Sacred Hymns ?'s

[Don9of11]

What constitutes a sacred hymn, that is in the English language and approved by the Church. What are the guidelines and who monitors the quality and sacredness of church music. What is the approval process?

I am trying to educate myself in this subject. I have visited the Adoremus website and there are numerous documents to read through. I was hoping someone could stream line things for me.

 

[benedictgal]

This is what the USCCB presented to Rome almost four years ago as part of its proposed directory of Sacred music (that has yet to receive recognitio from the CDWDS):

According to the proposed directory, theological adequacy may be judged in two ways:

Individual songs should be consonant with Catholic teaching and free from doctrinal error

The repertoire of liturgical songs in any given place should reflect a balanced approach to Catholic theological elements.
The directory warns of doctrinal compromise. For example, it notes:
Liturgical songs must never be permitted to make statements about the faith which are untrue

The doctrine of the Trinity should never be compromised through the consistent replacement of masculine pronominal references to the three Divine persons

Any emphasis on the work of the members of the Church should always be balanced by an appreciation of the doctrine of grace and our complete dependence of the grace of God to accomplish anything

The elimination of archaic language should never alter the meaning and essential theological structure of a venerable liturgical song.
The document also emphasizes that care should be taken that hymns and songs should take their inspiration and vocabulary chiefly from the Scripture and Liturgy.

We don’t know when this will receive recognitio, but, I hope it will help give you some perspective.

 

[Barbkw]

I’m also interested in this topic.

Apparently this sacred music was an intregal part of the Mass. The Latin songs, are actually prayers.

This song inspired me to dig deeper into the topic of sacred music:

youtube.com/watch?v=uUlFF4A8dm0&feature=related

or this prayer

youtube.com/watch?v=BJidPdlBKm8&feature=related

or

youtube.com/watch?v=qfN8j9r-jGQ&feature=related

When sung, Latin sounds like angels who are worshipping God.

 

[Barbkw]

Dum Transisset Sabbatum by John Taverner (1490-1545), sung by the Tallis Scholars.

youtube.com/watch?v=pTLx7aL7dIQ

Latin:

Dum transisset Sabbatum,
Maria Magdalene et Maria Jacobi et Salome
emerunt aromata ut venientes ungerent Jesum.
Alleluia.
Et valde mane una sabbatorum veniunt ad monumentum orto iam sole ut venientes ungerent Jesum.
Alleluia.
Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto.
Alleluia.

English:

And when the Sabbath was past,
Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome
had brought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
Alleluia.
And very early in the morning, the first day of the week,
they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun that they might come and anoint him.
Alleluia.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Alleluia.

 

[Barbkw]

Just as a side note, when Google searching Taverner, there are two composers of this last name and they are often misspelled (I might be misspelling them now ).

Howerver, one is a living modern day composer and the other composer lived from 1490-1545.

 

[Don9of11]

Thanks everyone. I am in a new parish and the church uses the Glory & Praise Hymnal and so far the selections they have chosen for the Vigil Mass and on Sunday’s have been awful and I just wondered how some of these so called hymns get the OK.