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“A much greater source of anxiety to Us is the style of action of those who maintain that liturgical worship should shed its sacred character, who foolishly say we should substitute for sacred items & furnishings ordinary common things in daily use.” —Pope Saint Paul VI (14 Oct 1968)

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Views from the Choir Loft

Are Priests Permitted To Add More Scripture To The Ordinary Form? Yes!

Jeff Ostrowski · July 29, 2014

198 Mitre OMETIMES THE OPPOSITE of what we desire occurs. For example, I’ve had the experience of having Humana (a health insurance company) make fraudulent withdrawals from my bank account. When I contacted them, they promised to return the money, but instead took more. After several months of this type of behavior, I was forced to hire an attorney to get my money back.

The same is true of the reformed liturgy.

The fathers of the Second Vatican Council desired a greater use of Scripture, but somehow the reformers (who began their work after the Council ended) decided to do the opposite, removing gobs of biblical passages. A list of scriptural passages eliminated by the reformers would include:

a) An entire Psalm at the beginning (each Mass).
b) An entire Psalm during the Offertory Incensation (High Mass only).
c) An entire Psalm during the Washing of Hands (each Mass).
d) An entire Gospel Reading at the conclusion (each Mass).

It’s highly unlikely such items will be reintroduced to the Ordinary Form anytime soon. So what should we do? Grumble and complain?

RATHER THAN CURSE THE DARKNESS, priests in the Ordinary Form can immediately add tons of Scripture back into the Mass. All they have to do is use the Propers from the Roman Gradual, which are almost entirely scriptural. Moreover, the Propers are the “First Option” in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, which means they must be given preference in “average” parish circumstances.

However, it is essential that those sitting in the pews follow along, whether Propers are sung in English or Latin. This has always been a concern to good and faithful priests, as you can see by the following examples:

      * *  PDF Download: Paris Missal for the Laity (1777)

      * *  PDF Download: Vienna Missal for the Laity (1783)

      * *  PDF Download: London Missal for the Laity (1806)


A new parish booklet is available which will absolutely change the liturgical landscape, in my opinion, owing to the sumptuous beauty of its printed fonts. It’s the only Ordinary Form pew book to include the complete Propers in English & Latin.

Do you agree its typesetting is insanely legible? Here are some samples:

      * *  Sample Pages — St. Isaac Jogues Illuminated Missal, Lectionary, & Gradual

These books are incredibly affordable and will allow the members of your congregation to enter into the ancient Propers of the Mass. Because it’s for the “English Mass” (Ordinary Form) it adheres to the reformed Gradual.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Graduale Romanum Roman Gradual Propers, Hymns Replacing Propers Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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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).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “What Martin Luther Said…”
    My pastor asked me to write little columns for the bulletin each week. The article for 20 July 2025 has been posted, and it’s called: “What Luther Said…” Martin Luther (an ex-priest and apostate) was an infamous heretic whose ignorance of JESUS CHRIST was only exceeded by his filthy and disgusting vulgarity.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (13 July 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and propers for this Sunday are also provided at the the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    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

Random Quote

When a friend speaks of his accomplishments and triumphs, he stands at a distance from our heart. When he shares his weaknesses and failings, he’s very near.

— Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

Recent Posts

  • “Musicam Sacram” (5 March 1967) • Does It Apply?
  • “What Martin Luther Said…”
  • “Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • Worship the Lord in Holy Attire
  • “How to Conduct 90 Vespers Services Each Year and Live to Tell the Tale.”

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