Views from the Choir Loft

New Monthly Companion for the Extraordinary Form

Fr. David Friel · February 14, 2021

OR MANY years, the monthly Magnificat magazine has served as a popular “hand-missal” for Mass-goers in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite. At once high-quality and disposable, this publication has a wide readership and has been instrumental in the spiritual growth of many people. Their work is a blessing to the Church (and has been highlighted on Views from the Choir Loft here and here).

Beginning in August 2021, something similar will be available for the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. Entitled Benedictus, this will be an undertaking of Sophia Institute Press, produced in consultation with various English-speaking priests and theologians.

Readers may recall that there was a previous attempt at this type of monthly publication for the Extraordinary Form, entitled Laudamus Te, which seems to have failed due to an insufficient number of subscribers. Hopefully Sophia Institute Press will be able to make a more successful go of it.

The new Benedictus booklet promises to include much more than the daily Mass texts. It will also feature:

Morning and Evening Devotions (excerpts from Lauds & Vespers of the 1960 Breviarium Romanum)

Daily Meditations (writings from saints, scholars, and spiritual masters)

Commentary (short essays on feasts & saints)

Classic Prayers (devotional prayers in Latin & English)

Artwork (a high-quality print and separable holy card in each issue)

Catholic Culture (poetry, prose, music)

A sample issue of Benedictus is available for viewing here.

Surely there will be naysayers who question the value of such a publication when a plethora of single-volume, traditional hand-missals already exists. There is much to be said in favor of quality hand-missals that can be used year after year, but there is also something to be said for this sort of monthly magazine. Benedictus has the potential to serve as an accessible introduction for newcomers to the Extraordinary Form, a source for timely resources designed to support the domestic Church, and even a tool for evangelization.

The cost for Benedictus is just $5/month. Subscriptions are available here.

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

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel is a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and serves as Director of Liturgy at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. —(Read full biography).

Simplified Accompaniment (Easter Hymn)

Number 36 in the Brébeuf Hymnal is “At the Lamb’s high feast we sing,” an English translation for Ad Cenam Agni Próvidi (which was called “Ad Régias Agni Dapes” starting 1631). As of this morning, you can download a simplified keyboard accompaniment for it. Simple click here and scroll to the bottom. Many organists are forced to serve simultaneously as both CANTOR and ACCOMPANIST. In spite of what some claim, this can be difficult—which explains why choirmasters appreciate these simplified keyboard accompaniments. Sadly, many readers will click that link but forget to scroll to the bottom where the simplified PDF file is located.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Quasi Modo Sunday”

The Introit for “Quasi Modo Sunday” (12 April 2026) is particularly beautiful. The musical score can be downloaded as a PDF file, and so can the organ accompaniment. The official language of the Catholic Church is Latin (whereas Greek is our mother tongue). Vatican II said Gregorian Chant must be given “first place” under normal circumstances. As a result, some parishes will rightly sing the authentic version. On the other hand, because so many USA dioceses disobey the mandate of Vatican II, some musicians sing plainsong in the vernacular. I have attempted to simultaneously accompany myself on the pipe organ while singing the English version. Although very few take advantage of it, the complete Proprium Missae is posted at the flourishing feasts website.

—Jeff Ostrowski

‘German’ Introductions for Hymns

German organ books have an enchanting habit of including introductions for each and every hymn. For example, consider this snazzy example found in a German hymnal published in 1902. In the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal, that melody is called “Laudes Mariae” and was married to Omni Die Dic Mariae, with a popular English translation (“Daily, daily, sing to Mary”) by Father Henry Bittleston, an Oratorian priest. Notice they also added a ‘tailpiece’ or ‘playout’ or postlude at the end—a very German thing to do!

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Anima Christi”

I received a request for an organ accompaniment I created way back in 2007 for the “Anima Christi” Gregorian Chant. You can download this PDF file which has the score in plainsong followed by a keyboard accompaniment. Many melodies have been paired with “Anima Christi” over the centuries, but this is—perhaps—the most common one.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “Liturgical Law” (467 Pages)

On Good Friday during the middle ages, the pope privately recited THE ENTIRE PSALTER. If you don’t believe me, see for yourself by reading this passage by Dom Charles Augustine Bachofen (d. 1943). His famous book—called “Liturgical Law: A Handbook Of The Roman Liturgy”—was published by the Benjamin Herder Book Company, which was the American arm (operating out of St. Louis, Missouri) of one of the world’s most significant Catholic publishers. Dom Charles Augustine Bachofen was born in Switzerland but spent his career between the Benedictine monasteries at Conception (Missouri) and Mount Angel (Oregon). His 1931 masterpiece, Liturgical Law can be downloaded as a PDF file … 467 pages!

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 24 March 2026

How well do you know your Gregorian hymns? Do you recognize the tune inserted into the bass line on this score? For many years, we sang the entire Mass in Gregorian chant—and I mean everything. As a result, it would be difficult to find a Gregorian hymn I don’t recognize instantly. Only decades later did I realize (with sadness) that this skill cannot be ‘monetized’… This particular melody is used for a very famous Gregorian hymn, printed in the LIBER USUALIS. Do you recognize it? Send me an email with the correct words, and I promise to tell everybody I meet about your prowess!

—Jeff Ostrowski