Questions: Music At Mass
Music at Mass: Why does the Church still use Latin in the Mass?
The Vatican II document Sacrosanctum Concilium states that the use of the vernacular is allowed and may be advantageous to the people. What is less well known is that the Second Vatican Council also stated that “the Latin language is to be preserved in the Latin rites" (Sacrosanctum Concilium #36), and that "...steps should be taken so that the faithful may also be able to say or to sing together in Latin those parts of the Ordinary of the Mass which pertain to them." (Sacrosanctum Concilium #54)
Most Catholics in the United States are part of the Latin or Roman rite.
Why is the preservation of Latin in the Church important? Here are a few reasons:
1. Latin unites us to the Church throughout the world. If we attend Mass in a parish where the local language is not our own and/or where they use different music than in our own parishes, using the Mass Ordinary in Latin (e.g. Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei) unites us to the people of that parish in a way that might not otherwise be possible. In Walla Walla, this is why we use Mass parts in Latin in our multilingual Masses as well as in our Triparish vigil Masses for Holy Days.
2. Latin is the official language of the Roman rite. For centuries, official Church texts have been written in Latin, and our use of Latin now connects us to the Church throughout time.
3. A vast quantity of sacred music handed on to us by the Church is in Latin. We access this treasury through the use of Latin at Mass.
4. Latin has not changed nearly to the extent that other languages have changed over the centuries. Thus, the meaning of these texts in Latin continues to be handed down to us almost unaltered.
The Vatican explains why we use Latin HERE.
The monks at the St. Benedict Abbey in Still River, MA, explain why they pray in Latin HERE.
Another article on why we use Latin can be found HERE.
Music at Mass: What does the Church say about music during Lent?
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 2011 (#313) states: "In Lent the playing of the organ and musical instruments is allowed ONLY in order to support the singing. Exceptions, however, are Laetare Sunday (Fourth Sunday of Lent), Solemnities, and Feasts." (emphasis added) This instruction helps us, the faithful, to better enter into the subdued and penitential nature of this season.
For more information about Catholic practices during Lent, see the articles below.
"6 Liturgical No-No's During Lent"
September, 2022
Music at Mass: Why do we have a hymn of the month?
The hymn of the month...
helps the children to participate more in singing during Mass through familiarity.
assists children's prayer at Mass through familiarity.
exposes our children to some of the great truths of our Faith through the texts of both ancient and modern hymns.
assists children's prayer lives by focusing attention on the liturgical seasons (Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Ordinary Time).
Keep in mind: all of these reasons for having a hymn of the month work for adults, too!
April/May, 2022
Music at Mass: What are the four seasonal Marian antiphons?
As we approach May, the month of Mary, we consider these Marian antiphons. “The four great seasonal Marian antiphons come from the Divine Office, office of Compline, the last of the sung hours of the day. At the close of Compline, one of the four seasonal Marian prayers was sung: Alma Redemptoris Mater, Ave Regina Caelorum, Regina Caeli, or Salve Regina.” (from Adoremus). Alma Redemptoris Mater is sung during the Advent and Christmas seasons, Ave Regina Caelorum during Lent, Regina Caeli from Easter to Pentecost, and Salve Regina during Ordinary Time.
While intended for the Liturgy of the Hours, you will often find these antiphons sung at the end of Mass as well, including here in our Walla Walla parishes. These beautiful chants are reminders of the way our Blessed Mother cooperates with and participates in God’s work of salvation. Loving Mother of the Redeemer, pray for us!
February/March, 2022
Music at Mass: What does the Church say about music during Lent?
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 2011 states: "In Lent the playing of the organ and musical instruments is allowed only in order to support the singing. Exceptions, however, are Laetare Sunday (Fourth Sunday of Lent), Solemnities, and Feasts." This instruction helps us, the faithful, to better enter into the subdued and penitential nature of this season.
For more information, see the articles below.
"6 Liturgical No-No's During Lent"
"But No Organ Music - ALL of Lent?"
Additional articles HERE and HERE.
December, 2021/January, 2022
Music at Mass: What is the Mass Ordinary?
The Mass Ordinary are those parts of the Mass whose texts always remain the same. They include the Kyrie (Lord Have Mercy), Gloria (Glory to God), Credo (Creed), Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy), and Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) and have been a part of the Mass for many centuries.
For more information, see page 12 of THIS DOCUMENT.
November, 2021
Music at Mass: Why does the Church still use Latin in the Mass?
The Vatican II document Sacrosanctum Concilium states that the use of the vernacular is allowed and may be advantageous to the people. What is less well known is that the Second Vatican Council also stated that “the Latin language is to be preserved in the Latin rites.” (Sacrosanctum Concilium #36) We Catholics in the United States are part of the Latin or Roman rite.
Why is the preservation of Latin in the Church important?
1. Latin is the official language of the Roman rite. For centuries, official Church texts have been written in Latin, and our use of Latin now connects us to the Church throughout time.
2. A vast quantity of sacred music handed on to us by the Church is in Latin. We access this treasury through the use of Latin at Mass.
3. Latin has not changed nearly to the extent that other languages have changed over the centuries. Thus, the meaning of these texts in Latin continues to be handed down to us almost unaltered.
For more information on why we use Latin in the Catholic Church, click HERE or HERE.
October, 2021
Music at Mass: What is "active participation?"
The Church encourages the faithful to actively participate in the Mass in several ways. One way is through exterior actions: by singing the Mass Ordinary (e.g. the Gloria, Lamb of God), as well as by singing/speaking responses and other parts of the Mass, and by engaging in the bodily gestures appropriate for Mass. But it is also necessary to participate with interior attention. This means we are listening and praying along with the priest and other ministers. It also means that we take some time for prayerful silence during Mass to reflect on the Scripture we have heard, the words we have sung or said, and the great gift of the Eucharist to us.
(Further reading: Sacrosanctam Concilium, Musicam Sacram, Musicae Sacrae, Tra Le Sollecitudini