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Views from the Choir Loft

“What Must Be Sung Is The Mass” • Susan Benofy

Jeff Ostrowski · February 16, 2015

274 St. Isaac Jogues Illuminated Missal, Lectionary, & Gradual USAN BENOFY of Adoremus Bulletin published an article for the February 2015 edition called: What Must Be Sung Is The Mass. She begins with an important quote from Bugnini’s Consilium about the importance of singing the Propers. She continues:

“For decades there were virtually no musical settings for the Propers in English. And some of the Proper texts still have no officially approved English translation. In the last few years, however, there has been increasing interest in setting the Proper texts to music.”

In her article, Susan includes information about the Jogues Illuminated Missal. Here’s some of what she wrote:

• The Ordinary of the Mass in English and Latin set in parallel columns. This section also contains a large number of full-color illustrations: reproductions of ancient manuscripts of the text and music of the Mass, sacred art, and photographs of various moments in the Mass.

• Readings from the Lectionary for years A, B, and C are included (in English).

• Texts of the processional chants (Introit, Offertory, and Communion) from the Graduale Romanum in both Latin and English. The English text is taken from the Gregorian Missal translation.   [Note: For important reasons.]

• Texts of the chants between the readings are given in both the older and newer forms. The Gradual and Alleluia (or Tract) are given in both Latin and English (Gregorian Missal translation). In addition the Responsorial Psalm (with musical notation for the people’s response) and Alleluia or alternate acclamation used in Lent from the US Lectionary are given in English. Musical settings and organ accompaniment for the Responsorial Psalms and Gospel acclamations can be downloaded or ordered at the website.

• Sequences for Easter, Pentecost, and Corpus Christi are given with the Propers for the day in an English metric text with musical setting. The Latin and a literal translation are given in an Appendix. Musical notation for the Latin text of the Pange Lingua is given in the Holy Thursday section.

• Finally, the text of Benediction for the Blessed Sacrament is included with musical notation for the O Salutaris and the Tantum Ergo. A musical setting of the Ordinary of the Mass is given.


I HESITATE to say anything negative about Susan’s article, but she could have added more resources by visiting this website. Moreover, she said the following about the Revised Grail:

On November 11, 2008, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the Conception Abbey Revised Grail Psalms for use in future editions of US liturgical books, including the Lectionary.

That’s not accurate according to what I’ve been told. It turns out the Revised Grail is going to be revised again! So all the books that currently use that translation—such as GIA Worship IV—are doubtless regretting their effort to get “ahead of the curve.” The question is, what will they call the new version? The “twice revised” Grail? Very confusing.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Jogues Illuminated Missal Lectionary Gradual 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 Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. However, on the feasts website, the chants have been posted for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C), which is this coming Sunday: 6 July 2025.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)
    With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    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

Random Quote

“In case of urgent danger of life anyone may baptize, even a heretic or pagan. It is sufficient that he administer the essential matter and form and have the implicit intention of doing what Christ instituted. Naturally a Catholic must be preferred, if possible. A man is preferred to a woman; but anyone else to the parents.”

— Father Adrian Fortescue (1917)

Recent Posts

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  • “My First Year with the Latin Mass” • A Music Director’s Perspective
  • Boston Auxiliary Bishop: “In offering the Traditional Mass for the first time, after removing the vestments, I knelt in the back pew and wept.”

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