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 · April 8, 2018

The Turns at Benediction

To the Right or to the Left?

Fr. David Friel · April 3, 2018

Ratzinger’s 1987 Letter to a Former Catechism Student

The Pope Emeritus presents church music as something central to life.

Fr. David Friel · April 1, 2018

Summer Chant Courses—Dunwoodie

Two course offerings from the St. Cecilia Academy for Pastoral Musicians

Fr. David Friel · March 25, 2018

Liturgy outside Liturgy

A New Study of the Liturgical Theology of Alexander Schmemann

Fr. David Friel · March 18, 2018

The Preface of the Holy Cross

An eloquent liturgical text worthy of prayerful reflection

Fr. David Friel · March 11, 2018

A Literal Translation of the New Testament

David Bentley Hart’s experiment in recovering the conceptual vocabulary of a distant

Fr. David Friel · March 4, 2018

New Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church

Invoking Mater Ecclesiae in a new annual feast

Fr. David Friel · February 18, 2018

St. Thomas More on the Reception of Holy Communion

“Let us not lose this time…for we can hardly tell whether we will ever get in to church again or not.” —St. Thomas More

Fr. David Friel · February 10, 2018

1940’s Prayer for Priests

“Fit me, I pray Thee, for this task…”

Fr. David Friel · February 3, 2018

“Transfigured” Young Adult Liturgy Conference

A summer conference at The Liturgical Institute in Mundelein, IL

Fr. David Friel · January 31, 2018

Sacra Liturgia 2019 in Toronto

Dates for the next Sacra Liturgia conference have just been announced.

Fr. David Friel · January 28, 2018

The Hillbilly Thomists

A New Dominican CD

Fr. David Friel · January 21, 2018

Dedication of the Cathedral Basilica of Mary, Queen of the World

Three new choral works featured during this celebration on 13 October 2017.

Fr. David Friel · January 14, 2018

Should Liturgy Be Practical?

A Thought from G.K. Chesterton

Fr. David Friel · January 7, 2018

Mutuality vs. Male Headship within Marriage

Liturgical Evidence from Marriage Rituals throughout History

“In Paradisum” • Gregorian Chant

As a RECESSIONAL on All Souls’ Day (November 2nd), we will sing In Paradísum Dedúcant Te Ángeli (PDF). When it comes to Gregorian Chant, this is one of the most popular “songs.” Frankly, all the prayers and chants from the traditional REQUIEM MASS (Missa exsequialis or Missa pro defunctis) are incredibly powerful and never should’ve been scuttled. Click here to hear “In Paradisum” in a recording I made this afternoon.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Music List” • All Souls (2 November)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 2 November 2025, which is the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (“All Souls”). 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 top-notch feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin. In my humble opinion, it’s weird to have the feast of All Saints on a Sunday. No wonder the close associate of Pope Saint Paul VI said the revised KALENDAR was “the handiwork of a trio of maniacs.” However, I can’t deny that sometimes the sacred liturgy consists of elements that are seemingly contradictory: e.g. the Mode 7 “De Profúndis” ALLELUIA, or the Mode 8 “Dulce lignum” ALLELUIA on the various ancient feasts of the Holy Cross (3 May, 14 September, and so on).

—Jeff Ostrowski

2-Voice Arr. • “Creator of the Starry Height”

Do you direct a choir consisting of women or children only? (Some call this a “treble” choir.) Download a two-voice arrangement of Creator of the Starry Height set to the tune of IOANNES by clicking here and then scrolling to the bottom. In our times, this hymn is normally used during ADVENT, and the Latin title is: Cónditor alme síderum. It’s important to say “cónditor”—placing the accent on the antepenult—because ‘condítor’ in Latin means “one who embalms the dead.”

—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

New Bulletin Article • “12 October 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 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.

—Jeff Ostrowski