General Instruction of the Roman Missal

Why Music at Mass?

 GIRM: “Every care must be taken that singing by the ministers and the people is not absent in celebrations that occur on Sundays and holy days of obligation”.

    Cultural traditions influence how people celebrate various events in their lives, major and minor, joyful and mournful. In many parts of the world, any type of communal gathering invariably includes music and song. Such traditions influence the extent to which music and song are used at celebrations.

    But unlike people of some other nations, many Americans do not sing publicly except at birthday celebrations. It is becoming more and more common at sporting events to find the national anthem being sung by a soloist rather than by all present as was common in the past. As a result, liturgical music and congregational singing may seem unnecessary and even distracting to many at Mass. Yet, there are Catholics whose cultural background leads them to be very comfortable with public singing, for example, those of German, Polish or African-American heritages, and parishes associated with such ethnic groups are often well-known for music-filled liturgies.

   Ever since its initial publication in 1969, the General Instructions of the Roman Missal (GIRM) encouraged singing at Mass. GIRM n. 40, “great importance should be attached to the use of singing in the celebration of the Mass”, reiterates words from the Second Vatican Council’ Constitution on Sacred Liturgy (cf.n.113): “Liturgical action is given a more noble form when sacred rites are solemnized in song”. The GIRM emphasizes the long tradition of song in liturgical celebrations by referring to St. Augustine’s words, “Singing is for lovers” and an ancient proverb, “One who sings well prays twice” (2002 GIRM, n. 39).

    The presence of singing during Mass reflects the foundational vision of the Mass as a joyful celebration, by the people of God, of God’s love, particularly Christ’s death and resurrection, the paschal mystery. Decisions about where to include music, and how much, should  always be made from this foundational vision of what the Mass ultimately is. The revised 2002 GIRM encourages us to include music and singing at Mass. “Every care must be taken that singing by the ministers and the people is not absent in celebrations that occur on Sundays and holy days …”  This is consistent with a long tradition of including music at religious rites, primarily because such rites are always celebrations of the people of God and not merely private prayer of the priest celebrant.

    The Eucharist is “the center of the whole Christian life.” We gather at Mass to express and nourish our faith. Joyful celebrations of the Eucharist, with music and song, can only help build up the faith of those assembled as they give thanks and praise to a loving God.

(2002, Dennis C. Smolarski, SJ; Used with permission by the Archdiocese of Detroit for parish bulletin inserts.)

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