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Views from the Choir Loft

Archbishop Sample’s Letter On Sacred Music (2 of 8)

Aurelio Porfiri · June 17, 2014

361 Archbishop Alexander K. Sample F WE READ the 2013 Pastoral Letter on sacred music by Archbishop Alexander K. Sample to his past diocese of Marquette, I think we need to notice three instances of good news, but one of bad news.

      * *  Pastoral Letter by Archbishop Sample

Let us begin with the good news.

The first instance of good news is the Archbishop’s framework when dealing with sacred (or liturgical music). He is presenting to his diocese the exigency of continuity, the hermeneutic of continuity (Benedict XVI) that will be the happy key to solve many of the problems raised by the wild interpretation of Sacrosanctum Concilium.

The second instance of good news is that the Archbishop does not defend the tradition against Vatican II, but with Vatican II. Church teachings are not like going to the supermarket deciding what we like and what not. Of course as sinners we made many times wrong choices, but we should always know where the line is. I am always surprised by the many interpretations of Vatican II that say we really shouldn’t pay too much attention to this Council. It is a Council of the Church, in continuity with all the other Councils before. Probably not everything in the Vatican II documents was clear, and some formulations were plainly the outcome of painful negotiations. So, where there are doubts, the tradition should supply the answer.

The third instance of good news is that a Catholic Archbishop nowadays understands the importance of music in the liturgy. After reading the opening lines, you should already be aware of where he stands:

In any discussion of the ars celebrandi (the “art of celebrating”) as it relates to the Holy Mass, probably nothing is more important or has a greater impact than the place of sacred music. The beauty, dignity and prayerfulness of the Mass depend to a large extent on the music that accompanies the liturgical action. The Holy Mass must be truly beautiful, the very best we can offer to God, reflecting his own perfect beauty and goodness.

I may disagree on the use of some terminology, like “sacred music”, not because it’s wrong, but because I think the debate around correct nomenclature for liturgical music (ritual music, church music, etc.) should always be considered carefully. But out of that, the words of the Archbishop are really agreed upon by everyone. I’ve just mentioned three instances of good news, but I could mention more.

BUT NOW I MUST CONSIDER THE BAD NEWS. The bad news is that the letter looks weird. Let me explain.

This is an Archbishop who presents the correct interpretation of the documents on the music for the liturgy — without being an opponent of Vatican II — and promotes the Council according its own true spirit. And all of this sounds so strange in the current landscape when most of the Bishops think that it’s not useful to talk of sacred music or we risk losing our beloved “contemporary liturgical music groups.”   1

Most of the Bishops will talk about everything from global warming to the latest cure for cholesterol, but they leave the issue of liturgical music to some priests who think that saving people means dying with them; drinking the same poison that corrupts us in the deepest part of our soul.

Please Archbishop Sample, no more letters on sacred music (treating this issue with such seriousness and boldness): nowadays it sounds too strange. In case you don’t change your mind, even after my advice, may God give you the strength, the courage, and the passion to remain standing in the boat adrift.


This is part of an 8-part series on Archbishop Sample’s historic letter:

FIRST REFLECTION • Jeff Ostrowski

SECOND REFLECTION • Aurelio Porfiri

THIRD REFLECTION • Andrew Motyka

FOURTH REFLECTION • Peter Kwasniewski

FIFTH REFLECTION • Richard Clark

SIXTH REFLECTION • Veronica Brandt

SEVENTH REFLECTION • Fr. David Friel

EIGHTH REFLECTION • Gwyneth Holston



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   Contemporary? Really? But most of that music reflects pop music of the 60s …

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Archbishop Alexander K Sample Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Aurelio Porfiri

Renowned as composer, conductor, theorist, author, pedagogue, and organist, Aurelio Porfiri has served the Church on multiple continents at the highest levels. Born and raised in Italy, he currently serves as Director of Choral Activities and Composer in Residence for Santa Rosa de Lima School (Macao, China).

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Quick Thoughts

    Hymn by Cardinal Newman
    During the season of Septuagesima, we will be using this hymn by Cardinal Newman, which employs both Latin and English. (Readers probably know that Cardinal Newman was one of the world's experts when it comes to Lingua Latina.) The final verse contains a beautiful soprano descant. Father Louis Bouyer—famous theologian, close friend of Pope Paul VI, and architect of post-conciliar reforms—wrote thus vis-à-vis the elimination of Septuagesima: “I prefer to say nothing, or very little, about the new calendar, the handiwork of a trio of maniacs who suppressed (with no good reason) Septuagesima and the Octave of Pentecost and who scattered three quarters of the Saints higgledy-piddledy, all based on notions of their own devising!”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Introit • Candlemas (2 February)
    “Candlemas” • Our choir sang on February 2nd, and here's a live recording of the beautiful INTROIT: Suscépimus Deus. We had very little time to rehearse, but I think it has some very nice moments. I promise that by the 8th Sunday after Pentecost it will be perfect! (That Introit is repeated on the 8th Sunday after Pentecost.) We still need to improve, but we're definitely on the right track!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplified Antiphons • “Candlemas”
    Anyone who desires simplified antiphons (“psalm tone versions”) for 2 February, the Feast of the Purification—which is also known as “Candlemas” or the Feast of the Presentation—may freely download them. The texts of the antiphons are quite beautiful. From “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium” you can hear a live excerpt (Mp3). I'm not a fan of chant in octaves, but we had such limited time to rehearse, it seemed the best choice. After all, everyone should have an opportunity to learn “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium,” which summarizes Candlemas.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Young people have entrusted me with their absolute preference for the Extraordinary Form… […] But, above all, how can we understand—how can we not be surprised and deeply shocked—that what was the rule yesterday is prohibited today? Is it not true that prohibiting or suspecting the Extraordinary Form can only be inspired by the demon who desires our suffocation and spiritual death?”

— Cardinal Sarah to Edward Pentin (23 September 2019)

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