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Views from the Choir Loft

First Time Attending A Novus Ordo Mass

Jeff Ostrowski · June 26, 2014

336 Eagle ROWING UP, I attended a “typical” Catholic school of the 1990s, where the wacky theories of the time were taught. For example, our religion teacher said Adam & Eve never really existed, but were probably some form of evolving animal. Another teacher said God is certainly not omniscient, but does possess “a general idea how things will turn out in the end.”

Songs like Anthem (Tom Conry) and Sing A Simple Song Unto The Lord reigned supreme during Mass, and we were forced to do hand motions. Even though I was very young, I’ll never forget a comment uttered by the lady in charge of playing the piano for Mass: “I’m having a hard time finding Communion songs in this hymnal.” Our hymnal was Glory & Praise: the one with the bizarre Flying Eagle Picture.

When my parents couldn’t take it anymore, we sought out the Extraordinary Form, even though that required driving long distances. I attended the EF exclusively for a number of years and learned to especially cherish the quiet, peaceful, low Masses (even though I’m probably not supposed to admit that).

WHEN I RETURNED TO THE NOVUS ORDO, the priest would read some random-sounding verse at the beginning of Mass and at Communion. This was before the New Translation, and the language often struck me as pedestrian, as one might address a man on the street. (Cardinal Burke has said the language sounded “juvenile.”) I failed to realize these were the ENTRANCE and COMMUNION antiphons assigned to each Mass.

Why didn’t I realize this? Because I’m ignorant? Yes, I am ignorant — but maybe it would have been easier with a book like the JOGUES MISSAL, which clearly shows each member of the congregation what these antiphons are all about. Here’s an example:

      * *  Sample Page (PDF) — from the Jogues Illuminated Missal

Because there is no official translation of the Graduale Romanum, we chose a dignified-yet-modern translation done by Solesmes Abbey in the 1990s — the same translation used in publications like the Simple English Propers (CMAA, 2011). If you download the PDF version of the 1965 Missal, you’ll notice that the Solesmes translations are extremely similar. For example:

      * *  Comparison (PDF) — Between 1965 Missal & Jogues Missal

To view a fascinating version from 1806 — very similar to our translation — click here.

How wonderful it is to become familiar with these antiphons! Here’s the one for the 2nd Sunday of Advent — how lovely!

EOPLE OF SION, BEHOLD the Lord shall come to save the nations; and the Lord shall make the glory of his voice to be heard, in the joy of your heart.
(Ps 79:2)   O shepherd of lsrael, hearken, O guide of the flock of Joseph!
V. Glory be to the Father.   Repeat: People of Sion.

Doesn’t that just scream Advent?

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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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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Quick Thoughts

    Tempo?? • 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘞𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦
    Once, after Mass, my pastor said he really loved the hymn we did. I said: “Father, that's Holy God, We Praise Thy Name—you never heard it before?” He replied: “But the way you did it was terrific. For once, it didn't sound like a funeral dirge!” Last Sunday, our volunteer choir sang that hymn. I think the tempo was just about right … but what do you think?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Don’t You Agree About These?
    If you want to make Jeff Ostrowski really happy, send him an email with effusive praise about the individual voice recordings for hymn #296. [Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass] They came out dazzlingly sensational, don't you agree?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Choral Vowels? Yes? No?
    Here's a live recording of one of the choral “warm-up” exercises my choir enjoys. It was taken during our rehearsal on 27 January 2023. It’s good to make sure each chord is perfectly in tune and balanced before moving to the next one. That only happens when each singer has the correct vowel. If you like, you can freely download that vocal exercise.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

Let us ponder the incontrovertible fact that Eucharistic Adoration in the Ordinary Form (“Novus Ordo”) is always and everywhere celebrated “ad orientem.” Why, then, is there such opposition to Mass being celebrated in that way, which is actually stipulated by the 1970 Missal rubrics?

— A Benedictine Monk (2013)

Recent Posts

  • Tempo?? • 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘞𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦
  • PDF Download • Belgian Book of Gregorian Accompaniments (Official Edition)
  • Don’t You Agree About These?
  • Choral Vowels? Yes? No?
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