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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

PDF Download • “O Esca Viatorum”

Jeff Ostrowski · August 18, 2017

VEN AFTER ALL these years, some readers still don’t know how to download the individual rehearsal videos and PDF files. Click on the blue link called #4687.

Pardon my squeaky high notes, but I wanted to demonstrate how it sounds—so I recorded all the voice parts:

REHEARSAL VIDEOS for each individual voice await you at #4687.
The full PDF score can be downloaded there.


The complete score (English and Latin) is also there. I am deeply saddened that some people still don’t know where these items are located.



IT IS QUITE A POPULAR Eucharistic hymn. Indeed, it’s hard to find a single Catholic hymnal not containing it. A few examples, from the Brébeuf hymn website:

Cantate Omnes (1952)
Cantiones Sacrae (1878)
Laudate Hymnal (1942)
New Westminster Hymnal (1939)
De La Salle Hymnal (1913)
St. Rose Hymnal (1938) … combines it with “Tantum Ergo”
New Saint Basil Hymnal (1958)
Pius X Hymnal (1953)
St. Gregory Hymnal (1920)

Here’s how the melody appears in the 1912 hymn book created by Sir Richard Terry:

4632 Sir Richard Terry HYMNAL


British editors tend not to place the words under the notes. As someone who works with amateur choirs, I feel there are some disadvantages to this approach, along with certain undeniable positive aspects.

Here’s a translation by Msgr. Hugh Thomas Henry (d. 1946), who taught Gregorian chant at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Overbrook, Pennsylvania:

1. O Food to pilgrims given,
Bread of the hosts of heaven,
Thou Manna of the sky!
Feed with the blessed sweetness
Of Thy divine completeness
The hearts that for Thee sigh.

2. O Fountain ruby-glowing,
O Stream of love outflowing
From Jesus’ piercèd side!
This thought alone shall bless us,
This one desire possess us,
To drink of Thy sweet tide.

3. We love Thee, Jesus tender,
Who hid’st Thine awful splendor
Beneath these veils of grace:
Oh, let the veils be riven,
And our clear eye in heaven
Behold Thee face to face!

TAGS:

“Amazing Eucharistic Hymn”

“O Esca Viatorum”

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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President’s Corner

    Liturgical Round (“Canon”) in C-Major
    Those who direct children’s choirs are always on the lookout for repertoire that’s dignified, inspired, and pleasing—yet still within reach of young choristers. Such directors will want to investigate this haunting liturgical round (PDF download) which has been married to the KYRIE from Mass VI (EDITIO VATICANA). I have provided an accompaniment, but it’s only for use during rehearsal; i.e. when teaching this round to your choristers. I also provided an organ accompaniment for the KYRIE—which some know by its trope (Kyrie Rex Genitor)—so that your congregation can take part when this round is used as a choral extension during Mass.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Latin Liturgy Association
    We note with pleasure that Mrs. Regina Morris, president of the Latin Liturgy Association, has featured—on page 4 of Volume CXXIX of their official newsletter—the three (3) terrific versions of the Stations of the Cross found in the Brébeuf Hymnal. One of the main authors for the blog of the Church Music Association of America said (6/10/2019) about this pew book: “It is such a fantastic hymnal that it deserves to be in the pews of every Catholic church.”
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Music List” • 28th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 12 October 2025, which is the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). 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 dazzling feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    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
    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“The plea that the laity as a body do not want liturgical change, whether in rite or in language, is, I submit, quite beside the point. … (it is) not a question of what people want; it is a question of what is good for them.”

— Dom Gregory A. Murray (14 March 1964)

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