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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

First Time Attending A Novus Ordo Mass

Jeff Ostrowski · June 26, 2014

336 Eagle ROWING UP, I attended a “typical” Catholic school of the 1990s, where the wacky theories of the time were taught. For example, our religion teacher said Adam & Eve never really existed, but were probably some form of evolving animal. Another teacher said God is certainly not omniscient, but does possess “a general idea how things will turn out in the end.”

Songs like Anthem (Tom Conry) and Sing A Simple Song Unto The Lord reigned supreme during Mass, and we were forced to do hand motions. Even though I was very young, I’ll never forget a comment uttered by the lady in charge of playing the piano for Mass: “I’m having a hard time finding Communion songs in this hymnal.” Our hymnal was Glory & Praise: the one with the bizarre Flying Eagle Picture.

When my parents couldn’t take it anymore, we sought out the Extraordinary Form, even though that required driving long distances. I attended the EF exclusively for a number of years and learned to especially cherish the quiet, peaceful, low Masses (even though I’m probably not supposed to admit that).

WHEN I RETURNED TO THE NOVUS ORDO, the priest would read some random-sounding verse at the beginning of Mass and at Communion. This was before the New Translation, and the language often struck me as pedestrian, as one might address a man on the street. (Cardinal Burke has said the language sounded “juvenile.”) I failed to realize these were the ENTRANCE and COMMUNION antiphons assigned to each Mass.

Why didn’t I realize this? Because I’m ignorant? Yes, I am ignorant — but maybe it would have been easier with a book like the JOGUES MISSAL, which clearly shows each member of the congregation what these antiphons are all about. Here’s an example:

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

Because there is no official translation of the Graduale Romanum, we chose a dignified-yet-modern translation done by Solesmes Abbey in the 1990s — the same translation used in publications like the Simple English Propers (CMAA, 2011). If you download the PDF version of the 1965 Missal, you’ll notice that the Solesmes translations are extremely similar. For example:

      * *  Comparison (PDF) — Between 1965 Missal & Jogues Missal

To view a fascinating version from 1806 — very similar to our translation — click here.

How wonderful it is to become familiar with these antiphons! Here’s the one for the 2nd Sunday of Advent — how lovely!

EOPLE OF SION, BEHOLD the Lord shall come to save the nations; and the Lord shall make the glory of his voice to be heard, in the joy of your heart.
(Ps 79:2)   O shepherd of lsrael, hearken, O guide of the flock of Joseph!
V. Glory be to the Father.   Repeat: People of Sion.

Doesn’t that just scream Advent?

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

Filed Under: Articles 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

“Vatican II did not say anything about the direction of the celebrant. […] I love both directions of celebrating Mass. Both are full of meaning for me. Both help me to encounter Christ—and that is, after all, the purpose of the liturgy.”

— Christoph Cardinal Schönborn (February 2007)

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  • Worship the Lord in Holy Attire

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