Good Hymns For Better Worship Ted Marier and Mother Josephine Margan SEPTEMBER 22.1957 Deacfdlfled Good Hymns For Better Worship ANNCR: This is THE CATHOLIC HOUR. Today, the Catholic Hour continues its special series of five programs on MUSIC IN CATHOLIC WORSHIP. Presented by the National Council of Catholic Men in cooperation with the National Broad- casting ComIXIny, these broodcasts ex- plore the nature and purpose of Sacred Music and its role in the life of the Church. In rroducing this unusual series, the CA THOLIC HOUR has the cooperation of the Pius X School of Liturgical Music of Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart, in Purchase, New York. All of the music and commentary you will hear was especially recorded for this program during the recently completed summer sessions at Pius X School. The student bpdy, consisting of priests, sisters and laymen from all IXIrts of North America, devoted their time to rreIXIring these musjcal rresentations as their contri- bution to the CATHOLIC HOUR'S mission of communicating the treasures of the Universal Church to the American public. -1- In these programS, the CATHOLIC HOUR departs from its customary un- interrupted talks to present studies in word and music which will demonstrate the importance and beauty of "Music in Catholic Worship". Today's lroadcast is entitled "Good Hymns for Better Worship". Your host will be Mother Josephine Morgan, of the Religious of the Sacred Heart, director of the Pius X School. Mother Morgan. MOTHER MORGAN: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thus far in our discus sions of sacred music, we have explored the simple beauty of Gregorian Chant and the magnificence of polyphony or p;lrt-singing, as they are used in the worship of the Church. Today we turn to a new subject: hymns, or to be specific, English hymns. Certainly these are im- portant features of our processions, Holy Hours, novenas, and other religious ser- vices. So this afternoon we're going to try to find out just what a hymn is, - what makes a good hymn, and why and how they are used. We'll also sing ex- amples of various kinds of hymns for you. Now, exactly what can the Pius X School of Liturgical Music contribute to the interest in good English hymns? Here is need felt in every parish, school and convent throughout the Church year. -2- It was this very difficulty finding appro- priate hymns, which led our School to compile a hymnal which bears the name of Pius X, promotor of reform in liturgical music. The hymns you will hear are from this publication. To guide us through this presentation, I'd like to introduce a member of our faculty who, incidentally, is editor-in-chief of McLaughlin and Riley, publishers of the Pius X hymnal, Mr. Theodore Marier. Mr. Marier. MARIER: Thank you, Mother. I'm glad that you emphasized the fact that we are going to present "good" English hymns this afternoon. For just as there is good and bad music in let's say the "popular" field, there are good and bad hymns. And since the music we're concerned with is used in the worship of God, we can only admit of compositions which are really "good" music. As His Holiness, Pope Pius XII has said, " the laws andstan- dards for religious art apply in a stricter and holier way to sacred music because sacred music enters more intimately into divine worship ... music has an important place in the actual performance of the sacred ceremonies and rites." Since, therefore, music does have an important role in divine worship, what are the standards proposed by Holy -3- Mother Church? Referring to hymns, Our Holy Father has said that they 1/ ••• must be in full conformity with the doctrine of the Catholic faith... They must use plain language and simple melody •.•• Despite the fact that they are short and easy , they should manifest a religious dignity and seriousness 1/. So we can see that while the Church makes wide use of hymns. She is only interested in good hymns, - good music and good words. Let's take a few examples. A hymn to Our Blessed Savior which is suitable for use at any season of ~e year is "Thee, Lord. Of Every Age We Sing". Expressing the deep devotion and proud praise of the" faithful , it conforms to the strictes t standards of Church music. Here it is sung by our mixed choir, - "Thee, Lord, of Every Age We Sing." MUSIC: THEE, LORD, OF EVERY AGE WE SING MARIER: There we have plain laaguage in conformity with doctrine sung to a dignified melody. It's a "good" hymn. An important occasion, which comes only once a year in most p