Religion: Singing at Mass

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Last month Bishop Joseph Schrembs of Cleveland opened a Music Week at Columbia College in Dubuque, Iowa, crying: "We have become mute in the Catholic Church. We have become silent worshippers sitting in our pews almost as lifeless as the wood of those pews. . . ." Bishop Schrembs quoted Pope Pius XI, who issued an encyclical on the subject in 1929, and Walter Damrosch who told him : "You have the most wonderful music in the world . . . and you have robbed your people of the privilege of community singing. . . ." Bishop Schrembs recalled hearing 7,000 railroad workers sing a Credo at Lourdes: "If they could do it, why not we?"

In America, Jesuit weekly, the same theme was played last week by John La Farge, Jesuit member of the famed artistic-literary family. Father La Farge also quoted Pius XI: "The faithful should not be present at the sacred ceremonies like mere outsiders or speechless bystanders; but should be deeply affected by the beauty of the liturgy." Singing should be an act of faith. It is. said Father La Farge. "one of the noblest of all 'devotions.' "

The great drama of the Mass, through which runs a succession of solemn and joyful psalms, hymns and prayers, offers many a place for song where now no voice save that of the priest is raised. In austere, simple Gregorian chant the congregation may voice its faith more deeply and emotionally than any choir singing Bach or Beethoven. As the celebrant begins the Mass the people might intone a majestic Kyrie Eleison and then the Gloria which angels sang at Christ's birth. Just before the priest consecrates the Host there may be a full-voiced Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth— "Holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts," recalling Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem. And at the great moment of communion with the Body and Blood of Christ, the congregation may sing in supplication, Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis: "Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us."

Cleveland's Bishop Schrembs recommended especially the moment in the Mass when "the priest bows low as the little altar bell tinkles and he gazes upon the sacred Host just trans-substantiated between his linger and raises it on high, and you gaze upon it with a gaze of love; and then out goes a cry from the hearts of the believing people, Benedictus, qui venit in nomine Domini, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest! Let the congregation sing it!"