Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • “Story of Redemption” for Children (1952) • With Audio Recordings!

Jeff Ostrowski · October 26, 2015

AINT ANTOINE DANIEL, one of the brave Jesuit Martyrs of North America, taught the young Huron children Catholic truths by means of simple rhymes. I hope you’ll download the fabulous book by Fr. John A. O’Brien about these martyrs, but if you’re short on time, read the excerpts about St. Antoine Daniel. In 1952, something similar was created by Sister Joanne and Father Abair:

* Complete PDF • “Story of Redemption” (1952)

PART 01 : Video • Mp3 • Our Lady

PART 02 : Video • Mp3 • Paradise

PART 03 : Video • Mp3 • Sin

PART 04 : Video • Mp3 • Expulsion

PART 05 : Video • Mp3 • Annunciation

PART 06 : Video • Mp3 • To Bethlehem

PART 07 : Video • Mp3 • Savior’s Birth

PART 08 : Video • Mp3 • Shepherds

PART 09 : Video • Mp3 • Wise Men

PART 10 : Video • Mp3 • Lost Sheep

PART 11 : Video • Mp3 • Pharisee & Publican

PART 12 : Video • Mp3 • Passion

PART 13 : Video • Mp3 • Crucifixion

PART 14 : Video • Mp3 • Resurrection

PART 15 : Video • Mp3 • Pentecost

PART 16 : Video • Mp3 • Assumption

PART 17 : Video • Mp3 • Christ The King

I KNOW HOW MUCH the “elites” love telling us everything was horrible before Vatican II, but I keep discovering evidence that contradicts their assurances. The 1950s seems to have been a wonderful time for Catholics. The collection above probably doesn’t contain the greatest poems in the world—although they are certainly more inspired than 95% of our modern “hymns.” On the other hand, they teach children wonderful melodies like the “Vexilla Regis,” which serves as the basis for several astounding KYRIE settings (by Palestrina) sung each Sunday by FSSP.la.

If any readers use these resources, please let me know!

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).

‘Bogey’ of the Half-Educated: Paraphrase

Father Adrian Porter, using the cracher dans la soupe example, did a praiseworthy job explaining the difference between ‘dynamic’ and ‘formal’ translation. This is something Monsignor Ronald Knox explained time and again—yet even now certain parties feign ignorance. I suppose there will always be people who pretend the only ‘valid’ translation of Mitigásti omnem iram tuam; avertísti ab ira indignatiónis tuæ… would be “You mitigated all ire of you; you have averted from your indignation’s ire.” Those who would defend such a translation suffer from an unfortunate malady. One of my professors called it “cognate on the brain.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Father Cuthbert Lattey • “The Hebrew MSS”

Father Cuthbert Lattey (d. 1954) wrote: “In a large number of cases the ancient Christian versions and some other ancient sources seem to have been based upon a better Hebrew text than that adopted by the rabbis for official use and alone suffered to survive. Sometimes, too, the cognate languages suggest a suitable meaning for which there is little or no support in the comparatively small amount of ancient Hebrew that has survived. The evidence of the metre is also at times so clear as of itself to furnish a strong argument; often it is confirmed by some other considerations. […] The Jewish copyists and their directors, however, seem to have lost the tradition of the metre at an early date, and the meticulous care of the rabbis in preserving their own official and traditional text (the ‘massoretic’ text) came too late, when the mischief had already been done.” • Msgr. Knox adds: “It seems the safest principle to follow the Latin—after all, St. Jerome will sometimes have had a better text than the Massoretes—except on the rare occasions when there is no sense to be extracted from the Vulgate at all.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Music List” • 9 Nov. (Dedic. Lateran)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 9 November 2025, which is the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica. If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the sensational feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of November (2025)

On a daily basis, I speak to people who don’t realize we publish a free newsletter (although they’ve followed our blog for years). We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and refuse to run annoying ads. As a result, our mailing list is crucial to our survival. Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Gospel Options for 2 November (“All Souls”)

We’ve been told some bishops are suppressing the TLM because of “unity.” But is unity truly found in the MISSALE RECENS? For instance, on All Souls (2 November), any of these Gospel readings may be chosen, for any reason (or for no reason at all). The same is true of the Propria Missæ and other readings—there are countless options in the ORDINARY FORM. In other words, no matter which OF parish you attend on 2 November, you’ll almost certainly hear different propers and readings, to say nothing of different ‘styles’ of music. Where is the “unity” in all this? Indeed, the Second Vatican Council solemnly declared: “Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community.”

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Our Father” • Musical Setting?

Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?

—Jeff Ostrowski