Views from the Choir Loft

Articles

Fr. David Friel · January 9, 2012

The Hallowed Name

To Use or Not to Use?

Fr. David Friel · January 2, 2012

Mother Mary

A Resolution

Fr. David Friel · December 27, 2011

Favorite Scripture Passage?

An Unlikely Suggestion

Fr. David Friel · December 24, 2011

Knowledge of God

Sheer Grace

Fr. David Friel · December 18, 2011

Sin & Error Pining

‘Til He Appeared

Jeff Ostrowski · December 12, 2011

Learn A New Word, See It Within 24 Hours

Happens every time . . .

Fr. David Friel · December 9, 2011

Holy and Without Blemish

Is the Immaculate Conception Relevant?

Fr. David Friel · December 5, 2011

Advent Exercise

Run to Christ

Fr. David Friel · November 29, 2011

The Lectionary for Mass

Where Do the Readings Come From?

Fr. David Friel · November 24, 2011

Follow the Leper

The Way of Gratitude

Fr. David Friel · November 19, 2011

Church Dedication

An Invitation

Corpus Christi Watershed · November 15, 2011

Achille P. Bragers Kyriale (HIGH VOICE)

The famous “Bragers Kyriale” contains organ accompaniments for all the Gregorian Ordinaries of the Mass.

Fr. David Friel · November 9, 2011

Beautiful Churches?

Completely Gratuitous

Fr. David Friel · November 1, 2011

Marching in A Great Multitude

Our Destiny

Fr. David Friel · October 26, 2011

Fear & Trembling

The Anxiety of Abraham

Dr. Mahrt explains the ‘Spoken’ Propers

In 1970, the Church promulgated a new version of the Roman Missal. It goes by various names: Ordinary Form, Novus Ordo, MISSALE RECENS, and so on. If you examine the very first page, you’ll notice that Pope Saint Paul VI explains the meaning of the ‘Spoken Propers’ (which are for Masses without singing). A quote by Dr. William P. Mahrt is also included in that file. The SPOKEN PROPERS—used at Masses without music—are sometimes called The Adalbert Propers, because they were created in 1969 by Father Adalbert Franquesa Garrós, one of Hannibal Bugnini’s closest friends (according to Yves Chiron).

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “Music List” (1st Sunday of Advent)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 30 November 2025, which is the 1st Sunday of Advent (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The ENTRANCE CHANT is quite memorable, 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

“Music List” • Christ the King Sunday

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 23 November 2025, which is the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. In the 1970 Missal, this Sunday is known as: Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Universorum Regis (“Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe”). As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the magnificent feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Translations Approved for Liturgical Use”

According to the newsletter for USSCB’s Committee on Divine Worship dated September 1996, there are three (3) translations of the Bible which can be used in the sacred liturgy in the United States. You can read this information with your own eyes. It seems the USCCB and also Rome fully approved the so-called NRSV (“New Revised Standard Version”) on 13 November 1991 and 6 April 1992 but this permission was then withdrawn in 1994.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

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