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               Bands
              Forbidden in Church   | 
            
               "It
              is strictly forbidden to have bands play in church, and only in
              special cases with the consent of the Ordinary will it be
              permissible to admit wind instruments, limited in number,
              judiciously used, and proportioned to the size of the place -
              provided the composition and accompaniment be written in grave and
              suitable style, and conform in all respects to that proper to the
              organ." (Pope St. Pius X, "Inter Sollicitudines",
              1922) 
              Also
        See: Music
              is at the Service of the Liturgy & Not Vice Versa | Sacred
              Music is Not For the Purpose of Pleasure or Showing Off | Suitable
              / Unsuitable Music | Forbidden
              / Allowed Instruments | Instruments
              Should Not Oppress Singing | Those
              Admitted to the Choir | Misc.
              / Sacred Music | Against
              Applause / Noise in Church
              | Beauty
              & Decorum in the House of God
              | Proper
              / Improper Church Attire | Reverence
              | Silence
              in Church  
        
        Note:
        Categories are subjective and may overlap. For more items related
        to this topic, please review all applicable categories. For more
        'Reflections' and for Scripture topics, see links below. 
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            | 
               Forbidden
              / Allowed Instruments  | 
            
               
              "The
              employment of the piano is forbidden in church, as is also that of
              noisy or frivolous instruments such as drums, cymbals, bells and
              the like." (Pope St. Pius X, "Inter Sollicitudines",
              1920) 
              "It
              is strictly forbidden to have bands play in church, and only in
              special cases with the consent of the Ordinary will it be
              permissible to admit wind instruments, limited in number,
              judiciously used, and proportioned to the size of the place -
              provided the composition and accompaniment be written in grave and
              suitable style, and conform in all respects to that proper to the
              organ." (Pope St. Pius X, "Inter Sollicitudines",
              1922) 
              "As
              the Philosopher says (Politica viii,6), 'Teaching should not be
              accompanied with a flute or any artificial instrument such as the
              harp or anything else of this kind: but only with such things as
              make good hearers.' For such like musical instruments move the
              soul to pleasure rather than create a good disposition within it.
              In the Old Testament instruments of this description were
              employed, both because the people were more coarse and carnal - so
              that they needed to be aroused by such instruments as also by
              earthly promises - and because these material instruments were
              figures of something else." (St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of
              the Church and "greatest theologian in the history of the
              Church") 
               "The
              pipe organ is to be held in high esteem in the Latin Church, for
              it is the traditional musical instrument, the sound of which can
              add a wonderful splendor to the Church's ceremonies and powerfully
              lifts up men's minds to God and higher things. But other
              instruments also may be admitted for use in divine worship, in the
              judgment and with the consent of the competent territorial
              authority... This may be done, however, only on condition that the
              instruments are suitable, or can be made suitable, for sacred use;
              that they accord with the dignity of the temple, and that they
              truly contribute to the edification of the faithful." (Second
              Vatican Council) [Note: The pipe organ, "the premier
              instrument of the Catholic Church", has historically been
              considered "the only instrument sacred enough for the
              Mass"] 
              "These
              norms must be applied to the use of the organ or other musical
              instruments. Among the musical instruments that have a place in
              church the organ rightly holds the principal position, since it is
              especially fitted for the sacred chants and sacred rites. It adds
              a wonderful splendor and a special magnificence to the ceremonies
              of the Church. It moves the souls of the faithful by the grandeur
              and sweetness of its tones. It gives minds an almost heavenly joy
              and it lifts them up powerfully to God and to higher things.
              Besides the organ, other instruments can be called upon to give
              great help in attaining the lofty purpose of sacred music, so long
              as they play nothing profane nothing clamorous or strident and
              nothing at variance with the sacred services or the dignity of the
              place. Among these the violin and other musical instruments that
              use the bow are outstanding because, when they are played by
              themselves or with other stringed instruments or with the organ,
              they express the joyous and sad sentiments of the soul with an
              indescribable power." (Pope Pius XII,
              "Musicae Sacrae", 1955) 
              Also
        See: Instruments
              Should Not Oppress Singing | Music
              is at the Service of the Liturgy & Not Vice Versa | Sacred
              Music is Not For the Purpose of Pleasure or Showing Off | Bands
              Forbidden in Church | Suitable
              / Unsuitable Music | Gregorian
              Chant | Those
              Admitted to the Choir | Against
              Applause / Noise in Church
              | Misc.
              / Sacred Music | Beauty
              & Decorum in the House of God
              | Reverence
              | Silence
              in Church 
        
