Music in the Liturgy: this is the theme that Father Marco Frisina, a priest of the Diocese of Rome, biblical scholar, and composer, invites us to discover in volume 14 of the Council Notebooks (commissioned by Pope Francis in preparation for the 2025 Jubilee), by analyzing chapter VI of Sacrosanctum Concilium.
Music, a universal language
Music is a precious language, a wordless language that has endured through every age and overcome every barrier, as the author of the Notebook recalls at the beginning: “Music occupies a very important place in the cultures and history of every people, holding a significant position among all artistic disciplines. Indeed, it has the ability to communicate its content immediately; it needs no translation and touches the listener’s heart directly, whatever their culture or nationality. Everyone experiences the effectiveness and power of music in expressing the deepest feelings and emotions, and knows its ability to communicate and share them.”
Liturgical music: music that speaks of God
“Whoever sings prays twice,” said Saint Augustine! Liturgical music is a special kind of music because it speaks of God and must lead us to God; moreover, its purpose is prayer, a purpose it must never forget.
For this reason, Frisina warns: «Over these two millennia of sacred music, we have accumulated an enormous quantity of works of great artistic and spiritual value, but, as the council recommends to us (SC 116), these compositions must respond “to the spirit of the liturgical action”. In other words, they must not be used indiscriminately, but be incorporated in such a way that they can authentically place themselves at the service of the liturgical action. There is always a risk of turning a celebration into a concert; we must understand that the quality of liturgical music is based on its artistic beauty, but above all on its primary purpose: its service to the Church’s prayer».
Which musical instruments are best suited?
How is this particular music, capable of becoming prayer, played?
This volume of the Council Notebooks also gives us valuable guidance in this regard. Frisina emphasizes the ancient and ever-new appeal of the pipe organ: «The organ is a kind of large wind instrument, whose sound can be gentle but also very powerful and extraordinarily solemn, and there is no doubt that the pipe organ offers many advantages in liturgical use. First of all, its sound blends with the voices of the choir and supports their intonation, which is no small advantage».
He nevertheless recalls that the Sacrosanctum Concilium is “open” to every type of instrument, provided that musical instruments are used to the best of their ability, for the good of the celebration.
Then let us pray to God by singing; let us pray to God by playing music... our music, a language without borders, will reach heaven!
