Views from the Choir Loft

Why On Earth Would Anyone Do This?

Jeff Ostrowski · July 2, 2014

Y FRIENDS KNOW that I prefer Mass to be either entirely in Latin or entirely in English, for reasons having to do with aesthetics. However, I was involved with the production of the Jogues Illuminated Missal (for the Ordinary Form) which contains a lot of Latin.

Does that make me a hypocrite? No, for two reasons: one obvious, the other less obvious.

IRST, the obvious one. The Second Vatican Council ordered a mixture of Latin & Vernacular. The secretary of the Consilium (among many others) made this crystal clear in a succinct statement. Therefore, whether I personally believe Latin & English should be mixed is irrelevant: the Vatican Council has spoken.

You’ll want to read the words of Msgr. Overath about the verb “servetur” on page 18. By the way, on pages 22-24, Overath specifically cites statements by USA dioceses that are so flagrantly opposed to Vatican II they’ll knock you off your feet!

ECOND, the less obvious reason. Even if Latin is not used, it’s essential to at least provide the original Latin prayer, which goes back so many centuries. Consider this:

* * Sample Page (PDF) — taken from the Jogues Illuminated Missal

Did you notice how the Latin “grounds” us, even if the prayers are sung in English? After all, American Catholics have been subjected to so many different translations over the years it’s become confusing. The authentic Latin is essential, if only for reference purposes. Maybe that’s why the Vatican demanded that the official Latin always be printed alongside the English.

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

About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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 • “Music List” (Immaculate Concep.)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 8 December 2025, the feast of OUR LADY’S IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The fauxbourdon setting of the COMMUNION is exquisite. In Latin, the title of this feast is: In Conceptione Immaculata Beatae Mariae Virginis. 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

“Reminder” — Month of December (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

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

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