Views from the Choir Loft

“Resplendent Beyond Reckoning” • Sherborne Missal (1399AD)

Jeff Ostrowski · August 28, 2020

HE SHERBORNE MISSAL is the largest (and most lavishly decorated) Medieval Missal from England to have survived the Reformation. The manuscript was produced for the Benedictine abbey of St Mary’s in Sherborne, Dorset, circa 1399AD. The principal artist—a Dominican friar named John Siferwas—included his portrait and coat of arms several times in the manuscript. We were made aware of this by Father Lawrence Lew. One of the attendants of the Blessed Virgin Mary (next to the Cross) has braided hair, so I guess young women did that even in the 1400s:

74922-Sherborne-Missal-CRUCI

74920-Sherborne-Missal-C

Similar to the Saint Isaac Jogues Illuminated Missal, Gradual, and Lectionary there appear to be fantastic little images of the different motions the priest makes during the Canon:

Priests who want to help congregations follow the Mass should really look into the Jogues Missal, because it provides photographs alongside the Ordinary of the Mass, in addition to having the complete Lectionary readings (ABC) and complete Propers in Latin and English.

The Sherborne Missal is now available
in its entirety to view online.

Meménto, Dómine, famulórum famularúmque tuárum…

…in primis quæ tibi offérimus pro Ecclésia tua sancta cathólica…

Communicántes, et memóriam venerántes, in primis gloriósæ semper Vírginis Maríæ…

Qui prídie quam paterétur, accépit panem in sanctas ac venerábiles manus suas…

Hanc ígitur oblatiónem servitútis nostræ, sed et cunctæ famíliæ tuæ…

Quam oblatiónem tu, Deus, in ómnibus, quaésumus, benedíctam, adscríptam, ratam, rationábilem, acceptabilémque fácere dignéris…

Præcéptis salutáribus móniti, et divína institutióne formáti, audémus dícere…

The level of detail is astounding:

Notice how the monks along the side have the words (on little white flags) to the Ave Regina Caelorum, which matches the drawings:

Roráte cæli désuper et nubes pluant justum…

Nunc scio vere, quia misit Dóminus ángelum suum…

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).

“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

PDF Download • Offertory (9 Nov.)

This year, the feast of 9 November replaces the Sunday. The OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (PDF file) for 9 November is exceedingly beautiful. The ‘Laterani’ mansion at Rome was the popes’ residence for a thousand years. The church there still is the cathedral church of Rome—“Mother and Head of all churches of the City and of the World,” says the inscription over the entrance. It is dedicated to Our Holy Savior, but has long been commonly known as “St. John Lateran” owing to its famous baptistery of St. John the Baptist. In this church, the pope’s own ‘cathedra’ (episcopal chair) stands in the apse.

—Jeff Ostrowski

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

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