        Note:
        Categories are subjective and may overlap. For more items related
        to this topic, please review all applicable categories. For more
        'Reflections' and for Scripture topics, see links below. 
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            | 
               Gregorian
              Chant  
            Also See:
              Music (Topic Page) 
             | 
            
               "And
              if in Catholic churches throughout the entire world Gregorian
              chant sounds forth without corruption or diminution, the chant
              itself, like the sacred Roman liturgy, will have a characteristic
              of universality, so that the faithful, wherever they may be, will
              hear music that is familiar to them and a part of their own home.
              In this way they may experience, with much spiritual consolation,
              the wonderful unity of the Church. This is one of the most
              important reasons why the Church so greatly desires that the
              Gregorian chant traditionally associated with the Latin words of
              the sacred liturgy be used." (Pope Pius XII, "Musicae
              Sacrae", 1955) 
              "The
              Church recognizes Gregorian chant as being specially suited to the
              Roman liturgy. Therefore, other things being equal, it should be
              given pride of place in liturgical services." (Second Vatican
              Council) 
              "And
              the Gregorian Chant which is to be used in every church of
              whatever order, is the text which, revised according to the
              ancient manuscripts, has been authentically published by the
              Church from the Vatican Press." (Pope Pius XI, "Divini
              Cultus", 1928) 
              "Gregory
              the Great compiled the Antiphonarium and thus laid the ground for
              the organic development of that most original sacred music which
              takes its name from him. Gregorian chant, with its inspired
              modulations, was to become down the centuries the music of the
              Church's faith in the liturgical celebration of the sacred
              mysteries. The 'beautiful' was thus wedded to the 'true', so that
              through art too souls might be lifted up from the world of the
              senses to the eternal." (Pope John Paul II) 
              "[Sacred
              music] must be holy. It must not allow within itself anything that
              savors of the profane nor allow any such thing to slip into the
              melodies in which it is expressed. The Gregorian chant which has
              been used in the Church over the course of so many centuries, and
              which may be called, as it were, its patrimony, is gloriously
              outstanding for this holiness. This chant, because of the close
              adaptation of the melody to the sacred text, is not only most
              intimately conformed to the words, but also in a way interprets
              their force and efficacy and brings delight to the minds of the
              hearers. It does this by the use of musical modes that are simple
              and plain, but which are still composed with such sublime and holy
              art that they move everyone to sincere admiration and constitute
              an almost inexhaustible source from which musicians and composers
              draw new melodies." (Pope Pius XII, "Musicae Sacrae",
              1955) 
              "As
              regards music, let the clear and guiding norms of the Apostolic
              See be scrupulously observed. Gregorian chant, which the Roman
              Church considers her own as handed down from antiquity and kept
              under her close tutelage, is proposed to the faithful as belonging
              to them also. In certain parts of the liturgy the Church
              definitely prescribes it; it makes the celebration of the sacred
              mysteries not only more dignified and solemn but helps very much
              to increase the faith and devotion of the congregation. For this
              reason, Our predecessors of immortal memory, Pius X and Pius XI,
              decree - and We are happy to confirm with Our authority the norms
              laid down by them - that in seminaries and religious institutes,
              Gregorian chant be diligently and zealously promoted, and moreover
              that the old Scholae Cantorum be restored, at least in the
              principal churches. This has already been done with happy results
              in not a few places." (Pope Pius XII, "Mediator
              Dei", 1947) 
              "It
              is the duty of all those to whom Christ the Lord has entrusted the
