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Genre index:
Locate the song's genre in the genre index, or in the navigation bar above.

Alphabetical index:
Locate the song's title in the alphabetical index, or by moving the mouse over the drop down menus.

Liturgical Index:
Find songs for particular days by clicking the liturgical index, or navigating the drop down menus.

Holy?

What is Holy?
"Sacred music is to be considered the more holy in proportion as it is more closely connected with the liturgical action" (Constitution on Sacred Liturgy, 112). It must be able "to express adequately the mystery grasped in the fullness of the Church's faith" (John Paul II).

Music, including sacred music, is not liturgically holy if it is incompatible with the liturgical action or Church teaching.

Beautiful?

What is Beautiful?
"The criterion that must inspire every composition and performance ... is the beauty that invites prayer." (John Paul II).

Requires sound form, true art, full adherence to the text it presents, synchronization with the time and movement in the Liturgy for which it is intended, appropriately reflecting the gestures proposed by the rite.
(John Paul II).

Universal?

What is Universal?
Three requirements:
1. "must comply with the legitimate demands of adaptation and inculturation"
2. "must respect specific criteria such as the search for musical expressions which respond to the necessary involvement of the entire assembly in the celebration.
3. "nobody of any nation may receive an impression other than good on hearing them."
(John Paul II).

How Much Singing?

How Much Singing?
(General Instruction, 40):
The amount of singing should correspond to the degree of solemnity of the occasion, with due consideration for culture and ability of the assembly; "preference should be given to those (parts) of greater importance and especially to those to be sung by the priest or the deacon or the lector, with the people responding, or by the priest and people together." More detail

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About Us

Paul Mason is a liturgist, composer and pastoral associate with degrees in engineering, theology and liturgy. Paul is married to Margaret and they have four sons. Click for a detailed bio.

Willow Publishing are the publishers of the As One Voice series of hymnals.

Did You Know?

The Gospels record that Jesus and his apostles sang at the Last Supper.

Many commentators believe the song to have been one of the Hallel (Alleluia) psalms (Ps 113 - 118). These were regularly sung at ritual meals, especially at the time of Passover.

"And after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives"

(Mt 26:30; Mk 14:26).

Glossary

Here is a glossary of special terms associated with liturgical song.

Introit: The entrance antiphon and associated psalm verses.

Gradual: The psalm response and verse chanted after the first reading.

Liturgy of the Eucharist: The part of Mass immediately following the prayer of the faithful, beginning with the preparation of the altar and culminating with communion.

Liturgy of the Word: The part of Mass immediately following the opening prayer, beginning with the first reading and culminating with the prayer of the faithful.

Melisma: A sequence of notes, sometimes very extensive and elaborate, sung to one syllable.

Ordinary of the Mass: Those prescribed texts which are repeated at every Mass. The chants of the Ordinary include the Kyrie, the Gloria, the Credo, the Sanctus and the Agnus Dei.

Proper of the Mass: Those prescribed texts which are specific to the particular Mass. The chants of the Proper include the Entrance (Introit), the Responsorial Psalm (Gradual), the Alleluia, the Lenten verse before the Gospel (Tract), the Offertory and the Communion.

Tract: The acclamation and verses chanted before the reading of the Gospel.