Catechesis & Choir - Seth Lowman
Sacred Music VS. Religious Music
When music ministers talk about “sacred music”, what do we mean?
Sacred music is music that is set apart for use within the liturgy.
Just as the Church has sacred objects, for example the chalice that holds the blood of Christ consecrated during Mass, so also the Church has sacred music specifically written for singing the Mass and for singing during the Mass. Sacred music is intended not only to enhance the liturgy, but also to help evangelize those who are coming to Mass but do not yet understand its purpose; for example, when your friend or relative comes to Church for the first time, he should be able to listen to the texts of hymns and chant, and be drawn deeper into the mysteries of the faith.
Sacred music includes hymnody, liturgical chant, Gregorian chant, and sung Propers of the Mass like the Responsorial Psalm, Alleluia/gospel acclamation, and antiphons. It is either sung a Capella, or sung with the accompaniment of a pipe organ, as directed by the Vatican II documents, and in special circumstances, such as for Christmas and Easter, some orchestral instruments may be used, such as the trumpet, horn, and trombone.
Religious music is music that is used for evangelization outside of Mass.
It pairs lyrics about the faith with secular instruments, such as piano, guitar, drums, etc. to evangelize the outside world. Religious music includes praise and worship songs you might play in your car on the way to Mass, music that is used in teaching the faith to children, and songs with religious texts used for personal reflection and/or comfort, such as “Be Not Afraid”, or “Holy is his Name” by Michael John Talbot.
Both religious and sacred music have their designated purposes.
While sacred music is specifically meant for use in the liturgy, religious music is appropriate for other religious services, such as Eucharistic adoration, and more importantly, it plays a key role in evangelization in our world today. Unfortunately, big-name publishers such as OCP and GIA Publications seek to blur the lines between religious and sacred music, thus creating confusion, and causing us to lose track of the reasons we sing during Mass; that is, for our sanctification, and for the proclamation of the glory of God.
Our goal as music ministers is to restore sacred music to its rightful place within the Mass, and thus help our fellow parishioners better understand the teachings of Christ as we continue on our faith journey together.
- Seth Lowman, 2/10/24
