OU WON’T BE SURPRISED when I say that I speak to many different Church musicians on a daily basis. If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard the following comment from one of my buddies, I’d be a rich man:
“You Catholics ought to learn from the Episcopal Church. In the Episcopal Church we do Sacred music correctly. Your parishes are awful, but ours are wonderful.”
When I hear comments like these, I bite my tongue. I don’t argue. I don’t respond. There’s no point in responding. But in my heart, I know the truth, and here’s the truth:
Some Catholic churches have fantastic Sacred music. Others do not. Some Episcopalian churches have fantastic Sacred music. Others do not. Some Anglican churches have fantastic Sacred music. Others do not.
Here’s a video from an Episcopal Church filmed on Easter of 2013:
The reality of the situation is that the Catholic Church is the True Church founded by our Lord Jesus Christ about 2,000 years ago. At the end of the day, the crucial question is not whether such-and-such a church has nicer music than such-and-such a Catholic church.
That being said, we are called by our Lord to take the liturgy very seriously. We are called to recognize that the Mass is the Sacrifice of Calvary. Those who insist on music contrary to what Church legislation allows will have to answer for their actions when they die. I would not want to be in their shoes. May God help us always to serve Him, so that we can one day be happy with Him in Heaven.
