VI. On the Praise of God

What is the praise of God? - The praise of God is speech by which we profess the excellence and beneficence of God with honor. This speech is not made so that we may manifest our affections to God, the beholder of hearts. Rather it is made so that our affection toward God may be aroused from his praise, and may be drawn back from those things which are against God. It is also made so that the affection of others may be stirred toward God, and that we may move others hearing us to the praise and reverence of God.

This praise is usually made in two ways: 1. by simple speech; 2. by chant and music. Chant must not be theatrical for ostentation or delight, but pious for devotion. And the same must be said of music. Nor indeed is the mind withdrawn by chant from consideration of those things which are sung. But if someone sings for devotion and not for the delight of the chant, he considers more attentively what is said, both because he dwells longer upon the same things, and because all the affections of our spirit, according to their sweet diversity, have their own modes in voice and chant, by whose hidden familiarity they are aroused. And the same reason also holds concerning hearers, in whom, even if some do not understand what is sung, nevertheless they understand on account of what it is sung, namely for the praise of God; and this suffices for arousing devotion. S. Th. 2. 2, q. 91.

Sacred music: From the decree of S. R. C., 8 Jan. 1904, in sacred music the Instruction concerning it must be observed in the Motu Proprio of Pius X, 22 Nov. 1903, by which Gregorian chant is to be restored in sacred solemnities. The aforesaid Instruction is to be received by all churches and most holily observed. And specifically in the City the ancient Roman or Gregorian chant is to be restored. Letter of Pius X to the Cardinal Vicar, 8 Dec. 1903. Classical polyphony is also to be restored. The more recent kind of music is also received in churches, provided it does not savor of anything profane. But in sacred liturgies it is prohibited to sing anything in the vernacular language. Music joined to the organ is permitted. Sometimes, within certain limits, other musical instruments can be admitted, always however by special license of the Bishop. S. R. C., 15 Apr. 1905. In sacred music musical instruments, oboes and clarinets, can be tolerated, provided this is done moderately, and license for any work whatever has been obtained from the Ordinary. S. R. C., 13 Nov. 1908.

Although the Ceremonial of Bishops never supposes that the organ is joined with voices in Gregorian chant, it has been declared that the present use of aiding chant with organs is licit, excepting only those parts of Offices and Masses which, according to the liturgical laws now in force, must be sung entirely without accompanying organs. Indeed, in case of necessity, this is licit also in Offices and Masses in which the sound of the organ is prohibited, except the single triduum of greater week after and before the Angelic hymn of the respective Mass. S. R. C., 11 May 1911. Cf. Letter of the Most Eminent Cardinal Vicar, 14 Feb. 1912, M. E., v. 25, pp. 167 seqq.

Chant: Gregorian chant is prescribed in churches. Music is admitted according to the path of the Motu Proprio of Pius X on this matter. Songs of any kind in the vernacular language are prohibited in solemn Mass and in all solemn liturgical offices. S. R. C., 31 Mar. 1909, ad 7, 8.

Women and girls are prohibited from singing inside or outside the ambit of the choir in solemn Masses. Yet it is permitted to allow girls and women, sitting in benches separated from men, to sing the invariable parts of the Mass in Gregorian chant; and outside liturgical functions to sing hymns or vernacular canticles, provided that among the Christian faithful men and boys, as far as can be done, contribute their part in celebrating the divine praises, women and girls however not being excluded in their absence; and where choral office is had, the exclusive chant of women, especially in Cathedral churches, is not admitted, unless from a grave cause to be recognized by the Ordinary, and care always being taken that every disorder be avoided. S. R. C., 17 Jan. 1908; 18 Dec. 1908.

To sing in the churches of non-Catholics, at the time of sacred functions, is illicit. Nor are heretics to be admitted to singing in sacred functions in Catholic churches. Cf. 372. The use of the gramophone for strictly liturgical Gregorian chant is prohibited. S. R. C., 11 Feb. 1910.

