Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • Monsignor Ronald A. Knox “The Trials Of A Translator” (1949)

Jeff Ostrowski · March 28, 2016

HAVE ALREADY admitted how much I admire Msgr. Ronald Knox as a writer. In essence, this 113-page book is an apologia for his famous translation of the Bible. ¹ I hope you find this book as fascinating as I have:

* * PDF • TRIALS OF A TRANSLATOR (1949)

The Italians have a phrase: “The translator is a traitor.” Some love the Knox Bible, others hate it. There will always be people who quibble with translations—no matter what. If you search hard enough on the internet, you can even find people who claim that the 1970s ICEL translation of the Roman Missal was more accurate than the current one. For myself, I don’t see how they can hold this view:

* * PDF • COMPARISON CHART A

* * PDF • COMPARISON CHART B

I’m fine with folks offering substantive criticisms of the current ICEL translation, which is far from perfect. However, I find interesting that the same people desperate to poke holes in the new translation never opposed things like:

* * PDF • Theologically goofy hymn lyrics (Examples)

* * PDF • 1996 Publication by NPM

By remaining silent on atrocities like that, they have disqualified themselves (in my opinion) from commenting on the new translation of the Roman Missal. ²

I probably spend too much time trying to find the “perfect” translations for my choir. If you look at the Hymn on page 35 of this Good Friday booklet you’ll catch my drift…

NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1 The complete Knox Bible is available online.

2 For the record, many of these same people calmly accept rulings which say the GIRM can be ignored. The GIRM requires that any texts replacing the entrance antiphon must be approved by the local bishop or bishops’ conference.

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).

Dr. Mahrt explains the ‘Spoken’ Propers

In 1970, the Church promulgated a new version of the Roman Missal. It goes by various names: Ordinary Form, Novus Ordo, MISSALE RECENS, and so on. If you examine the very first page, you’ll notice that Pope Saint Paul VI explains the meaning of the ‘Spoken Propers’ (which are for Masses without singing). A quote by Dr. William P. Mahrt is also included in that file. The SPOKEN PROPERS—used at Masses without music—are sometimes called The Adalbert Propers, because they were created in 1969 by Father Adalbert Franquesa Garrós, one of Hannibal Bugnini’s closest friends (according to Yves Chiron).

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “Music List” (1st Sunday of Advent)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 30 November 2025, which is the 1st Sunday of Advent (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The ENTRANCE CHANT is quite memorable, and the fauxbourdon setting of the COMMUNION is exquisite. 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

“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

“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

“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