As we celebrate this Year of the Eucharist it is worthwhile to reflect on the purpose of music in the celebration of the Eucharist. Pope Benedict XVI observed that the verb “’to sing” is one of the most commonly used words in the Bible. It occurs 309 times in the Old Testament and thirty-six times in the New Testament. If singing holds such a role of importance in the Scriptures, it is clear that music’s purpose is far greater than providing a diversion or being an entertaining interlude in an otherwise drab liturgy. In the early Church instruments were not allowed at the Eucharistic celebration. The hymns sung could only be those written by the Divine Composer, the Holy Spirit that is only the Holy Scriptures, especially the psalms, could be sung. This changed as the Church began to express her doctrine beliefs through music. St. Ambrose of Milan wrote some of the early hymns for the Latin Church to counter the heretical teachings of the Arians.

The purpose of Church music in the Middle Ages was to create a mood of peace, calming the spirit of the person so that he or she could enter easily into prayer.

The Greeks viewed music as having the power to heal or corrupt man, it has the power of changing one’s heart; its purpose was not entertainment but if used well it could lead one to a love of the good and the beautiful. The purpose of Church music in the Middle Ages was to create a mood of peace, calming the spirit of the person so that he or she could enter easily into prayer. Certainly, any of us familiar with Gregorian chant recognizes its soothing and contemplative qualities.

While it might be said that Church music is to settle us into a prayerful mood, the music is also to provide a vehicle that assists us in remembering the words of the hymns sung. The first hymns were simply scriptural texts put to music. Thus the music was a means to more easily memorize the Scriptures. Then the lyrics became poetic expressions of the Church’s teaching. Again music provided a means of committing the Church’s teachings to heart. The lyrics whether recalling the scriptures or Church teaching are to remain with us long after the hymn has been sung. The music is the vehicle that is to transport the scriptures or the Church teaching to our hearts and once the music has delivered the verbal cargo to the heart they are to be treasured by us so as to form us into “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation…" . This is why the Church insists that not just any little ditty can be sung in church, but the words sung are to be sacred so as to leave a lasting mark on us of that which is true and beautiful concerning God.

The music is the vehicle that is to transport the scriptures or the Church teaching to our hearts.

In Church music there is room for simply the instrumental or the solo or the choral but that which is most favored is congregational singing. Now, this is preferred not because congregations as a rule sing better than choirs or soloist, perhaps the contrary. But congregational singing is preferred because, the action of all of us blending our voices together into one voice of praise is itself an instruction of how we are to become one in Christ. The priest prays in the Eucharistic Prayer, “Grant that we who are nourished by the Body and Blood of your Son and filled with his Holy Spirit, may become one body, one spirit in Christ.”