Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth

Spirituality and/ or the search for God can, at least partially, be viewed as an attempt by people to connect with their Creator. Beauty is widely recognized as one of the chief proofs of, and expressions of, God. (On a simple level: God made angels, angels sing to worship God, and singing is music). Therefore music, especially religious music has been intimately intertwined throughout human history.

I’m Roman Catholic, and music is one of the central foundations of my faith. I have sung in my church choir since I was 12 years old, and I have been the pianist for some Masses when our music director was away. We sing mostly hymns; sometimes we sing songs for contemporary choirs, but mostly hymns. As for the use of music at Mass, there are specific songs and sung responses at particular parts of the celebration.

Gregorian chant is the official music of the Church. It was mostly sung by adult male or boy choirs during Mass, by monks in their monasteries, or nuns in their convents during their daily prayers. The name is thought to have come from Pope Gregory the Great, who is one of the patron saints of musicians. Gregorian chant is definitely one of the most beautiful types of religious music to hear and sing. There is not really a meter; it is very free flowing, and is not very complex note-wise; but there is a steady pulse to it. Whenever I hear Ave Maria sung in Gregorian chant, I feel like I should be in a HUGE cathedral. Typically, the chant is sung in Latin, as Masses in those days were spoken in Latin. Gregorian chant all but disappeared for a few hundred years but it is quickly regaining its popularity, and many people are forming choirs and making instructional CDs so others can learn it.

In the summer of 2011, we went to a Catholic university in Florida to take a summer program music class for a week. We had the opportunity to learn Gregorian chant and sing it during the daily Latin Mass on campus. I had listened to Gregorian chant before, but that is when I really began to love and appreciate it so much more. I never feel more Catholic than when I am in a Latin Mass and singing chant. It helps to focus hearts and minds to God.

The Catholic Church does have rules regarding liturgical music. We are not allowed to have Masses with contemporary music and songs, accompanied by electric guitars and drums and such; but it is not because we believe that contemporary music is bad. We believe that Mass should be reverent and respectful, we don’t want Mass to become a performance or a show. I have been to other denominations such as Baptist and Presbyterian services, and some of them have had contemporary–sounding music. In all honesty, I think that Protestant services are beautiful in their own way, and can for some, fulfill the desire to experience the spiritual power of worshiping God to the emotional power of music. I have enjoyed attending other denomination’s services and experiencing their music. Lastly, I believe that in other religions such as Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism etc., music is important to them as well. Practically all religions have special songs and chants used during their worship services, so Christians are not alone in their use of music to praise and worship their deity.