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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

Jeff Ostrowski • Article Archive

A theorist, organist, and conductor, Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He completed studies in Education and Musicology at the graduate level. Having worked as a church musician in Los Angeles for ten years, in 2024 he accepted a position as choirmaster for Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Michigan, where he resides with his wife and children. —Read full biography (with photographs).

Jeff Ostrowski · September 8, 2021

A Truly Insane Liturgical Practice

In 2013, I began speaking of an insane liturgical practice which was allowed by Pope Pius XII—but nobody realizes this. If you tried to do this at the Traditional Latin Mass, you would most likely be run out of town on a rail. However, for the record, the FULTON SHEEN MISSAL (edited by Father Caraman) […]

Jeff Ostrowski · September 7, 2021

“Hand-Communion?” • Provocative Quotes

“Accepting Vatican II” seems to mean deliberately contradicting the actual documents of Vatican II.

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Jeff Ostrowski · September 6, 2021

[re-post] • “Famous Italian Actor Regrets Aborting Son”

“It was the mistake of my life. When I was very young, I had the chance to become a father, but I had my son aborted. Now, I’ve become very strongly against abortion.” —Andrea Roncato

Jeff Ostrowski · September 1, 2021

PDF Download • Bishop Donohoe: “I wish you to definitely confront the priest…”

A bizarre 1976 letter seeks “priest hunters” in the diocese of Fresno.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 31, 2021

31 August 2021 • Unexpected Facts

Yves Chiron claims that Annibale Bugnini was a professor at PIMS (the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music in Rome) for ten years, but in 1965 he was forced to resign. If true, this is very odd. Another odd fact: It turns out that Leopold Stokowski, the famous conductor who helped Josef Hofmann found the Curtis […]

Jeff Ostrowski · August 28, 2021

“Jaw-Dropping Video” • Never expected to see this!

Someone has located rare video footage from the 1950s and 1960s.

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Jeff Ostrowski · August 27, 2021

Breaking! • Cardinal Cupich Bans “Hail, Mary” Prayer

We are not aware of any Church legislation which prohibits saying the “Hail, Mary” after Mass, but Cardinal Cupich seems not to care.

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Jeff Ostrowski · August 27, 2021

27 August 2021 • “DO” a deer?

Giovanni Battista Doni (d. 1647AD) is known for having changed the name of the UT Note—renaming it “Do.” He convinced his contemporaries to make the change by arguing that: (1) “Do” is easier to pronounce than “Ut” is; and (2) “Do” is an abbreviation for “Dominus,” the Latin word for the Lord, Who is the […]

Jeff Ostrowski · August 27, 2021

PDF Download • “Pater Noster” by Van Nuffel (1937)

Throughout my career, I have tried to follow the advice Cardinal Mercier gave the young Fulton J. Sheen.

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Jeff Ostrowski · August 25, 2021

Lace for an Altar Boy’s Surplice? — Yes? No?

This was viewed 9,000+ times on our Facebook page…

Jeff Ostrowski · August 24, 2021

Church Musicians: The Revolution Starts Today!

Do what’s right, say your prayers, offer each day to Jesus Christ, and hold your head high!

Jeff Ostrowski · August 21, 2021

21 August 2021 • “Roman Numerals”

Take a look at the Introit for tomorrow, the 13th Sunday after Pentecost. When we were in school, we would have gotten in trouble if we wrote “xiiii” as Roman Numerals instead of “xiv”—but you can see this was actually quite common.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 21, 2021

“Homily: 13th Sunday after Pentecost” (EF) • Father Valentine Young, OFM

Some people—when they pray the Our Father—believe the words “Thy will be done” actually mean “My will be done…”

Jeff Ostrowski · August 20, 2021

+ Archbishop from Australia

Most Rev’d Dins J. Hart—Archbishop of Melbourne from 2001 to 2018—wrote as follows in 2007: “From my youth I have valued and loved the traditional Mass of the Roman Rite. Since 1970, I have grown to love the Missal of Paul VI. I am delighted that the Missal of Blessed John XXIII has been restored […]

Jeff Ostrowski · August 17, 2021

A Teaching Moment • Including “Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above”

Why on earth does the cost of butter matter?

