Views from the Choir Loft

Archives for November 2014

Richard J. Clark · November 7, 2014

Can’t sing? Sing the dialogues!

Reverence, prayer, and internal participation increased through this act of external participation.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 6, 2014

Those Selfless Ordinary Form Priests

Yesterday evening—on his day off, after another Mass he’d offered—I observed an OF priest saying the 1962 Missal in his private chapel.

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · November 6, 2014

How Liberalism Undermines Itself

Freedom for all sounds nice in theory, but how does it work in practice?

Andrew R. Motyka · November 5, 2014

Prepared to Receive: the Importance of Disposition

Warm-ups and reverent liturgy.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 4, 2014

Fr. Christopher Smith Weighs In

“Why am I excited? Well, every year we spend about $4,000 on those paperback missalettes…”

Jeff Ostrowski · November 3, 2014

The Most Disturbing Change To The 1962 Missal

We’re not as smart as we’d thought … and our forefathers weren’t as dumb as we’d assumed.

fsspla · November 2, 2014

FSSP Los Angeles • What Is The Table?

This beautiful video explains a “safe place” for Catholics in Los Angeles.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 2, 2014

Announcement: Solemn High Requiem In Los Angeles On Monday

Traditional Latin Mass at a cemetery in Los Angeles: TOMORROW.

Fr. David Friel · November 2, 2014

Wakes in Church & Funerals at the Parlor

A Dramatic Reversal

Veronica Brandt · November 1, 2014

All Saints celebrations

An All Saints Day party with a major digression on Halloween and All Souls Day.

PDF • “Music List” (Xmas Midnight Mass)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for Christmas Midnight Mass (“Ad Missam In Nocte”). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The ENTRANCE CHANT is simple, but quite beautiful. 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

PDF • “Music List” (4th Sunday of Advent)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 21 December 2025, which is the 4th Sunday of Advent (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The ENTRANCE CHANT is the famous “Roráte Coeli” 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

PDF • Our Lady of Guadalupe (12 Dec.)

The Responsorial Psalm may be downloaded as a PDF file (organist & vocalist) for 12 December, which is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. When it comes to the formulary for this Mass, it’s astounding how infrequently it’s included in official books. Prior to Vatican II, one had to search through “supplemental material” printed in the back of hand-missals and graduals. But since 1970, the feast is virtually nonexistent. According to the UNIVERSAL KALENDAR, 12 December is the “Feast of Saint Jane Frances De Chantal, Religious” (Die 12 decembris: S. Ioannæ Franciscæ de Chantal, religiosæ). Why should that feast overpower Our Lady of Guadalupe? In the United States, OLG is celebrated—and I’d assume in Mexico, Central America, South America, and Canada—but, as I said, the Propria Missae are virtually impossible to locate. I possess only three books which mention this feast.

—Jeff Ostrowski

What does this mean? “Pre-Urbanite”

One of the things informed critics have frequently praised vis-à-vis the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal has to do with its careful treatment of the ancient hymns vs. the “Urbanite” hymns. This topic I had believed to be fairly well understood—but I was wrong. The reason I thought people knew about it is simple; in the EDITIO VATICANA 1908 Graduale Romanum (as well as the 1913 Liber Antiphonarius) both versions are provided, right next to each other. You can see what I mean by examining this PDF file from the Roman Gradual of 1908. Most people still don’t understand that the Urbanite versions were never adopted by any priests or monks who sang the Divine Office each day. Switching would have required a massive amount of effort and money, because all the books would need to be changed.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Santo Santo Santo”

Those searching for a dignified, brief, simple, bright setting of SANCTUS in Spanish (“Santo Santo Santo”) are invited to download this Setting in honor of Saint John Brébeuf (organist & vocalist). I wonder if there would be any interest in me recording a rehearsal video for this piece.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Leo XIV on Sacred Music

On 5 December 2025, Pope Leo XIV made this declaration with regard to liturgical music.

—Corpus Christi Watershed