Views from the Choir Loft

Traditional Catholic Vestments

Fr. David Friel · August 23, 2015

Vesting Prayers • Part 8 of 8

The Chasuble

Fr. David Friel · August 16, 2015

Vesting Prayers • Part 7 of 8

The Stole

Fr. David Friel · August 9, 2015

Vesting Prayers • Part 6 of 8

The Maniple

Fr. David Friel · August 2, 2015

Vesting Prayers • Part 5 of 8

The Cincture

Fr. David Friel · July 26, 2015

Vesting Prayers • Part 4 of 8

The Alb

Fr. David Friel · July 19, 2015

Vesting Prayers • Part 3 of 8

The Amice

Fr. David Friel · July 5, 2015

Vesting Prayers • Part 1 of 8

Over the coming weeks, I will present a series of reflections on the vesting prayers.

Gwyneth Holston · June 23, 2014

Archbishop Sample’s Letter On Sacred Music (8 of 8)

Eagerly awaiting a Pastoral Letter on Sacred Art in Divine Worship.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · March 2, 2014

The Value of Tradition

Experience vs. Impartiality

Jeff Ostrowski · November 5, 2013

Black Vestments & Wisdom From Wives

Following the Second Vatican Council, black vestments aren’t usually worn because they’re considered too “spooky and scary.”

Jeff Ostrowski · October 16, 2013

Beautiful Vestments Vs. Ugly Vestments

Has anyone else noticed this?

6 January 2021 • Anglicans on Plainsong

A book published by Anglicans in 1965 has this to say about Abbat Pothier’s Editio Vaticana, the musical edition reproduced by books such as the LIBER USUALIS (Solesmes Abbey): “No performing edition of the music of the Eucharistic Psalmody can afford to ignore the evidence of the current official edition of the Latin Graduale, which is no mere reproduction of a local or partial tradition, but a CENTO resulting from an extended study and comparison of a host of manuscripts gathered from many places. Thus the musical text of the Graduale possesses a measure of authority which cannot lightly be disregarded.” They are absolutely correct.

—Jeff Ostrowski

2 January 2021 • Temptation

When I see idiotic statements made on the internet, I go nuts. When I see heretics promoted by people who should know better, I get angry. Learning to ignore such items is difficult—very difficult. I try to remember the words of Fr. Valentine Young: “Do what God places in front of you each day.” When I am honest, I don’t believe God wants me to dwell on errors and idiocy; there’s nothing I can do about that. During 2021, I will strive to do a better job following the advice of Fr. Valentine.

—Jeff Ostrowski

31 December 2020 • “COMITES CHRISTI”

The feasts for Saint Stephen Proto-Martyr (26 December), Saint John the Evangelist The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved (27 December), and the Feast of the Holy Innocents (28 December) seem untouched by any liturgical reforms. These are very powerful feasts—I believe they once possessed octaves—and I believe they could sometimes “overpower” a Sunday feast. The rules for octaves in the olden days are extremely complex. These feasts are sometimes referred to as a single entity as: Comites Christi (“Companions of Christ”). This is just a guess, but there seems to be a triple significance: STEPHEN martyred after Christ lived, JOHN was a martyr who knew Christ personally, and the HOLY INNOCENTS were martyred before Christ’s birth.

—Jeff Ostrowski