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Views from the Choir Loft

Versus Populum Altars

Jeff Ostrowski · August 6, 2026

1,187 Pages • “Dripping With Color, Craft, and Splendor” (Missale Romanum, 1933)

That such a richly-illustrated missal could have been created—much less mass produced—in the 1930s is beyond belief.

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Corpus Christi Watershed · July 24, 2023

(Clip) • Fr. Mike Schmitz endorses “Ad Orientem”

Is celebration “versus populum” a good idea? Father Mike’s answer might raise some eyebrows…

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Fr. David Friel · April 8, 2018

The Turns at Benediction

To the Right or to the Left?

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Jeff Ostrowski · July 17, 2016

Showdown in Arkansas over “Ad Orientem”

The Bishop of Little Rock has sent a letter (14 July 2016) forbidding his priests to celebrate Mass “ad orientem.”

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Jeff Ostrowski · March 2, 2015

A Flawed Translation Of Ritus Servandus?

Why are the words “ad orientem” never translated?

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 26, 2015

Screenshots Proving “Versus Populum” Was Allowed By The 1572 Missal

A reader from Indonesia kindly sent us these…

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Jeff Ostrowski · December 1, 2014

The Current Missal Specifies When To Face the Altar & When To Face The People

The phrase “ad populum conversus” does appear in the postconciliar books, and no amount of polemical articles can change this fact.

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Jeff Ostrowski · June 9, 2014

Is There Truly “Versus Populum” Celebration? Vatican Says No.

Can AD ORIENTEM be excluded from the Novus Ordo? Vatican says: “Negatively, and in accordance with the following explanation.”

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Jeff Ostrowski · March 27, 2014

“Turn Those Altars Around!” — Cardinal Lercaro, Consilium President (1965)

Could this be the missing link explaining why “versus populum” celebrations took over?

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Twenty-Two (22) English Translations
    We gathered every English translation of “Creátor Alme Síderum” ever made by Catholic poets, priests, bishops, cardinals, and saints (22 in all). Click this link to see them displayed, placed directly alongside the original Latin. Some are strikingly beautiful (e.g. “Great Maker of the glitt’ring stars”) and together they trace the hymn back to the ancient “Cónditor Alme Síderum,” which POPE URBAN VIII reworked in 1632AD.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Stained Glass Window • Father Brébeuf
    Saint John de Brébeuf was one of the North American Martyrs. The photograph of a gorgeous stained glass window depicting Father Brébeuf was sent to us by Courtney Roberson. Father Brébeuf and his companions were canonized by Pope Pius XI on 29 June 1930. We are told this window is found in the Cathedral of Peoria, Illinois.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Sacred Music “Pro Tip”
    Our website welcomes millions of visitors, yet surprisingly few find their way to the actual blog page itself. If you are among them, bookmark it today. Numerous articles and resources await you—but these treasures belong to those who explore each article, not merely its title. The headline is only the doorway; the substance lies within.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    PDF • “Singers’ Booklet” (26 Pages)

    This is a ‘messy’ booklet in terms of its formatting, but it’s only ever seen by the singers—not members of the congregation.

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    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Preface of Saint Joseph (added by the pope)

    You can see the “Præfatio de Sancto Joseph” inserted directly into the priest’s missal.

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    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Predictable Rhymes?” • A Follow Up
    We received considerable correspondence regarding my article, Two Ways to Defile a Hymn. More specifically, what really raised certain people’s hackles was its follow-up article dealing with the keyboard accompaniment for the CHRIST THE KING HYMNAL. But to quote Eliza Doolittle: “Have I said anything I oughtn’t?” Please examine this PDF file and see whether you agree. Were the editors of the BRÉBEUF HYMNAL incorrect to insist upon sophisticated and clever rhymes, rather than mind-numbingly predictable rhymes?
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

From 1827 until the last month of his life, Liszt gave lessons in composition and piano playing. He wrote in 1829 that his schedule was “so full of lessons that each day, from half-past eight in the morning till 10 at night, I have scarcely breathing time”

— Re: Abbé Franz Liszt

Recent Posts

  • Twenty-Two (22) English Translations
  • “Creátor Alme Síderum” • Twenty-Two (22) English Translations by Catholic Priests and Archbishops!
  • “Gregorian Chant Rhythm” • Recorded Conversation with Dr. Horst Buchholz Re: Rhythmic Markings
  • Stained Glass Window • Father Brébeuf
  • PDF • “Singers’ Booklet” (26 Pages)

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