Prot. No. 1066/2006
PASTORAL LETTER ON LITURGICAL
MUSIC
VARKEY CARDINAL VITHAYATHIL, the
Major Archbishop of
Ernakulam-Angamaly, to the
Archbishops, Bishops, priests, Men
and Women Religious and Lay Faithful
of the Syro-Malabar Church,
blessings and peace in our Lord
Jesus Christ.
Venerable Brothers and Beloved
Children,
The
Catholic Church has always
considered its tradition regarding
liturgical music as a priceless
treasure. More than any other
artistic expression, music is held
in great esteem in the Church. The
Constitution on Sacred Liturgy of
the Second Vatican Council reminds
us that music is given an exalted
position in liturgy because sacred
music forms an inseparable and
indispensable part of the liturgy
(SC 112). It is this awareness of
the importance of music in liturgy
that prompted Popes like Pius X,
Pius XII, and John Paul II, to issue
Apostolic Letters on liturgical
music. Pope John Paul II had
exhorted the Bishops to pay special
attention to liturgical music. He
reminded them that while encouraging
church choirs, they should instruct
them to make their singing attuned
to the sacred character of the
church. At the same time, the Pope
once expressed his regret about the
carelessness shown by many in this
regard, in spite of the repeated
exhortations by the
Church-authorities. The Present
Pope Benedict XVI also has indicated
clearly the views of the Church in
this regard.
During
a seminar on liturgical music
organized by the liturgical research
center of our church at the Major
Archiepiscopal Curia at Mount St.
Thomas many defects of the
present-day liturgical music were
pointed out. The Syro-Malabar
Bishops’ Synod of the year 2006 also
discussed this topic. Besides, many
priests, religious and lay faithful
also had made repeated requests for
proper measures to be taken
concerning this subject.
The
Catechism of the Catholic Church
lays down three criteria to be
observed in liturgical music: 1.
beauty expressive of prayer, 2. the
participation of the whole assembly
in singing at the designated
moments, and, 3. the solemn
character of the celebration (CCC
No. 1157). In the general
instructions given in the Taksa
of the Syro-Malabar Qurbana,
it is clearly stated that the
purpose of the choir is to help the
congregation to actively participate
in the liturgy. It is also clearly
instructed that only approved hymns
and tunes should be used in the
liturgy (General Instructions, n.
15).
The
Church is not against adapting the
liturgical music to the special
characteristics of a place or
culture. The same is her attitude
towards modern music. But, they
should be able to raise human hearts
to God and to things Divine. This
is applicable also to the use of
musical instruments during
liturgical celebrations. If it does
not contribute to the glory of the
church or to the spiritual
nourishment of the faithful,
liturgical music does not attain its
goal. In the words of St.
Augustine, singing should help to
pray with double efficacy. The
Church desires that liturgical music
be safeguarded and developed with
the greatest care. A good way to
attain this is to give proper
training to the members of the
church choir. At the same time,
when singing is used in liturgical
services, the faithful should have
their own share.
The
church has also clear vision about
the composition of the liturgical
music, musical instruments to be
used in the liturgy, the singers and
their way of singing. The
directives given by the Second
Vatican Council in this regard are
noteworthy. The Council insists
that it should be with the active
participation of the faithful that
the liturgical celebrations are to
be made attractive with music. The
church is bound to encourage
skillfully the practice of the
faithful singing aloud religious
songs in accordance with the
liturgical rubrics (SC 113, 114,
118, 121). Those who compose
liturgical hymns must be persons
filled with the Christian spirit.
Their compositions must abound in
the distinctive qualities of
liturgical music. Besides, they
should be in conformity with
catholic teaching and should draw
principally on scripture and on
sources from within the liturgy (SC
121). According to Pope Benedict
XVI, “Now music is not originating
from prayer; moreover, with the new
demand of artistic independence, it
is going away from liturgy” (Spirit
of Liturgy).
We
should bear in mind that there is
difference between liturgical music
and an orchestra. Some noisy
instruments used in orchestra are
not at all suited to the atmosphere
of a church nor does it help
prayer. Such instruments drown the
voice of the faithful, besides
becoming a hindrance to prayer.
Pope
Pius XII has said that those who
compose liturgical music, those who
sing and those who play musical
instruments for liturgical services
were doing a very important ministry
in the Church. Since they help the
people of God to pray well, he said
that God will bless them with
appropriate reward. Therefore,
nothing unsuited to the glory of the
liturgy should be allowed in the
compositions, in the way of singing
and in the instruments used in
liturgical celebrations. Those who
are engaged in Church music are not
merely artists; they are ministers
in the Church. They are bound to
live according to this call. Pope
John Paul II has said that only
those who, while being members of
the Church, have also imbibed the
spirit of the Church, can
participate in liturgical music in
the proper way.
It is
necessary to make the required
changes in the style of liturgical
music in our church in the light of
the teachings of the universal
Church. I exhort everyone connected
with liturgical music to work
earnestly towards making liturgical
music a real experience of prayer by
co-operating fully with the suitable
directives given in this regard.
Invoking God’s blessing upon you, in
the name of + the Father and of +
the Son and of + the Holy Spirit.
+Varkey
Cardinal Vithayathil
Major
Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar
Church
Given
from the Major Archiepiscopal Curia
of the Syro-Malabar Church at Mount
St Thomas on 4th December
2006.
________________________________________________________________________
N.B:
This pastoral letter is to be read
out during the Holy Mass on Sunday,
14th January 2007 in all
churches and chapels of the Syro-Malabar
Church where there is Sunday Mass
for the public |
