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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • “Hymn for the Feast of All Saints” (Released for the First Time in History!)

Jeff Ostrowski · October 26, 2023

HE PREËMINENT SCHOLAR of the English-speaking world during the early 20th century was probably Father Adrian Fortescue (d. 1923). He earned three doctorates (!) at the same time, and this was so rare that the Emperor Franz Joseph personally awarded him a special prize. At the time of his death, Fortescue was professor of church history at Saint Edmund’s College, Ware (the oldest Catholic school in England) just north of London. A footnote in the newest edition of the SAINT EDMUND CAMPION MISSAL mentions how Monsignor Ronald Knox, Dr. Fortescue, and Fulton J. Sheen all taught at Saint Edmund’s around the same time. [More on that below.] Due to his exceptional musical talent, Fortescue had served as organist while studying at the Scots’ College in Rome. About hymnody, Father Fortescue wrote:

In nothing are English Catholics so poor as in vernacular hymns. The real badness of most of our popular hymns, endeared, unfortunately, to the people by association, surpasses anything that could otherwise be imagined. […] Whereas our liturgical hymns are the finest in the world, our popular ones are easily the worst. […] Other religious bodies take all their best hymns in translations from us. It would be a disgrace if we Catholics were the only people who did not appreciate what is our property. […] Nor shall we find a better expression of Catholic piety than these words, hallowed by centuries of Catholic use, fragrant with the memory of the saints who wrote them in that golden age when practically all Christendom was Catholic.

Released Today! • Today, we release a musical setting of an ancient hymn for the Feast of All Saints (1 November) called “Ad Honórem Salvatóris.” A marvelous English translation was sent to me on the feast day of Father Brébeuf (19 October), and I’ve included it alongside the musical notation. As far as I can tell, this is the first time a musical score has been made available for this venerable text:

*  PDF Download • Hymn for All Saints (SATB)
—“Ad Honórem Salvatóris” with English Translation by Father Seraphim.

How It Sounds • I believe the sentiments expressed are powerful. I hope you’ll meditate upon each verse. To hear how the melody sounds—including rehearsal videos for each individual voice—listen to the following. In other words, the following tune is identical to the Latin score above:

To access this hymn’s media in the Brébeuf Portal, click here.

Fulton J. Sheen • As a young priest, Father Fulton J. Sheen knew and admired Monsignor Ronald Knox (d. 1957). In his autobiography, Sheen tells some fascinating stories about Knox:

*  PDF Download • Excerpt from Sheen’s Autobiography

Toward the end of his life, Fulton J. Sheen said that “anything he had ever said of significance was taken from either Knox or Chesterton.”

Random Addendum • Bishop Sheen, in his autobiography, claims he would sometimes reject deacons. That is to say, when they presented themselves for priestly ordination, as bishop of Rochester, Sheen would reject them (based upon his experiences with them and other factors). I doubt that happens these days. Because of the vocations crisis, something tells me deacons are never rejected. I’m not advocating for or against what Sheen did. On the other hand, I do know that many universities have reached a point where “you pay the money, you get the degree” regardless of qualifications—and that situation seems rather undesirable.

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

Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download Tagged With: Ad Honorem Salvatoris SEQUENCE, Bishop Fulton J Sheen, Monsignor Ronald Knox Traditional Mass, Rev Fr Adrian Fortescue Liturgy, Saint Edmund College Ware Last Updated: October 27, 2023

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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 Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Why A “Fugue” Here?
    I believe I know why this plainsong harmonizer created a tiny fugue as the INTRODUCTION to his accompaniment. Take a look (PDF) and tell me your thoughts about what he did on the feast of the Flight of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Egypt (17 February). And now I must go because “tempus fugit” as they say!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    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
    “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)
    Those who don’t sign up for our free EMAIL NEWSLETTER miss important notifications. Last week, for example, I sent a message about this job opening for a music director paying $65,000 per year plus benefits (plus weddings & funerals). Notice the job description says: “our vision for sacred music is to move from singing at Mass to truly singing the Mass wherein … especially the propers, ordinaries, and dialogues are given their proper place.” Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “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
    Did they simplify these hymn harmonies?
    Choirs love to sing the famous & splendid tune called “INNSBRUCK.” Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1952, I discovered what appears to be a simplified version of that hymn. In other words, their harmonization is much less complex than the version found in the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal (which is suitable for singing by SATB choir). Please download their 1952 harmonization (PDF) and let me know your thoughts. I really like the groovy Germanic INTRODUCTION they added.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

The liturgical reform bears absolutely no relation to what is called “desacralization” and in no way intends to lend support to the phenomenon of “secularizing the world.” Accordingly the rites must retain their dignity, spirit of reverence, and sacred character.

— Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship (5 September 1970)

Recent Posts

  • Why A “Fugue” Here?
  • “Three Reasons To Shun Bad Hymns” • Daniel B. Marshall
  • “Puzzling Comment” • By A Respected FSSP Priest
  • New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
  • “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)

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