Views from the Choir Loft

Now Available! Online Latin Lectionary For Masses In The Ordinary Form

Corpus Christi Watershed · November 7, 2013

REPARING for the Third Edition of the Roman Missal in 2011, study sessions were given around the country, and one thing was noticed over and over again. Catholics had not been aware that the English Mass is a translation from the official Latin. It took an entire decade for MR3 to be translated into English … but that’s another story.

Perhaps the PDFs below will help remedy this situation. You can now download 8,000 pages—the entire Novus Ordo in Latin. A nice review was published by Deacon Harold Hughesdon (bio) in the 1970s.

+ FIRST VOLUME • Pages 1-733 (Missale Romanum cum lectionibus)

+ FIRST VOLUME • Pages 733-1273 (Missale Romanum cum lectionibus)

+ FIRST VOLUME • Pages 1273-1983 (Missale Romanum cum lectionibus)

+ SECOND VOLUME • Pages 1-613 (Missale Romanum cum lectionibus)

+ SECOND VOLUME • Pages 613-1305 (Missale Romanum cum lectionibus)

+ SECOND VOLUME • Pages 1305-1932 (Missale Romanum cum lectionibus)

+ THIRD VOLUME • Pages 1-739 (Missale Romanum cum lectionibus)

+ THIRD VOLUME • Pages 739-1303 (Missale Romanum cum lectionibus)

+ THIRD VOLUME • Pages 1303-2031 (Missale Romanum cum lectionibus)

+ FOURTH VOLUME • Pages 1-575 (Missale Romanum cum lectionibus)

+ FOURTH VOLUME • Pages 575-1189 (Missale Romanum cum lectionibus)

+ FOURTH VOLUME • Pages 1189-1831 (Missale Romanum cum lectionibus)

184 Missale Romanum Cum Lectionibus

185 Missale Romanum Cum Lectionibus

186 Missale Romanum Cum Lectionibus

187 Missale Romanum Cum Lectionibus

188 Missale Romanum Cum Lectionibus

189 Missale Romanum Cum Lectionibus

THIS BOOK was made available for free download courtesy of the Jean de Lalande Library. If you appreciate these efforts, please consider making a donation by using the link at the top of the page.

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

Music List • (Easter Sunday, 2026)

Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for Easter Sunday—a.k.a. “Ad Missam in die Paschae”—which is 5 April 2026. Please feel free to download it as a PDF file if such a thing interests you. The Fauxbourdon for Communion is particularly moving.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Sprinkling Rite”

Liturgical reformers who gained power after Vatican II frequently caused great suffering to musicians. With the stroke of a pen, they sometimes make changes that would require thousands—or even millions—of man hours (work undertaken by composers and editors). The Sprinkling Rite during Eastertide is but one tiny example. The version given in that PDF document was the original melody for Roman Missal, Third Edition. Some still prefer that version. However, at the last moment, an “unknown hand” tinkered with a few notes in the antiphon. Those who examine the current edition can verify this with their own eyes.

—Jeff Ostrowski

‘Sarum’ Good Friday?

Plainsong of the Roman Rite has many variants—i.e. slight ‘variations’ or ‘alterations’ made to the ancient melodies. Variants often thrive in particular religious orders. Likewise, before Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church, Gregorian Chant variants were frequently associated with individual cathedrals in England: Hereford, Lincoln, Salisbury, and so forth. In the early 20th century, the (Anglican) organist at Westminster Abbey married “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” to this beautiful variant melody from England. Those who sing Gregorian Chant on Good Friday will recognize the melody. What do you think of this pairing?

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 24 March 2026

How well do you know your Gregorian hymns? Do you recognize the tune inserted into the bass line on this score? For many years, we sang the entire Mass in Gregorian chant—and I mean everything. As a result, it would be difficult to find a Gregorian hymn I don’t recognize instantly. Only decades later did I realize (with sadness) that this skill cannot be ‘monetized’… This particular melody is used for a very famous Gregorian hymn, printed in the LIBER USUALIS. Do you recognize it? Send me an email with the correct words, and I promise to tell everybody I meet about your prowess!

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)

I remember singing “Ubi Cáritas” by Maurice Duruflé at the conservatory. I was deeply moved by it. However, some feel Duruflé’s version isn’t suitable for small choirs since it’s written for 6 voices and the bass tessitura is quite low. That’s why I was absolutely thrilled to discover this “Ubi cáritas” (SATB) for smaller choirs by Énemond Moreau, who studied with OSCAR DEPUYDT (d. 1925), an orphan who became a towering figure of Catholic music. Depuydt’s students include: Flor Peeters (d. 1986); Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel (d. 1953); Arthur Meulemans (d. 1966); Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989); and Gustaaf Nees (d. 1965). Rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #19705. When I came across the astonishing English translation for “Ubi Cáritas” by Monsignor Ronald Knox—matching the Latin’s meter—I decided to add those lyrics as an option (for churches which have banned Latin). My wife and I made this recording to give you some idea how it sounds.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Holy, Holy, Holy”

For vigil Masses on Saturday (a.k.a. “anticipated” Masses) we use this simpler setting of the “Holy, Holy, Holy” by Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989), a Belgian priest, organist, composer, and music educator who ultimately succeeded another ‘Jules’ (CANON JULES VAN NUFFEL) as director of the Lemmensinstituut in Belgium. Although I could be wrong, my understanding is that the LEMMENSINSTITUUT eventually merged with “Catholic University of Leuven” (originally founded in 1425). That’s the university Fulton J. Sheen attended.

—Jeff Ostrowski