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The primary music makers for the sacred liturgy
are all of us, we who have gathered to worship. Together
we unite our voices--whether we think we have good ones or
not!--in hymns, responses, and other music of the Mass.
This liturgy is itself a sung act of worship, and no
liturgy is truly complete without music.
Pope John Paul II, in a document promulgated in
Rome on November 22nd (the feast of St. Cecilia, the patron
saint of music!), 2003, "recalls that the special attention
which sacred music rightly deserves stems from the fact that,
"being an integral part of the solemn Liturgy, [it] participates
in the general purpose of the Liturgy, which is the glory of God
and the sanctification and edification of the faithful.
"Since it interprets and expresses the deep meaning of the
sacred text to which it is intimately linked, it must be able
'to add greater efficacy to the text, in order that through it
the faithful may be...better disposed for the reception of the
fruits of grace belonging to the celebration of the most holy
mysteries.'"
--CHIROGRAPH OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF JOHN PAUL II FOR THE CENTENARY OF THE MOTU PROPRIO
TRA LE SOLLECITUDINI ON SACRED
MUSIC
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