The Preeminent Role of Music in Divine Worship

Dear Friend, 

What is the difference between “praise and worship” music and the sacred music traditions of the Catholic Church? Should we applaud in church when the music is particularly moving? Is liturgical music meant to move our emotions or enhance the words and prayers of the liturgy? 

These are questions that touch our lives every time we go to Mass, and our panelists answer these questions with remarkable insight.

The Eucharist is the highest form of divine worship we can experience on this earth, and music has always been an enhancement to the formal words of the Mass. Sacrament, word, and sacred music together unite us to the rest of the believing Church, not only the universal Church in our day but to the entire mystical Church throughout space and time. 

Unfortunately, even Catholic worship has in some ways been affected by the modern day phenomenon of “megachurches” where there is little scripture, little actual preaching of the Gospel, and lots of entertaining music. But this model is not the authentic way for Catholics to worship. 

We worship God out of justice, not for entertainment. Worship is due to Him because He is God. This means that lack of preparation, liturgical sloppiness, lack of devotion, and secular entertainment models of worship are foreign to the Catholic experience of Mass. 

In essence, the proper understanding and practice of sacred music are more important for our worship today than ever before, since faith is so watered down and catechesis is so weak. Simple practices like arriving at Mass early, preparing one’s heart through the readings, proper attire, and remaining for the final blessing at the end of Mass make great contributions to our experience of divine worship. 

But we can never underestimate the preeminent role of good sacred music in divine worship: it helps us worship like the angels who constantly sing God’s praises in heaven.

Your friend in Christ,

Thomas McKenna

Founder and President

Catholic Action For Faith And Family
http://www.catholicaction.org/

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