Views from the Choir Loft

New Website! • “Restore The 1954 Holy Week”

Corpus Christi Watershed · March 31, 2021

The following is a guest article by Miss Lydia Friedmann.

OT TOO LONG AGO, a Facebook page called “Restore the 54” was launched to educate the public about Holy Week prior to the 1955 reforms. The Facebook page is run by Mr. Gregory DiPippo (a Roman tour guide who currently edits the NLM blog after Jeffrey Tucker retired) as well as an Australian gentleman, Mr. Ronan Reilly (who currently teaches at Saint Philomena, an SSPX grade school). I readily admit I spend way too much time on Facebook, and I need to consider reducing. Anyway, they have recently launched an interesting website which provides free PDF files related to the sacred liturgy:

* New Website • “Restore The ’54” .com

It seems many of our PDF files (several of which I helped to meticulously scan) have been added to their website:

Others besides myself, such as Susan Rodriguez, Kristen Ostrowski, and Sarah Halas, have assisted in scanning our PDF books.

Examples of books which were scanned and uploaded by Corpus Christi Watershed:

ANTIPHONALE MONASTICUM (1934)

The scanned copy they uploaded to their website is a scan we made of a book which formerly belonged to Monsignor Robert A. Skeris.

FATHER LASANCE HAND-MISSAL (1937)

This was one of the very first books Corpus Christi Watershed scanned, and we hope someone will “clean” what we have done.

GRADUALE ROMANUM (1908)

About thirteen years ago, Corpus Christi Watershed provided the first online copy of the 1908 Graduale Romanum by the Vatican Press. In January of 2020 we scanned and uploaded the extremely rare and magnificent Solesmes 1908 edition, which was as scarce as hen’s teeth.

Note: We place unique “identifiers” on certain PDF pages so we can always know which scans belong to us—in order to better know the areas in which we are assisting the Catholic Church.

We are glad they are helping to promote the sacred liturgy. At the same time, perhaps those who created the website could mention that Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity which has no endowment and no major donors. We can only continue to scan books like that if more Catholics pledge $5.00 per month.

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

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“Music List” • 29th in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 19 October 2025, which is the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). 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

Liturgical Round (“Canon”) in C-Major

Those who direct children’s choirs are always on the lookout for repertoire that’s dignified, inspired, and pleasing—yet still within reach of young choristers. Such directors will want to investigate this haunting liturgical round (PDF download) which has been married to the KYRIE from Mass VI (EDITIO VATICANA). I have provided an accompaniment, but it’s only for use during rehearsal; i.e. when teaching this round to your choristers. I also provided an organ accompaniment for the KYRIE—which some know by its trope (Kyrie Rex Genitor)—so that your congregation can take part when this round is used as a choral extension during Mass.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Latin Liturgy Association

We note with pleasure that Mrs. Regina Morris, president of the Latin Liturgy Association, has featured—on page 4 of Volume CXXIX of their official newsletter—the three (3) terrific versions of the Stations of the Cross found in the Brébeuf Hymnal. One of the main authors for the blog of the Church Music Association of America said (6/10/2019) about this pew book: “It is such a fantastic hymnal that it deserves to be in the pews of every Catholic church.”

—Corpus Christi Watershed

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

“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