Letter on liturgy and music

This charitable and wonderful letter was written by the Bishop of Marquette and recommended to me by the Bishop of Lincoln.

Here's just a few excerpts, but click HERE to read the entire article.

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He begins by thanking those who have served the Church with their musical gifts over the years:

"Indeed, many have made it their life’s work to provide music for the
Sacred Liturgy. The Church, including both clergy and laity, is grateful beyond
words for their dedication and service. It must also be said that the principles
and practical applications which follow will come as a real change in focus and
direction for many of these same dedicated musicians...Although much of
what follows may contravene the formation that many have experienced over
recent years, this is in no way to be interpreted as a criticism of those dedicated
Church musicians who have offered their service with a generous heart and with
good will."

Then, he quotes Vatican II documents and other Church documents to lay out the vision for Sacred Music.

"We must come to see that, since sacred music is integral to the
Mass, the role of sacred music is to help us sing and pray the texts of the Mass
itself, not just ornament it. "


"Church teaching emphasizes that the music proper to the Sacred Liturgy
possesses three qualities: sanctity, beauty, and universality. Only music which
possesses all three of these qualities is worthy of the Mass.

Sacred music should consequently possess, in the highest degree, the
qualities proper to the liturgy, and in particular sanctity and goodness of
form, which will spontaneously produce the final quality of universality." (Pius X, Tra le sollecitudini I:2)

"One often gets the impression that, as long as the written text of the music or
song speaks about God, then it qualifies as “sacred music.” Given what has
been articulated here, this is clearly not the case. As an example, the Gloria of
the Mass set to a Polka beat or in the style of rock music is not sacred music.
Why not? Because such styles of music, as delightful as they might be for the
dance hall or a concert, do not possess all three of the intrinsic qualities of
sanctity, artistic goodness (beauty) and universality proper to sacred music."

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That's just the beginning of this detailed, 20-page document!