Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Booklet • Feast of the Purification (2 February)

Jeff Ostrowski · February 2, 2020

HAVE created a printable booklet for the Feast of the Purification “Pre-Mass” Blessing of Candles, Distribution of Candles, and Procession. One of the reasons it took longer than it should have is because the 1962 Missale Romanum deleted bits and pieces—here and there—for no apparent reason. I hope you’ll let me know of any errors you find:

* PDF Download • Booklet for the Procession
—This 8-page booklet contains the chants and rubrics for “Pre-Mass”.

The rest of the chants for the Mass—score, videos, Mp3 files, and so on—can be downloaded here:

* Saint René Goupil Website

Here is an example of what you’ll find there:

These documents support my “booklet” for the Blessing of Candles:

* PDF • Candlemas 1962 Rubrics (official)
—A document in Latin containing the official rubrics from the 1962 Missal.

* PDF Download • Dom Pothier’s 1896 Liber Usualis
—Published about 10 years before the Editio Vaticana.

* PDF Download • 1903 Liber Usualis (Dom Mocquereau)
—This is not the official edition, which is called the Editio Vaticana.

* PDF Download • Candlemas in the Solesmes Graduale (1908)
—This is the Editio Vaticana with rhythmic markings by Dom Mocquereau.

* PDF • Candlemas 1957 Rubrics & Plainsong
—This document is useful because of the English translations.

* PDF • Fulton Sheen Sunday Missal (1961)
—The editor was Fr. Philip George Caraman (d. 1998).

* PDF • Saint Edmund Campion Missal (©2012)
—These Candlemas pages come from the Saint Edmund Campion Missal.

I found this in a Roman Catholic Missal from 1806, printed in London for use of the laity:

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

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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).

Job Opening • $65,000 per year +

A parish 15 minutes away from me is looking for a choir director and organist. The parish is filled with young families. When I began my career, I would have jumped at such an opportunity! Saint Patrick’s in Grand Haven has a job opening for a music director paying $65,000 per year including 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.” I lived in Kansas for 15 years, Texas for 10 years, and Los Angeles for 10 years. Michigan is the closest place I know to heaven!

—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

“Offertory” at Catholic Funerals

I have argued that the OFFERTORY—at least in its ancient form—is more of a responsory than an antiphon. The 1962 Missal specifically calls it “Antiphona ad Offertorium.” From now on, I plan to use this beautiful setting (PDF) at funerals, since it cleverly inserts themes from the absolution of the body. Tons more research needs to be done on the OFFERTORY, which often is a ‘patchwork’ stitching together various beginnings and endings of biblical verses. For instance, if you examine the ancient verses for Dómine, vivífica me (30th Sunday in Ordinary Time) you’ll discover this being done in a most perplexing way. Rebecca Maloy published a very expensive book on the OFFERTORY, but it was a disappointment. Indeed, I can’t think of a single valuable insight contained in her book. What a missed opportunity!

—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

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