Why We Are Singing Gregorian Chant

Why We Are To further the reforms of the response to a desire which the council, the Vatican came out Holy Father had frequently Singing with an instruction on liturgical expressed, that all the faithful Gregorian Chant music in 1967 called Musicam should know at least some Latin Sacram. Obviously allowing for Gregorian chants, such as, for By Fr. Lawrence Donnelly the use of the mother tongue at example, the 'Gloria', the St. Jude's Catholic Church, Mass, it also quotes Vatican II: 'Credo', the 'Sanctus', and the Vancouver, British Columbia "According to the Constitution 'Agnus Dei'. It gives me great on the Liturgy, 'the use of the pleasure to send you a copy of Dear Brothers and Sisters in Latin language, with due it, as a personal gift from His Christ, respect to particular law, is to Holiness, Pope Paul VI. May I be preserved in the Latin rites.'" take this opportunity of re- I have written and spoken to and orders that: "Pastors of commending to your pastoral you about Gregorian chant souls should take care that solicitude this new initiative, before and the reason why we besides the vernacular 'the whose purpose is to facilitate sing it in our parish. Here are faithful may also be able to say the observance of the some excerpts from Vatican or sing together in Latin those recommendation of the Second documents that make clear the parts of the Ordinary of the Vatican Council '...steps must mind of the Church. At the Mass which pertain to them.'" be taken to ensure that the Vatican Council II, in 1964, (n.47). About the chant, it faithful are able to chant which began a reform of the repeats Vatican II: "Gregorian together in Latin those parts of liturgy, the Church allowed that chant, as proper to the Roman the ordinary of the Mass which Mass could be said in the liturgy, should be given pride of pertain to them.'" (Voluntati vernacular tongue. place."(n.50). obsequens). Although Mass could now be Pope Paul VI would later The ability of Catholics from said in English, that in no way insist on the use of the chant all over the world to be able to was meant to abolish Latin at seven years later, in 1974. He sing together Latin Gregorian Mass, or singing in Latin. In had the Congregation for Divine chant, for Paul VI, was a fact, the Vatican II liturgical Worship send to all the bishops sensible expression of the unity document, written in 1964, a booklet of Gregorian chants of the Church. The letter goes allowing English says: "the use that all Catholics should know on: "Down the centuries, of the Latin language is to be along with a letter saying: Gregorian chant has preserved in the Latin rites." accompanied liturgical (Constitution on the Sacred celebrations in the Roman rite, Liturgy, n.36). (Nota bene. has nourished men's faith and When official Church has fostered their piety, while in documents refer to "Latin rites" the process achieving an artistic it is referring to Catholic perfection which the Church dioceses where the official rightly considers a patrimony of language of the liturgy is Latin, inestimable value and which the such as for Roman Catholics.) Council recognized as 'the chant Regarding the use of especially suited to the Roman Gregorian chant, the same liturgy.'…Those who are trying document reminds us: "The to improve the quality of Church acknowledges congregational singing cannot Gregorian chant as specially refuse to Gregorian chant the suited to the Roman Liturgy: place which is due to it." (ibid.). therefore, other things being "Our congregation has Pope John Paul II, in 2003, equal, it should be given pride prepared a booklet entitled, writes to commemorate the of place in liturgical services." 'Jubilate Deo', which contains a 100th anniversary of an (n.116). minimum selection of sacred instruction of Pope Saint Pius chants. This was done in X, in which the saint back in 1903, already had seen the OF a new openness toward the importance of restoring the use What does Pope Benedict use of Latin. Latin in the Mass of Gregorian chant in churches. XVI say about . has come meanwhile to look to "Among the musical us like a fall from grace. So expressions that correspond best SINGING AT MASS that, in any case, with the qualities demanded by communication is ruled out that the notion of sacred music, THE IMPORTANCE OF is very necessary in areas of especially liturgical music, MUSIC in biblical religion is mixed culture... Let's think of Gregorian chant has a special shown very simply by the fact tourist centres, where it would place. The Second Vatican that the verb "to sing" (with be lovely for people to Council recognized that 'being related words such as "song", recognize each other in specially suited to the Roman and. so forth) is one of the most something they have in Liturgy' it should be given, commonly used words in the common. So we ought to keep other things being equal, pride Bible. It occurs 309 times in the such things alive and present. of place in liturgical services Old Testament and thirty-six in If even in the great liturgical sung in Latin. Saint Pius X the New. When man comes into celebrations in Rome, no one pointed out that the Church had contact with God, mere speech can sing the Kyrie or the 'inherited it from the Fathers of is not enough. (The Spirit of the Sanctus any more, no one the Church', that she has Liturgy, (SF, CA: Ignatius, knows what Gloria means, then 'jealously guarded [it] for 2000), p. 136)... Indeed, man's a cultural loss has become a loss centuries in her liturgical own being is insufficient for of what we share in common. codices' and still 'proposes it to what he has to express, and so To that extent I should say that the faithful' as her own, he invites the whole of creation the Liturgy of the Word should considering it 'the supreme to become a song with him: always be in the mother tongue, model of sacred music'. Thus, "Awake, my soul! Awake, 0 but there ought nonetheless to Gregorian chant continues also harp and lyre! I will awake the be a basic stock of Latin today to be an element of unity dawn! I will give thanks to you, elements that would bind us in the Roman Liturgy." (The 0 Lord, among the peoples; I together. [God and the World, Fitting role of Sacred Music in will sing praises to you among SF, CA: Ignatius, 2002, pp. the Holy Liturgy). the nations. For your steadfast 417-18] My motive for having you love is great to the heavens, all learn to sing the chant is part your faithfulness to the clouds" SACRED MUSIC TODAY of my priestly fidelity to lead (Ps 57:8f.) you more deeply into the mind The singing of the Church AN AUTHENTIC UPDATING of the Church on sacred music comes ultimately out of love. It of sacred music can take place and ultimately to enter into is the utter depth of love that only in the lineage of the great the true spirit of the Mass, produces the singing. "Cantare tradition of the past, of which the chant, in its beauty, amantis est", says St. Gregorian chant and sacred movement and text is geared to Augustine, singing is a lover's polyphony. (Speaking in the do. Admittedly it is a challenge thing. In so saying, we come Sistine Chapel following a for us all, but once we have a again to the trinitarian tribute concert to Dominico familiarity with this great interpretation of Church music. Bartolucci, June 24, 2006 treasure of the Church, we will The Holy Spirit is love, and it is find consolation and spiritual he who produces the singing. benefit. He is the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit who draws us into love In Christ, for Christ and so leads to the Father.(Ibid. p. 142). LATIN IN MASS Fr. Lawrence Donnelly I WOULD BE IN FAVOUR .

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