Views from the Choir Loft

Father Friel • Article Archive

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel served as Parochial Vicar at Saint Anselm Church in Northeast Philly before earning a doctorate in liturgical theology at The Catholic University of America. He presently serves as Vocation Director for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.—(Read full biography).

Fr. David Friel · March 24, 2019

New Musical Settings for the Blessing of the Holy Oils

The USCCB has provided freely downloadable versions of the musical settings of these newly translated texts.

Fr. David Friel · March 17, 2019

The Lorica of St. Patrick

A fifth-century hymn preserved in an eleventh-century manuscript

Fr. David Friel · March 10, 2019

Square Notes: The Sacred Music Podcast

Dedicated to exploring the teaching and vision of the Church on the topic of liturgical music

Fr. David Friel · March 3, 2019

Leo XIII to St. Katharine Drexel: “What about you?”

Today marks the feast of Mother Katharine Drexel, whom the Holy Father challenged to become a missionary.

Fr. David Friel · February 23, 2019

New Resource! • Chant Videos for Treble Voices

A new website seeks to record the full Gregorian propers each week using a treble voice.

Fr. David Friel · February 17, 2019

Sacred Architecture and Brexit

A connecting link in the form of Gothic cathedrals

Fr. David Friel · February 2, 2019

Fourth-Century Advice for Choir Directors

A passage from Nicetas of Remesiana remains eminently applicable today.

Fr. David Friel · January 27, 2019

Formed in Beauty Lectures

Videos have been posted from the 2017 & 2018 conferences of the Catholic Art Guild

Fr. David Friel · January 20, 2019

Music Leads Us to Heaven

Franz Schubert’s famous art song, “An die Musik”

Fr. David Friel · January 13, 2019

Two February Workshops

A Symposium in Chicago and the Winter Pastoral Chant Conference in Indiana

Fr. David Friel · December 23, 2018

New Chair of Sacred Music at US Seminary

Dr. Nathan Knutson will inaugurate this new position.

Fr. David Friel · December 1, 2018

How Does Benedict XVI Perceive His Retirement?

Clues from a Wednesday General Audience

Fr. David Friel · November 18, 2018

Portland Publishes an “Archdiocesan Liturgical Handbook”

New publication from Archbishop Sample’s Office of Divine Worship

Fr. David Friel · November 4, 2018

Fulton Sheen on the Priesthood of the Baptized

A Lesson from a Retreat for the Priests of Gary, IN

Fr. David Friel · October 28, 2018

Proclaiming Christ’s Kingship

Acknowledging the Lord’s Dominion on Earth and in Heaven

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