              task of guarding and dispensing the Church's riches to preserve
              this precious treasure of Gregorian chant diligently and to impart
              it generously to the Christian people. Hence what Our
              predecessors, St. Pius X, who is rightly called the renewer of
              Gregorian chant, and Pius XI have wisely ordained and taught, We
              also, in view of the outstanding qualities which genuine Gregorian
              chant possesses, will and prescribe that this be done. In the
              performance of the sacred liturgical rites this same Gregorian
              chant should be most widely used and great care should be taken
              that it should be performed properly, worthily and reverently. And
              if, because of recently instituted feast days, new Gregorian
              melodies must be composed, this should be done by true masters of
              the art. It should be done in such a way that these new
              compositions obey the laws proper to genuine Gregorian chant and
              are in worthy harmony with the older melodies in their virtue and
              purity." (Pope Pius XII, "Musicae Sacrae", 1955) 
              "Sacred
              music, being a complementary part of the solemn liturgy,
              participates in the general scope of the liturgy, which is the
              glory of God and the sanctification and edification of the
              faithful. It contributes to the decorum and the splendor of the
              ecclesiastical ceremonies, and since its principal office is to
              clothe with suitable melody the liturgical text proposed for the
              understanding of the faithful, its proper aim is to add greater
              efficacy to the text, in order that through it the faithful may be
              the more easily moved to devotion and better disposed for the
              reception of the fruits of grace belonging to the celebration of
              the most holy mysteries. Sacred music should consequently possess,
              in the highest degree, the qualities proper to the liturgy, and in
              particular sanctity and goodness of form, which will spontaneously
              produce the final quality of universality. It must be holy, and
              must, therefore, exclude all profanity not only in itself, but in
              the manner in which it is presented by those who execute it. It
              must be true art, for otherwise it will be impossible for it to
              exercise on the minds of those who listen to it that efficacy
              which the Church aims at obtaining in admitting into her liturgy
              the art of musical sounds... These qualities are to be found, in
              the highest degree, in Gregorian Chant, which is, consequently the
              Chant proper to the Roman Church, the only chant she has inherited
              from the ancient fathers, which she has jealously guarded for
              centuries in her liturgical codices, which she directly proposes
              to the faithful as her own, which she prescribes exclusively for
              some parts of the liturgy, and which the most recent studies have
              so happily restored to their integrity and purity. On these
              grounds Gregorian Chant has always been regarded as the supreme
              model for sacred music, so that it is fully legitimate to lay down
              the following rule: the more closely a composition for church
              approaches in its movement, inspiration and savor the Gregorian
              form, the more sacred and liturgical it becomes; and the more out
              of harmony it is with that supreme model, the less worthy it is of
              the temple." (Pope St. Pius X, "Inter Sollicitudines",
              1906) 
              "It
              is not permitted to have the chant preceded by long preludes or to
              interrupt it with intermezzo pieces." (Pope St. Pius X,
              "Inter Sollicitudines", 1919) 
              Also
        See: Gregorian
              Chant (Latin Mass & Catholic Tradition Section) | Polyphony
              | Those
              Admitted to the Choir | Music
              is at the Service of the Liturgy & Not Vice Versa | Suitable
              / Unsuitable Music | Sacred
              Music is Not For the Purpose of Pleasure or Showing Off | Bands
              Forbidden in Church | Forbidden
              / Allowed Instruments | Instruments
              Should Not Oppress Singing | Against
              Applause / Noise in Church
              | Misc.
              / Sacred Music | Beauty
              & Decorum in the House of God
              | Reverence
              | The
              Latin Language (Latin Mass & Catholic Tradition Section)  
        
