The Irish standard., 1913-09-20
\ aaffusic . should j ,' bsD yodanal i and
Not Thsae
Music Of theatrical Oriein Has No
Place in the
Church.
Reverend Father Bosetti of Denver
Speaks Against Use of Theatrical
Music for Church Service.

~ The use Of music of theatrical
origin In the Catholic Church. making
the churches as far as music is con-
cerned, more concert halls than places
OF worship. was denounced by the
!, Aev. Father Joseph Bosetti in q ser
Y mon ct the Immaculate Conception
Cathedral. ..
...... For as the church's love for sculp-
ta.ra OF painting" he said, will not
blind har 40 as to allow in the house
.ao8 prayer and meditation profane
statues such as The LAGOON and His
Sons; or The Appolo del Belvedere.'
although masterpieces Of sculpture, SO
sha will never tolerate for sacred
;. .@orship q music which, although art
hta, u not In harmony with the
sscredness Of the House of Cod"
II! Father Bosstti was speaking In re-
alation to the encyclical Of Pope Plus
in which the pope decreed that
J only the purest music should be per-
: 1nitted in church services. and gave
!: the following caution about modern
music:
>,i.. ''etil, since modern music has risen
3 mainly to serve profane uses, care
must be taken that musical compost
i'-tious In this style admitted to the
church may contain nothing profane,
be tree from reminiscence of theat.
ssrical motives, and be not fashioned,
), even In its external form, after the
manner Of profane pieces.
-a... Should Be Devotional.
Z ''Fhis document" said Father Bos.
eth. "ls evidently the condemnation
Of those who say that Pope Plus x
has condemned the progress in arts,
the polyphonic music, to be exclusive
ly substitution for the Gregorian;
while on the contrary, the Pope, him
self q. very good musician, recon-
= +mends Tor the church a music which
ms true art, provided II ID a help to
z the liturgy and not an obstacle, pro-
y vided it is devotional and not dis
tracing.
= ''1s 1t not brought home to you, be-
loved, with binding evidence, how rea-
sonable and wise is the standard plac-
ed by the Holy Father? For If, on
the contrary, the standard be what
7pleases the people and flatters their
ears. there is no one but could see
the abuse that would arise: for then
why not sing the Miserere that tells
= Of the gloom Of the holy week on the
% popular melody, When lost You,'
{: why not on Easter Sunday express
eur Joy to the resurrection by singing
the Gloria on a ragtime movement?
'ii'''' And let It be said that we were
!; dangerously close to this standard
when on last Easter Sunday here in
!, come Denver Catholic churches we
/ had to listen at the offertory to the
! meditation Of Massenet taken from the
j Iulgar opera .'Thais.' and to listen to
the sacredest song Of the church, the
1antum Ergo. sung to the air OF the
lkextet Of Lucia di Lammermoor.'
e Father Bosetti called music the
most powerful and dominating Of all
languages and told Of its part in the
Atstoey Of the church. He announced
that = cathedral choir of men and
boys would be formed for the cult
FNnt1on Of Gregorian music and urged
4. .msmbers Of the congregation to join.
He continusds
L "The fact 10, that, In the second
!, part of this last century, with the
decline Of obedience to the authority
/ Of the church and especially to the
I wise reform Of the Council of Trent
J Ia the matter Of sacred music, the real
i chant OF the church was silenced and
fzivolous and effeminate music of the
theaters was shamefully introduced
IN the House Of God.> Many may
think it would be rhetorical exag-
3 Fgeration to say that the church had
"A been practically changed into a the.
ater or concert hall But know how
literally these words had to be taken
after what have seen with my eyes
i before the recent reform of His Holi-
q ness, Pope Plus x. In many churches
9of Italy and France and even in Rome
Twas witness Of the fact that many
during religious services turned their
u chairs toward the organ loft and sat
with their backs to the altar" 4
NEWS FROM IRELAND. .
4, -if Wicklow.
The new Foresters' Hall. Aughrim.
Il srectsd ~ the William Archer Red
/ ailnond Branch Of the Irish National
~ F6feeters. Waa opened on Au9,lst ~ NV