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Views from the Choir Loft

Archbishop Sample’s Letter On Sacred Music (3 of 8)

Andrew R. Motyka · June 18, 2014

RCHBISHOP SAMPLE’S pastoral letter on sacred music has several wonderful passages to consider. While there are many discussions that should, and will, flow forth from this letter, I particularly appreciate the good Archbishop’s description of the qualities of sacred music.

      * *  Archbishop Sample • 2013 Letter (PDF)

When discussing liturgical art in general, and liturgical music in particular, it is easy to fall into thinking that the quality and appropriateness of literature is subjective. Archbishop Sample elucidates the qualities of sacred music in a way that puts the discussion in objective terms. Agreeing on criteria like this is essential if any discussion is to be had about what the Church wants from us in musical worship.

The three criteria shared by the Archbishop are the sanctity, beauty, and universality of music. By sanctity in music, he means the way in which music is executed in the liturgy, in a manner conducive to worship as well as its connection to the ritual itself. Not only should the choice of music be connected to the liturgy, but its performance also needs appropriate reverence. We need to avoid “profanity not only in itself, but in the manner in which it is presented by those who execute it.” Certainly a conversation can take place as to what constitutes “profanity” in music (profane, in this case, being defined as the opposite of sacred), but surely we can agree that turns of music that call to mind secular celebrations and not sacred prayer.

The second criterion, beauty, is the most subjective, but we still have some guidance here. We are called to music that is “true art,” so that it is clear that it has its place in the divine liturgy. The third element for consideration is the universality of sacred music. This is where the most interesting idea comes in, in my opinion. It relates back to the first criterion, the holiness of music, and that holiness transcends culture. Notice that this enculturation refers only to music that is already culturally relevant to worship, not simply all cultural practices to be worked into the liturgy. When cultural practices are connected to worship, they can be Christianized, when appropriate, and brought to the liturgy, provided they also fulfill the first two criteria.

THERE IS MUCH TO BE CONSIDERED in Archbishop Sample’s letter on pastoral music, and it is encouraging that such a musical and liturgical thinker is now so connected to the nation’s most overwhelmingly influential liturgical publishing house. This letter should provide for much consideration and conversation, and hopefully assist all of us in our mission of the worship of God and the edification of the faithful.


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

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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Andrew R. Motyka

About Andrew R. Motyka

Andrew Motyka is the Archdiocesan Director of Liturgical Music and Cathedral Music for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

19 January 2021 • Confusion over feasts

For several months, we have discussed the complicated history of the various Christmas feasts: the Baptism of the Lord, the feast of the Holy Family, the Epiphany, and so forth. During a discussion, someone questioned my assertion that in some places Christmas had been part of the Epiphany. As time went on, of course, the Epiphany came to represent only three “manifestations” (Magi, Cana, Baptism), but this is not something rigid. For example, if you look at this “Capital E” from the feast of the Epiphany circa 1350AD, you can see it portrays not three mysteries but four—including PHAGIPHANIA when Our Lord fed the 5,000. In any event, anyone who wants proof the Epiphany used to include Christmas can read this passage from Dom Prosper Guéranger.

—Jeff Ostrowski
6 January 2021 • Anglicans on Plainsong

A book published by Anglicans in 1965 has this to say about Abbat Pothier’s Editio Vaticana, the musical edition reproduced by books such as the LIBER USUALIS (Solesmes Abbey): “No performing edition of the music of the Eucharistic Psalmody can afford to ignore the evidence of the current official edition of the Latin Graduale, which is no mere reproduction of a local or partial tradition, but a CENTO resulting from an extended study and comparison of a host of manuscripts gathered from many places. Thus the musical text of the Graduale possesses a measure of authority which cannot lightly be disregarded.” They are absolutely correct.

—Jeff Ostrowski
2 January 2021 • Temptation

When I see idiotic statements made on the internet, I go nuts. When I see heretics promoted by people who should know better, I get angry. Learning to ignore such items is difficult—very difficult. I try to remember the words of Fr. Valentine Young: “Do what God places in front of you each day.” When I am honest, I don’t believe God wants me to dwell on errors and idiocy; there’s nothing I can do about that. During 2021, I will strive to do a better job following the advice of Fr. Valentine.

—Jeff Ostrowski

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— John Henry Cardinal Newman

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