Views from the Choir Loft

“Entrance Chant” • 5th Sunday of Lent

Jeff Ostrowski · April 4, 2025

EEL FREE to download the ENTRANCE ANTIPHON in English for the Fifth Sunday of Lent—6 April 2025—which is traditionally known as “Passion Sunday” because it begins a two-week period of special emphasis on our Redeemer’s PASSION. This free organ accompaniment corresponds to the vocalist score. During Passiontide, the “Glória Patri” is omitted. The authentic version of the INTROIT is iconic, and PSALM 42 is quite well-known. The Latin words (Emítte lucem tuam et veritátem tuam: ipsa me de duxérunt et adduxérunt…) are rendered so beautifully by Monsignor Knox:

“The light of thy presence,
the fulfilment of thy promise,
let these be my escort…”

If you’re someone who enjoys rehearsal videos, I’ve attempted to sing it while simultaneously accompanying my voice on the pipe organ.

Here’s the direct URL link.

Veiling of Images • The traditional Gospel for Lent’s 5th Sunday ended with: Jesus autem abscóndit se, et exívit de templo (“but Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple”). For the two weeks of Passiontide, church images are hidden with violet fabric. Bishop Durandus says the veiling reminds us that “Christ veiled His divinity during His passion,” but other explanations have also been given.

Unsuccessful Attempt • A secret commission set up by Pope Pius XII (known as the Commissio Piana) attempted to get rid of the traditional name of “Palm Sunday.” They wanted to replace it with Second Passion Sunday, but that never caught on. Catholics still insist upon calling it “Palm Sunday”—and rightly so. The only author I know who adopted their bizarre terminology (“Second Passion Sunday”) was Frederick R. McManus, an extremely ‘progressive’ liturgist.

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).

PDF Download • “Santo Santo Santo”

Those searching for a dignified, brief, simple, bright setting of SANCTUS in Spanish (“Santo Santo Santo”) are invited to download this Setting in honor of Saint John Brébeuf (organist & vocalist). I wonder if there would be any interest in me recording a rehearsal video for this piece.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • Our Lady of Guadalupe (12 Dec.)

The Responsorial Psalm may be downloaded as a PDF file (organist & vocalist) for 12 December, which is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. When it comes to the formulary for this Mass, it’s astounding how infrequently it’s included in official books. Prior to Vatican II, one had to search through “supplemental material” printed in the back of hand-missals and graduals. But since 1970, the feast is virtually nonexistent. According to the UNIVERSAL KALENDAR, 12 December is the “Feast of Saint Jane Frances De Chantal, Religious” (Die 12 decembris: S. Ioannæ Franciscæ de Chantal, religiosæ). Why should that feast overpower Our Lady of Guadalupe? In the United States, OLG is celebrated—and I’d assume in Mexico, Central America, South America, and Canada—but, as I said, the Propria Missae are virtually impossible to locate. I possess only three books which mention this feast.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Simplified Accompaniment (Advent Hymn)

Many organists are forced to simultaneously serve as both CANTOR and ACCOMPANIST. In spite of what some claim, this can be difficult. I invite you to download this simplified organ accompaniment (PDF) which in the Father Brébeuf Hymnal is hymn #661: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” (for ADVENT). I’m toying with the idea of creating a whole bunch of these, to help amateur organists. The last one I uploaded was downloaded more than 2,900 times in a matter of hours—so there appears to be interest.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Leo XIV on Sacred Music

On 5 December 2025, Pope Leo XIV made this declaration with regard to liturgical music.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Translations Approved for Liturgical Use”

According to the newsletter for USSCB’s Committee on Divine Worship dated September 1996, there are three (3) translations of the Bible which can be used in the sacred liturgy in the United States. You can read this information with your own eyes. It seems the USCCB and also Rome fully approved the so-called NRSV (“New Revised Standard Version”) on 13 November 1991 and 6 April 1992 but this permission was then withdrawn in 1994.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Gospel Options for 2 November (“All Souls”)

We’ve been told some bishops are suppressing the TLM because of “unity.” But is unity truly found in the MISSALE RECENS? For instance, on All Souls (2 November), any of these Gospel readings may be chosen, for any reason (or for no reason at all). The same is true of the Propria Missæ and other readings—there are countless options in the ORDINARY FORM. In other words, no matter which OF parish you attend on 2 November, you’ll almost certainly hear different propers and readings, to say nothing of different ‘styles’ of music. Where is the “unity” in all this? Indeed, the Second Vatican Council solemnly declared: “Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community.”

—Corpus Christi Watershed