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Views from the Choir Loft

Lace for an Altar Boy’s Surplice? — Yes? No?

Jeff Ostrowski · August 25, 2021

HE COMPANY OF JESUS is often referred to by the name of “Jesuits.” Many priests who belong to this religious order have fallen into dissent, scandal, and heresy; but some of the “old-school” Jesuits were intelligent, obedient, holy men. One example would be Father John Hardon (d. 2000). Another is Father Patrick T. Brannan (d. 2017), who entered the Novitiate of Saint Isaac Jogues in Wernersville (Pennsylvania) in 1950. I had the privilege to know him for about fifteen years. He was an expert in Latin and Greek. Father Brannan once wrote an article for HPR in which he said something to the effect of:

“People love to argue about Gothic vs. Fiddleback chasubles—but that’s silly. We wore both styles before the Council, and we can wear both styles after the Council.”

Another thing people love to argue about (with unrestrained passion) is: Lace or No Lace.

Some people hate lace. Others love it. I personally have no preference, but when I posted this article from 1952 on Facebook, it was viewed 9,000 times:

*  PDF Download • Lace On Altar Boy’s Surplice?
—This image was viewed 9,000+ times on our Facebook page.

For The Record: In 1999, Cardinal Ratzinger seems to have worn lace when celebrating the Traditional Latin Mass (see below). By the way, have you noticed people are trying to decide what to call celebrations according to the 1962 Missale Romanum? Some say “Extraordinary Form,” others say “Tridentine Rite,” others say “Ordo Antiquus,” others say “Usus Antiquior,” others say “Latin Mass,” and so forth. Father Fortescue said it best: “Like all other liturgical functions, like offices and ranks in the Church, indeed like everything else in the world, the religious service that we call the Mass existed long before it had a special technical name.”

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Father Patrick T Brannan, ORDO ANTIQUUS, usus antiquior Last Updated: August 25, 2021

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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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

    Requesting Our Advent Eucharistic Hymn
    A young lady named Agnes wrote to us: “Dear Mr. Ostrowski, do you have the PDF score for Ave Corpus Domini set to the ADVENT melody? Last year, we sang the hymn tune “Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland” quite a bit using your contrafactum technique. My choir appreciates the Latin hymns and practice videos, especially in the ADVENT and CHRISTMAS seasons. Your recent article on Gregorian Psalm Tones is a great help to my organist brother, and reminds us of attending VESPERS years ago when we lived in California. Thank you so much for all the effort put into providing these wonderful resources!”   Agnes, if you are listening! Yes, the PDF file you desire can be downloaded for free at the Brébeuf Portal via this URL link. Thanks for writing to us!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Message from the Vice-President!
    The Vice-President of the Church Music Association of America, Dr. Horst Buchholz (who also serves as Director of Sacred Music for the Archdiocese of Detroit) sent us an email yesterday regarding the harmonizations (PDF) I composed for the Gregorian Chant psalm tones. Dr. Buchholz says: “Those settings are absolutely exquisite, as I'm used to when it comes from you. Bravo! Well done! Now, as a sequel, if you could write something for accompanying psalms in English that would be awesome.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Seven (7) Hymn Verses for November!
    In the month of November, we remember in a special way the souls in purgatory. The BRÉBEUF HYMNAL often includes text alone versions for its hymns; why is that? The short answer is: flexibility. The “text only” version allows each choirmaster to employ a myriad of melodies. For example, I recently set the English translation of “De Profúndis” with the DAVOST MELODY (PDF). We are singing this before November ends. Indeed, you can hear our volunteer singing this (in real life) if you click here.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

It was thought important that the song should actually accompany the distribution of Communion. A Carolingian explanation of the Mass remarks that during the Communion “soft melody should touch the ear [of the faithful] so that hearing this sound they would busy themselves less with distracting thoughts and … their hearts would be moved to humble love for that which they receive.”

— Father Josef Andreas Jungmann

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