“Sacred music… is more closely connected with the liturgical action, whether it adds delight to prayer, fosters unity of minds, or confers greater solemnity upon the sacred rites. But the Church approves of all forms of true art having the needed qualities, and admits them into divine worship.”
—Sacrosanctum Concilium, chapter VI section 112
I’m a musician. I wouldn’t consider myself a singer per se, but I appreciate a good, communal hymn. Blame my Baptist roots, but music is an essential part of worship. “He who sings prays twice,” they say (whoever “they” is). So it’s a real bummer when I attend a Mass and the people aren’t singing. Most don’t even bother to take out the hymnal.
Thomas Day tries to explain why in Why Catholics Can’t Sing. The title has a double meaning: Most Catholics can’t sing, because I’d say most people can’t carry a tune. But the larger issue is how they can’t because the music itself doesn’t allow them to. It’s too complicated or confusing.
Day blames much of this on Vatican II and its vague instruction on liturgical music. Its documents are left open to interpretation, allowing for variations based on local customs and what “the people” feel is appropriate. In the mission field especially, pastors are encouraged to include music that speaks to the local people: “Due importance is to be attached to their music, and a suitable place is to be given to it.” (Ch VI sec 119) As a result, “local” music took precedence over more “churchy” music. Gregorian chant, the highest of liturgical music, is hardly seen in most churches. If it is, it’s probably the simplified version that emerged after Vatican II.
The post-Vatican II church was dizzy in confusion over what to do with music. “Choirs must be diligently promoted,” Sacrosanctum Concilium says (Ch VI sec 114). Instruments other than the organ were permitted if they “can be made suitable for sacred use.” (sec 120) All of this is highly subjective. The “diligent promotion” of choirs often means amplifying like a rock concert. Other churches found the acoustic guitar to be suitable, which I have certain opinions about. Once sacred music was opened to personal interpretation, it lost its uniformity and its worship character.
That’s the real crux of the issue—the universal Church loses its universality when it’s left up to the people. Opening music to interpretation and “local customs” has resulted in a mix of traditional and modern hymns; a plethora of instruments and musical styles; and choirs so loud that the people aren’t heard. When church resembles a concert, the people become attendees—not participants. Remove the amplification. Select hymns with simple rhythms, not complex time signatures and syncopation. Make it accessible, and maybe there’s a chance people will be inspired to take part.
