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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

Fr. Valentine Young, OFM — R.I.P.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 20, 2020

PRAESTA, quaésumus, Dómine, ut ánima
fámuli tui Valentíni Sacerdótis,
quem in hoc saéculo commorántem
sacris munéribus decorásti,
in caelésti sede gloriósa semper exsúltet.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum. Amen.

Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord,
that the soul of Valentine thy servant
and Priest, whom thou didst adorn
with hallowed duties whilst he dwelt
in this world, may rejoice for ever,
full of glory, in a heavenly seat.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Father Valentine Young, OFM—a faithful priest—died on 17 January 2020 around 8:00am.

ELOW IS ONE of the last messages I received from Fr. Valentine in September of 2019, after I attempted to thank him for all the things he did for me, going back all the way to the 1990s, when his kindness and spiritual guidance (literally) saved me from Hell. I reproduce only one section from that letter:

Jeff, I’m happy and optimistic for the future of the Church especially because of people like you. I’m happy to share any knowledge that I have. I’m grateful for the training in Gregorian chant which we received in the years before my ordination in 1956. Hopefully such training is beginning to appear again at least in certain places. Gregorian chant has a “God-centerness” which most other music doesn’t have. I first learned from our instructor, Fr. John de Deo Oldegeering, OFM, “Qui cantat bis orat.” Sometimes he would add “canta pro me” instead of the usual “ora pro me.”

Over the next few years, I will try to share with you things that Fr. Valentine taught me; I remember almost everything he ever said to me. His humor, his wisdom…he was so amazing.

Official Obituary:

Well into retirement, Franciscan Fr. Valentine Young, OFM, served where he was needed. At 80, he was teaching Latin at Roger Bacon High School. When he died Jan. 17 at the age of 88, he was still ministering to the Tridentine Mass Community as chaplain. “He has gone out of his way so often to be of service to those who have called upon him,” said Bishop Roger Foys of the Diocese of Covington in 2016 when Fr. Young celebrated his 60th anniversary of ordination. Christened Wilbert, he was born Feb. 20, 1931, one of 11 children of Clarence and Margaret (Groh) Young of Bellevue, Ky. Hoping to become a missionary priest, he entered the early high school program at St. Francis Seminary in Cincinnati in 1943. After graduation he was invested in the Franciscan Order in 1947, made first profession with the Province of St. John the Baptist in 1948, and continued his education at Duns Scotus College in Southfield, Mich. Solemnly professed in 1952, he studied theology at Holy Family House of Theology in Oldenburg, Ind., and was ordained a priest in 1956. Early life as a priest led Fr. Young to Native American missions in Arizona from 1956-1959. He returned to Cincinnati for four years as a teacher at Roger Bacon and nine years at his alma mater, St. Francis Seminary. Back in the Southwest from 1972-1998, he served primarily Navajo and Hispanic communities in Arizona and Mexico as an associate or pastor and worked in administrative roles for the Franciscans. Fr. Young began offering Mass and other sacraments in the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite in the 1990s when he made retreats with the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. From 1998 to 2010, he served Latin Mass communities in Maple Hill, Kansas, Rapid City, S.D., and Lexington, Ky. In residence at St. Clement Friary in St. Bernard since 2010, he returned to Roger Bacon as a part-time teacher in 2011 and was celebrating Mass at parishes in Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati as recently as last week. Preceded in death by all of his immediate family, Fr. Young is survived by a number of nieces and nephews. His body will be received by the friars at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, at St. Clement Church, 4536 Vine St. in St. Bernard. A Mass of Christian Burial follows at 7 p.m. Interment is at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, at St. Mary Cemetery in St. Bernard. Memorials may be sent to the Franciscan Friars in care of FriarWorks, 1615 Vine St., Cincinnati, OH 45202.

They left out so much!  As time allows, I will try and fill in more information as time allows.

Father Valentine Young, OFM died on January. 17 at the age of 88. Preceded in death by all of his immediate family, Father Valentine is survived by a number of nieces and nephews. He was born Feb. 20, 1931, one of 11 children of Clarence and Margaret (Groh) Young of Bellevue, Ky.

1942- Entered Saint Francis Seminary in Cincinnati
1948- First profession
He did his studies at Duns Scotus College in Southfield, Mich.
1952- Solemn profession
He studied theolog in Oldenburg, Ind.,
1956- Ordination to the Priesthood

Assignments:
1956-1959: Native American missions in Arizona
1959-1963: Teacher at Roger Bacon
1963-1972: Teacher at St. Francis Seminary
1942-1998: Served Associate or Pastor of Navajo and Hispanic communities in Arizona and Mexico
1998-2010: Served Latin Mass in Maple Hill, Kansas, Rapid City, S.D., and Lexington, Ky.
2010-2020: In residence at St. Clement in Cincinnati, Part-Time teacher at Roger Bacon

A sister of Fr. Valentine Young, OFM, saved this photograph, circa 1956:


Fr. Valentine frequently spoke about his mother in his sermons.

I once told Fr. Valentine about a dream I had—asking him whether it might be a message from God? Fr. Valentine replied: “Be very careful when it comes to dreams; for instance, I often dream that my mother is still alive…”

There are certain people you think will never die—at least not in your lifetime. Fr. Valentine Young was one of those for me. What a shock to hear the news this wonderful priest and friend has passed ! I will never forget how happy he ALWAYS was at the different retreats of the FSSP. We would sit and compare errata from the breviary. He always reminded me of Friar Tuck. A Franciscan who had given up everything yet God provides him with a cookie jar figure. How God rewards a man who has given all to Him!! What joy he possessed! And like Friar Tuck do NOT ever underestimate this smiling Friar! Well versed in Latin and also playing the organ he was a man of many talents. Someone you would not to go against especially regarding our Catholic Faith! The love of God was apparent in Him. Owning NOTHING yet possessing all things!! May God reward you my friend. May we meet in heaven! Requiescat in pace!  —Fr. George Gabet, FSSP

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Rev Fr Valentine Young OFM, Valentine Young SERMON Last Updated: November 27, 2023

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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

    Why A “Fugue” Here?
    I believe I know why this plainsong harmonizer created a tiny fugue as the INTRODUCTION to his accompaniment. Take a look (PDF) and tell me your thoughts about what he did on the feast of the Flight of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Egypt (17 February). And now I must go because “tempus fugit” as they say!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)
    Those who don’t sign up for our free EMAIL NEWSLETTER miss important notifications. Last week, for example, I sent a message about this job opening for a music director paying $65,000 per year plus benefits (plus weddings & funerals). Notice the job description says: “our vision for sacred music is to move from singing at Mass to truly singing the Mass wherein … especially the propers, ordinaries, and dialogues are given their proper place.” Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Did they simplify these hymn harmonies?
    Choirs love to sing the famous & splendid tune called “INNSBRUCK.” Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1952, I discovered what appears to be a simplified version of that hymn. In other words, their harmonization is much less complex than the version found in the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal (which is suitable for singing by SATB choir). Please download their 1952 harmonization (PDF) and let me know your thoughts. I really like the groovy Germanic INTRODUCTION they added.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

No concession should ever be made for the singing of the Exsultet, in whole or in part, in the vernacular.

— ‘Fr. Augustin Bea, S.J. in the years immediately before the Second Vatican Council’

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