Church Documents on Sacred Music and Liturgy

Desiderio Desideravi: Apostolic letter of the Holy Father to the Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, to consecrated men and women, and to the lay faithful on the liturgical formation of the people of God


Traditionis Custodes: On the Use of the Roman Liturgy Prior to the Reform of 1970, issued Motu Proprio; Pope Francis, 2021

-Letter to Bishops, accompanying Traditionis Custodes


Catholic Hymnody at the Service of the Church: An Aid for Evaluating Hymn Lyrics - Committee on Doctrine, USCCB, 2020


Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship - USCCB, 2007


Summorum Pontificum - Apostolic Letter [on the use of the Extraordinary Form], issued Motu Proprio; Pope Benedict XVI, 2007



Musicam Sacram - Second Vatican Council Instruction on Music in the Liturgy, 1967


Sacram Liturgiam - Apostolic Letter, issued Motu Proprio; Pope Paul VI, 1964


Sacrosanctum Concilium - Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 1963; see especially Chapter VI, "Sacred Music," #112-121


Musicae Sacrae - Encyclical of Pope Pius XII on Sacred Music, 1955


Tra Le Sollectitudini - Instruction on Sacred Music; Pope Pius X, 1903