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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

Ad Orientem

Corrinne May · September 9, 2024

“A Coming Together of My Two Choral Worlds…”

Readers might get some ‘programming ideas’ from the list of pieces we sang.

Corpus Christi Watershed · July 24, 2023

(Clip) • Fr. Mike Schmitz endorses “Ad Orientem”

Is celebration “versus populum” a good idea? Father Mike’s answer might raise some eyebrows…

Jeff Ostrowski · February 18, 2023

Cardinal Roche on discouraging or limiting “ad orientem” celebration: “It is an absurdity”

Ponder this statement by the prefect for the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (a.k.a. “CDW”).

Jeff Ostrowski · January 23, 2023

Folk Mass Clip • Priest Facing “Ad Orientem”

Then he got really angry (because it dawned on him what he’d just admitted).

Jeff Ostrowski · February 13, 2022

“Alleluia” • Gone For Good?

Two days ago, Bishop Ronald Fabbro of London (Ontario) released a rigid decree. Much could be said, but let’s take just one item. Bishop Fabbro demands that everyone adhere to “the celebration of Mass as found in the new Roman Missal (2011).” Then, in the very next sentence, he rigidly demands that all priests celebrate […]

Daniel Tucker · February 13, 2021

“Ad Orientem” Explained

This year, the priest at my parish will be offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass ad orientem on Fridays during Lent. I wrote the following “explainer” to help my parishioners understand what’s going on and why.

Andrea Leal · September 12, 2020

PDF Download • “Order of the Mass without a Congregation” (1970)

I find it interesting that the “Order of the Mass without a congregation” also tells the priest when he should face the Altar and when he not should face the Altar.

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Jeff Ostrowski · April 16, 2020

Yikes! • More Plagiarism from Boise’s Bishop

I did some digging—and the results aren’t pretty. I hope Bishop Christensen will immediately retract his directive, which contains false statements.

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Veronica Moreno · April 8, 2020

One more regrettable mistake by the Bishop of Boise, Idaho

See for yourself. On the left is the letter from 2020; on the right is a blog from 2016.

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Jeff Ostrowski · April 7, 2020

Banning “Ad Orientem” • Six Regrettable Mistakes by the Bishop of Boise, Idaho

Nobody’s perfect; we all make mistakes. His Excellency’s letter must be retracted as soon as possible.

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Fr. David Friel · April 8, 2018

The Turns at Benediction

To the Right or to the Left?

Jeff Ostrowski · January 14, 2017

Ratzinger talks “Ad Orientem” (2003)

Cardinal Ratzinger’s English is *fantastic* (as this video shows).

Jeff Ostrowski · January 2, 2017

“Table Altar” vs. “High Altar” (Novus Ordo)

It’s incorrect to say new Churches must be constructed with table altars.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 6, 2016

“Ad Orientem” • Archbishop Naumann’s Letter

“…there are, in the core of the Church’s sacramental teaching and experience, good contentions and corollary arguments to be made for both practices.” —Archbishop Naumann

Jeff Ostrowski · December 5, 2016

Bishop of Manchester • Letter Re: “Ad Orientem”

A $12,000 reward will be given to anyone who can produce a Vatican II document mentioning “celebration facing the people.”

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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

Religious worship supplies all our spiritual need, and suits every mood of mind and variety of circumstance.

— John Henry Cardinal Newman

Recent Posts

  • From Sentiment to Sacrament: Reclaiming Sacred Music for the Wedding Mass
  • 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)

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