Vatican Council II: 1. Sacred Music

Vatican Council II
1. Sacred Music
The musical tradition of the church is a treasure of inestimable value because it is the
combination of sacred music and words which form the core of solemn liturgy. Sacred music
has played a prominent role in the ecclesial tradition. Keeping this in mind the sacred council
in order to foster and preserve this musical tradition of the church has laid down the
following norms:
113. It emphasis that liturgical worship becomes more solemn and noble when the divine
offices are celebrate solemnly with singing with the assistance of the sacred minister along
with faithful.
114. Sacred music must be preserved and cultivated through the establishment of choirs
groups and care must be taken that every sacred action must be accompanied by chants for
the better participation of the faithful.
115. Teaching and practice of music is to be promoted in seminaries, novitiates and other
religious houses of both sexes. In addition it also recommends the establishment of higher
institute of sacred music.
116. Gregorian chants are given more prominence by the Catholic Church. This does not
mean that other forms of music are excluded. They are included as long as they accord with
spirit of liturgy.
117. A book of Gregorian chant is to be completed.
118. The singing of the faithful must be fostered so that they could respond in the liturgical
acts and care must be taken that the voice of the faithful are heard in the liturgical
celebrations.
119. There are certain musical traditions various countries and mission lands and they are to
be held high esteem and must be adapted to therefore missionaries should be trained in music
so that they may be competent in promoting traditional music of these people.
120. The pipe organ is considered to the traditional instrument of the church because it adds
splendor to the liturgical celebration. Other musical instruments are also permitted provided
they are suitable for sacred liturgy.
121. Composers must compose more sacred music animated by Christian spirit and accept it
as a vocation. One must keep in mind the composition must be genuine, which can be sung
not only by large choirs but also by small choirs. Care must be taken that the lyrics must be in
conformity with catholic doctrine i.e. the scriptures and liturgical sources.
2. Sacred Art & Furnishings
Sacred art has always been an important contribution of the Catholic Church and the Catholic
Church has always promoted sacred art because it expressed the beauty of God in works of
human hands. Besides this the church has always claimed to pass judgment on art, deciding
which works of art are in accordance with faith and piety. With this background the church
has put forward certain norms and decrees pertaining to sacred art and furnishings. They are
as follows:
123. The church has not adopted any particular style of art. It has accepted styles of art from
every period, place and people in so far as it brings reverence and honors God. The church
takes great care of preserving this sacred art.
124. The church recommends the ordinaries to see that when promoting sacred art, one
should seek for noble beauty rather than suspicious display i.e. works which are contrary to
faith and morals must be discarded from the house of God. Similarly when building and
furnishing churches, one must take care that the building is suitable for liturgical services and
may invoke active participation.
125. Sacred images are to be placed for veneration for the faithful but their number and
placement has to be taken care as to avoid doubtful orthodoxy.
126. When judging works of art, local ordinaries should seek opinion from Diocesan
Commission on Sacred Art and other experts in the field of art. Besides this the ordinaries
should ensure that sacred furnishings are not to be destroyed or disposed because they are
ornaments of God.
127. The Bishop, either personally or with the help of artist priest should have special
concern for artist in order to promote the spirit of sacred art and sacred liturgy. It also
suggests establishment of schools and academies of art to train future artist.
128. There are cannons & ecclesiastical statutes which are to be revised relating to
construction of altar, security of Eucharistic tabernacle, order of placing sacred images. These
laws can be amended and abolished if it does not suit the reformed liturgy and those which
are helpful can be retained.
129. Seminarians in the stages of philosophy and theology must be taught about the history of
sacred art so that they may appreciate and preserve the church’s ancient monuments and that
they may be able to advice artist engaged in producing works of art.
3. A Declaration of 2nd Vatican ecumenical Council on the Revision of
Calendar.
a. Two Concerns
1. To have a fixed Sunday for Easter.
2. To have a perpetual or unchanging calendar.
b. Declarations
The following were the Declarations:
1. The Sacred Council is open to assign the feast of Easter on a fixed Sunday provide
those to who it is concerns give their accent, especially those who are not in
communion with the Holy See.
2. The sacred council is open to have a perpetual unchanging calendar i.e. without the
introduction of any other days outside the week
4. Post Conciliar Document on the Liturgy
a. Introduction
The number of post conciliar documents on liturgy was very great and greater than any other
post conciliar area. There were approx. 120/ 250 documents on liturgy alone. Due to space
constrains the editor decided to omit some of the most important post conciliar categories.
This included the Breviary, the sacramental rituals, the lectionary and the funeral rites. The
present volume includes only that complementary selection of other important documents
which are not readily available
The included documents are as follows:
1. Apostolic constitution on revised roman missal

2. General instructions on Roman missal
3. On the Holy Communion and the worship of Eucharist outside of the mass.
The omitted documents fall under two main categories:
1. Documents of interest to a limited number of people

2. Portions of documents of purely temporal interest.
b. The Growth of the Vernacular

The Constitution of Sacred liturgy allowed a very restricted use of vernacular in the mass, but
let a way open for the ordinaries to appeal to the Holy See. The constitution allowed the local
ordinaries to grant permission to clerics to recite the office in vernacular rather than Latin for
those who found Latin difficult.
However restrictions on vernacular were slowly lifted up. Till 1971 it was under the
discretion of the episcopal conference. However the use of Latin breviary is still not revoked
but the missal was modified on 10th November 1969.
c. Evolution
The building or reconstructing of churches and oratories are laid down in the constitutions of
on sacred liturgy, Inter Oecumenici, Eucharisticum Mysterium, The General instruction on
Roman Missal and in the “Holy Communion and the Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery
outside of mass.
d. General Instruction on the Roman Missal

The First missal was published in Latin on 6th April 1969. It was later republished on 26th
March 1970 as New Latin Roman Missal.
On 5th August, 1972 the sub- diaconate and minor orders were abolished and this led to
changes in general instruction in the missal. Our present Missal is the translation of the 1970
Latin original but with the changes prescribed by the Sacred Congregation for the Divine
worship.

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Vatican Council II

117. A book of Gregorian chant is to be completed.

4. Post Conciliar Document on the Liturgy

The included documents are as follows:

1. Apostolic constitution on revised roman missal

The omitted documents fall under two main categories:

1. Documents of interest to a limited number of people

b. The Growth of the Vernacular

d. General Instruction on the Roman Missal

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