Music and Instruments in the Liturgy

One of the ongoing controversies in parishes is what kind of music and instruments are  appropriate in the Mass. Fortunately, the experimentation of the past, when there were Rock Masses, Jazz Masses and even Polka Masses, seems for the most part over. Naturally, where there is no regard for the nature of the liturgy or the norms of the Church anything is still possible.

Such "liturgies" (if they can be called that) are sometimes justified as what "Vatican II" was about, opening the windows, trying new things, using worldly forms. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Council insistently called for the preservation of the traditions of the Latin Rite and the harmonization of any universal or local adaptations to that tradition and the nature of the sacred liturgy. 

Second Vatican Council. The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy Sacrosanctum Concilium makes clear the nature of authentic liturgical reform. Excerpting, and highlighting, what applies to our subject it states,










116. 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, as laid down in Art. 30.






Musican Sacram. After the Council it fell to the Sacred Congregation of Rites (today called Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments) to apply the norms of Sacrosanctum Concilium in implementing documents touching on all the various areas of liturgical reform. In the area of liturgical music the implementing document is called Musicam sacram (Sacred Music). It establishes what can be called sacred music.

4. It is to be hoped that pastors of souls, musicians and the faithful will gladly accept these norms and put them into practice, uniting their efforts to attain the true purpose of sacred music, "which is the glory of God and the sanctification of the faithful." [SC 112]

(a) By sacred music is understood that which, 

being created for the celebration of divine worship, 

is endowed with a certain holy sincerity of form.

(b) The following come under the title of sacred music here: 

Gregorian chant, 

sacred polyphony in its various forms both ancient and modern, 

sacred music for the organ and other approved instruments, and 

sacred popular music, be it liturgical or simply religious.

Thus, popular liturgical, or simply religious, music can be sacred if:

1) it is created for worship, and 

2) it is endowed with a certain holy sincerity of form. 

This suggests that adapted secular tunes do not belong in the Mass, but that modern creations that have the described character can be used.

As for instruments, the same guiding document states,

62. Musical instruments can be very useful in sacred celebrations, whether they accompany the singing or whether they are played as solo instruments.

The pipe organ is to be held in high esteem in the Latin Church, since it is its traditional instrument, the sound of which can add a wonderful splendor to the Church's ceremonies and powerfully lift up men's minds to God and higher things.

"The use of other instruments may also be admitted in divine worship, given the decision and consent of the competent territorial authority, provided that the instruments are suitable for sacred use, or can be adapted to it, that they are in keeping with the dignity of the temple, and truly contribute to the edification of the faithful.

63. In permitting and using musical instruments, the culture and traditions of individual peoples must be taken into account. However, those instruments which are, by common opinion and use, suitable for secular music only, are to be altogether prohibited from every liturgical celebration and from popular devotions.

Any musical instrument permitted in divine worship should be used in such a way that it meets the needs of the liturgical celebration, and is in the interests both of the beauty of worship and the edification of the faithful.

As you can see, an instrument that can get the approval of the "territorial authority" (read "bishops' conference") can be used in the Mass. 

GIRM. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (2002) states the following:

20 The celebration of the Eucharist, like the entire liturgy, involves the use of outward signs that foster, strengthen, and express faith. There must be the utmost care therefore to choose and to make wise use of those forms and elements provided by the Church which, in view of the circumstances of the people and the place, will best foster active and full participation and properly serve the spiritual well-being of the faithful.

24 For the most part, these adaptations consist in the choice of certain rites or texts, that is, of liturgical songs, readings, prayers, introductory comments and gestures which may respond better to the needs, degree of preparation and mentality of the participants. Such choices are entrusted to the priest celebrant. Nevertheless, the priest must remember that he is the servant of the sacred Liturgy, and that he himself is not permitted, on his own initiative, to add, remove or to change anything in the celebration of Mass. [SC 22]

39 The faithful who gather together to await the Lord's coming are instructed by the Apostle Paul to sing together psalms, hymns, and inspired liturgical songs (see Colossians 3:16). Liturgical song is the sign of the heart's joy (see Acts 2:46). Thus Saint Augustine says rightly: "To sing belongs to lovers." There is also the ancient proverb: "One who sings well prays twice."

41 All things being equal, Gregorian chant should hold a privileged place, as being more proper to the Roman liturgy. Other kinds of sacred music, polyphony in particular, are not in any way to be excluded, provided that they correspond with the spirit of the liturgical action and that they foster the participation of all the faithful.

Since the faithful from different countries come together ever more frequently, it is desirable that they know how to sing at least some parts of the Ordinary of the Mass in Latin, especially the profession of faith and the Lord's Prayer, set to simple melodies.

42 The gestures and posture of the priest, deacon and the ministers, as well as of the people should allow the whole celebration to shine with dignity and noble simplicity, demonstrating the full and true meaning of each of their diverse parts, while fostering the participation of all. Therefore, greater attention needs to be paid to what is laid down by liturgical law and by the traditional practice of the Roman Rite, for the sake of the common spiritual good of the people of God rather than to personal inclination or arbitrary choice.

Thus, it should be clear from the general norms, as well as from the norms governing specific parts of the Mass, that while there is obviously an element of judgment on the part of bishops and priests as to what music and instruments to allow within the Mass, that this license does not extend to music and instruments of a purely secular nature which are not adaptable to the liturgy and its sacred character.

Answered by Colin B. Donovan, STL

NFP - Philosophy - Pro-Life - Scripture - Spiritual