gregorian chant – Madison Catholic Herald Archive (2001-2025)

To the editor:

Over the last 50 years, we have seen many incredible changes in our Roman Catholic religion, even the use of the word “Roman” seems to have been eliminated. I wonder that anyone realizes what it used to be like before the “open window/fresh air” policy of liberalism was welcomed in.

Recent discussions about the use of Gregorian chant at Mass and whether or not birth control and abortion are sins, in my estimation, are just a couple of examples of the confusion within the Roman Catholic Church, oops … Catholic Church, today!

Letters to the editor

On November 14, 2012

Ben Yanke

Vatican II documents give Gregorian chant first place among liturgical music

To the editor:

Thank you for publishing Nico Fassino’s article in a recent edition of the Madison Catholic Herald, and also the excellent articles on the authentic role and scope of sacred music by Sr. Joan L. Roccasalvo, C.S.J. In the other letters to the editor that I have recently read, I have seen many fallacies and inconsistencies relating to the role of music in the liturgy in regard to our role in the liturgy that I feel I must address.

The Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, makes clear in §116 that Gregorian chant is the primary form of music for the Mass, having first place among liturgical music, alongside the great repository of sacred polyphony.

Letters to the editor

On October 25, 2012September 6, 2023

Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Church gives directives about liturgical music

To the editor:

On October 18, Adam Lewandowski responded to the column on sacred music by Sr. Joan Roccasalvo, C.S.J., invoking the image from chapter 6 of 2 Samuel of King David dancing “with abandon” before the Ark of the Covenant as it was being moved.