Views from the Choir Loft

Traditional Catholic Vestments

Fr. David Friel · March 29, 2021

Vesting Prayers • Part 9 of 9

The Dalmatic

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Fr. David Friel · August 23, 2015

Vesting Prayers • Part 8 of 9

The Chasuble

Fr. David Friel · August 16, 2015

Vesting Prayers • Part 7 of 9

The Stole

Fr. David Friel · August 9, 2015

Vesting Prayers • Part 6 of 9

The Maniple

Fr. David Friel · August 2, 2015

Vesting Prayers • Part 5 of 9

The Cincture

Fr. David Friel · July 26, 2015

Vesting Prayers • Part 4 of 9

The Alb

Fr. David Friel · July 19, 2015

Vesting Prayers • Part 3 of 9

The Amice

Fr. David Friel · July 12, 2015

Vesting Prayers • Part 2 of 9

The Hand Washing

Fr. David Friel · July 5, 2015

Vesting Prayers • Part 1 of 9

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.

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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?

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Music Director Job • $80,000 per year

Our readers will be interested in this job offering for Music Director at Saint Adalbert’s Basilica, located 40 minutes from where I live. My pastor was recently elevated to this basilica. He is offering $80,000 per year, plus benefits. I’m told Saint Adalbert’s Basilica is utterly gorgeous and contains one of America’s most magnificent pipe organs. It would be fantastic to have a colleague nearby!

—Jeff Ostrowski

Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published

Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.

—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