Sacred Liturgical Music
In the years following Vatican II, it seems that liturgical music is taking a turn toward contemporary. Musicians such as Marty Haugen and David Haas (collectively Haugen-Haas) have become standards for Masses across the country. Some are calling for a moratorium on this music in the liturgy. The Church has such a surplus of beautiful hymns, there is no need for the contemporary Haugen-Haas.
For two millennia we’ve been taking advantage of all the “talented musicians in the Church”: St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Venantius Fortunatus, St. Bernard, St. Ambrose and St. Gregory were all powerful hymn-writers. Granted, one’s name does not have to be preceded by “St.” to write beautiful hymns, but we should look to these saints and to our venerable tradition for the development of sacred music.
Unfortunately, the music of Marty Haugen and David Haas, while having contemporary appeal, cannot “gather us in” like Gregorian chant and polyphony, which is timeless in its appeal.
The first hymns were written to battle heresy. Yet, some revered writers of “Catholic” music, such as Haugen, aren’t even Catholic! Ironic that now some prefer Lutheran song-writers over saintly heresy-hammers.
As a student at OSU, I’ve enjoyed that chant is being re-introduced into the liturgy. The theological depth of Latin hymns complements the Holy Mass and aids in the “full and actual participation” of those assisting. Far from a “cold, remote atmosphere,” the Sacred Liturgy, complemented by the sublimity of chants, allows one to “pray the Mass” and not just “pray at Mass.”
~Sancte Gregori, ora pro nobis~
