Year of the Eucharist, Year of Sacred Music

On October 15, 2004, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, headed by Francis Cardinal Arinze, issued "The Year of the Eucharist: Suggestions and Proposals." (News items: 1 and 2). Its passages on music deserve particular attention because they represent a continuation of the ongoing effort to restore chant and other sacred music to its rightful place in the liturgy.

• #30: The singing of the Mass, as opposed to simply singing "during" the Mass allows us to experience the Lord Jesus who comes to enter into communion with us, “so that [his] joy may be in [us] and [our] joy may be complete.” (cf. Jn 15:11; 16:24; 17:13). You fill us with joy, Lord, by your very presence!
• #35: The acceptance of the Holy Father’s invitation is to do everything possible this year, to cede to the Sunday Eucharistic celebration the central position that it ought to have in the parish, which is rightly called an “Eucharistic Community” (cf. SC, 42; Mane nobiscum Domine, 23; Dies Domini, 35-36; Eucharisticum mysterium, 26). Taking this into account, we suggest the following ideas: ... Should dedicate singular attention to liturgical song, taking into account the indications of John Paul II in his recent document on Sacred Music.
• #36: In sanctuaries, the Eucharistic celebration is the centerpiece of many of the activities (evangelization, charity, culture). It would be useful to do the following: ... Encourage the participation of various groups in the same Eucharistic celebration of the Mass, properly articulated while being attentive to the diversity of languages, if it be the case. Here Gregorian Chant can be useful, at least taking into account the more simple melodies, above all during the Ordinary of the Mass, especially the Credo and the Lord’s Prayer.
• #38: The special Year of the Eucharist is extremely significant for Seminaries and formation houses in which future diocesan and religious priests, as well as deacons, are formed... Special attention should be given to: ... Inculcate in the seminarians an understanding of the usefulness of a certain fluency in the Latin language, and Gregorian Chant, so as to be able to pray and chant in Latin when the need arises, and so rooting themselves in the tradition of the Church at prayer.