183 He Who Sings Prays Twice

YOUCAT Lesson 183

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

183  Why is there music at liturgies, and what kind of music must it be to be suitable for liturgy?

Where words are not enough to praise God, music come to our aid.  [1156-1158, 1191]

Photo: …..George Beverly Shea was a Canadian-born American gospel singer and hymn composer.  He was a regular feature of the Billy Graham television gospel hour .....183

“Someone who sings prays twice.”  St. Augustine (354-430)

Be filled with the Holy Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart.  Ephesians 5:19

When we turn to God, there is always something ineffable and unsaid left over.  Then music can help out.  In rejoicing, language becomes song—that is why the angels sing.  Music in a worship service should make prayer more beautiful and more fervent, move more deeply the hearts of all in attendance and bring them closer to God, and prepare for God a feast of melody.

…….Singing and music

…….1156   "The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art. The main reason for this pre-eminence is that, as a combination of sacred music and words, it forms a necessary or integral part of solemn liturgy." (Sacrosanctum Concilium 112)²⁰   The composition and singing of inspired psalms, often accompanied by musical instruments, were already closely linked to the liturgical celebrations of the Old Covenant. The Church continues and develops this tradition: "Address . . . one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart." "He who sings prays twice." (Ephesians 5:19; St. Augustine, En. in Psalm 72,1:Patrologia Latina 36,914; compare Colssians 3:16)²¹  --Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

…….1157   Song and music fulfill their function as signs in a manner all the more significant when they are "more closely connected . . . with the liturgical action," (Sacrosanctum Concilium 112 § 3)²²  according to three principal criteria: beauty expressive of prayer, the unanimous participation of the assembly at the designated moments, and the solemn character of the celebration. In this way they participate in the purpose of the liturgical words and actions: the glory of God and the sanctification of the faithful: (compare Sacrosanctum Concilium 112)²³  --CCC

How I wept, deeply moved by your hymns, songs, and the voices that echoed through your Church! What emotion I experienced in them! Those sounds flowed into my ears distilling the truth in my heart. A feeling of devotion surged within me, and tears streamed down my face - tears that did me good. (St. Augustine, Conf. 9,6,14:Patrologia Latina 32,769-770)²⁴  --CCC

…….1158   The harmony of signs (song, music, words, and actions) is all the more expressive and fruitful when expressed in the cultural richness of the People of God who celebrate. compare (Sacrosanctum Concilium 119)²⁵    Hence "religious singing by the faithful is to be intelligently fostered so that in devotions and sacred exercises as well as in liturgical services," in conformity with the Church's norms, "the voices of the faithful may be heard." But "the texts intended to be sung must always be in conformity with Catholic doctrine. Indeed they should be drawn chiefly from the Sacred Scripture and from liturgical sources." (Sacrosanctum Concilium 118; 121)²⁶  --CCC

.......IN BRIEF

…….1191   Song and music are closely connected with the liturgical action. The criteria for their proper use are the beauty expressive of prayer, the unanimous participation of the assembly, and the sacred character of the celebration. --CCC