Views from the Choir Loft

Archbishop Blase J Cupich

Jeff Ostrowski · July 13, 2023

PDF Download • 3-Voice “Agnus Dei” + Suggestions to Improve Music at Ordinary Form Masses

Should music at the Ordinary Form be identical to music at the Extraordinary Form?

Jeff Ostrowski · November 10, 2022

Blase Cardinal Cupich Responds Directly to Me!

I will not insult your intelligence by telling you what I suspect happened.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 26, 2022

Open Letter to Bishop Roche • “12 Considerations”

I write in response to the 6 July 2022 statement by Pope Francis: “Make your voices heard! If they do not listen to you, shout even louder.”

Jeff Ostrowski · February 24, 2022

Cardinal Cupich’s Diocese • “What Mass Looks Like”

The “primary cross” for most young men has to do with temptations against the 6th Commandment.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 31, 2021

Latin Mass • Conspicuous Snag in “Clarification”

Archbishop Roche says the ‘true’ parishioners are supposed to make it clear the EF people are lowest on the totem pole.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 11, 2021

Cardinal Cupich Responds To Our Article!

Cardinal Antonelli: “I have the impression that much has been conceded to the Protestant mentality, especially in matters regarding the sacraments.”

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Jeff Ostrowski · November 2, 2021

Cardinal Cupich Publicly Demands Greater Use Of Latin & Gregorian Chant At Chicago Masses

No sane person would claim that tunes by Marty Haugen, David Haas, or Rory Cooney constitute polyphony.

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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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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