Father Philip Caraman SJ

Jeff Ostrowski · April 7, 2016

“Et Cum Spiritu Tuo” in the 1961 Fulton Sheen Missal

What Fr. Philip Caraman does may surprise you…

Jeff Ostrowski · August 11, 2015

Evelyn Waugh Requiem Panegyric Preached At Westminster By Fr. Caraman (21 April 1966)

“Evelyn was sad when he read of churches in which the old altar was taken down…”

Jeff Ostrowski · July 13, 2015

The Day Fulton J. Sheen Made A Mistake

“Sheen told a friend of mine that anything he’d ever said of significance was taken from either Knox or Chesterton.” —Fr. George Rutler

Jeff Ostrowski · April 15, 2014

Free PDF Download: The Fulton J. Sheen Sunday Missal (1961)

Archbishop Sheen did not produce this Missal alone: it was a joint effort by many, especially the Jesuit priests Rev. Philip Caraman and Rev. James Walsh.

PDF • “For General Use Until Advent”

If you conduct a volunteer choir, you might consider using this Simple Piece #40273 (“Adésto Sáncta Trínitas”) which can be used during the rest of the liturgical season until Advent. It's based on the well known hymn tune: OLD HUNDREDTH. Rehearsal videos are available at #40691. A live recording of #40273 (“Adésto Sáncta Trínitas”) by a volunteer choir is here (#40065).

—Jeff Ostrowski

Introit • (This Coming Sunday)

Our volunteer choir appreciates training videos, so here's my attempt at recording “Exáudi Dómine Vocem Meam,” which is the INTROIT for this coming Sunday. This coming Sunday is Dominica Post Ascensionem (“Sunday after the feast of the Ascension”). It is sung according to the official rhythm of the Catholic Church.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Volunteer Choir Attempts “Kýrie Eléison”

My volunteer choir attempted the polyphonic KYRIE that will be sung at this year's Sacred Music Symposium. If you're interested, you can listen to the live recording from last Sunday. The piece is based on the ancient plainchant hymn melody: Ave Maris Stella. Polyphony like this is truly intricate and wonderful. It reminds me of the quote by Artur Schnabel: “music that's greater than it can be performed.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Had the Church never spoken on this matter, it would still be repugnant to our Catholic people’s sense of what is fit and proper in the holiest of places, that a priest should have to struggle through the prayers of the Holy Mass, because of such tunes as “Alice, where art thou?” the “Vacant Chair,” and others of more vulgar title, which, through the carelessness or bad judgment of organists, sometimes find their way into our choirs.

— Preface to a Roman Catholic Hymnal (1896)