Sacred music can promote faith and work for the new evangelization, says the Pope

November 10, 2012: Sacred music can promote the faith and enhance the new evangelization, said Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday while greeting members of the Italian Association of Santa Cecilia, which is made up of members of church choirs from across the country.

Noting that this is the Year of Faith, the Pontiff spoke to them about the role sacred music can play in promoting the faith, and working for the New Evangelization.

Directing their attention to the teaching of the Conciliar Constitution on the Liturgy, he said that its sixth chapter deals with the sacred music. The Pontiff also said that he wanted the whole Church a special Year of the Faith, in order to promote the deepening of faith in all the baptized and the common commitment to the new evangelization. And sacred music can do a lot in these areas.

The Pontiff pointing out to the significant contributions made by St. Augustine to the singing of psalms and hymns in the liturgies. ‘There is no doubt that music and especially singing can give the recitation of the psalms and biblical canticles greater communicative power’ said the Pope.

Pope Benedict singled out the remarkable sensitivity and musical ability of St. Ambrose, and said that once he was ordained bishop of Milan, he put this gift to the service of faith and evangelization.
The experience of the Ambrosian hymns was so strong, that Augustine took them etched in the memory and often quoted them in his works, in fact, wrote a work on the music, De Musica. He recognized that the well-made music and singing can help to welcome the Word of God.

This testimony of St. Augustine helps us to understand the fact that the Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium, in line with the tradition of the Church teaches that "the combination of sacred music and words, it forms a necessary or integral part of solemn liturgy", added the Pontiff.

Talking about the relationship between sacred music and the new evangelization, Pope Benedict XVI said that the conciliar Constitution on the Liturgy points to the importance of sacred music in the mission ad gentes and urges to enhance the musical traditions of the peoples. But even in traditionally Christian countries, such as Italy, sacred music can have and in fact has an important task to facilitate the discovery of God, a renewed approach to the Christian message and the mysteries of faith.

The Pope invited them to strive to improve the quality of liturgical chant, without fear to restore and enhance the great musical tradition of the Church, Gregorian chant and polyphony in two of the highest expressions, as stated the Vatican Council.

The Pontiff hoped that in Italy the liturgical music tent ever higher, worthily to praise the Lord and to show how the Church is the place where beauty is at home.