The Way Of Beauty • A Wonderful Blog by David Clayton

The lecture will be followed by a reception and sung Compline, the nighttime prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours. Admission is free but space is limited. We encourage you to arrive early to get a seat!

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

“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