Pope Francis Bats for Renewal of Sacred Musical Tradition
The day before he went to his annual Lenten retreat, Pope Francis addressed participants of a major international conference on sacred music where he encouraged the renewal of traditional liturgical hymns combined with modern elements to make it relevant today.
The pontiff spoke before 400 people at the closing of the three-day International Congress on Sacred Music which had for the theme "Music and Church: Worship and Culture 50 Years after Musicam Sacram." The conference aimed tostimulate a deep reflection in the musical, liturgical, and theological expression of praise to God through music.
It was organized by the Pontifical Council for Culture and the Congregation for Catholic Education, in collaboration with the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music and the Pontifical Liturgical Institute of Saint Anselm's Athenaeum. The attendees consisted of representatives of Episcopal Conferences and religious orders, musicians, curators of liturgical music, associations and movements.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
"Liturgical action is given a more noble form when it is celebrated in song... and with the participation of the people," Pope Francis said, quoting the Second Vatican Council's Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. But music has its limit, he went on, as "true solemnity of a liturgical action does not depend on the richest form of the singing and of the more magnificent array of the ceremonies, but rather on the worthy and religious way of the celebration."
Pope Francis also said that the Church has a mission to safeguard and promote the rich and varied heritage inherited from the past without ignoring the artistic and musical language of the present. To do this, it has to ensure that sacred music and liturgical chant will not sound too archaic.
This is possible, he said, through proper musical education "in dialogue with the musical currents of our time" taking into consideration the demands of different cultural areas. There must be a balance between the past and the present, he continued, to invite full participation from the congregation.
