Views from the Choir Loft

The UBI CARITAS chant for Holy Thursday

Jeff Ostrowski · April 5, 2012

Here are six (6) different free versions of the “Ubi Caritas” for Holy Thursday. It will be noted that the Simple English Propers and Simple English Psalm Tones versions use the English translation found in Roman Missal, 3rd Edition.

Click here to download this PDF file.

Free Sacred Resources for Holy Thursday, Year B has a whole bunch more free resources, including the Pange Lingua.

Offertory (1 John 2: 3-4)

Ant. Ubi cáritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
OR:
Ant. Ubi cáritas est vera, Deus ibi est.

1. Congregávit nos in unum Christi amor.
2. Exsultémus et in ipso jucundémur.
3. Timeámus et amémus Deum vivum.
4. Et ex corde diligámus nos sincéro. Ant.

5. Simul ergo cum in unum congregámur:
6. Ne nos mente dividámur, caveámus.
7. Cessent júrgia malígna, cessent lites.
8. Et in médio nostri sit Christus Deus. Ant.

9. Simul quoque cum beátis videámus
10. Gloriánter vultum tuum, Christe Deus:
11. Gáudium, quod est imménsum atque probum.
12. Saécula per infiníta sæculórum. Amen.

Ant. Where charity and love are, there is God.
OR:
Ant. Where love is found to be authentic, God is there.

1. The love of Christ has gathered us together into one.
2. Let us rejoice and be glad in Him.
3. Let us fear and love the living God,
4. and love each other from the depths of our heart. Ant.

5. Therefore when we are together,
6. let us take heed not to be divided in mind.
7. Let there be an end to bitterness and quarrels, an end to strife,
8. and in our midst be Christ our God. Ant.

9. And, in company with the blessed,
10. may we see your face in glory, Christ our God:
11. pure and unbounded joy
12. for ever and for ever. Amen.

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).

“Pope Leo XIV Has Announced…”

My pastor asked me to write brief articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The most recent article speaks about the recent announcement by Pope Leo XIV, which does have an impact on church musicians. Scheduled for publication on 2025 08 10th, it’s called: “Pope Leo XIV Has Announced…”

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Chants” • 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

All the chants for 3 August 2025—which is the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)—have been added to the feasts website, as usual under a convenient “drop down” menu. The COMMUNION ANTIPHON (from the book of Wisdom) is stunning. That feast website has been called “the best kept secret of Church music.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Corn” From Heaven?

The Westminster Version of the Sacred Scriptures was produced by Roman Catholics in England and bears a 15 March 1958 IMPRIMATUR from the Archbishop of Westminster. Its IMPRIMI POTEST was given by the director of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. Sometimes words chosen by translators sound funny to American ears. For instance, one of our Responsorial Psalms has as its refrain: “The Lord gave them bread from heaven.” But the British version has “The Lord gave them corn from heaven.” Feel free to examine this with your own eyes. (It comes from Psalm 77.)

—Jeff Ostrowski

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