Views from the Choir Loft

Official Lenten Acclamations In Latin & English

Corpus Christi Watershed · November 24, 2013

URING LENT, according to the official Ordo Lectionum Missae [source], instead of “Alleluia,” any of the following phrases may be used both before and after the Gospel Acclamation,:

* * Official Acclamations (PDF)

1. Gloria et laus tibi, Christe.
2. Gloria tibi, Christe, Sapientia Dei Patris.
3. Gloria tibi, Christe, Verbum Dei.
4. Gloria tibi, Domine, Fili Dei vivi.
5.  Laus et honor tibi, Domine Iesu.
6. Laus tibi, Christe, Rex aeternae gloriae.
7. Magna et mirabilia opera tua, Domine.
8. Salus et gloria et virtus Domino Iesu Christo.

1. Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
2. Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ, Wisdom of God the Father!
3. Glory to you, Word of God, Lord Jesus Christ!
4. Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God!
5. Praise and honor to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
6. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory!
7. Marvelous and great are your works, O Lord!
8. Salvation, glory, and power to the Lord Jesus Christ!

TO RECAP, Fr. Felix Just and Pedro d’Aquino agree that the official translation of the US-authorized Lectionary, n. 223 (located after Saturday after Ash Wednesday) should be used.

Gospel Acclamations for Lent:
1) Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
2) Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ, Wisdom of God the Father!
3) Glory to you, Word of God, Lord Jesus Christ!
4) Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God!
5) Praise and honor to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
6) Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory!
7) Marvelous and great are your works, O Lord!
8) Salvation, glory, and power to the Lord Jesus Christ!

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

Which Mass?

In 1905, when the Vatican Commission on Gregorian Chant began publishing the EDITIO VATICANA—still the Church’s official edition— they assigned different Masses to different types of feasts. However, they were careful to add a note (which began with the words “Qualislibet cantus hujus Ordinarii…”) making clear “chants from one Mass may be used together with those from others.” Sadly, I sometimes worked for TLM priests who weren’t fluent in Latin. As a result, they stubbornly insisted Mass settings were ‘assigned’ to different feasts and seasons (which is false). To understand the great variety, one should examine the 1904 KYRIALE of Dr. Peter Wagner. One should also look through Dom Mocquereau’s Liber Usualis (1904), in which the Masses are all mixed up. For instance, Gloria II in his book ended up being moved to the ‘ad libitum’ appendix in the EDITIO VATICANA.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Like! Like! Like!

You won’t believe who recently gave us a “like” on the Corpus Christi Watershed FACEBOOK PAGE. Click here (PDF) to see who it was. We were not only sincerely honored, we were utterly flabbergasted. This was truly a resounding endorsement and unmistakable stamp of approval.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Atténde Dómine”

Although it isn’t nearly as ancient as other hymns in the plainsong repertoire, Atténde Dómine, et miserére, quía peccávimus tíbi (“Look down, O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against Thee”) has become one of the most popular hymns for LENT—perhaps because it was included in the famous Liber Usualis of Solesmes. This musical score (PDF file) has an incredibly accurate version in English, as well as a nice version in Spanish, and also the original Latin. Although I don’t claim to have a great singing voice, this morning I recorded this rehearsal video.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of Febr. (2026)

On a daily basis, I speak to people who don’t realize we publish a free newsletter (although they’ve followed our blog for years). We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and refuse to run annoying ads. As a result, our mailing list is crucial to our survival. It couldn’t be easier to subscribe! Just scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Chart • “Plainsong Rhythm”

I will go to my grave without understanding the lack of curiosity so many people have about the rhythmic modifications made by Dom André Mocquereau. For example, how can someone examine this single sheet comparison chart and at a minimum not be curious about the differences? Dom Mocquereau basically creates a LONG-SHORT LONG-SHORT rhythmic pattern—in spite of enormous and overwhelming manuscript evidence to the contrary. That’s why some scholars referred to his method as “Neo-Mensuralist” or “Neo-Mensuralism.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “O Come All Ye Faithful” (Simplified)

I admire the harmonization of “Adeste Fideles” by David Willcocks (d. 2015), who served as director of the Royal College of Music (London, England). In 2025, I was challenged to create a simplified arrangement for organists incapable of playing the authentic version at tempo. The result was this simplified keyboard arrangement (PDF download) based on the David Willcocks version of “O Come All Ye Faithful.” Feel free to play through it and let me know what you think.

—Jeff Ostrowski