Printing: From the more recent Decrees these things are to be observed as to the printing of liturgical books containing Gregorian chant: They cannot be printed without permission of the Holy See and without the approval of the Ordinary, by which it is declared that they agree with those which have been printed at Rome. S. R. C., 11 Aug. 1905. In the printing of these books containing liturgical chant and music, the several Decrees published in this matter concerning the mode of the aforesaid chant by S. R. C., 11, 14 Aug. 1905, and 14 Feb. 1906, are to be observed. They must be conformed to the authentic and typical Vatican edition of Gregorian chant, approved by the same Sacred Congregation; nor can they be otherwise permitted by Ordinaries. Motu Proprio of Pius X, 25 Apr. 1904; 14 Aug. 1905. The Vatican edition, as to Gregorian music and chant, is to be substituted for other editions used up to now. Proper Offices also are to be reformed and rendered conformable to the typical Vatican edition as to Gregorian melodies. S. R. C., 7 Aug. 1907; 8 Apr. 1908.

It cannot be impeded that, after due remuneration of the possessor, others publish some proper chant furnished with its own text of words. They pass into the power of the Holy See; nevertheless the customary rights remain firm for possessors. After ten years have elapsed, they become of public right, always saving the dominion of the Apostolic See. S. R. C., 24 Mar. 1909. Proper Offices which exhibit Gregorian chant need for the first edition, after the testimony of revisers, the approval of S. R. C.; therefore each sheet in triple copy is to be sent to it, permission of the Ordinary of the place or of the supreme Moderator of the Order, for whose use the edition is prepared, having first been had. For other editions, provided they are conformable with the first typical one, the approval of the Ordinary of the Diocese or of the supreme Moderator of the order for whose use the edition is prepared is required and suffices, and besides this the license of the Ordinary of the place in which the edition is produced and published. S. R. C., 27 Nov. 1908; 24 Feb. 1911. As to proper Offices for the Gradual or Antiphonal of the Roman Vatican edition, the approval of the Ordinary of that place where the edition is prepared and published is required and suffices. S. R. C., 24 Feb. 1911. The approval of the first edition from S. R. C. and the approval of the Ordinary of the diocese or Moderator of the Institute must be obtained in writing, as also the license of the Ordinary of the place, as above, and must be published at the beginning or end of the Proper. S. R. C., 24 Feb. 1911.

The last Decree on this matter is of 17 May 1911, and is the following: Editions of Books concerning the Sacred Liturgy, whether they contain Rites and Prayers to be performed in Sacred Functions, or prescribe the Sacred Ceremonies accompanying the aforesaid Rites and Prayers, or present the Decrees of this Sacred Congregation collected into one, are either Typical or according to the Typical editions. Only the Pontifical Vatican Polyglot Press, or other Pontifical Printers who have obtained permission from S. R. C., can print Typical Editions. Each sheet of the typical edition will be submitted to the revision of S. R. C., which will ask the judgment either of the Liturgical Commission or of the Commission on Sacred Music and Chant, according to suitability. Any typical edition will bear a Decree of approval declaring such an edition to be typical, and at the same time prescribing to all publishers that they conform future editions altogether to the aforesaid typical edition. Publishers, when some typical edition has been completed, will hand over two copies to this S. R. C., to be preserved in the Archive of the same Sacred Congregation with the greatest care and zeal.

Any Printer, with the consent and approval of the respective Ordinary added, can print editions according to the typical ones, namely editions which correspond exactly to the aforesaid typical editions. The most Reverend Ordinaries of places, after appointing a reviser diligent and expert in liturgical matters, who is to see whether the aforesaid editions agree plainly with the typical ones, are to declare such agreement and affix the imprimatur. As to editions of Masses or Offices Proper to some Diocese, of which no typical edition exists, if they are to be printed in the Diocese itself, the most Reverend Ordinaries of places are to declare their agreement with the originals and affix the imprimatur. But as to editions either of another Diocese, or of Regular Orders or Congregations, the most Reverend Ordinaries of places, to whose jurisdiction the Printers are subject, are to affix the imprimatur, after either the Ordinary of the Diocese, or the Superior of the Order or Congregation, to whom the aforesaid offices or propers pertain, has sent to them the Rescript, which likewise must be published, concerning the agreement of these editions with the originals approved by S. R. C.

Among Books concerning the Sacred Liturgy, for the effect of the present Decree, the following are chiefly to be counted: the Roman Breviary, Missal, Ritual, and Pontifical, and excerpts from them; the Roman Martyrology; the Ceremonial of Bishops; Propers both of Offices and of Masses of some Diocese, Order, or Religious Congregation; the Memorial of Rites of Benedict XIII for lesser Churches; the Clementine Instruction for exposition of the Most Holy Sacrament; the Collection of Decrees of S. R. C.