        Note:
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        to this topic, please review all applicable categories. For more
        'Reflections' and for Scripture topics, see links below. 
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            | 
               Instruments
              Should Not Oppress Singing   | 
            
               "As
              the singing should always have the principal place, the organ or
              other instruments should merely sustain and never oppress
              it." (Pope St. Pius X, "Inter Sollicitudines",
              1918) 
               Also
        See: Bands
              Forbidden in Church | Forbidden
              / Allowed Instruments | Music
              is at the Service of the Liturgy & Not Vice Versa | Suitable
              / Unsuitable Music | Gregorian
              Chant | Polyphony
              | Sacred
              Music is Not For the Purpose of Pleasure or Showing Off | Those
              Admitted to the Choir | Against
              Applause / Noise in Church
              | Misc.
              / Sacred Music | Beauty
              & Decorum in the House of God
              | Reverence 
        
        Note:
        Categories are subjective and may overlap. For more items related
        to this topic, please review all applicable categories. For more
        'Reflections' and for Scripture topics, see links below. 
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            | 
               Music
              is at the Service of the Liturgy & Not Vice Versa 
            Also See:
              Music (Topic Page) 
             | 
            
               "In
              general it must be considered a very grave abuse when the liturgy
              in ecclesiastical functions is made to appear secondary to and in
              a manner at the service of the music, for the music is merely a
              part of the liturgy and its humble handmaid." (Pope St. Pius
              X, "Inter Sollicitudines", 1923)  
              Also
        See: Sacred
              Music is Not For the Purpose of Pleasure or Showing Off | Suitable
              / Unsuitable Music | Gregorian
              Chant | Polyphony
              | Those
              Admitted to the Choir | Bands
              Forbidden in Church | Instruments
              Should Not Oppress Singing | Forbidden
              / Allowed Instruments | Against
              Applause / Noise in Church
              | Misc.
              / Sacred Music | Beauty
              & Decorum in the House of God
              | Reverence 
        
        Note:
        Categories are subjective and may overlap. For more items related
        to this topic, please review all applicable categories. For more
        'Reflections' and for Scripture topics, see links below. 
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            | 
               Polyphony 
            Also See:
              Music (Topic Page) 
             | 
            
               "Sacred
              polyphony, We may here remark, is rightly held second only to
              Gregorian Chant." (Pope Pius XI, "Divini Cultus",
              1928) 
              "Classic
              Polyphony agrees admirably with Gregorian Chant, the supreme model
              of all sacred music, and hence it has been found worthy of a place
              side by side with Gregorian Chant, in the more solemn functions of
              the Church, such as those of the Pontifical Chapel." (Pope
              St. Pius X, "Inter Sollicitudines", 1910)  
              "These
              [liturgical] laws warn that great prudence and care should be used
              in this serious matter in order to keep out of churches polyphonic
              music which, because of its heavy and bombastic style, might
              obscure the sacred words of the liturgy by a kind of exaggeration,
              interfere with the conduct of the liturgical service or, finally,
              lower the skill and competence of the singers to the disadvantage
              of sacred worship." (Pope Pius XII, "Musicae Sacrae",
              1955) 
              "Choir-schools
              for boys should be established not only for the greater churches
              and cathedrals, but also for smaller parish churches. The boys
              should be taught by the choirmaster to sing properly, so that, in
              accordance with the ancient custom of the Church, they may sing in
              the choir with the men, especially as in polyphonic music the
              highest part, the cantus, ought to be sung by boys. Choir-boys,
              especially in the sixteenth century, have given us masters of
              polyphony: first and foremost among them, the great Palestrina."
              (Pope Pius XI, "Divini Cultus", 1928) 
              "But
              it is neither wise nor laudable to reduce everything to antiquity
              by every possible device. Thus, to cite some instances, one would
              be straying from the straight path were he to wish the altar
              restored to its primitive table form; were he to want black
              excluded as a color for the liturgical vestments; were he to
              forbid the use of sacred images and statues in churches; were he
              to order the crucifix so designed that the divine Redeemer's body
              shows no trace of His cruel sufferings; and lastly were he to
              disdain and reject polyphonic music or singing in parts, even
              where it conforms to regulations issued by the Holy See."
              (Pope Pius XII, "Mediator Dei", 1947) [Note:
              'Reducing to antiquity' does NOT refer to the
              Traditionalists attempts to restore the traditional Latin
              ('Tridentine') Mass and pre-Vatican II practices, but to the
              modernists quest to 'restore' the Church to a 'primitive form'
              that better corresponds with Protestant sensibilities. In fact,
              the 'reduction to antiquity' of the Modernists and the restoration
              sought by the Traditionalists are diametrically opposed. The
              'reducing to antiquity' of the Modernists has been condemned by
              the popes - whereas true faithfulness to tradition has always been
              guarded in the Church, and is even praised in Holy Scripture. For
              more information, try the Latin
              Mass / Catholic Tradition Section.) 
              Also
        See: Suitable
              / Unsuitable Music | Gregorian
              Chant | Those
              Admitted to the Choir | Music
              is at the Service of the Liturgy & Not Vice Versa | Sacred
              Music is Not For the Purpose of Pleasure or Showing Off | Bands
              Forbidden in Church |Forbidden
              / Allowed Instruments | Instruments
              Should Not Oppress Singing | Against
              Applause / Noise in Church
              | Misc.
              / Sacred Music | Beauty
              & Decorum in the House of God
              | Reverence 
        
