The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-10-25

|, oibc8 the COUNCIL OF Trent mas m8Qo ~
: express law that ali Biahops should banisl
from the Church every kind of vocal or. in
strumental mnsic of q too mundane char
acter, we ordain most vigorously that al
profane airs, and more particularly al
theatrical music, be entirely secluded from
the sanctuary.
5. The words which are eung shouli
always agree with the spirit of the Church
and the Office she 10 celebrating. They
may not be taken from any other source
than the Holy Scriptures, the Missal, the
Breviary, or other Liturgical books.
Besides this, it is necessary to be careful
that the words sung should be perfectly
and distinctly heard.
1t is forbidden to make use of the vulgar
tongue during the Liturgical Offices. 1t il
only before and after any Office shat the
vulgar tongue may be employed in singing.
6. The singing Of the Introit, the Offer.
tory, and the music which takes place after
the elevation and during the Communion.
ought not to be prolonged SO as to cause
the priest to wait and Interrupt the cele.
bration of the Holy Sacrifice.
The music of the Gloria and Credo and
the motets at Benediction ought to be so
regulated that the Mass. exclusive of the
sermon, shall not exceed one hour, and
Benedction three-quarters of an hour.
Experience proves that o too protracted
service is very hurtful to the piety of the
faithful.
z. If instrumental music accompany the
sacred chant, it ought only to be such as will
add weight to the words, and make the
sense to be more easily apprehended, so
that the faithful may be aided in the taste
for what is spiritual, and raised to the love
of God and of Divine things.
It must, therefore, be matter of ate ntion
that the organ or the other instruments do
not drown the voices of the singers, nor
prevent the sense of the words from being
appreciated.
8. If during professions and other Offices
instrumental! music be employed trithout sing.
sng, it is necessary that the pieces execuu-
ed be grave, worthy of the majesty of God,
and Of nature to nourish piety. They
must not be of such an immeasurable length
as to engeDder ennui.
8. From religious music all that is for.
eign to the aim which religion proposes
must be banished, all that also which only
ers, or to satisfy curiosity and musical sen-
sualism.
10. The organ.lofe being primarily and
solely destined for the organist, the choir,
the musicians and their assistants, all ac-
cess thereto is strictly forbidden to others,
unless the parish priest judge that neces-
sity or just reason to require the contrary.
Silence must be strictly and constantly
preserved there.
III. 1t is not permitted women to sing to
the praises of God or to touch the organ,
except in churches and chapeis belonging
to nuns or congregations of women.
IL. The clergy appointed to churches and
chapels ought to explain these present
statutes to the chapel masters, the choris-
tiers, and the musicians. They ought to
recommend to all those whom it may con-
Germ to bear constantly in mind the end
which the Church has in view in admitting
singing and music into the Liturgy.
They are bound also to see that the
blameless lives of the choristers and the
musicians may do honor to the House of
God and Holy Church.-London Tablet.