Guidelines:
Music Within the Mass
Introduction
The purpose of these guidelines is to provide support to parish music leaders and groups
in their day-to-day ministry of music within the Mass.
The document
• recalls the centrality of the Eucharist to our Catholic way of life,
• helps in understanding the purpose and importance of music within the Mass,
• identifies the assembly as the primary music minister,
• details the important role of music ministers in preparation and
coordination of the assembly’s music ministry,
• identifies the different forms of liturgical song within the Mass,
• explains the options and helps guide the selection of music for the various parts of
the Mass,
• identifies other key concerns for parish and school music ministry as well as
strategies and resources to address them.
It is hoped that these guidelines will assist you in your music ministry and help make our
celebration of the Mass “an uplifting experience of the community at prayer and worship.”
The Centrality of Liturgy and the Eucharist
As Catholics, we know that celebrating the liturgy of the Church is at the heart of the way
we give glory to God. The term ‘liturgy’ has its origins in the Greek word λειτουργίας,
meaning ‘public work' or a 'service in the name of / on behalf of the people.' This word
appears throughout the New Testament, and is understood to mean the participation of
the People of God in the work of the Triune God (cf. Lk 1:23; Acts 13:2; Rom 15:16, 27;
2 Cor 9:12; Phil 2:14-17, 25, 30; Heb 8:2, 6).
Through liturgy, Christ continues the work of our redemption in, with and through his
Church. The liturgy is our way of participating publicly in the ongoing work of Christ – in
worship, proclamation of the Gospel and active charity – to the glory of God (Catechism
of the Catholic Church (CCC), 1069-70). No wonder the Second Vatican Council described
liturgy as the summit and source of the Church’s activity (Constitution on Sacred Liturgy,
Sacrosanctum Concilium, 10), and Eucharist (the Mass) as the source and summit of
Christian life (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium, 11).
The Function and Importance of Music in Liturgy
Our model for music in the liturgy is Jesus himself, who sang psalms with the apostles at
the Last Supper (Mt 26:30; Mk 14:26). Music is an integral part of our participation in
liturgy – an integral part of our participation in the work of God. For “when song and
music are signs of the Holy Spirit’s presence and action, they encourage, in a certain
way, communion with the Trinity” (John Paul II, Address to the Pontifical Institute of
Sacred Music, 3; Chirograph on Sacred Music, 3).
The Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on Sacred Liturgy (CSL) made particular
mention of the role of music in fulfilling the purpose of liturgy, which is the glory of God
and the sanctification of the faithful (CSL 112). The Second Vatican Council’s Instruction
on Music in the Liturgy, Musicam Sacram (MS), mentions five specific ministerial
functions of music in the liturgy. Through music in the liturgy:
1. prayer is given a more graceful expression,
2. the mystery of the liturgy, with its hierarchical and community nature, is more
openly shown,
3. the unity of hearts is more profoundly achieved by the union of voices,
4. minds are more easily raised to heavenly things by the beauty of the liturgy, and
5. the whole celebration more clearly prefigures the heavenly liturgy (cf. MS 4-5).
“One cannot find anything more religious and more joyful in sacred celebrations than a
whole congregation expressing its faith and devotion in song” (MS 16).
“Great importance should therefore be attached to the use of singing in the celebration of
the Mass, with due consideration for the culture of peoples and abilities of each liturgical
assembly. Although it is not always necessary (e.g., in weekday Masses) to sing all the
texts that are in principle meant to be sung, every care should be taken that singing by
the ministers and the people is not absent in celebrations that occur on Sundays and on
holy days of obligation” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), 40).
Our preparation and leadership of music within the Mass greatly assists the People of
God, the community as the body of Christ, to experience "new life in the Spirit,
involvement in the mission of the Church, and service to her unity" (CCC 1072).
The Role of the Music Ministry
The primary music minister in the liturgy is the assembly. At certain times the priest, the
deacon, the choir, the musicians, the psalmist and the cantor have specific roles of their
own. But there is no place in the liturgy for performances of art for art’s sake.
