Views from the Choir Loft

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger Liturgy

Jeff Ostrowski · July 18, 2021

Restricting the Extraordinary Form? • Cardinal Ratzinger’s Video Interview

“We are today not another Church as 500 years ago; it’s always the same Church.” —Cardinal Ratzinger on EWTN

Corpus Christi Watershed · July 1, 2020

Monsignor Georg Ratzinger Has Died

He died on the Feast of the Most Precious Blood (at least according to the EF calendar) at age 96.

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Fr. David Friel · April 3, 2018

Ratzinger’s 1987 Letter to a Former Catechism Student

The Pope Emeritus presents church music as something central to life.

Fr. David Friel · January 17, 2016

Sacra Liturgia UK — Registration Now Open

An International Conference on Liturgical Formation in Light of the New Evangelization

Fr. David Friel · January 10, 2016

Whose Responsibility Is It To Establish New EF Communities?

We must respect the vision of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

Fr. David Friel · June 1, 2015

Sacra Liturgia 2015 — Update I

Cardinal Sarah reveals the instructions he received from Pope Francis upon his appointment as Prefect of the CDW.

Fr. David Friel · April 12, 2015

Sacra Liturgia USA 2015

An International Conference on Liturgical Formation in Light of the New Evangelization

Fr. David Friel · March 22, 2015

Adoremus & the Way Forward

Continuing the Work of Helen Hull Hitchcock

Fr. David Friel · January 18, 2015

Praise of God Demands Song

Impromptu Address of His Holiness Benedict XVI to the Members of the Pontifical “Sistine” Choir

Jeff Ostrowski · January 7, 2015

Rare Photograph: Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen With Father Joseph Ratzinger in 1965

Archbishop Sheen said nary a word about any liturgical reforms following the Council.

Aurelio Porfiri · August 4, 2014

Modernity Impact

For me tradition is not going to the past, but going to the origins.

“Music List” • 19th in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (10 August 2025). 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 feasts website.

—Jeff Ostrowski

This Sunday’s Communion Antiphon

This coming Sunday—10 August 2025—is the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). The COMMUNION ANTIPHON is really gorgeous, and two of its features are worth mentioning. First of all, the Gospel reading assigned is from Saint Luke, whereas the the antiphon—although it matches the account—comes from Saint Matthew. (If anyone can point to a similar example, please notify me.) Furthermore, if you look at the authentic Gregorian Chant version posted on the feasts website, you’ll notice that it’s MODE III but ends on the ‘wrong’ note. A comparable instance of such a ‘transposed’ chant would be KYRIE IV.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Using “Ye” Vs. “You” Correctly

Using “Ye” vs. “You” is rather tricky, because it depends upon which era one is trying to recreate—if that makes any sense. In other words, the rules haven’t always been the same for these two. Nevertheless, Father Philip George Caraman (the legendary Jesuit scholar) gives us a masterclass using Saint Luke’s Gospel. Father Caraman was close friends with Monsignor Ronald Knox, Evelyn Waugh, and Sir Alec Guinness.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Pius XII Hymnal?

Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Hybrid” Chant Notation?

Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Antiphons Don’t Match?

A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).

—Corpus Christi Watershed