        Note:
        Categories are subjective and may overlap. For more items related
        to this topic, please review all applicable categories. For more
        'Reflections' and for Scripture topics, see links below. 
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               Sacred
              Music is Not For the Purpose of Pleasure or Showing Off 
            Also See:
              Music (Topic Page) 
             | 
            
               "[St.]
              Jerome does not absolutely condemn singing, but reproves those who
              sing theatrically in church not in order to arouse devotion, but
              in order to show off, or to provoke pleasure. Hence Augustine says
              (Confessiones x,33): 'When it befalls me to be more moved by the
              voice than by the words sung, I confess to have sinned penally,
              and then had rather not hear the singer.'" (St. Thomas
              Aquinas, Doctor of the Church and "greatest theologian in the
              history of the Church") 
              "The
              soul is distracted from that which is sung by a chant that is
              employed for the purpose of giving pleasure." (St. Thomas
              Aquinas, Doctor of the Church and "greatest theologian in the
              history of the Church") 
              Also
        See: Music
              is at the Service of the Liturgy & Not Vice Versa | Suitable
              / Unsuitable Music | Gregorian
              Chant | Polyphony
              | Those
              Admitted to the Choir | Bands
              Forbidden in Church | Forbidden
              / Allowed Instruments | Instruments
              Should Not Oppress Singing | Against
              Applause / Noise in Church
              | Misc.
              / Sacred Music | Beauty
              & Decorum in the House of God
              | Reverence 
        
        Note:
        Categories are subjective and may overlap. For more items related
        to this topic, please review all applicable categories. For more
        'Reflections' and for Scripture topics, see links below. 
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            | 
               Suitable
              / Unsuitable Music  
            Also See:
              Music (Topic Page) 
             | 
            
               "Can.
              1264 § 1 Music, whether of the organ or of other instruments or
              sung, in which there is mixed anything lascivious or impure is
              entirely forbidden from churches; and the liturgical laws
              concerning sacred music are to be observed." (1917 Code of Canon Law) 
               "They
              shall also banish from churches all those kinds of music, in
              which, whether by the organ, or in the singing, there is mixed up
              any thing lascivious or impure; as also all secular actions; vain
              and therefore profane conversations, all walking about, noise, and
              clamour, that so the house of God may be seen to be, and may be
              called, truly a house of prayer." (Council of Trent,
              Twenty-second Session) 
              "It
              cannot be said that modem music and singing should be entirely
              excluded from Catholic worship. For, if they are not profane nor
              unbecoming to the sacredness of the place and function, and do not
              spring from a desire of achieving extraordinary and unusual
              effects, then our churches must admit them since they can
              contribute in no small way to the splendor of the sacred
              ceremonies, can lift the mind to higher things and foster true
              devotion of soul." (Pope Pius XII, "Mediator Dei",
              1947) 
              "Among
              the different kinds of modern music, that which appears less
              suitable for accompanying the functions of public worship is the
              theatrical style, which was in the greatest vogue, especially in
              Italy, during the last century. This of its very nature is
              diametrically opposed to Gregorian Chant and classic polyphony,
              and therefore to the most important law of all good sacred music.
              Besides the intrinsic structure, the rhythm and what is known as
              the conventionalism of this style adapt themselves but badly to
              the requirements of true liturgical music." (Pope St. Pius X,
              "Inter Sollicitudines", 1911) 
              "[T]he Church must insist that this
              (musical) art remain within its proper limits and must prevent
              anything profane and foreign to divine worship from entering into
              sacred music along with genuine progress, and perverting it" (Pope Pius XII) 
              "[T]he chants and sacred music which are immediately
              joined with the Church's liturgical worship should be conducive to
              the lofty end for which they are intended. This music - as our
              predecessor (St.) Pius X has already wisely warned us - 'must
              possess proper liturgical qualities, primarily holiness and
              goodness of form; from which its other note, universality, is
              derived.' It must be holy. It must not allow within itself
              anything that savors of the profane nor allow any such thing to
              slip into the melodies in which it is expressed." (Pope Pius XII)
               
