Views from the Choir Loft

Catholic Bulletin Art • Installment #70

Cynthia Ostrowski · October 19, 2015

T HAS BEEN my pleasure to post these lovely images, and I will continue doing so. But let no one think these downloads can replace holding the JOGUES MISSAL in your hands. The entire book is a work of art, and its typesetting will astound you.

Today’s image (#70 BELOW) is particularly appropriate for the feast of Christ the King, which occurs on different Sundays—depending on whether you attend Mass in the Ordinary Form or the Extraordinary Form.

The image is extremely high resolution, so it will take a minute for your computer to fully download.

      * *  70. Christ the King • Extremely large resolution
      * *  69. St. Alphonsus de Ligouri • Founder of the Redemptorists
      * *  68. Epiphany • Third Version
      * *  67. Our Lady’s Nativity • 8 September (version C)
      * *  66. Our Lady’s Nativity • 8 September (version B)
      * *  65. Easter Sunday • Our Lord’s Resurrection (not used)
      * *  64. The Angel Raphael • With Tobias
      * *  63. Christmas • Fifth Version
      * *  62. Holy Thursday • Last Supper (Second Version)
      * *  61. Immaculate Conception • 8 December (Third Version)
      * *  60. Presentation of Mary • 21 November … Not to be confused with 2 Feb
      * *  59. Purification (Presentation) • Alternate Image
      * *  58. Nativity of St. John the Baptist • 24 June
      * *  57. Immaculate Conception • 8 December (Second Version)
      * *  56. Our Lady’s Nativity • 8 September (version A)
      * *  55. Our Lady’s Assumption (VIGIL) • 14 August, OF
      * *  54. Easter Vigil (Holy Saturday) • Christ’s Resurrection
      * *  53. Celebration of Mass • St. Bernard’s authorship of the Salve Regina
      * *  52. Holy Thursday • Last Supper (First Version)
      * *  51. Sacred Heart of Jesus • Draw waters from the Savior’s Fountains
      * *  50. Low Sunday • Doubting Thomas
      * *  49. Palm Sunday • Christ riding a donkey
      * *  48. Epiphany • Second Version
      * *  47. Good Friday • Removing Christ from the Cross
      * *  46. Corpus Christi • Two Angels incensing Sanctissimum
      * *  45. Good Friday • Christ being mocked
      * *  44. St. Joseph the Worker • 1 May, EF
      * *  43. St. Joseph • Dying in the arms of Jesus
      * *  42. Pentecost • Our Lady with the Apostles
      * *  41. Purification (Presentation) • 2 February
      * *  40. Most Holy Trinity • Father, Son, & Holy Spirit
      * *  39. Passion Sunday • Our Lord’s Agony in the Garden
      * *  38. St. Joseph • 19 March
      * *  37. Immaculate Conception • 8 December (First Version)
      * *  36. Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary • St. Dominic with Mary
      * *  35. Good Friday • Crucifixion
      * *  34. Holy Saturday • Paschal Mystery
      * *  33. Ss. Peter & Paul • 29 June
      * *  32. Requiem Mass • Monks praying with Catafalque
      * *  31. Holy Thursday • The Lamb which was slain
      * *  30. (Color) Beautiful Vestments • Blessing of the Wheat (1857)
      * *  29. Our Lady • “MARIA” Monogram
      * *  28. Celebration of Mass • Eucharistic Miracle of St. Gregory
      * *  27. St. Joseph Emblem • Patron of the Universal Church
      * *  26. (Color) Sacrifice of the Mass • Holy Trinity and Saints
      * *  25. (Color) Celebration of Mass • St. Gregory the Great sings
      * *  24. (Color) Te Igitur Image • Crucifixion
      * *  23. Precious Blood of Our Lord • 1 July, EF
      * *  22. Easter Sunday • Our Lord’s Resurrection
      * *  21. St. Peter: First Pope • The Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven
      * *  20. Feast of the Holy Name • Our Lady holding Christ
      * *  19. Corpus Christi • Multiple Angels incense Altar
      * *  18. Catholic Wedding • Nuptial Mass
      * *  17. Holy Family • Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
      * *  16. Circumcision of the Lord • 1 January, EF
      * *  15. All Saints’ Day • Alternate Image
      * *  14. Corpus Christi • Eucharistic Procession
      * *  13. Christmas • Fourth Version
      * *  12. Christ the King • Our Lord with Saints
      * *  11. Our Lady’s Assumption • Mary with Chorus of Angels
      * *  10. Ascension • Our Lord’s Feet are visible
      * *  09. Annunciation • 25 March
      * *  08. All Souls’ Day • Our Lord the Judge
      * *  07. All Saints’ Day • Saints adoring the Lamb
      * *  06. All Saints’ Day • 1 November
      * *  05. Christmas • Third Version
      * *  04. Exaltation of the Holy Cross • 14 September
      * *  03. Christmas • Second Version
      * *  02. Epiphany • First Version
      * *  01. Christmas • First Version

About Cynthia Ostrowski

Cynthia Ostrowski holds a bachelor's degree in Geographic Information Science and a minor in Computer Science from Texas A&M University Corpus Christi (2005). She is currently a stay-at-home mother of two children. A former GIS analyst, Cynthia's interests include photography, french horn, and singing polyphony.

“Abraham” • Guerrero Imitates His Teacher

Father Francisco Guerrero (d. 1599) studied music with Father Cristóbal de Morales circa 1545. He taught himself the organ. On 3 April 1542 he was engaged as a contralto by Seville Cathedral at an annual salary of 12,000 maravedís. He remained there until 1546, when, at the age of only 17, he was invited—on the recommendation of Father Morales—to become mæstro de capilla of Jaén Cathedral. He was entrusted with the boarding, lodging, and instruction of the six choirboys; but he neglected this duty and was sentenced to be dismissed on 30 August 1548. However, he was absolved and reinstated on 3 November. I think you can see (perhaps) a little homage to his teacher on the word “Abraham.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Too much music!

Choosing music for the Sacred Music Symposium requires careful consideration. We make sure (always) to have great variety. Because the schedule is so full, there’s never sufficient time to discuss the music fully—indeed, we could easily do a month-long seminar on each piece! For example, last year Dr. Calabrese conducted a setting of the Magnificat by Father Guerrero (d. 1599). It is one of the most magnificent (pardon the pun) pieces ever written, and I wish I had time to point out the brilliant way he syncopates the word “dispersit,” which means “He has scattered” or “He has dispersed.” Superb!

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Sharing Is Caring”

I would like to share a message from a highly respected scholar. (His articles appear in distinguished journals such as Études grégoriennes and Oxford’s Early Music.) He wrote as follows:

The Brébeuf Hymnal is very tastefully done. Your team has exquisite literary and musical taste. I see from my copy of the hymnal that you also set Ex more docti to “Rockingham” (one of my favorite melodies for “When I survey the wondrous cross”). I especially appreciate the background information at the bottom of the page. When I played at the Lutheran church, I would always have a little note about the music, sometimes about a hymn, if the “Hymnal Companion” offered something of interest. The church we attend has battered Worship II hymnals (one per pew), but almost nobody seems to want to sing. I congratulate you on the staggering amount of work it took to produce the Brébeuf hymnal: excellent contents and production.

—Jeff Ostrowski