Jubilate Deo

In the ars celebrandi, liturgical song has a pre-eminent place. Saint Augustine rightly says in a famous sermon that “the new man sings a new song. Singing is an expression of joy and, if we consider the matter, an expression of love”. The People of God assembled for the liturgy sings the praises of God. In the course of her two-thousand-year history, the Church has created, and still creates, music and songs which represent a rich patrimony of faith and love. This heritage must not be lost. Certainly as far as the liturgy is concerned, we cannot say that one song is as good as another. Generic improvisation or the introduction of musical genres which fail to respect the meaning of the liturgy should be avoided. As an element of the liturgy, song should be well integrated into the overall celebration. Consequently everything – texts, music, execution – ought to correspond to the meaning of the mystery being celebrated, the structure of the rite and the liturgical seasons. Finally, while respecting various styles and different and highly praiseworthy traditions, I desire, in accordance with the request advanced by the Synod Fathers, that Gregorian chant be suitably esteemed and employed as the chant proper to the Roman liturgy.

Benedict XVI Sacramentum Caritatis 42

Preface to Jubilate Deo

The bond of unity…

In the Constitution on the Liturgy, after urging that the vernacular take a proper place in liturgical celebration, Vatican Council II adds this directive: ‘Never­theless steps should be taken enabling the faithful to say or to sing together in Latin those parts of the Ordinary of the Mass belonging to them.’

With this intention, Pope Paul VI on several recent occasions has expressed the desire that Gregorian chant accompany the eucharistic celebrations of the people of God and lend its strong support to these celebrations with its pleasing music and also that the voice of the faithful be heard in both Gregorian and vernacular singing. The present short volume is a response to the Pope’s wishes. It is a collection of the simpler melodies for the faithful to sing together — particularly on the occasion of the Holy Year.

In this way Gregorian chant will continue to be a bond that forms the members of many nations into a single people, gathered together in Christ’s name with one heart, one mind, and one voice. This living unity, symbolized by the union of voices that speak in different languages, accents, and inflections is a striking manifestation of the diversified harmony of the one Church. As St. Ambrose exclaims: ‘How close the bond of unity is when so many people join together in the one chorus. They are like the different strings of the harp that yet produces one melody. The harpist may often make mistakes while playing on just a few strings, but the artist who is the Holy Spirit never makes a mistake while playing on the hearts of a whole people.’

May God grant that the desire shared by all will be successfully realized, namely, that the heart of the Church at prayer will have a joyful, resounding voice throughout the world in these pleasing and reverent melodies.

• Jubilate Deo — documentation (pdf)
• Jubilate Deo — Chants for the Order of Mass Complete A5 booklet (pdf)

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