              "It
              is, however, to be deplored that these most wise laws in some
              places have not been fully observed, and therefore their intended
              results not obtained. We know that some have declared these laws,
              though so solemnly promulgated, were not binding upon their
              obedience. Others obeyed them at first, but have since come
              gradually to give countenance to a type of music which should be
              altogether banned from our churches. In some cases, especially
              when the memory of some famous musician was being celebrated, the
              opportunity has been taken of performing in church certain works
              which, however excellent, should never have been performed there,
              since they were entirely out of keeping with the sacredness of the
              place and of the liturgy." (Pope Pius XI, "Divini Cultus",
              1928) 
              "Moreover, in the encyclical Mediator Dei, We
              Ourselves gave detailed and clear regulations concerning the
              musical modes that are to be admitted into the worship of the
              Catholic religion. 'For, if they are not profane or unbecoming to
              the sacredness of the place and function and do not spring from a
              desire to achieve extraordinary and unusual effects, then our
              churches must admit them, since they can contribute in no small
              way to the splendor of the sacred ceremonies, can lift the mind to
              higher things, and can foster true devotion of the soul.' It
              should hardly be necessary to add the warning that, when the means
              and talent available are unequal to the task, it is better to
              forego such attempts than to do something which would be unworthy
              of divine worship and sacred gatherings." (Pope Pius XII,
              "Musicae Sacrae", 1955) 
              Also
        See: Gregorian
              Chant | Polyphony
              | Those
              Admitted to the Choir | Sacred
              Music is Not For the Purpose of Pleasure or Showing Off | Music
              is at the Service of the Liturgy & Not Vice Versa | Bands
              Forbidden in Church | Forbidden
              / Allowed Instruments | Instruments
              Should Not Oppress Singing | Against
              Applause / Noise in Church
              | Misc.
              / Sacred Music | Beauty
              & Decorum in the House of God
              | Reverence 
        
        Note:
        Categories are subjective and may overlap. For more items related
        to this topic, please review all applicable categories. For more
        'Reflections' and for Scripture topics, see links below. 
              Top |
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            | 
               Those
              Admitted to the Choir  
            Also See:
              Music (Topic Page) 
             | 
            
               "Finally,
              only men of known piety and probity of life are to be admitted to
              form part of the choir of a church, and these men should by their
              modest and devout bearing during the liturgical functions show
              that they are worthy of the holy office they exercise. It will
              also be fitting that singers while singing in church wear the
              ecclesiastical habit and surplice, and that they be hidden behind
              gratings when the choir is excessively open to the public
              gaze." (Pope St. Pius X, "Inter Sollicitudines",
              1916)  
              "Where
              it is impossible to have schools of singers or where there are not
              enough choir boys, it is allowed that 'a group of men and women or
              girls, located in a place outside the sanctuary set apart for the
              exclusive use of this group, can sing the liturgical texts at
              Solemn Mass, as long as the men are completely separated from the
              women and girls and everything unbecoming is avoided. The Ordinary
              is bound in conscience in this matter.'" (Pope Pius XII,
              "Musicae Sacrae", 1955) 
              "Can.
              1264 § 2 Religious women,
              if it is permitted to them according to the norm of their
              constitutions or liturgical law, and having come to the local
              Ordinary, can sing in their own church or public oratory, provided
              that they are singing from a place where they cannot be seen by
              the people." (1917 Code of Canon Law)  
              Also
        See: Women
              Not Admitted to the Choir | Sacred
              Music is Not For the Purpose of Pleasure or Showing Off | Music
              is at the Service of the Liturgy & Not Vice Versa | Suitable
              / Unsuitable Music | Gregorian
              Chant | Polyphony
              | Forbidden
              / Allowed Instruments | Instruments
              Should Not Oppress Singing | Bands
              Forbidden in Church | Misc.
              / Sacred Music | Beauty
              & Decorum in the House of God
              | Proper
              / Improper Church Attire | Reverence 
        
        Note:
        Categories are subjective and may overlap. For more items related
        to this topic, please review all applicable categories. For more
        'Reflections' and for Scripture topics, see links below. 
              Top |
              Reflections: A-Z | Catg.
              | Scripture: A-Z |
              Catg.
              | Help  | 
           
          
            | 
               Women
              Not Admitted to the Choir  
            Also See:
              
              Catholic Women (Topic Page) 
              Note:
              The liturgical practice of all male singers may date back to the Old
              Testament (see 1 Chron. 6:16-32).  | 
            
