Views from the Choir Loft

“Sample Pages” • Campion Missal (2022 edition)

Jeff Ostrowski · February 1, 2022

ELOW, YOU CAN download a “summary” describing five fantastic features of the Campion Missal, Third Edition. You can also download sample pages from this marvelous pew book (672 pages long). I’m not an employee of Sophia Institute Press, but something tells me they will begin accepting pre-orders before long. With regard to the “extra” communion verses ¹ mentioned on that sheet, we have spoken of those before—and I will have a lot more to say later! A brand new alphabet (!!!) was designed for this publication; scroll to the bottom to see several letters.

* PDF Summary • FIVE FANTASTIC FEATURES
—Sophia Institute Press gave us permission to release this.

*  PDF Download • COLOR SECTION (Sample Page)
*  PDF Download • B&W (Good Friday, 1962)
*  PDF Download • B&W (Holy Thursday, 1962)
*  PDF Download • B&W (Holy Week, 1950)
*  PDF Download • B&W (Palm Sunday, 1962)
*  PDF Download • B&W (Cantus Gregorianus)
*  PDF Download • B&W (Feast of Corpus Christi)
*  PDF Download • B&W (Proper Prefaces)
*  PDF Download • B&W — “Lauda Sion”
*  PDF Download • B&W — “Tantum Ergo”
*  PDF Download • B&W — “Dies Irae”

Examples from the Saint Edmund Campion alphabet (©2022):

What We Need: This third edition includes breathtaking images of old liturgical books—placed right alongside the Mass texts—from the 7th century, 8th century, 9th century, 10th century, 11th century, and so forth. This is very powerful. And it’s precisely what’s needed at this moment, when the Missale Vetustum has come under attack in certain circles.

NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1 If you want to see some examples of the “extra” verses for Qui Manducat (from the 9th Sunday after Pentecost) please click here and scroll towards the bottom.

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 Michigan. —(Read full biography).

Music List • (Holy Thursday, 2026)

Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for Holy Thursday, which is 2 April 2026. If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a more piercingly beautiful INTROIT, and I have come to absolutely love the SATB version of ‘Ubi cáritas’ we are singing (joined by our burgeoning children’s choir). I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“O Escam Viatorum” • (Holy Thursday)

When I was very young, I erroneously believed the four psalms provided by the 1957 Liber Usualis—for Communion on Holy Thursday—were the “correct” music to sing on that first day of the TRIDUUM SACRUM. Those four psalms are: Psalm 22 (Dóminus regit me et nihil mihi déerit); Psalm 71 (Deus judícium tuum regi da); Psalm 103 (Bénedic ánima méa); and Psalm 150 (Laudáte Dóminum in sanctis ejus). It turns out I was way out in left field! While nothing forbids singing those psalms, many other options are equally valid. Our volunteer parish choir will sing this COMMUNION PIECE (joined by our burgeoning children’s choir) on Holy Thursday during Holy Communion. Needless to say, this will happen after the proper antiphon from the GRADUALE ROMANUM has been sung.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Music List • (4th Sunday of Lent)

Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for this coming Sunday, which is the 4th Sunday of Lent (15 March 2026). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. This feast has sublime propers. It is most often referred to as “Lætare Sunday” owing to its INTROIT. I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Stumped by “Episcopalian Hymnal” (1910)

Some consider Songs of Syon (1910) the greatest Episcopalian hymnal ever printed. As a Roman Catholic, I have no right to weigh in one way or the other. However, this particular page has me stumped. I just know I’ve heard that tune somewhere! If you can help, please email me. I’m talking about the text which begins: “This is the day the Lord hath made; In unbeclouded light array’d.” The book is by George Ratcliffe Woodward, and its complete title is: Songs of Syon: A Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs. Back in 2016, Corpus Christi Watershed scanned and uploaded this insanely rare book. For years our website was the sole place one could download it as a PDF file.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Dies Irae” • A Monstrous Translation

It isn’t easy to determine what Alice King MacGilton hoped to accomplish with her very popular book—A Study of Latin Hymns (1918)—which continued to be reprinted in new editions for at least 34 years. This PDF file shows her attempt to translate the DIES IRAE “in the fewest words possible.” There’s a place for dynamic equivalency, but this is repugnant. In particular, look what she does to “Quærens me sedísti lassus.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Holy, Holy, Holy”

For vigil Masses on Saturday (a.k.a. “anticipated” Masses) we use this simpler setting of the “Holy, Holy, Holy” by Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989), a Belgian priest, organist, composer, and music educator who ultimately succeeded another ‘Jules’ (CANON JULES VAN NUFFEL) as director of the Lemmensinstituut in Belgium. Although I could be wrong, my understanding is that the LEMMENSINSTITUUT eventually merged with “Catholic University of Leuven” (originally founded in 1425). That’s the university Fulton J. Sheen attended.

—Jeff Ostrowski