Views from the Choir Loft

Update on Sacra Liturgia Milano 2017

Fr. David Friel · November 27, 2016

LANS FOR Sacra Liturgia Milano continue to take shape. Building on the success of Sacra Liturgia proceedings in Rome (2013), New York City (2015), and London (2016), this gathering bills itself as an international conference on liturgical formation, celebration, and mission.

The conference will be held June 6-9, 2017, with presentations being given in the Aula Magna of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan. All talks will be simultaneously translated in Italian and English.

Among the most interesting aspects of this symposium will be the accompanying liturgical celebrations, which will include both uses of the Ambrosian rite. Solemn vespers, led by His Eminence Dionigi Cardinal Tettamanzi, will open the conference. Liturgies will be held in the Basilica of St. Ambrose, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and another still-to-be-determined site.

Arrangements are being made for an organized afternoon of cultural visits, allowing participants to explore such places as the Bibliotheca Ambrosiana and the church of San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore.

At this time, the impressive list of speakers includes: His Eminence Robert Cardinal Sarah, His Eminence Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke, Abbot Christopher Zielinski, Fr. Uwe Michael Lang, C.O., Dom Alcuin Reid, Prof. Jennifer Donelson, Msgr. Claudio Magnoli, Fr. Vincenze Nuara, O.P., Msgr. Timothy Verdon, Prof. Angelo Rusconi, Prof. Cesare Alzati, Msgr. Marco Navoni, Msgr. Ennio Apeciti, and Dr. Andrea Gramegna.

The conference website is set to launch in December, with registration opening by the end of January. In the meantime, the best way to stay informed of developments on Sacra Liturgia Milano 2017 is via their Facebook page.

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

About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel is a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and serves as Director of Liturgy at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. —(Read full biography).

PDF • “Music List” (4th Sunday of Advent)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 21 December 2025, which is the 4th Sunday of Advent (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The ENTRANCE CHANT is the famous “Roráte Coeli” 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

PDF • Our Lady of Guadalupe (12 Dec.)

The Responsorial Psalm may be downloaded as a PDF file (organist & vocalist) for 12 December, which is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. When it comes to the formulary for this Mass, it’s astounding how infrequently it’s included in official books. Prior to Vatican II, one had to search through “supplemental material” printed in the back of hand-missals and graduals. But since 1970, the feast is virtually nonexistent. According to the UNIVERSAL KALENDAR, 12 December is the “Feast of Saint Jane Frances De Chantal, Religious” (Die 12 decembris: S. Ioannæ Franciscæ de Chantal, religiosæ). Why should that feast overpower Our Lady of Guadalupe? In the United States, OLG is celebrated—and I’d assume in Mexico, Central America, South America, and Canada—but, as I said, the Propria Missae are virtually impossible to locate. I possess only three books which mention this feast.

—Jeff Ostrowski

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 Download • “Santo Santo Santo”

Those searching for a dignified, brief, simple, bright setting of SANCTUS in Spanish (“Santo Santo Santo”) are invited to download this Setting in honor of Saint John Brébeuf (organist & vocalist). I wonder if there would be any interest in me recording a rehearsal video for this piece.

—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