Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download: Standard Catholic Hymnal (1921)

Jeff Ostrowski · January 15, 2015

Here’s the direct URL link.

HE RARE HYMNALS we have been releasing all have one thing in common: None were available as a PDF download before we scanned & posted them. They’re absolutely fascinating from a historical perspective, and we’re searching through them to find any “hidden gems” for the forthcoming Brébeuf Hymnal. Here’s one compiled, edited, and arranged by James A. Reilly in 1921:

* * PDF: Standard Catholic Hymnal (1921)

Published by McLaughlin & Reilly (“Publishers of Catholic Church Music Exclusively”), it bears a 1921 Imprimatur by William Cardinal O’Connell, who had published his own hymnal in 1915. It’s no accident that the very first hymn in Reilly’s book is by Cardinal O’Connell.

Much could be said about this book, but for now I’ll mention just one thing. I was intrigued by the note written underneath John Henry Cardinal Newman’s hymn (#130):

This hymn is not approved by church music commissions in some dioceses due to its association with Protestant Services.

I hope you enjoy perusing this book as much as I did, friends!

Alphabetizing Hymnals
Does it make sense?
Natalia answers in this video:

Here’s the direct URL link.

Notating Every Verse?
The least we can do for singers!
Natalia explains in this video:

Here’s the direct URL link.

Why Name a Hymnal After Father Brébeuf?
Who Was This Saint?
Natalia explains in this video:

Here’s the direct URL link.

What Are Its Two Sections?
Truly crucial information!
Natalia explains in this video:

Here’s the direct URL link.

Stations of the Cross by Fulton J. Sheen?
Plus Cardinal Ratzinger & Saint Alphonsus Liguori.
Natalia explains in this video:

Here’s the direct URL link.

Common Hymn Melodies
(a.k.a. “Shared Tunes”)
Natalia explains in this video:

Here’s the direct URL link.

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

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 Michigan. —(Read full biography).

“What Martin Luther Said…”

My pastor asked me to write little columns for the bulletin each week. The article for 20 July 2025 has been posted, and it’s called: “What Luther Said…” Martin Luther (an ex-priest and apostate) was an infamous heretic whose ignorance of JESUS CHRIST was only exceeded by his filthy and disgusting vulgarity.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (13 July 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and propers for this Sunday are also provided at the the feasts website.

—Jeff Ostrowski

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Pius XII Hymnal?

Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Hybrid” Chant Notation?

Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Antiphons Don’t Match?

A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).

—Corpus Christi Watershed