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Views from the Choir Loft

Free PDF Download: The Fulton J. Sheen Sunday Missal (1961)

Jeff Ostrowski · April 15, 2014

HE FAMOUS “Fulton J. Sheen Sunday Missal” (1961) is now available for free and instant download. Needless to say, Archbishop Sheen did not produce the Missal alone: it was a joint effort by many, especially the Jesuit priests Rev. Philip Caraman and Rev. James Walsh. However, Sheen did compose the lengthy “Introduction” (which every Catholic ought to read) and seems to have exercised an influence on the general contents. For example, the choice of English translations — Msgr. Ronald Knox for the “Lauda Sion,” Gerald Manley Hopkins for the “Adoro Te,” and so forth — is a clear signal of Sheen’s involvement, because of his well-known admiration for those men.

* *  Part 1 of 2 — Fulton J. Sheen Missal (157MB)

* *  Part 2 of 2 — Fulton J. Sheen Missal (220MB)

IN ADDITION to the aforementioned “Introduction,” Sheen’s Missal has several other remarkable features. The descriptions of priestly vestments are excellent. It also includes the entire “Fore-Mass” (as Fortescue called it) and Offertory alongside the readings for every feast. That choice meant printing the “Kyrie Eleison,” for example, close to eighty times. Sheen was not known as a liturgist, but this choice was truly sensational, because those in the pews don’t have to turn to a different page for the Collect, Preface, Gloria, Offertory, and so forth.

668 bl Certain translations employed are noteworthy, especially poetic texts like the sequences and Pange Lingua. Similar to the Campion Missal, the editors made judicious use of Drop Caps and went out of their way to print all the “extra” post-Pentecost Masses in addition to every feast that could ever occur on a Sunday — a tremendous help to Catholics in the pews. The date of publication (1961) is fascinating, considering what would come a year later! The pages use a singular numbering system wherein Latin and English are combined. Furthermore, it’s nice that this book contains most of the changes of the 1962 Missal, such as the Holy Week of Pius XII and optional dialogue Masses.

This book must have been in production for many years. For one thing, it shows such elegance. The unified, lovely images (such as the Divine Pelican, often preached on by Sheen) appear to have been created specifically for this layout. In general, the book seems like an effort to make a significant contribution to Catholics’ liturgical life. I mentioned earlier the distinctive translations such as: “Raise your hearts.” — “They are raised to the Lord.”

For myself, the most interesting part of the book is the translation used for the “Pange Lingua” of Fortunatus (Good Friday). Producing the Campion Missal, we spent two whole weeks searching for different translations of this magnificent hymn. Sheen ultimately decided upon a metered translation which doesn’t rhyme.

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

Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download Tagged With: Bishop Fulton J Sheen, Father Philip Caraman SJ, Fulton Sheen Sunday Missal, Traditional Latin Mass Tridentine Rite Last Updated: September 16, 2021

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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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    Hymn by Cardinal Newman
    During the season of Septuagesima, we will be using this hymn by Cardinal Newman, which employs both Latin and English. (Readers probably know that Cardinal Newman was one of the world's experts when it comes to Lingua Latina.) The final verse contains a beautiful soprano descant. Father Louis Bouyer—famous theologian, close friend of Pope Paul VI, and architect of post-conciliar reforms—wrote thus vis-à-vis the elimination of Septuagesima: “I prefer to say nothing, or very little, about the new calendar, the handiwork of a trio of maniacs who suppressed (with no good reason) Septuagesima and the Octave of Pentecost and who scattered three quarters of the Saints higgledy-piddledy, all based on notions of their own devising!”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Introit • Candlemas (2 February)
    “Candlemas” • Our choir sang on February 2nd, and here's a live recording of the beautiful INTROIT: Suscépimus Deus. We had very little time to rehearse, but I think it has some very nice moments. I promise that by the 8th Sunday after Pentecost it will be perfect! (That Introit is repeated on the 8th Sunday after Pentecost.) We still need to improve, but we're definitely on the right track!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplified Antiphons • “Candlemas”
    Anyone who desires simplified antiphons (“psalm tone versions”) for 2 February, the Feast of the Purification—which is also known as “Candlemas” or the Feast of the Presentation—may freely download them. The texts of the antiphons are quite beautiful. From “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium” you can hear a live excerpt (Mp3). I'm not a fan of chant in octaves, but we had such limited time to rehearse, it seemed the best choice. After all, everyone should have an opportunity to learn “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium,” which summarizes Candlemas.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“How can we account for differences in the Gospel accounts? Well, suppose after we left Church today, there was a terrible accident or explosion or fire. Soon the news media would be here, interviewing people as to what they saw or heard. Each person would probably say or report what struck him—or what he saw or noticed. All these reports would be different and yet they would be true.”

— Fr. Valentine Young (February 2019)

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