Dalla Costituzione "Sacrosanctum Concilium" (Concilio Vaticano II) CAPITOLO VI

Dignity of sacred music
112. The musical tradition of the whole Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of the other expressions of 'art, especially for the fact that the sacred song united to the words, it forms a necessary or integral part of the solemn liturgy. No doubt the sacred song has been praised by both the scripture, both the fathers and the Roman pontiffs that recently, beginning with Saint Pius X, have explained more precisely the ministerial function of sacred music in the divine service. Therefore sacred music will be more holy than is intimately linked to 'liturgical action, both expressing more gently prayer and favoring the' unanimity, both enriching greater solemnity upon the sacred rites. The church then approves and admits them into divine worship all forms of true art which have the requisite quality. The sacred council, therefore, maintaining the standards and requirements of discipline and ecclesiastical tradition and aiming for the purpose of sacred music, which is the glory of God and the sanctification of the faithful, decrees as follows.

The solemn liturgy
113. The 'liturgical action assumes a more noble form when the divine offices are celebrated solemnly in song, with the presence of the sacred ministers and the active participation of the people. As for 'use of language, observe the' art. 36; for commissioning the 'Art. 54; for the sacraments' s art. 63; for the 'Divine Office' s art. 101.

114. It is preserved and fostered with great care the heritage of sacred music must be diligently promoted the "Choirs" especially in cathedral churches; Then the bishops and other pastors 's souls who diligently look after every sacred action celebrated in song the whole' assembly of the faithful may give his active participation, in accordance with Articles. 28 and 30.

Musical training
115. It is attached to the teaching and practice of music in seminaries, in the novitiates of the religious men and women and in a student, and also in other Catholic institutions and schools; to this training should prepare teachers with concern for all 'teaching of sacred music. It is also recommended, if it is appropriate, the 'erection of higher institutes of sacred music. For the musicians, the singers, and especially boys, must also be given a genuine liturgical training.

Gregorian chant and polyphony
116. The Church acknowledges Gregorian chant as proper to the Roman liturgy: therefore, in the liturgical actions, on equal terms, it should be given pride of place. But other kinds of sacred music, especially polyphony, are not mutually exclusive at all in the celebration of the divine offices, provided they meet the spirit of the 'liturgical action, pursuant to' art. 30.

117. It leads to the term 'typical edition of the books of Gregorian chant; indeed, prepare a 'critical edition of the books already published since the restoration by St. Pius X. It should also prepare a' edition containing simpler melodies, for use in smaller churches.

Popular religious songs
118. The vigorously promoted the popular religious song, so that in devotions and sacred exercises as well as in liturgical services, according to the rules and provisions of sections may be heard the voices of the faithful.

Sacred music in the missions
119. In some regions, especially of the missions, there are peoples with their own musical traditions, which has great importance in their religious and social life. In this music should be given due respect and the proper place both in the education of the religious meaning of these peoples, as in 'adapting worship to their native genius, according to Articles. 39 and 40. Therefore, in the musical training of missionaries, he diligently procure that, as far as is possible, they are able to promote the traditional music of these peoples, both in schools, as in the sacred actions.

The 'organ and musical instruments
120. The Latin Church is held in high esteem the 'pipe organ, as traditional musical instrument, the sound of which can add a wonderful splendor to the Church's ceremonies and powerfully lifts up the soul to God and the supreme reality. But other instruments also may be admitted for use in divine worship, in the judgment and with the consent of the competent territorial ecclesiastical authority, in accordance with Articles. 22 p. 2, 37 and 40, provided that they are suitable to 'sacred use, or can be adapted, with the dignity of the temple, and truly contribute to the' edification of the faithful.

Mission of composers
121. The musicians, animated by the Christian spirit, feel that they are called to cultivate sacred music and increase its assets. Compositions which have the qualities proper to genuine sacred music that can be sung not only by the major "Choirs," but also agree to "choirs" minors, and promote the active participation of the whole 'assembly of the faithful. The texts intended to be sung must always be in conformity with Catholic doctrine, indeed they should be drawn chiefly from holy scripture and from liturgical sources.

La musica sacra secondo Papa Benedetto XVI

".... It 'became increasingly obvious that the frightening depletion occurs where there is beauty and dispels subjects only profit. Experience has shown that the folding on the only category of' understandable to all 'non-liturgies really made ​​more understandable, more open, but only the poorest. Liturgy 'simple' does not mean poor or cheap: there is the simplicity that comes from the trivial and the one that comes from spiritual wealth, cultural, historical ..... even here you are putting aside the great music of the Church in the name of 'active participation', but this 'participation' can not possibly mean even perceive with the spirit, with the senses? there's nothing to 'active' listening, nell'intuire, moved in? there is here a man shrink, reducing it to a single oral expression, just as we know that what is in us to rationally conscious and emerges to the surface is only the tip of the iceberg compared to what is our totality? Ask yourself this certainly does not mean to oppose the effort to sing all the people, oppose the 'music for use': means to oppose a exclusivism (only the music) that is not justified either by the Council or by the pastoral needs. "

"A Church that is reduced to just make music 'current' nell'inetto falls and becomes itself inept. The Church has the duty to be well 'City of Glory', a place where they are collected and brought to the ear of God deepest voices of humanity. the Church can not be satisfied just the ordinary, just the usual: he must awaken the voice of Cosmo, glorifying the Creator and the Cosmos itself, revealing its magnificence, making it beautiful, living, human being.

(tratto dal cap. IX del volume "Rapporto sulla fede. Vittorio Messori a colloquio con Joseph Ratzinger", 1985, edizioni San Paolo)

"It remains for me an unforgettable concert of Bach directed by Leonard Bernstein in Monaco of Bavaria after the early death of Karl Richter. I was sitting next to the Lutheran Bishop Hanselmann. When the last note of one of the great Thomas-Kantor-Kantaten died triumphantly, we turned his gaze to each other spontaneously and naturally as we said - "Who has heard this knows that the faith is true." In that music was perceived strength so extraordinary to realize this reality, not through deduction, but by the impact of the heart, that it could not have originated from nothingness, but could only come through the power of truth that is actualized in the inspiration of the composer."

(tratto dalla riflessione teologica che il Card. Ratzinger scrisse per commentare il tema dell'edizione 2002 del Meeting di Rimini: «Il sentimento delle cose, la contemplazione della bellezza»)

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