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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.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

Palm Sunday Outline • Extraordinary Form

Jeff Ostrowski · March 29, 2015

10a. The singing the Antiphon “Hosanna Filio David” begins the ceremony, as the celebrant walks to a table:

Ant. HOSANNA FILIO DAVID   •   PDF Score   •   1st Video   •   2nd Video   •   Organist


12a. Then comes the blessing of the palms.

Dominus vobiscum. etc.

The celebrant sings a Collect beginning with Oremus.


14a. Celebrant sprinkles with Holy Water the palm branches—those on the table, as well as those in the hands of the people (unless branches will be distributed to them after the blessing).

“Two methods of blessing the branches are offered in the restored Ordo Hebdomadae Sanctae. First, the branches may be prepared by the faithful and brought by them to the church, where they are blessed before the procession. Or the branches may be prepared in the church, blessed, and then distributed to the faithful for the procession. In any case the branches for the clergy and servers are not distributed to them until after the blessing.”


16a. Celebrant incenses the branches on the table and those held by the people (unless branches will be distributed to them after the blessing).


18a. Having kissed the Altar, the Celebrant distributes palm branches to the servers and people (unless the people have theirs already). During the distribution, the following antiphons & psalms are sung:

Two antiphons w/ psalms: PUERI HEBRAEORUM   •   First Antiphon   •   Second Antiphon

If these chants are not long enough, they are repeated until the distribution of palm branches is finished. If, on the other hand, the distribution ends first, the “Gloria Patri” is sung at once, followed by the antiphon.

Therefore, this PDF SCORE will be useful where the people are already holding the palm branches—since the only distribution in that case will be to the Altar Servers, which takes a very short time.


20a. After a Gospel (Mt 21: 1-9) is sung or read, the procession begins, when the Deacon (or Celebrant) sings:

101 Procedamus in pace


22a. During the procession—wherein the people process holding palm branches—all or some of the following selections may be sung:

First Antiphon • Occúrrunt turbae

Second Antiphon • Cum ángelis et púeris

Third Antiphon • Turba multa quae convénerat

Fourth Antiphon • Coepérunt omnes turbae

Hymn to Christ the King • “Glória laus et honor”
Vocal Score   •   Organist Score   •   1st Video   •   2nd Video

Fifth Antiphon (Version A) with Psalm • Omnes colláudant nomen tuum

Fifth Antiphon (Version B) with Psalm • Omnes colláudant nomen tuum

Sixth Antiphon • Fulgéntibus palmis prostérnimur

Seventh Antiphon • Ave Rex noster

The faithful may also sing the hymn CHRISTUS VINCIT or any other chant in honor of Christ the King.


24a. When the procession enters the church, that is, as the celebrant goes through the door, a Responsory (Ingrediénte Dómino) is begun, which is found at the GoupilChant Website, along with the rest of the Mass chants for Palm Sunday.



HELPFUL RESOURCES for PALM SUNDAY in the EXTRAORDINARY FORM:

1   Msgr. Frederick R. McManus • RITES of HOLY WEEK (1956). Courtesy of RARTY.

2   St. Peter’s Abbey, Solesmes • REVISED PALM SUNDAY with MUSIC (1957).

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Palm Sunday Extraordinary Form Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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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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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    PDF Download • Dom Murray Harmonies
    Along with so many others, I have deep respect for Dom Gregory Gregory Murray, who produced this clever harmonization (PDF) of “O SANCTISSIMA.” It’s always amazed me that Dom Gregory—a truly inspired composer—was so confused when it came to GREGORIAN CHANT. Throughout his life, he published contradictory statements, veering back-and-forth like a weather vane. Toward the end of his life, he declared: “I see clearly that the need for reform in liturgical music arose, not in the 18th and 19th centuries, but a thousand years earlier—in the 8th and 9th centuries, or even before that. The abuses began, not with Mozart and Haydn, but with those over-enthusiastic medieval musicians who developed the elaborate and flamboyant Gregorian Chant.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 14 September (Holy Cross)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for 14 September 2025, which is the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross. If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the spectacular feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “14 September 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 14 September 2025) discusses OFFERTORY ANTIPHONS and contains a wonderful quote by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Karl Keating • “Canonization Questions”
    We were sent an internet statement (screenshot) that’s garnered significant attention, in which KARL KEATING (founder of Catholic Answers) speaks about whether canonizations are infallible. Mr. Keating seems unaware that canonizations are—in the final analysis—a theological opinion. They are not infallible, as explained in this 2014 article by a priest (with a doctorate in theology) who worked for multiple popes. Mr. Keating says: “I’m unaware of such claims arising from any quarter until several recent popes disliked by these Traditionalists were canonized, including John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II. Usually Paul VI receives the most opprobrium.” Mr. Keating is incorrect; e.g. Father John Vianney, several centuries ago, taught clearly that canonizations are not infallible. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen would be another example, although clearly much more recent than Saint John Vianney.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Vatican II Changed Wedding Propers?
    It’s often claimed that the wedding propers were changed after Vatican II. As a matter of fact, that is a false claim. The EDITIO VATICANA propers (Introit: Deus Israel) remained the same after Vatican II. However, a new set of propers (Introit: Ecce Deus) was provided for optional use. The same holds true for the feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great on 3 September: the 1943 propers (Introit: Si díligis me) were provided for optional use, but the traditional PROPRIA MISSAE (Introit: Sacerdótes Dei) were retained; they weren’t gotten rid of. The Ordo Cantus Missae (1970) makes this crystal clear, as does the Missal itself. There was an effort made in the post-conciliar years to eliminate so-called “Neo-Gregorian” chants, but (contrary to popular belief) most were retained: cf. the feast of Christ the King, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and so forth.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)
    How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

He stood firm against nepotism, rebuking his predecessor Pope Pius IV to his face when he wanted to make a 13-year-old member of his family a cardinal and subsidize a nephew from the papal treasury.

— Re: Pope Saint Pius V (d. 1572)

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