Views from the Choir Loft

“Sacred Music Pilgrimage to Italy” with Grace Feltoe

Guest Author · November 27, 2025

O YOU FEEL a desire to immerse yourself in the rich tradition and history of the Church through sacred song … in Italy? Father Lukasz Misko, OP, president of the Dominican Liturgical Centre in Krakow, Poland, and Grace Feltoe, founder of The Musica Sacra Project, would like to invite you to a sacred music pilgrimage to Italy this spring, experiencing the Eternal City, Orvieto and Assisi through sacred song. Enjoy and be a part of:

* Daily sung Mass and Liturgy of the Hours
* Visit the great pilgrimage sights of Italy
* Participate in introductory workshops learning the basics of chant and singing
* Enjoy sacred music concerts, including a concert by organist Davide Bucci and soprano Grace Feltoe, at Basilica de Santi XII Apostoli
* Have a tour of the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music with Father Robert Mehlhart, OP
* Delve into the beauty of Gregorian chant, hymns and sacred music to enrich your faith through music and prayer at historic and spiritual epicenters of our Faith.

How to book and all other information can be found via the link below:

* https://www.206tours.com/cms/sacredmusic/

And did we forget they’ll be great Italian food!

We hope you enjoyed this guest article by Grace Feltoe.

Grace Feltoe is an Australian/Maltese soprano and sacred music specialist, from Perth, Western Australia. She studied at the University of Western Australia majoring in Music Studies and Specialist Music Studies (Piano Performance), which included strong choral and vocal training in the English tradition, leading to professional ensembles. From 2015, Grace assumed the role of cantor for various parishes in Perth, including St Mary’s Cathedral, St Patrick’s Basilica, St Paul’s Church, Divine Mercy Church, and New Norcia Benedictine Monastery, with whom she released a sacred music CD ‘Adoro Te’, with Father Robert Nixon, OSB.

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

PDF • “Music List” (Xmas Midnight Mass)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for Christmas Midnight Mass (“Ad Missam In Nocte”). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The ENTRANCE CHANT is simple, but quite beautiful. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are available at the feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “Music List” (4th Sunday of Advent)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 21 December 2025, which is the 4th Sunday of Advent (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The ENTRANCE CHANT is the famous “Roráte Coeli” and the fauxbourdon setting of the COMMUNION is exquisite. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are available at the feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—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

What does this mean? “Pre-Urbanite”

One of the things informed critics have frequently praised vis-à-vis the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal has to do with its careful treatment of the ancient hymns vs. the “Urbanite” hymns. This topic I had believed to be fairly well understood—but I was wrong. The reason I thought people knew about it is simple; in the EDITIO VATICANA 1908 Graduale Romanum (as well as the 1913 Liber Antiphonarius) both versions are provided, right next to each other. You can see what I mean by examining this PDF file from the Roman Gradual of 1908. Most people still don’t understand that the Urbanite versions were never adopted by any priests or monks who sang the Divine Office each day. Switching would have required a massive amount of effort and money, because all the books would need to be changed.

—Jeff Ostrowski

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

Pope Leo XIV on Sacred Music

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

—Corpus Christi Watershed