Grace Thompson
Praise and worship music is a topic of interest to many Christians, including Catholics. While some Catholics enjoy contemporary praise and worship music, others argue that it is not suitable for Mass. The Catholic Church's liturgical music is steeped in tradition, with Gregorian chants and polyphony being widely accepted. However, some Catholics find value in praise and worship music as a form of prayer and devotion. The question of whether praise and worship music is suitable for Catholic liturgy sparks discussions about the role of music in the Church, the impact on attendance and participation, and the potential for confusion or theological implications.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Worship music | Gregorian chants, traditional Catholic hymns, St. Thomas Aquinas' hymns, classical, pop, and gospel music |
| Praise music | Contemporary pop, Christian pop, and songs by Matt Maher, Hillsong, and Newsboys |
| Worship | A Christian act of the baptized gathered by bonds of communion with the visible institutional Church |
| Praise | An individualistic nature of worship |
| Worship music suitability | Worship music should be sacred and liturgical, and not include secular elements |
| Praise music suitability | Praise music is not considered suitable for Mass |
| Worship music style | Worship music is traditional and has a long "shelf-life" |
| Praise music style | Praise music is contemporary and has a short "shelf-life" |
| Worship music impact | Worship music may impact attendance and participation |
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What You'll Learn
Praise and worship music is not worship, but praise
Music is an integral part of worship, and the Church must sing the Mass, i.e., the biblical and liturgical texts contained in the Missal and Gradual. The Church’s treasury of sacred music is an unfathomable gift that must be presented to the faithful. While praise and worship music can be a good devotion and a great way to pray, it is not Sacred Music and should not be used during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
The style of praise and worship songs is contemporary, American, and secular, and may not be suitable for all cultures and contexts. It is written for performance and has a short "shelf-life", with few songs surviving over the past thirty years. Additionally, it may be confusing to equate praise and worship music with the Liturgy or Sacred Music.
However, praise and worship music can still have a place in the life of the Church. It can be emotionally rousing and help to animate prayer, lifting people's minds and hearts to God. It is important to respect the Church's liturgical and musical teachings and laws while also recognizing the value that praise and worship music can bring to individuals' spiritual experiences.
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Gregorian chants and polyphony are examples of Catholic music
Gregorian chants and polyphony are indeed examples of Catholic music. Gregorian chants are a form of sacred song in Latin (and occasionally Greek) that has been employed within the Roman Catholic Church for centuries. Gregorian chants are named after Pope Gregory I ('The Great'), who is traditionally credited with organizing and standardizing the chants. Gregorian chants are usually unaccompanied by musical instruments and are monophonic, meaning there is only one melodic line followed by all singers. This is in contrast with polyphony, where different voices may sing distinct, though harmonizing, vocal lines.
Gregorian chants are considered the music most suitable for worship by the Catholic Church. They are deeply spiritual and calm, and their melodies have influenced both Medieval and Renaissance music. For example, the modern musical stave's notation was directly developed from Gregorian musical notation. The bass clef and the flat, natural, and sharp accidentals all originate from Gregorian notation.
Gregorian chants also influenced hymns and tunes, shaping Medieval and Renaissance polyphony. Chants would often be used as a cantus firmus, or a fixed tune, around which a polyphonic choral melody could develop. The Marian antiphons, especially Alma Redemptoris Mater, were frequently arranged by Renaissance composers.
Polyphony refers to music from the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, where two or three lines sound simultaneously, each line retaining its identity. It rose to prominence prior to and during the period of the Western Schism, with Avignon, the seat of the antipopes, being a vigorous centre of secular music-making that influenced sacred polyphony. In 1364, during the pontificate of Pope Urban V, the first polyphonic setting of the mass was composed by composer and priest Guillaume de Machaut, marking the first time the Church officially sanctioned polyphony in sacred music.
In summary, Gregorian chants and polyphony are integral parts of Catholic music, with Gregorian chants being considered the most suitable for worship, and polyphony being a later development that adds complexity and harmony to the traditional Gregorian chants.
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Praise and worship music is not Sacred Music
Sacred music has never aimed at an emotional high. Instead, it consciously avoids it, guarding against the danger of fallen man becoming submerged in (and limited by) his feelings. Sacred music gently moves man's emotions to support and promote intellectual and spiritual growth.