Of special importance are the roles of music director, choir director and music coordinator,
who are responsible for preparing, rehearsing and conducting the musical aspects of
liturgical celebrations. They have a vital role in choosing the music and helping the
assembly take an active part in the singing (cf. CSL 28, 30, 114, 118, and 121). The role
of voice trainers is critical in preparing psalmists to sing the responsorial psalm. “From the
smooth coordination of all – the priest celebrant and the deacon, the acolytes, the altar
servers, the readers, the psalmist, the schola cantorum (choir), the musicians, the cantor
and the assembly – flows the proper spiritual atmosphere which makes the liturgical
moment truly intense, shared in and fruitful” (Chirograph, 8).
Liturgical Song Forms
Liturgical song is music wed to prayer text. The liturgy comprises a variety of different
forms of prayer, each requiring a different song form for musical expression. Each part of
the Mass takes one of the following seven forms:
A – An acclamation is a spontaneous joyful vocalisation sung by all, accompanied or
unaccompanied.
C – a cantillation is a kind of spoken singing, usually unaccompanied, where the melody
and rhythm is close to that of speech. It is used when prayers, readings and
proclamations are sung instead of recited. Cantillations are sung by the priest celebrant
or other minister and conclude with an acclamation of assent sung by all.
D – A dialogue between priest and people is used at the start of the Mass, and to
introduce each major part – the Gospel, the Eucharistic Prayer, the Communion, and the
dismissal. Dialogues are sung unaccompanied.
H – A hymn is a song of praise with no other accompanying liturgical action. There are
only two hymns in the Mass, and they are not always sung. Singing of the “Glory to God”
is by the choir or cantor alternating with the people, or entirely by the people or entirely
by the choir alone (GIRM 53). If there is a song of praise after communion, singing is by
the entire assembly (GIRM 88).
L – A litany is a prayer with a series of invocations or intercessions sung by a cantor or
other minister, with a repeated response sung by all.
P – A processional song is one that accompanies another liturgical action. Songs with
refrains and a variable number of verses are most appropriate. The beginning and ending
should match the liturgical action. Singing is by the choir or cantor alternating with the
people, or entirely by the people, or by the choir alone; alternatively, an instrumental
solo may be played instead of singing a song (GIRM 48, 74, 87, 313; MS, 36, 66-67).
R – The responsorial psalm is sung scripture with no other accompanying liturgical
action. All sing the psalm response at the beginning and after each verse; the cantor of
the psalm sings the intervening verses. The texts are prescribed, with options to use the
given psalm of the day or one of the common seasonal psalms or antiphons in the
lectionary, or a chant from the Graduale Romanum or the Graduale Simplex (GIRM 61)
Choosing Music for Mass
Music fulfills its role in liturgy when: (1) the amount of singing aptly corresponds to the
solemnity of the occasion, (2) the selected music provides for the unanimous
participation of the assembly at the designated moments, and (3) the beauty of the
compositions and their performance is expressive of prayer (cf. CCC 1157).
The amount of singing should correspond to the degree of festivity and solemnity of the
particular celebration of the day, feast or season (MS 7). For example, weekdays are
more subdued than Sundays; the major Sunday community Mass is more festive than
other Sunday Masses; major feasts such as Trinity Sunday or Pentecost are more festive
than other Sundays; the seasons of Lent and Advent are more subdued; the seasons of
Christmas and Easter are more festive.
“In the choosing of the parts actually to be sung, however, preference should be given to
those that are of greater importance and especially to those to be sung by the presider
or the deacon or the lector, with the people responding, or by the presider and people
together” (GIRM 39-40; cf. MS 6, 7, 16, 28-36).
When choosing music and songs, “the criterion that must inspire every composition and
performance of songs and sacred music is the beauty that invites prayer” (John Paul II,
Address to the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, 3; cf. Chirograph, 3).
Music preparation involves the liturgy team, the musicians, the presider and the
assembly. All need to work in collaboration, respecting the particular expertise each one
brings to the process (cf. MS 5).
The Liturgical – Musical – Pastoral Criterion
There are three long-held principles that help us to choose the most appropriate music
(cf. Pope John Paul II’s Chirograph on Sacred Music, 4-6; Musicam Sacram, 5; and Pope
Pius X’s Tra Le Sollecitudini, 2, 7-9, 22-23):
1. Liturgically, it must be holy
To be holy, the music must serve the spirit and norms of the liturgy and the faith it expresses.
Is it closely connected with the liturgical action?
Not all music is suitable. Even some so-called Sacred Music “cannot be part of the
celebration without violating the spirit and norms of the liturgy itself” (Chirograph, 4). To
be closely connected to the liturgical action, “the meaning and the proper nature of each
part and of each song” must be carefully observed (MS 6). These norms are detailed in
the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) and Musicam Sacram (MS). The
relevant paragraphs are summarised in the table on page 6.