               "On
              the same principle it follows that singers in church have a real
              liturgical office, and that therefore women, being incapable of
              exercising such office, cannot be admitted to form part of the
              choir. Whenever, then, it is desired to employ the acute voices of
              sopranos and contraltos, these parts must be taken by boys,
              according to the most ancient usage of the Church." (Pope St.
              Pius X, "Inter Sollicitudines", 1914) 
              "Choir-schools
              for boys should be established not only for the greater churches
              and cathedrals, but also for smaller parish churches. The boys
              should be taught by the choirmaster to sing properly, so that, in
              accordance with the ancient custom of the Church, they may sing in
              the choir with the men, especially as in polyphonic music the
              highest part, the cantus, ought to be sung by boys. Choir-boys,
              especially in the sixteenth century, have given us masters of
              polyphony: first and foremost among them, the great Palestrina."
              (Pope Pius XI, "Divini Cultus", 1928) 
              Also
        See: Sacred
              Music is Not For the Purpose of Pleasure or Showing Off | Music
              is at the Service of the Liturgy & Not Vice Versa | Suitable
              / Unsuitable Music | Those
              Admitted to the Choir | Misc.
              / Sacred Music | Beauty
              & Decorum in the House of God
              | Proper
              / Improper Church Attire | Reverence
              | Women
              Not Admitted to the Choir? (flier) 
        
        Note:
        Categories are subjective and may overlap. For more items related
        to this topic, please review all applicable categories. For more
        'Reflections' and for Scripture topics, see links below. 
              Top |
              Reflections: A-Z | Catg.
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               Misc.  | 
            
