Does playing Gregorian chant chase out evil spirits?

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Along with Holy Water and prayers, does Gregorian chant music chase out any uneasy vibes and demons that may be lurking around the house or wherever it’s being played?
 
It’s not magic. But it can calm and soothe. But so can Chopin’s nocturnes.

Certainly singing it as well can soothe one’s state of mind. But doing it well takes lots of practice and can at times be frustrating. I say this from personal experience of singing in a schola and using Gregorian chant daily for the divine office…
 
Along with Holy Water and prayers, does Gregorian chant music chase out any uneasy vibes and demons that may be lurking around the house or wherever it’s being played?
:hmmm:

Some can only be chased away by much prayer, fasting and supplication.
 
No, but Gregorian Chant done poorly may sound like evil spirits have entered…🤷
 
I really don’t know, but I think it is a possibility, especially in a liturgical setting, or one where you are actually singing the chant. Maybe even recordings too. The reason why it might be possible is that Gregorian Chant is a sacramental of the Church. Someone correct me if I’m wrong. Just like holy water or blessed salt, it isn’t magic, but it carries with it the prayer of the Church.
 
Assuming its sung properly, it may not necessarily drive them out, but certainly make it unconfortable for them.

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It would not surprise me… The Word being sung…could only help methinks.
 
St. Augustine of Hippo is often quoted as having said “He who sings, prays twice.” The Latin cited for this is “Qui bene cantat bis orat” or “He who sings well prays twice”.

Actually, this does not appear in anything of St. Augustine that has come down to us. He did write, “cantare amantis est… Singing belongs to one who loves” (s. 336, 1 – PL 38, 1472). That is often invoked as the source of qui bene cantat bis orat.

In the Vatican’s online English version of the CCC there is a note: “Eph 5:19; St. Augustine, En. in Ps. 72,1: PL 36, 914; cf. Col 3:16.”

Also, this is quoted in the Latin CCC 1156 as “qui canit bis orat”. In the Latin edition of the CCC we are sent then to footnote n. 26 (oddly, this is note 21 in the newer English edition, which adds a confer reference to Col. 3:16 – which is not in the Latin CCC). Latin CCC 1156, note 26 reads:

Cf. Sanctus Augustinus, Enarratio in Psalmum 72, 1: CCL 39, 986 (PL 36, 914).

Having written my thesis on Augustine I decided to dig into this. I happen to have my trusty CCL 39 nearby. Looking up that reference we find what Augustine really said:

Qui enim cantat laudem, non solum laudat, sed etiam hilariter laudat; qui cantat laudem, non solum cantat, sed et amat eum quem cantat. In laude confitentis est praedicatio, in cantico amantis affectio…For he who sings praise, does not only praise, but also praises joyfully; he who sings praise, not only sings, but also loves Him whom he is singing about/to/for. There is a praise-filled public proclamation (praedicatio) in the praise of someone who is confessing/acknowledging (God), in the song of the lover (there is) love.

This is a very interesting passage. Augustine is saying that when the praise is of God, then something happens to the song of the praiser/love that makes it more than just any kind of song. The object of the song/love in a way becomes the subject. Something happens so that the song itself becomes Love in its manifestation of love of the one who truly is Love itself.
 
Why are there evil spirits in a house or an area anyway? In the U.S., this isn’t the norm.

Is someone in the house involved with occult activities (ouiga board, planchette, witchcraft, magick, reading occult books, etc.) that may open up a door for a demon to lurk? Or is someone (relative, neighbor, an enemy?) casting a spell or a curse, or invoking Satan to come and torment those in the house/area? Is the house/area built over a place where Satan was invoked or worshiped?

It seems to me that it would be more important to seek out and deal with this question and do what is necessary to cleanse the house and permanently stop up the portal that is allowing the demons to enter and roam the house/area, rather than playing music/prayers in the hopes of chasing them away.

Perhaps it’s time to call in a priest.
 
The priest at our parish does make house calls for blessings, maybe your priest would too.

It is common practice with the women in our parish to sprinkle holy water in rooms or meeting

places. St Benedict medals are helpful, and saying prayer of St Michael for protection.

Place crucifix on wall, not only to protect, but to pray to Jesus. Pray scripture.

Blessings and prayers to you

I was not aware the US had less evil spirits than other countries…🤷
 
It does matter if Gregorian Chant is played off of a recording, or sung live by a person. For instance, music at Mass can’t be pre recorded, it must be created there by the people assisting in the liturgy.

So, are you also asking if singing Gregorian Chant chases out evil spirits? :confused:
 
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