“Religious singing by the people is to be intelligently fostered”
This is part 8 of 8 on Chapter VI “Sacred Music” taken from the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy Sacrosanctum Concilium solemnly promulgated by His Holiness Pope Paul VI on December 4, 1963. Please also read Vatican II and Sacred Music by Kurt Poterack, Ph.D found in the Spring 1999 issue of Sacred Music.
Religious singing by the people is to be intelligently fostered so that in devotions and sacred exercises, as also during liturgical services, the voices of the faithful may ring out according to the norms and requirements of the rubrics.[i]
Eight years prior to Sacrosanctum Concilium, Pope Pius XII wrote in regards to religious singing and its importance in the domestic church (the home), education, devotions, processions, etc. In recent years we have seen how praise and worship music, using a secular style has been used to edify and even education the faithful as individuals and especially in a group setting. This use of religious singing has even spread through society through the means of radio and internet.
Pope Pius XII in the document Musicae sacrae disciplina [1955] spoke about the necessity and purpose of religious singing and hymns.
What are religious hymns? How are religious hymns formed? “As We have said before, besides those things that are intimately associated with the Church's sacred liturgy, there are also popular religious hymns which derive their origin from the liturgical chant itself. Most of these are written in the language of the people. Since these are closely related to the mentality and temperament of individual national groups, they differ considerably among themselves according to the character of different races and localities.”[ii]
The Holy Father makes a distinction between songs “intimately associated with the Church’s sacred liturgy” and “popular religious hymns…related to the mentality and temperament of individual national groups”. A great example of the use of both types of songs is a pilgrimage or retreat. While on retreat as groups gather and socialize they usually sing hymns or songs related to the mentality and temperament of the group, songs that unify and edify the group. The focus is on the group and fellowship among the group. As the group, moves into liturgy, the songs change, they are not now just directed toward the group but rather toward the liturgy, toward God. It would be out of place to burst out in a good Agnus Dei chant around the campfire.
In the same manner many of the popular religious hymns are out of place in the liturgy.
What do these hymns must have to bring about spiritual fruit for the faithful? “If hymns of this sort are to bring spiritual fruit and advantage to the Christian people, they must be in full conformity with the doctrine of the Catholic faith. They must also express and explain that doctrine accurately. Likewise they must use plain language and simple melody and must be free from violent and vain excess of words. Despite the fact that they are short and easy, they should manifest a religious dignity and seriousness. When they are fashioned in this way these sacred canticles, born as they are from the most profound depths of the people's soul, deeply move the emotions and spirit and stir up pious sentiments. When they are sung at religious rites by a great crowd of people singing as with one voice, they are powerful in raising the minds of the faithful to higher things.”[iii]
It is our responsibility to make sure the hymns and praise and worship songs that we sing, play, and enjoy are “in full conformity with the doctrine of the Catholic faith.” We should ask who is the author of the songs and what is the doctrine they believe. It is not enough that the song is “alternative” to the secular or that it is “Christian” in name, we must make sure that the song they is getting stuck in our head is of sound doctrine. We can be most assured of this, when the hymn or song derives not just from personal experience but from Sacred Scripture. Many of the hymn like “Faith of Our Fathers” or “Alleluia, Sing to Jesus” tell a story of salvation history and they are Trinitarian in nature. The Holy Father stresses the fact that songs, “are powerful in raising the minds of the faithful to higher things.”
Can these hymns be played at Mass? “As we have written above, such hymns cannot be used in Solemn High Masses without the express permission of the Holy See. Nevertheless at Masses that are not sung solemnly these hymns can be a powerful aid in keeping the faithful from attending the Holy Sacrifice like dumb and idle spectators. They can help to make the faithful accompany the sacred services both mentally and vocally and to join their own piety to the prayers of the priest. This happens when these hymns are properly adapted to the individual parts of the Mass, as We rejoice to know is being done in many parts of the Catholic world.”[iv]
Pope Pius XII wrote this document when only the Extraordinary Form (Latin or Trendetine Mass) was being offered. The Solemn High Masses that the Holy Father is referring to is the Extraordinary Form. In the Ordinary Form (Novus Ordo) Mass hymns are permissible but following the guidelines given in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, which is found in the Active Participation lesson in this packet. It is also important to note that the Vatican II councils intention was not to severe or break from our tradition but rather to have continuity. The fact that most parishes use four hymns as the norm (Entrance, Offertory, Communion, and Recession) does not show continuity with our tradition.
“Singing means signing the Mass not just singing during Mass.”[v] Singing the Mass means that we sing all that pertains to the congregation: the responses, the ordinaries, the propers, and hymns and chants. As the Holy Fathers states hymns are a “powerful aid in keeping the faithful from attending the Holy Sacrifice like dumb and idle spectators.”
What about hymns that are not completely religious? “In rites that are not completely liturgical religious hymns of this kind - when, as We have said, they are endowed with the right qualities - can be of great help in the salutary work of attracting the Christian people and enlightening them, in imbuing them with sincere piety and filling them with holy joy. They can produce these effects not only within churches, but outside of them also, especially on the occasion of pious processions and pilgrimages to shrines and at the time of national or international congresses. They can be especially useful, as experience has shown, in the work of instructing boys and girls in Catholic truth, in societies for youth and in meetings of pious associations.”[vi]
Where should hymns and songs be most used in the Church? In areas that are not completely liturgical. Retreats, pilgrimages, procession, community gatherings, congresses, etc. The hymns and songs not only help create community, but they are also effective in education and evangelization. In Eucharistic processions in our busy city streets hymns and songs can be an instrument of evangelization. While at great national gatherings such as the National March for Life in Washington D.C. hymns and songs help the faithful to unite and pray.
VIDEO – God In The Streets of New York City
The monstrance which is used to carry the Blessed Sacrament is one of six that were blessed by Pope John II before his death to mark the celebration of the Year of the Eucharist. "God In The Streets of New York City" depicts the contrast between the everyday chaos of the busy streets -- complete with traffic, construction and police cars -- and the peaceful presence of Jesus. There is always an opportunity to meet Jesus face to face. It poses the question: Will you recognize him?
“Hence We can do no less than urge you, venerable brethren, to foster and promote diligently popular religious singing of this kind in the dioceses entrusted to you. There is among you no lack of experts in this field to gather hymns of this sort into one collection, where this has not already been done, so that all of the faithful can learn them more easily, memorize them and sing them correctly.”[vii]
What is the role of the people who are in charge of the youth and religious singing? Those in charge of the religious instruction of boys and girls should not neglect the proper use of these effective aids. Those in charge of Catholic youth should make prudent use of them in the highly important work entrusted to them. Thus there will be hope of happily attaining what everyone desires, namely the disappearance of worldly songs which because of the quality of their melodies or the frequently voluptuous and lascivious words that go with them are a danger to Christians, especially the young, and their replacement by songs that give chaste and pure pleasure, that foster and increase faith and piety.”[viii]
The Holy Father speaks prophetically about the danger of “worldly songs” which can be a “danger to Christians”. It is important therefore that these “worldly songs” are replaced with religious songs. Praise and Worship music and hymns which are easily memorized have been very instrumental in this replacement.