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).

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