Views from the Choir Loft

Holy Mass During World War II • (9 April 1944)

Jeff Ostrowski · September 2, 2020

HE HOLY MASS on Easter Sunday “in the field” (9 April 1944). Written on reverse of photograph: “German troops included in American Easter services via loud-speaker! Hostilities ceased for one hour on this front-line sector during services, conducted by American troops and directed across the lines by specifically installed amplifiers. Here, Chaplain Leo J. Crowley says Mass to a group of soldiers who were close enough to leave their fox-holes to attend. (Italy, 9 April 1944)”

It reminds me of our parish at the moment. (Due to California’s Covid-19 regulations, we’re currently celebrating Mass in a huge tent outside the Church.) I’m afraid I don’t have a date for this one:

I don’t have a date for this one either, but notice how the server lifts the Chasuble of the priest for the Consecration of the SANCTISSIMUM:

This is from “The Great War” (photo taken 27 February 1916)—the Holy Mass for Italian troops on the frontlines:

There are many more photographs such as those, and this website is a great place to start.

Also: 01 02 03 04 05

Bonus Question:

Did you notice the guy playing keyboard?

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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

Father Adrian Fortescue on the “Agnus Dei”

Speaking about the AGNUS DEI, Father Fortescue wrote: “Agnus as a vocative is curious, evidently in order to reproduce the original text (John 1:29) exactly.” [Altera die vidit Joannes Jesum venientem ad se, et ait: Ecce agnus Dei, ecce qui tollit peccatum mundi.] Father Fortescue, as usual, is correct; but in some medieval manuscripts you can find “Agne Dei.” Here’s an an example of that.

—Jeff Ostrowski

List • Responses by each bishop!

This incredible website gives each bishop’s response to the recent MOTU PROPRIO Traditionis Custodes, a decree by Pope Francis which seeks to reduce the number of celebrations of the “Extraordinary Form” (Traditional Latin Mass): traditioniscustodes.info

—Jeff Ostrowski

Tomorrow is Sunday…

When you were in school, you would have gotten in trouble if you wrote the Roman Numeral “9” as viiii. You were supposed to write: IX. But look how an ancient manuscript writes “9” as a Roman Numeral. That’s the Introit Ecce Deus for tomorrow’s feast in the Extraordinary Form: The 9th Sunday after Pentecost.

—Jeff Ostrowski