It’s my understanding from a Catholic Answers radio show that recorded music is acceptable if it is the only option.
Here is a quote from the document to which I provided a
link above:
Simultaneously, a correspondent from Wisconsin reminded me of the 1958 instruction “De Musica Sacra” issued by the Congregation of Rites, which states: “Finally, only those musical instruments which are played by the personal action of the artist may be admitted to the sacred liturgy, and not those which are operated automatically or mechanically.”
This document followed Pope Pius XII’s 1955 encyclical, “Musicae Sacrae,” in which he insisted that liturgical music be “true art,” if it is to be a genuine act of worship and praise of God.
Although these documents precede the Second Vatican Council, there is practically nothing in the conciliar or post-conciliar documents which would contradict the principles enunciated or invalidate their general normative value.
Indeed the council’s insistence that choir and musicians form part of the liturgical assembly would even strengthen the presumption against the use of mechanical music.
There may be exceptions, as we saw in the case of children’s Masses, but any general permission to use recorded or automatically produced music would require the express approval of the corresponding bishop or episcopal conference.
According to the above documents it is preferable to sing without musical accompaniment than resort to artificial means.
It is hard to see how recorded music can be the “only option” when silence and *a capella *(in the manner of a chapel choir) or spoken recitation is always available.
Spiritus Sapientiae nobiscum.
John Hiner
