T IS INTERESTING from time to time to follow all the debates going on about the future of liturgical music. There are always many competing on the issue of what is liturgical and what is not. Certainly this is a topic that deserves attention, even if sometimes the risk of repeating the same things for years is always present. Indeed the real topic is not if liturgical music is important, but for what liturgical music is important.
Undoubtedly one of the major problems is the false understanding about the role of music in the liturgy; a role that is not to be there on its own, per conto suo, we would say in Italian. Music and liturgy are intimately connected. So, without the deep understanding of the liturgy, there is no liturgical music. It is useless to fight, sending back and forth phrases from Sacrosanctum Concilum or Saint Pius X’s Motu Proprio: everything has to be understood in the framework of a deep attention and respect for the liturgy. Everything will follow from this. Words are important. This is why I am diverging the attention from the music to the liturgy. Of course music has a life in itself, but when liturgical, it becomes like a bride that from that moment will be intimately connected with her husband.
Is liturgy possible without music? Yes. But the way music makes liturgy alive in the hearts of the faithful is unquestionably great. Why do we not want to learn the lessons from history? If we will do it, we will see thousands of great men and women whose faith was nourished from music. I hope everyone can have the same possibilities from this that they have had.
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