Traditional Music

I read with interest the News item that appeared in the front page of the Inquirer dated December 23, 2007 entitled Latin Hymns Sung in Masses in Pampanga. I would like to congratulate the organizers of said novena masses which featured Latin Hymns. This revival of traditional celebrations brings us back to our cultural roots and this is important because our cultural heritage affirms our identity as Filipino Catholics. I would like to react however on the statement which said "...the pastorella has not been heard in many Pampanga towns for 40 years after Vatican II prescribed the use of the local languages in religious rites." Right after the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council there was a widespread notion, that the council abolished or forbade the use of the Latin language in the Liturgy. But contrary to this notion, paragraph 54 of the Sacrosanctum Consilium emphasizes the importance and primacy of Latin in the Liturgy. The use of the vernacular is a matter of concession granted by the Church in order to foster an active and conscious participation of the faithful in the celebration of the Mass. The total use of pure vernacular in the Mass was never envisioned by the Second Vatican Council. The Council allowed the use of the vernacular on the variable parts of the Mass, such as the readings and some prayers. The variable parts of the mass are the parts that changes with the Liturgical Season and hence are used once in a while and the people may not be familiar with it hence the council suggests that these parts be said in the vernacular. While on the other hand the ordinary parts of the mass, i.e., the parts that does not change which are used every time the mass is said and familiar with the people such as the Confiteor, the Canon, Kyrie, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, Pater Noster and the Credo should be said in Latin. It is also very important to note that the Council while recognizing the worth of other forms of sacred music also recommended and set the primacy of the Gregorian chant. It is a type of music that has nourished the liturgical life of the Latin Rite Church since the time of St. Gregory the Great in the 4th Century until the Second Vatican Council. Even today the Gregorian Chant commands power and displays spiritual simplicity that cannot be matched by contemporary liturgical music in dignity and classicism. This is the main reason why I was amazed when the Bishop was quoted as saying in a phone interview that the Archdiocese of San Fernando “...tolerates the Latin hymns for as long as the songs for entrance, communion and recessional are in Filipino, Kapangpangan or English." I think that the Archdiocese of San Fernando (as well as the CBCP for that matter) should not only tolerate the Latin Hymns but should foster and promote the use of Latin in the Liturgy in obedience to the mandates of the Sacrosanctum Concilium. With the current agenda of the Supreme Pontiff to promote the “reform of the reformed” in matters of liturgy, I pray and hope that the Bishops of the Philippines will respond positively and enthusiastically. If we totally abandon the use of Latin and the Gregorian chants we surely will miss a lot. I think this is the main reason why some of our liturgical celebrations fail to attract or inspire people because of the shallowness and detachment from tradition. We should remember that the Latin and the Gregorian chant has a long history in the Church since the 5th century and it has richly nourished the lives of saints and the Church. To abandon or neglect its use is indeed lamentable and a great loss not only in the sense of culture and tradition but also in spirituality. Pope Benedict himself expressed this need to recover traditional practices when he said: “Many people who clearly accepted the binding character of the Second Vatican Council, and were faithful to the Pope and the Bishops, nonetheless also desired to recover the form of the sacred liturgy that was dear to them. This occurred above all because in many places celebrations were not faithful to the prescriptions of the new Missal, but the latter actually was understood as authorizing or even requiring creativity, which frequently led to deformations of the liturgy which were hard to bear. I am speaking from experience, since I too lived through that period with all its hopes and its confusion. And I have seen how arbitrary deformations of the liturgy caused deep pain to individuals totally rooted in the faith of the Church.” (Explanatory Letter of Pope Benedict XVI to the Bishops that accompanies the Motu Propio Data on the use of the Roman Liturgy Prior to 1970.) I hope that Bishops and parish priests will be encouraged to revive this beautiful tradition. It is now time that our Church leaders should give emphasis on the worship of God through the proper celebration of the liturgy and fostering of the sacraments and catecheses. Learning Latin Hymns is not difficult. A simple but consistent catechesis of these forms will bring about the desired objective. This will perhaps not only draw the faithful back to the Church but will help promote spirituality and morality so badly needed by our society. If the hierarchy will energetically foster spirituality through the liturgy, the sacraments and devotional practices of the Church, there can be no reason why the Lay Faithful should not become spiritual themselves. Restoring and rediscovering our roots in Traditional Liturgy and Music is a way of fostering this spiritual and religious revival. Why do we have to neglect the tried and tested ways that has served well generations of Catholics for the novelty and fashion of the times that soon fades away? May our Bishops, Pastors and Religious help foster the revival of Liturgical Tradition so desired by Pope Benedict XVI.