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Pipe Organ “Answers” in Plainsong?
    In 2003, I copied a book by Félix Bélédin (d. 1895), who was titular organist—from 1841 to 1874—at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Lyon (France). In 2008, we scanned and uploaded the book to the Lalande Online Library. Nobody knows for sure when the book was published; some believe it first appeared in the 1840s. In any event, one who examines this excerpt, showing GLORIA IX might wonder why it says the organ answers in plainsong. However, the front of the book explains, telling the organist explicitly when to “respond in plainchant.” This is something called organ alternatim. Believe it or not, the pipe organ would take turns with the choir, playing certain texts instrumentally instead of having them sung. I’m not very well-versed in this—pardon the pun—but if memory serves, ORGAN ALTERNATIM was frowned upon by the time of Pope Saint Pius X. Nevertheless, French organists kept doing it, even after it was explicitly condemned as an abuse.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music List • (5th Sunday of Lent)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for this coming Sunday, which is the 5th Sunday of Lent (22 March 2026). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. Traditionally, this Sunday was called ‘Passion’ Sunday. Starting in 1956, certain church leaders attempted rename both ‘Passion’ Sunday and ‘Palm’ Sunday—but it didn’t work. For example, Monsignor Frederick McManus tried to get people to call PALM SUNDAY “Second Passion Sunday”—but the faithful rejected that. I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music List • (Holy Thursday, 2026)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for Holy Thursday, which is 2 April 2026. If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a more piercingly beautiful INTROIT, and I have come to absolutely love the SATB version of ‘Ubi cáritas’ we are singing (joined by our burgeoning children’s choir). I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 24 March 2026
    How well do you know your Gregorian hymns? Do you recognize the tune inserted into the bass line on this score? For many years, we sang the entire Mass in Gregorian chant—and I mean everything. As a result, it would be difficult to find a Gregorian hymn I don’t recognize instantly. Only decades later did I realize (with sadness) that this skill cannot be ‘monetized’… This particular melody is used for a very famous Gregorian hymn, printed in the LIBER USUALIS. Do you recognize it? Send me an email with the correct words, and I promise to tell everybody I meet about your prowess!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)
    I remember singing “Ubi Cáritas” by Maurice Duruflé at the conservatory. I was deeply moved by it. However, some feel Duruflé’s version isn’t suitable for small choirs since it’s written for 6 voices and the bass tessitura is quite low. That’s why I was absolutely thrilled to discover this “Ubi cáritas” (SATB) for smaller choirs by Énemond Moreau, who studied with OSCAR DEPUYDT (d. 1925), an orphan who became a towering figure of Catholic music. Depuydt’s students include: Flor Peeters (d. 1986); Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel (d. 1953); Arthur Meulemans (d. 1966); Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989); and Gustaaf Nees (d. 1965). Rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #19705. When I came across the astonishing English translation for “Ubi Cáritas” by Monsignor Ronald Knox—matching the Latin’s meter—I decided to add those lyrics as an option (for churches which have banned Latin). My wife and I made this recording to give you some idea how it sounds.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Holy, Holy, Holy”
    For vigil Masses on Saturday (a.k.a. “anticipated” Masses) we use this simpler setting of the “Holy, Holy, Holy” by Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989), a Belgian priest, organist, composer, and music educator who ultimately succeeded another ‘Jules’ (CANON JULES VAN NUFFEL) as director of the Lemmensinstituut in Belgium. Although I could be wrong, my understanding is that the LEMMENSINSTITUUT eventually merged with “Catholic University of Leuven” (originally founded in 1425). That’s the university Fulton J. Sheen attended.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Dom Pothier does not belong to the dim past, as the silence which surrounds his name would lead one to believe. Only a few years separate us from the time when—growing old and heavily burdened by trials—Dom Pothier was concentrating his ever keen attention on the study of manuscripts in the Belgian place of retreat where his community had found refuge. For he was the abbot; and there can be no doubt that the cross he wore during those days was a cross of sorrow, though he bore it with a smile.”

— Dom Ermin Vitry, OSB (31-OCT-1936)

Recent Posts

  • Pipe Organ “Answers” in Plainsong?
  • “Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 24 March 2026
  • “Versions of the Psalter” • Jeff Interviews Top Biblical Scholar: Dr. Mark Giszczak
  • PDF Download • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)
  • Summer 2026 • “Gregorian Chant Course” at Aquinas College (Nashville, TN)

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