An organist rehearses at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception April 25, 2019, in Washington. (CNS/Tyler Orsburn)
Maria Solis is at home with the sprawling, diversity of Catholic liturgical music in the United States. Growing up bilingual in Texas, she saw the eclectic cultural influences of music at Mass, and, as someone who s been doing liturgical music for most of her life, recent guidelines on hymn lyrics from the doctrine committee of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops first reported in early December didn t faze her. I don t really have a problem with any of them. They re trying to filter out things that probably should have been filtered out a long time ago, Solis, a wife and mother in her early 30s who oversees liturgical music at a small parish in Omaha, told NCR.
Finally, the Bishops Talk Sense About Hymns 12/22/2020 at 5:11 PM Posted by Kevin Edward White
By Anthony Esolen, Crisis, December 22, 2020
It is axiomatic that nothing well-written ever comes from a committee. So, I regard as miraculous the recent report,
Catholic Hymnody at the Service of the Church, put forth by the doctrinal watchdogs of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. It is incisive, intelligent, and precise, blessedly free of political correctness, and sensitive to the relationship between the work of the intellect and the delight in beauty that God has placed within our hearts.
“Catholic composers and hymn-writers,” say the bishops, “necessarily inhabit a realm of creative interplay: they have the privilege and vocation of honoring and communicating the mystery of faith in word and music, and this requires genuine artistry, industry, and fidelity.” About the artistry and the industry they have nothing to say here, as they limit themselves
Doctrine committee sets standards for church hymns
Friday, Dec. 18, 2020
By Catholic News Service
WASHINGTON Expressing concern for the doctrinal soundness of some of the lyrics of Catholic hymns now available for use in Catholic liturgies, the U.S. bishops’ doctrine committee in a forthcoming report suggests guidelines for bishops in evaluating hymn lyrics and for selecting hymnals being considered for use in churches.
An accompanying memo said the document is to “assist bishops in their oversight of liturgical celebrations in their dioceses and in the granting of the imprimatur.”
It also encouraged bishops to “share this resource with composers and hymn publishers in their dioceses” as well as “diocesan worship officers, pastors and parish musicians.” It also said that the doctrine committee “is available for any bishop who desires assistance in the evaluation of hymns or hymnals.”
Doctrine committee sets standards for evaluating, improving church hymns
Dec 15, 2020 catholic news service
Members of The Catholic University of America Chamber Choir sing during an Oct. 10, 2017, rehearsal at St. Vincent de Paul Chapel on the campus of the Washington university. The U.S. bishops doctrine committee, in a forthcoming report, suggests guidelines for bishops in evaluating hymn lyrics and for selecting hymnals being considered for use in churches. (Credit: Chaz Muth/CNS.)
Expressing concern for the doctrinal soundness of some of the lyrics of Catholic hymns now available for use in Catholic liturgies, the U.S. bishops doctrine committee in a forthcoming report suggests guidelines for bishops in evaluating hymn lyrics and for selecting hymnals being considered for use in churches.
How does a hymn’s doctrine sound?
Members of the Fil-Am Choir from St. Gregory the Great Parish in Virginia Beach, Va., sing the offertory hymn during a Jan. 18, 2020, Mass. The U.S. bishops doctrine committee, in a forthcoming report, suggests guidelines for bishops in evaluating hymn lyrics and for selecting hymnals being considered for use in churches. (CNS photo/Vy Barto, courtesy The Catholic Virginian)
By Greg Erlandson • Catholic News Service • Posted December 14, 2020
WASHINGTON (CNS) Expressing concern for the doctrinal soundness of some of the lyrics of Catholic hymns now available for use in Catholic liturgies, the U.S. bishops’ doctrine committee in a forthcoming report suggests guidelines for bishops in evaluating hymn lyrics and for selecting hymnals being considered for use in churches.