               "The
              dignity and lofty purpose of sacred music consist in the fact that
              its lovely melodies and splendor beautify and embellish the voices
              of the priest who offers Mass and of the Christian people who
              praise the Sovereign God. Its special power and excellence should
              lift up to God the minds of the faithful who are present. It
              should make the liturgical prayers of the Christian community more
              alive and fervent so that everyone can praise and beseech the
              Triune God more powerfully, more intently and more effectively.
              The power of sacred music increases the honor given to God by the
              Church in union with Christ, its Head. Sacred music likewise helps
              to increase the fruits which the faithful, moved by the sacred
              harmonies, derive from the holy liturgy. These fruits, as daily
              experience and many ancient and modern literary sources show,
              manifest themselves in a life and conduct worthy of a
              Christian." (Pope Pius XII, "Musicae Sacrae", 1955) 
              "To
              arouse men to devotion by teaching and preaching is a more
              excellent way than by singing. Wherefore deacons and prelates,
              whom it becomes to incite men's minds towards God by means of
              preaching and teaching, ought not to be instant in singing, lest
              thereby they be withdrawn from greater things. Hence Gregory says
              (Registrum iv, Ep. 44): 'It is a most discreditable custom for
              those who have been raised to the diaconate to serve as
              choristers, for it behooves them to give their whole time to the
              duty of preaching and to taking charge of the alms.'" (St.
              Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church and "greatest theologian
              in the history of the Church") 
              "These
              laws and standards for religious art apply in a stricter and
              holier way to sacred music because sacred music enters more
              intimately into divine worship than many other liberal arts, such
              as architecture, painting and sculpture. These last serve to
              prepare a worthy setting for the sacred ceremonies. Sacred music,
              however, has an important place in the actual performance of the
              sacred ceremonies and rites themselves. Hence the Church must take
              the greatest care to prevent whatever might be unbecoming to
              sacred worship or anything that might distract the faithful in
              attendance from lifting their minds up to God from entering into
              sacred music, which is the servant, as it were, of the sacred
              liturgy." (Pope Pius XII, "Musicae Sacrae", 1955) 
              "A
              congregation that is devoutly present at the [Eucharistic]
              Sacrifice, in which our Savior together with His children redeemed
              with His sacred blood sings the nuptial hymn of His immense love,
              cannot keep silent, for 'song befits the lover' and, as the
              ancient saying has it, 'he who sings well prays twice.' Thus the
              Church militant, faithful as well as clergy, joins in the hymns of
              the Church triumphant and with the choirs of angels, and, all
              together, sing a wondrous and eternal hymn of praise to the most
              Holy Trinity in keeping with words of the preface, 'with whom our
              voices, too, thou wouldst bid to be admitted.'" (Pope Pius
              XII, "Mediator Dei", 1947) 
              "The
              Church also needs musicians. How many sacred works have been
              composed through the centuries by people deeply imbued with the
              sense of the mystery! The faith of countless believers has been
              nourished by melodies flowing from the hearts of other believers,
              either introduced into the liturgy or used as an aid to dignified
              worship. In song, faith is experienced as vibrant joy, love, and
              confident expectation of the saving intervention of God."
              (Pope John Paul II, 1999) 
              "[T]he
              praise of the voice is necessary in order to arouse man's devotion
              towards God. Wherefore whatever is useful in conducing to this
              result is becomingly adopted in the divine praises. Now it is
              evident that the human soul is moved in various ways according to
              various melodies of sound, as the Philosopher state (Politica
              viii,5), and also Boethius (De Musica, prologue). Hence the use of
              music in the divine praises is a salutary institution, that the
              souls of the faint-hearted may be the more incited to devotion.
              Wherefore [St.] Augustine says (Confessiones x,33): 'I am inclined to
              approve of the usage of singing in the church, that so by the
              delight of the ears the faint-hearted may rise to the feeling of
              devotion': and he says of himself (Confessiones ix,6): 'I wept in
              Thy hymns and canticles, touched to the quick by the voices of Thy
              sweet-attuned Church.'" (St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the
              Church and "greatest theologian in the history of the
              Church") 
              "[T]he
              Church must insist that this [musical] art remain within its
              proper limits and must prevent anything profane and foreign to
              divine worship from entering into sacred music along with genuine
              progress, and perverting it. The Sovereign Pontiffs have always
              diligently fulfilled their obligation to be vigilant in this
              matter. The Council of Trent also forbids 'those musical works in
              which something lascivious or impure is mixed with organ music or
              singing.' In addition, not to mention numerous other Sovereign
              Pontiffs, Our predecessor Benedict XIV of happy memory in an
              encyclical letter dated February 19, 1749, which prepared for a
              Holy Year and was outstanding for its great learning and abundance
              of proofs, particularly urged Bishops to firmly forbid the illicit
              and immoderate elements which had arrogantly been inserted into
              sacred music. Our predecessors Leo XII, Pius VII, Gregory XVI,
              Pius IX, and Leo XIII followed the same line. Nevertheless it can
              rightly be said that Our predecessor of immortal memory, St. Pius
              X, made as it were the highest contribution to the reform and
              renewal of sacred music when he restated the principles and
              standards handed down from the elders and wisely brought them
              together as the conditions of modern times demanded. Finally, like
              Our immediate predecessor of happy memory, Pius XI, in his
              Apostolic Constitution Divini cultus sanctitatem (The Holiness of
              Divine Worship), issued December 20, 1929, We ourself in the
              encyclical Mediator Dei (On the Sacred Liturgy), issued November
              20, 1947, have enriched and confirmed the orders of the older
              Pontiffs. Certainly no one will be astonished that the Church is
              so vigilant and careful about sacred music. It is not a case of
              drawing up laws of aesthetics or technical rules that apply to the
              subject of music. It is the intention of the Church, however, to
              protect sacred music against anything that might lessen its
              dignity, since it is called upon to take part in something as
              important as divine worship." (Pope Pius XII, "Musicae
              Sacrae", 1955) 
              Also
        See: Music
              is at the Service of the Liturgy & Not Vice Versa | Sacred
              Music is Not For the Purpose of Pleasure or Showing Off | Suitable
              / Unsuitable Music | Gregorian
              Chant | Polyphony
              | Those
              Admitted to the Choir | Women
              Not Admitted to the Choir | Bands
              Forbidden in Church | Forbidden
              / Allowed Instruments | Instruments
              Should Not Oppress Singing | Against
              Applause / Noise in Church
              | Beauty
              & Decorum in the House of God
              | Reverence
              | Silence
              in Church | Proper
              / Improper Church Attire 
        
        Note:
        Categories are subjective and may overlap. For more items related
        to this topic, please review all applicable categories. For more
        'Reflections' and for Scripture topics, see links below. 
              Top |
              Reflections: A-Z | Catg.
              | Scripture: A-Z |
              Catg.
              | Help  | 
           
           
          
       
              
               
                
              
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