Sacred Music

by Stephanie Jakes

 “Music is the exaltation of the mind derived from
things eternal, bursting forth in sound.”
– Saint Thomas of Aquinas

The Saints have much to say on the topic of Sacred Music. Father Fye is equally passionate about the music of the Most Holy Mass and wants to share that passion with Saint Ann Parish.

“My goal as a priest, and especially as a pastor, is simply to help people know and love Jesus Christ,” says Father Fye. “One of the ways we, the Church and myself as a priest, do this officially and formally is through the sacraments, outward signs instituted by Christ to give grace. One of the most important celebrations of the sacraments is Mass, which we come together for every Sunday. Making Sunday Mass the best it can be is a main focus for me as pastor.”

Father Fye wants people to walk away from Mass feeling they have met Jesus, both intellectually and experientially. Music can help us pray the Mass better, and that is his primary goal. If we are not praying the Mass, we are not truly participating. And participation does not mean taking part in activities. It means praying.

“I was so happy when I came because the music ministry was so well done. But I know, both from church history and theology, as well as from seminary experience, that it can always be improved,” Father Fye explains. “That’s what I want to do. I want to take the good that we’re already doing and make it even better. To do that, we need to step out of the familiar and come to a deeper understanding of the role of the parishioner and why we’re at Mass. Simply put, praying the Mass better can help us know and love Jesus better.”

Sacred Music plays a big role in praying the Mass better. The Church teaches us music is the most valuable of sacred arts because of its ability to evoke transcendence, to carry us even closer to God.

"The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art. The main reason for this pre-eminence is that, as a combination of sacred music and words, it forms a necessary or integral part of solemn liturgy" – Catechism of the Catholic Church. 

“The 8:30 Mass, with the choir, will be the most elaborate musically. We cannot do it like they do at the Vatican, but we can do pretty well,” Father Fye says with a smile. “The biggest change people will notice is that we’re not using a hymn for the entrance. We will use an entrance Antiphon which will sound and feel very differently. Most people have never heard this done, but if you go to any monastery or seminary, they do this. It’s what has been done for nearly two thousand years, and it’s totally appropriate to the Mass.”

I know first-hand what he means. When I first began dating my husband, he took me to Saint Meinrad Archabbey. As we stood there witnessing the monks singing compline (Night Prayer) and vespers (Evening Prayer), hearing the ancient chanting of the scriptures, I was mesmerized. There is a true transcendent quality to this music, prayerful rituals so ancient many scholars believe they are based on Judaic forms of prayer, pointing to a daily evening celebration observed among Jews in the first century B.C. In fact, I found I preferred the monastic experience hands-down over regular church services because once you have experienced the true transcendent effects of Sacred Music, you can’t go back. You are transformed.

All the Popes have called for a return to Sacred Music. The Sacrosanctum Concilium (the first document of the Second Vatican Council) explicitly talks about the need to defend and promote the treasures of our Sacred Music. There is a trend throughout the country to return to the Church's musical roots.

Recently, Father Fye, along with music director Marcina Clark and Saint Ann School music teacher Amanda Sotiriadis, attended the Sacred Music Colloquium in Philadelphia. It was a week of immersion in what the Church asks of us and learning how implement it.

“I like the format of the new pew missal, as it has the antiphons with the readings. It is easy to see and hear how they flow from one to the next, weaving the prayer and praise of the liturgy,” says Marcina. “Along with the inclusion of the antiphons, there are many familiar and beloved hymns in the new pew missal. We get the best of both worlds.”

Marcina is looking forward to expanding her experience with chant. She hopes the rest of the parish will embrace the changes and grow to feel comfortable with them as well. “Sacred Music is a legacy and treasure of the Catholic Church, but I can see that it may be challenging to make it relative and meaningful in our modern world.”

“I feel that our souls are moved to the ardor of piety by the sacred words more piously and powerfully when these words are sung than when they are not sung, and that all the affections of our soul in their variety have modes of their own in song and chant by which they are stirred up by an indescribable and secret sympathy.” - Saint Augustine, Confessions

Kim Mangum, a long-time parishioner and choir member, feels the change has deepened her worship experience. “The antiphons are all scripture based, so it will add to the Mass in that way. Music is very subjective. I just hope everyone will keep an open mind and try it out because this is how the Mass is supposed to be sung.”

Father Fye is quick to note that seeking entertainment at Mass is a surefire way to undercut your experience of it. We come to Mass to praise and worship God, surrendering all that we have and are to Jesus.

“The Mass is fundamentally a sacrifice, so we need to come to it with that mindset, desire, and expectation,” he explains. “I think people need to trust us with this new focus on Sacred Music. If you sit with it and let it form and shape you for a bit, I think you will come really to appreciate it.”