The Church must sing the Mass, i.e., the biblical and liturgical texts contained in the Missal and Gradual, and not sing at Mass man-made songs, if it is to be the corporate Worship of the Church and not just Praise designed by a select group of people. The deliberate intention to manipulate human emotions to produce a religious effect is abusive, insincere, and disrespectful of God’s power to bring about conversion in the hearts of man.
The style of Praise and Worship songs is obviously contemporary, American, and secular. If missionaries were to impose these songs on some indigenous tribe elsewhere in the world, it would be comparable to asking them to adopt American culture. In contrast, Gregorian chant, for example, belongs to no single nation, people, period, or movement. It developed slowly from ancient times to more recent centuries, across the entire map where Christianity was planted.
In conclusion, praise and worship music is not sacred music. Sacred music is a gift to mankind from the Church, and it must be presented to the faithful so that they may enjoy that rich gift.
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Hymns are superior to praise and worship songs
Hymns also have a longer "shelf-life" and are more likely to be sung by the congregation. Praise and worship songs, on the other hand, are often written for performance and have a shorter lifespan, with few surviving over the past thirty years. Hymns are more likely to withstand the test of time and remain in the hearts and minds of the faithful.
Additionally, hymns are often rich in gospel-centered lyrics that can become a powerful means of rejoicing in God and ministering to our hearts, giving us hope and faith. The lyrical content of praise and worship songs, on the other hand, can sometimes be simplistic and may not resonate as deeply with the congregation.
While praise and worship songs have their place in the life of the Church, with their ability to uplift hearts and minds to God, hymns are generally considered more suitable for public worship due to their theological depth, artistic excellence, and enduring nature. The introduction of praise and worship songs at the expense of hymns could be seen as a theological shift, as hymns are deeply rooted in the Church's liturgical and musical heritage.
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Praise and worship music is not suitable for Mass
The sacred liturgy is the public prayer of the Church, a corporate worship by which baptized Catholics enter into a Mystery. It is governed by law and tradition to preserve its unity and fidelity to the Message revealed by God. Worship is a Christian act of the baptized gathered by bonds of communion with the visible institutional Church. Praise and worship music identifies worship with praise, grafting the individualistic nature of praise onto the communal prayer of the Church. It assumes that worship is something we do, rather than something that Jesus does.
The Mass is the re-presentation of the Sacrifice of Christ to His Father, and worship is the Sacrament of this Sacrifice. Praise and worship music reduces the Mass to a sacrifice of praise that we offer to God. It introduces an element of subjectivism into the liturgy, assuming that music must be relevant to those who hear it. However, the notion of relevance is ambiguous, and what is relevant to one person may not be to another.
Music at Mass should complement the action of worship, sacrifice, and offering. It should not distract from the liturgy but instead glorify the Mass and direct all attention to the sacrifice on the altar. Hymns can set the tone for Mass, bring light to the readings, and stir the faithful to greater devotion. However, praise and worship music often focuses on the congregation gathering together rather than on Jesus, God, or the Mass itself.
While some people argue that contemporary praise and worship music attracts more people, especially younger people, to Mass, there is little evidence to support this claim. In fact, surveys suggest that millennials prefer traditional Latin Mass with traditional sacred music and chant. Ultimately, the decision to include praise and worship music in Mass may depend on individual parishes and music directors. However, it is essential to consider the theological implications and ensure that the music complements the sacred nature of the liturgy.
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Frequently asked questions
Praise and worship music is a contemporary style of music that is used to praise God and bring people closer to him.
Praise and worship music is not considered Sacred Music and is therefore not used during Mass in the Catholic Church. However, it is still considered a form of prayer and can be used in paraliturgical functions.
During Mass, the Church sings the Mass, which includes biblical and liturgical texts contained in the Missal and Gradual. The Church also has a rich history of sacred music, including Gregorian chants and polyphony, which are considered more traditional forms of Catholic worship music.
Catholics can listen to praise and worship music, and some Catholics enjoy this style of music. However, it is important to be cautious as some praise and worship songs may contain lyrics that are at odds with Catholic teaching.
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