• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

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.”

  • Donate
  • Our Team
    • Our Editorial Policy
    • Who We Are
    • How To Contact Us
    • Sainte Marie Bulletin Articles
    • Jeff’s Mom Joins Fundraiser
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • KYRIALE • Saint Antoine Daniel
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Repository • “Spanish Music”
    • Ordinary Form Feasts (Sainte-Marie)
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Catechism of Gregorian Rhythm
    • Father Enemond Massé Manuscripts
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster
    • “Wedding March” for lazy organists
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
    • The Eight Gregorian Modes
    • Gradual by Pothier’s Protégé
    • Seven (7) Considerations
Views from the Choir Loft

“Unsolved Mysteries” • What Happened To This Institute?

Jeff Ostrowski · October 11, 2024

HE IMPRESSIVE collection of vernacular plainsong propers known as The O’Fallon Propers was published in the 1960s by SAINT MARY’S INSTITUTE in O’Fallon, Missouri. But what exactly was “SAINT MARY’S INSTITUTE”—and who was in charge of it? From what I can tell, the motherhouse for the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood was located in O’Fallon (just west of St. Louis, Missouri). The SAINT MARY’S INSTITUTE seems to have been intimately connected with Dom Ermin Vitry, OSB, who was born on 22 December 1884 in Lobbes, a village in Belgium. Vitry entered religious life at the magnificent Maredsous Abbey in 1902, one year before the sacred music legislation of Pope Saint Pius X was issued in 1903.1

Dom Ermin Vitry • Dom Ermin Vitry was ordained a Benedictine priest in 1907. At the LEMMENSINSTITUUT, he studied organ with the legendary Edgar Tinel (d. 1912). The Benedictines sent him from Belgium to the United States where he served as director of music for the SAINT MARY’S INSTITUTE—but sources disagree vis-à-vis the precise years this took place. For the record, Monsignor Martin B. Hellriegel served as chaplain for the O’Fallon sisters from 1918-1940. Vitry and Hellriegel knew each other.

The Institute • One source says: “As choir director, Dom Ermin taught the Sisters an appreciation of sacred liturgical music through Gregorian Chant.” In a (very brief) biography of Dom Vitry published in 1988, Monsignor Francis P. Schmitt insinuates that Vitry was the driving force behind what would become the O’Fallon Propers. Monsignor Schmitt wrote: “I am no enthusiast for English chant, never have been. But I recognize a legitimate place for it…” He then went on to say:

“The late Dom Ermin Vitry and the recently deceased Charles Dreisoerner (either of whom forgot more about Gregorian than most pundits I encounter these days will ever know) both felt that, in some measure, the preservation of Gregorian as the song of the faithful, the saving of it from a second and final death, depended upon a viable vernacular use.”

Mysterious • Some people believe that Monsignor Hellriegel was the actual composer of The O’Fallon Propers. One thing is certain: its 483 pages must have been in production for many years before its publication in 1964. I would welcome any information about what remains of SAINT MARY’S INSTITUTE or the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood in O’Fallon.

Here’s a photograph of Dom Ermin Vitry taken circa 1935:

1 This motu proprio was known as “Inter Pastoralis Officii Sollicitudines.” Some people also refer to it by the Italian name: “Tra Le Sollecitudini.”

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Dom Ermin Vitry, Inter pastoralis officii Pius X, Monsignor Francis P Schmitt, Monsignor Martin B. Hellriegel, O'Fallon Missouri Mass Propers, O’Fallon Propers in Plainsong, Sisters of the Most Precious Blood, The O’Fallon Propers, Tra le sollecitudini, Tra Le Sollecitudini Motu Proprio Last Updated: October 11, 2024

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

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).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    All of the chants for 27 July 2025, which is the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C), have been added to the feasts website, as usual under a convenient “drop down.” The COMMUNION ANTIPHON—both text and melody—are particularly beautiful and exceedingly ancient.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Jeff’s Mother Joins Our Fundraiser
    To assist our fundraiser, Mrs. Kathleen Ostrowski has drawn several beautiful sketches which she offers to all our readers free of charge. If you have a moment, I invite you download them at this link.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Errors in Latin: “17th Sund. Ordinary”
    The COMMUNION for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) contains several typos in the Jogues Illuminated Missal with regard to the Latin text. That particular COMMUNION ANTIPHON is extremely ancient, and the English Adaptation is utterly gorgeous. For the record, it’s normal for books to contain typos; even books by Father Fortescue and Monsignor Knox have errors. Books by Solesmes Abbey—surely among the finest ever produced—contain many printing errors. Click here to see a few examples of typos.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

It is known that the “mora vocis” is part of the compulsory rules of recital of the “Vaticana” and is indicated in the Editio typica and its reprints by a somewhat larger spacing of the neume (one space-line) within one group of neuma.

— 1953 Schwann Edition (PREFACE)

Recent Posts

  • 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • Jeff’s Mother Joins Our Fundraiser
  • Errors in Latin: “17th Sund. Ordinary”
  • “Tell Me Lies; Tell Me Sweet Little Lies.” • Re: Post-Conciliar Lectionary Problems
  • PDF Download • “Catholic Texts Transcend”

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2025 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.

The election of Pope Leo XIV has been exciting, and we’re filled with hope for our apostolate’s future!

But we’re under pressure to transfer our website to a “subscription model.”

We don’t want to do that. We believe our website should remain free to all.

Our president has written the following letter:

President’s Message (dated 30 May 2025)

Are you able to support us?

clock.png

Time's up