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Views from the Choir Loft

Was “Ordinary Time” Found in the 1962 Missal?

Jeff Ostrowski · January 14, 2025

S FAR AS I can tell, experts in Latin never use the term “Ordinary Time.” It’s a terrible translation of per annum. For example, Father Valentine Young, OFM, always translated it as “through the year.” Father Samuel Weber—who for many years taught Latin in the seminary—did the same thing. (Father Samuel Weber was a great admirer of Gregorian Chant. However, when he published his English adaptations, he used the Adalbert Propers instead of the ancient chants in the GRADUALE ROMANUM—and I would give a great deal to know why.)

1962 Missal • In the Roman Rite, Sundays which follow cardinal feasts have a “markèd character.” The Church’s three cardinal feasts are: Epiphany, Easter, and Pentecost. But the reformers (for reasons which have never been explained) eliminated all Sundays of a markèd character. On the other hand, it’s important to realize that Tempus Per Annum initially came from the 1962 MISSALE ROMANUM, which was in many ways of “transitional” missal. I realize some of the so-called “ultra-traditionalists” deny this—but all you have to do is open up the 1962 Missal:

*  PDF Download • MISSALE ROMANUM (1962 edition)
—The term “Tempus Per Annum” comes from the 1962 Missal.

“Ordinal” Time? • Online commentators sometimes attempt to justify the faulty translation of tempus per annum by pretending it actually means “Ordinal Time.” That is to say: Sundays ordered one after another. As far as I can tell, there is no justification whatsoever for such a notion. If you don’t believe me, look up the word “ordinary” in the dictionary. Just because two words sound similar doesn’t mean they are synonymous.

Eucharistic Prayer No. 2 • Father Louis Bouyer (the one chosen by the pope to compose EUCHARISTIC PRAYER NO. 2) famously wrote as follows about the changes made to the calendar by the 1960s reformers:

“I prefer to say nothing, or little, about the new calendar, the handiwork of a trio of maniacs who suppressed, with no good reason, Septuagesima and the Octave of Pentecost and who scattered three quarters of the Saints higgledy-piggledy, all based on notions of their own devising! Because these three hotheads obstinately refused to change anything in their work and because the pope wanted to finish up quickly to avoid letting the chaos get out of hand, their project, however insane, was accepted!”

Someday, all of this must be sorted out.

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

Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download Tagged With: Louis Bouyer Oratorian Priest, Propers Ignatius Press by Fr Samuel Weber, Rev Fr Valentine Young OFM, Traditional Latin Mass Last Updated: January 14, 2025

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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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President’s Corner

    Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. However, on the feasts website, the chants have been posted for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C), which is this coming Sunday: 6 July 2025.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)
    With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.
    —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

The local church should be conscious that church worship is not really the same as what we sing in a bar, or what we sing in a convention for youth.

— Francis Cardinal Arinze (2005)

Recent Posts

  • Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published
  • Bishop François Charrière Vs. Hannibal Bugnini
  • 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • “My First Year with the Latin Mass” • A Music Director’s Perspective
  • Boston Auxiliary Bishop: “In offering the Traditional Mass for the first time, after removing the vestments, I knelt in the back pew and wept.”

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