THE GLOBE
PO BOX 5079 (51102)
1825 JACKSON ST.
SIOUX CITY, IA (51105)
712.255.2550
800.352.9035
WWW.CATHOLICGLOBE.ORG

Questions concerning music for liturgy

By Adam Schwend
Liturgy & Ritual

Q.   One of the biggest points of contention in our parish is music.  Some want Christian rock music, some want Gregorian Chant.  What is appropriate for Mass?

A.   Nothing can cause more fights among well-meaning people than music at Mass.  Old and new favorites alike find their way into Mass and become part of a parish repertoire.  With all sentiment set aside, let’s take a look at what the Documents since the Second Vatican Council say about music:
The Church acknowledges Gregorian chant as specially suited to the Roman liturgy: therefore, other things being equal, it should be given pride of place in liturgical services.  But other kinds of sacred music, especially polyphony, are by no means excluded from liturgical celebrations, so long as they accord with the spirit of the liturgical action. – Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium), paragraph 116.
Liturgical songs must never be permitted to make statements about faith which are untrue.  Only within this scriptural, liturgical, and creedal context is the composer who is aware of the Church’s long journey through human history and “who is profoundly steeped in the sensus Ecclesiae” properly equipped “to perceive and express in melody the truth of the Mystery that is celebrated in the Liturgy.”  No matter what the genre of music, liturgical beauty emanates directly from that mystery and is passed through the talents of composers to emerge in music of the assembled People of God. – Sing to the Lord:  Music in Divine Worship, paragraph 83.

So what is being said in these two paragraphs?  First, Gregorian Chant has a special place in our liturgies and should be held in a place of pride.   This isn’t an attempt to bring us back to pre-Vatican II liturgical practices.  Every document on liturgical music since the Second Vatican Council has stated that Gregorian Chant is the pre-eminent genre of music for Mass.  The next paragraph shows us that, while Gregorian Chant is the most perfect genre of music for the Liturgy, it can exist side-by-side with contemporary compositions.  In fact, they can exist in the same piece.  Two great examples are “Christ, Circle Round Us”, an Advent Hymn by Dan Schutte and published by OCP.  This hymn is a contemporary song set to the tune of the Marian Antiphon Salve Regina, one of the most popular Gregorian Chants ever.  Another lovely piece is “Ave Maria” by Daniel Kantor and published by GIA.  It intertwines a modern melody with the traditional Gregorian Chant Ave Maria.  These are excellent examples of intertwining modern music with our rich heritage of Gregorian Chant.  When it comes to musical styles, it can be tricky.  A rule of thumb I used was to play the song without words.  If you were to do that, would it still be appropriate for Mass.  It’s often tempting to lure young people to Church with music that would be more appropriate at a rock concert than at Mass, but with the words altered just enough to make it seem OK.  I know how tempting it can be to try to lure kids to Church with emotion and “bringing the Mass to them” through rock music.  However, what happens when that music goes away?  What happens if a new pastor comes and doesn’t want it at Mass?  Our protestant brothers and sisters have taken this a step farther.  Some of the mega-churches now have video games and coffee shops to bring young people in.  Is that what we want to do?  Take secular things and tweek them just enough for them to seem moderately acceptable?  I promise you, a reverent Mass focused totally on God and the Eucharistic Sacrifice with a homily that is truthful, hard-hitting, and engaging will bring in more kids than any pseudo-rock music.

Going farther with the quote from Sing to the Lord:  Music in Divine Worship, which is the US Bishops’ most recent document on Sacred Music, we hear the call of the Bishops to make sure all new music is faithful to traditional Catholic doctrine and faithful to what the Mass is:  A sacrifice in which there is a most perfect dialogue between God and Man; between the Bridegroom and the Bride.  The Bridegroom (Christ) speaks to his Bride (the Church) within the Mass during the Scriptures, the homily, the consecration, etc.  He is constantly speaking to us throughout the Mass.  We, the Bride, respond to our Bridegroom in the hymns and acclamations within the Mass.  We cry to him in petition:  “Lord, Have Mercy!”,  We acclaim and glorify him:  “Glory to God in the Highest!”, “Holy, Holy, Holy!”.  We give him thanks:  “Thanks be to God!”.  The Mass is the most perfect form of conversation we can have, because it is a conversation with the Infinitely Perfect One.

Unfortunately, some parishes around the country have employed the use songs and hymns that do not foster that special dialogue.  Some songs, with the good intentions of fostering community, speak of what we must do and how good it is for us to gather together.   A popular song uses the words “We are called, we are chosen, we are Christ for one another.  We are promised to tomorrow while we are for him today.  We are sign, we are wonder.  We are sower, we are seed.  We are harvest, we are hunger.  We are question, we are creed”.  That’s a lot of “we”.  Where is the dialogue with God there?  Who are we singing to?  Ourselves.  Who are we singing about?  Ourselves.  In a time when we come together to join as one to praise, to give thanks, and to ask the mercy of God; to join in that eternal dialogue with God, is it appropriate to be speaking to ourselves about ourselves?  As well intentioned as it may be, the only word for that is “arrogance”.  In too many hymns we talk about ourselves, only mentioning God in passing, making it so he is someone we talk ABOUT, instead of talk TO.  How rude is it to talk about someone when they are right there and not include them in the conversation?

Now, it has been brought to my attention that most hymnals that contain those types of songs contain the phrase “Published with Ecclesiastical Approval”.  Some have the more traditional Imprimatur or Nihil Obstat.  These phrases mean that there is nothing morally or theologically offensive in the books.  It does NOT mean that every song contained in the book is appropriate for Mass.  Some may be fine for small prayer groups or other gatherings, but not for Mass. 

To my fellow musicians who are charged with the great responsibility of picking music for Mass, I ask that with every song you choose, ask yourself:  “Is this song addressing God in a way that brings us into closer conversation with him?”  If the answer is no, even if it’s a song that the congregation loves, set it aside and never come back to it.

Questions for Liturgy and Ritual, as well as comments, can be sent to Adam Schwend at adams@scdiocese.org, or at 1821 Jackson St. Sioux City, IA 51102.