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.

Dr. Mahrt explains the ‘Spoken’ Propers

In 1970, the Church promulgated a new version of the Roman Missal. It goes by various names: Ordinary Form, Novus Ordo, MISSALE RECENS, and so on. If you examine the very first page, you’ll notice that Pope Saint Paul VI explains the meaning of the ‘Spoken Propers’ (which are for Masses without singing). A quote by Dr. William P. Mahrt is also included in that file. The SPOKEN PROPERS—used at Masses without music—are sometimes called The Adalbert Propers, because they were created in 1969 by Father Adalbert Franquesa Garrós, one of Hannibal Bugnini’s closest friends (according to Yves Chiron).

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “Music List” (1st Sunday of Advent)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 30 November 2025, which is the 1st Sunday of Advent (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The ENTRANCE CHANT is quite memorable, 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

“Music List” • Christ the King Sunday

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 23 November 2025, which is the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. In the 1970 Missal, this Sunday is known as: Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Universorum Regis (“Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe”). As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the magnificent feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of November (2025)

On a daily basis, I speak to people who don’t realize we publish a free newsletter (although they’ve followed our blog for years). We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and refuse to run annoying ads. As a result, our mailing list is crucial to our survival. Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.

—Jeff Ostrowski

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

“Our Father” • Musical Setting?

Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?

—Jeff Ostrowski