Views from the Choir Loft

Cynthia Ostrowski • Article Archive

Cynthia Ostrowski holds a bachelor's degree in Geographic Information Science and a minor in Computer Science from Texas A&M University Corpus Christi (2005). She is currently a stay-at-home mother of two children. A former GIS analyst, Cynthia's interests include photography, french horn, and singing polyphony.—Read full biography (with photographs).

Cynthia Ostrowski · September 15, 2020

(Installment #8) “Catholic Hymnals” • Cynthia Ostrowski

According to Bishop Sheen: “Christianity, unlike any other religion in the world, begins with catastrophe and defeat.”

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Cynthia Ostrowski · September 14, 2016

New Release • Contemporary Motets for SAB

Kevin Allen has released a collection every Roman Catholic choir will treasure!

Cynthia Ostrowski · August 15, 2016

Catholic Bulletin Art • Installment #71

If you’re confused about what’s happening, search google for “Dormition of Mary.”

Cynthia Ostrowski · May 23, 2016

Los Angeles: Less Than A Week Away!

A phenomenal event which involves our District Superior & Archbishop Gomez.

Cynthia Ostrowski · February 3, 2016

“Ad Orientem” Image You’ll Want To Download

This high resolution image portrays a priest offering Mass with the Holy Trinity above.

Cynthia Ostrowski · December 29, 2015

Popular Posts From 2015

In case you missed any of these!

Cynthia Ostrowski · October 19, 2015

Catholic Bulletin Art • Installment #70

The feast of Christ the King approaches!

Cynthia Ostrowski · September 16, 2015

Catholic Bulletin Art • Installment #69

Today’s installment is a picture of Saint Alphonsus Ligouri.

Cynthia Ostrowski · September 15, 2015

To God Who Giveth Joy To My Youth

“Old age steals on with its rich harvest and its peculiar trials, yet the same lips pronounce the same exultant words…”

Cynthia Ostrowski · August 24, 2015

Christmas Gift Idea • Unbelievable Made-By-Hand Wood Carvings!

“Creating these etchings reminds me of my mother’s deep spirituality.” —John McCarthy

Cynthia Ostrowski · March 1, 2015

Permission Needed to Replace the Propers?—(6 of 7)

The wife of a Church musician weighs in…

Cynthia Ostrowski · January 28, 2015

Catholic Bulletin Art • Installment #68

Today’s installment is a third picture of the Epiphany—different than the two we’ve previously posted.

Cynthia Ostrowski · January 19, 2015

Catholic Bulletin Art • Installment #67

Today’s installment is a third image for 8 September—totally different than the two we’ve posted in the past.

Cynthia Ostrowski · January 12, 2015

Catholic Line Art, Black and White • Installment #66

Today’s installment is a rare image of Our Lady’s Nativity.

Cynthia Ostrowski · January 5, 2015

Catholic Line Art, Black and White • Installment #65

Today’s installment is a rare image of our Lord’s Resurrection.

Cynthia Ostrowski · January 1, 2015

Catholic Line Art, Black and White • Installment #64

Today’s installment is a picture of the angel Raphael.

Cynthia Ostrowski · December 25, 2014

Catholic Line Art, Black and White • Installment #63

Today’s installment is from the first Mass of Christmas.

Cynthia Ostrowski · December 16, 2014

Catholic Line Art, Black and White • Installment #62

Today’s installment is a rare image of the Last Supper.

Cynthia Ostrowski · December 2, 2014

Catholic Line Art, Black and White • Installment #61

Today’s installment is a rare image of the “Immaculate Conception.”

Cynthia Ostrowski · November 21, 2014

Catholic Line Art, Black and White • Installment #60

Today’s installment is a rare image of the “Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary” — but it’s not the “Presentation” you might guess…

6 January 2021 • Anglicans on Plainsong

A book published by Anglicans in 1965 has this to say about Abbat Pothier’s Editio Vaticana, the musical edition reproduced by books such as the LIBER USUALIS (Solesmes Abbey): “No performing edition of the music of the Eucharistic Psalmody can afford to ignore the evidence of the current official edition of the Latin Graduale, which is no mere reproduction of a local or partial tradition, but a CENTO resulting from an extended study and comparison of a host of manuscripts gathered from many places. Thus the musical text of the Graduale possesses a measure of authority which cannot lightly be disregarded.” They are absolutely correct.

—Jeff Ostrowski

2 January 2021 • Temptation

When I see idiotic statements made on the internet, I go nuts. When I see heretics promoted by people who should know better, I get angry. Learning to ignore such items is difficult—very difficult. I try to remember the words of Fr. Valentine Young: “Do what God places in front of you each day.” When I am honest, I don’t believe God wants me to dwell on errors and idiocy; there’s nothing I can do about that. During 2021, I will strive to do a better job following the advice of Fr. Valentine.

—Jeff Ostrowski

31 December 2020 • “COMITES CHRISTI”

The feasts for Saint Stephen Proto-Martyr (26 December), Saint John the Evangelist The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved (27 December), and the Feast of the Holy Innocents (28 December) seem untouched by any liturgical reforms. These are very powerful feasts—I believe they once possessed octaves—and I believe they could sometimes “overpower” a Sunday feast. The rules for octaves in the olden days are extremely complex. These feasts are sometimes referred to as a single entity as: Comites Christi (“Companions of Christ”). This is just a guess, but there seems to be a triple significance: STEPHEN martyred after Christ lived, JOHN was a martyr who knew Christ personally, and the HOLY INNOCENTS were martyred before Christ’s birth.

—Jeff Ostrowski