Does it express the Church’s faith and teaching?
The text should be based on appropriate scriptural or liturgical texts. It should refer to
God in the persons of the Trinity. It should express the nature of the Church as the
People of God and the Body of Christ. It must not conflict with the catechetical teaching
and tradition of the Church.
2. Musically, it must be beautiful
Much of the beauty of liturgical music is in its apt suitability to liturgical prayer.
Does it possess sound form?
The melodic range and contour, the harmony, rhythm and tempo must be aptly suited to
singing by the intended music ministers – priest, cantor, schola (choir) and assembly.
The form of song must be aptly suited to the particular part of the liturgy – cantillation
(for prayers, readings and proclamations), dialogue, acclamation, litany, responsorial
psalm, processional antiphon or song with repeating refrain, or hymn.
Is it true art?
It must have enduring appeal, able to bear the weight of repeated singing over time.
Does it fully adhere to the text it presents?
It must suitably embody the text of the liturgy. Prescribed texts must be used without
variation. Where texts are not prescribed, “they must be in keeping with the parts of the
Mass, the feast or the liturgical season” (MS 36).
Does it synchronise with the intended time and moment in the liturgy?
The music should be synchronised to begin and end at the times specified by the rite.
“The various moments in the Liturgy require a musical expression of their own. From
time to time this must fittingly bring out the nature proper to a specific rite, now
proclaiming God’s marvels, now expressing praise, supplication or even sorrow”
(Chirograph, 5).
Does it reflect the gestures of the rite?
It must be aptly suited to any gestures, actions or processions it accompanies (e.g. the
breaking of the bread, the procession and presentation of the gifts).
3. Pastorally, it must be universal
The music must be suited to the particular assembly while respecting the need for universal appeal.
Does it comply with the legitimate demands for adaptation and inculturation?
The music should be in a language that is comprehensible to the majority (Chirograph,
6). There are many local cultural adaptations as well as special provisions for Masses
with children and other special groups that must be considered. Your parish priest is best
placed to discern what adaptations are applicable for a given situation.
Does it involve the entire assembly in the celebration?
The music must invite prayerful participation in each and every person, young and old.
Is it deserving of universal esteem, offending nobody?
Personal tastes in music vary greatly in a parish assembly. While not everything chosen
will be everyone’s favorite, all the music must be deserving of everyone’s esteem. Music
that offends anyone’s prayerful sensibilities should be avoided.
In selecting music for a particular celebration, we should undertake an analysis of the
liturgical, musical and pastoral characteristics of the music, and then ask the question:
“Does this particular piece of music possess the universal beauty that
invites the involvement of the entire assembly in this particular prayer?
Music Languages and Styles
For the sake of the assembly, we should step out of our own comfort zone to embrace a
variety of music styles. For example, in the same liturgical celebration we might sing
songs accompanied by organ, piano, guitar and other instruments. We might just have
an instrumental for the Procession of Gifts and we might have some unaccompanied
singing (e.g. the Our Father). A typically folk or contemporary style band should try
some of the popular traditional hymns, Taize and other chants. A more traditional,
classical group should try doing some more contemporary popular songs and the new
English-language chant Mass setting arranged for the assembly’s participation. The
Catholic Church has a rich and diverse treasury of sacred music.
Accessibility of Lyrics for the Assembly
It is important we make sure everyone in the assembly can at least read the words of
songs from a hymnal, or a pew sheet. We greatly assist the assembly’s participation if
we provide both lyrics and melody.
Watch Your Language!
Some older songs have caused concern in many communities in the language they used.
Most lyricists have addressed these issues and recent editions of songs have been
updated. Check the websites of publishers and composers for text updates.
Other Resources
Primary Church Documents
See Vatican website ([Link])
Vatican II, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium (1963)
Vatican II, Instruction on Music in the Liturgy, Musicam Sacram (1967)
Congregation for Divine Worship, Instruction on Masses with Special Groups (1969)
Directory for Masses with Children (1973)
Lectionary for Mass, Introduction, 2nd Ed (1981)
John Paul II, Chirograph on Sacred Music (2003) Congregation for Divine Worship and
Discipline of the Sacraments,
General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 3rd typical edition (2010)
