Last year I wrote an eight-part series for my parish about the Catholic Mass. For the Catholics in my audience, or anyone who wants to know more about why Catholics do what they do, these articles and videos are a great resource!
In this video, The Beauty of Music, we look at music and how it lifts our hearts, minds, and voices to God in the liturgy.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us in paragraph 1156, “The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art…as a combination of sacred music and words, it forms a necessary or integral part of solemn liturgy.”
Worship expressed through music is a deeply moving and personal experience. Throughout the centuries, a legitimate diversity of musical expression has developed in the church.
The purpose of every expression of liturgical music is to draw us into prayer and to glorify God. St. Thomas Aquinas taught that God is “Truth, Goodness, and Beauty”. To seek what is true, what is good, and what is beautiful is to search for God, so we should worship Him that same way.
Music at Mass must first be true. Hymns are a mini homily. We learn theology through the songs we sing, so the words matter. The hymns we use must not communicate weak theology or incorrect theology.
That which is good is often thought of as that which is desired. Good liturgical music orients our desires toward God, not ourselves or other earthly things.
Similarly, many of the Greek philosophers taught that beauty creates a longing within us. It creates a vacuum in us that Catholic tradition recognizes God alone can satisfy. Good music orients our desires toward God and beautiful music creates a longing for Him.
Pope Francis said, “Every expression of true beauty can thus be acknowledged as a path leading to an encounter with the Lord Jesus.” Beauty in music can be expressed in different ways, including poetic words, melodies, harmonies, and accompaniment.
The beauty in the accompaniment is often conveyed by the pipe organ. Have you ever wondered why the organ is the instrument often used at Mass? The Second Vatican Council taught that at Mass, “The pipe organ is to be held in high esteem…since it is the Mass’ traditional instrument, the sound of which can add a wonderful splendor to the Church’s ceremonies and powerfully lift up men’s minds to God and higher things.”
Engage in Mass by singing! The more people who sing, the less self-conscious we each need to be about our own voice!
For more about sacred music, read Why Catholics Can’t Sing by Thomas Day.
The other videos in the series:
#2 – Why Churches Look Like They Do
#3 – The Structure of the Mass