Sacred Music (Excerpts)

The sixth chapter of the Second Vatican Council's Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium (SC) is dedicated to sacred music. The document states that: "The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art. The main reason for this pre-eminence is that, as sacred song united to the words, it forms a necessary or integral part of the solemn liturgy“(SC,, 112).

Indeed, music is part of the liturgical action and is not merely a decorative part of the celebration. To sing and play music during the liturgy is to pray, attuning one's heart to that of our sisters and brothers and to God, through active participation in the mystery being celebrated. In particular, music expresses the affective dimension of prayer, as Saint Augustine says: "Cantare amantis est", that is, "singing belongs to those who love" (Sermon 336, 1). This is very important, because it helps us open our hearts to God's action in grace and allow ourselves to be molded by it.

The profound theological value of sacred hymns as an integral part of liturgical action carries certain requirements. The first is that, at every level, it must respond to what is most appropriate for the liturgical moment, beyond fashions or composers' particular sensitivities. Its form, especially in its melodic aspect, must be at once noble and simple, of high musical quality and easily performable, particularly when it is intended to be sung by the whole assembly (cf. SC,, 121).

For the same reason, the Council also recommends that the texts be suitable, profound, and at the same time readily understandable, inspired mainly by Sacred Scripture, liturgical books, and the spiritual Tradition of the Church. Attention must be paid to this, so that the dynamic expressed in the ancient principle lex orandi, lex credendi, that is, the law of prayer is also the law of faith, may remain alive and continue to grow.

The Council attributes great value to Gregorian chant, without excluding other genres of sacred music from the celebration. Particular attention is also given to the organ (cf. SC,, 120), while the use of other instruments is permitted "on condition that the instruments are suitable, or can be made suitable, for sacred use, accord with the dignity of the temple, and truly contribute to the edification of the faithful"(SC,, 120).

Dear brothers and sisters, the Fathers of the Church held liturgical singing in great esteem as a symbol of ecclesial communion. We can therefore conclude with Saint Ignatius of Antioch's beautiful words: "Let each of you unite to become a choir, so that, harmonious in love and taking up the song of God in unison, you may with one voice sing to the Father through Jesus Christ, so that he may hear you and recognize, from the good works you perform, that you are members of his Son" (cf. Letter to the Ephesians, 4, 2).