Undusted Texts

This is the base page for my series/project on Byzantine psalmody .  Below are links to posts in the series, other posts on sacred music, a list of abbreviations for works I use throughout the series, and links to other Church documents on sacred music. Posts: Why Should I Care About Byzantine Psalmody? (4/12/12) A Quick History and the Notes (4/12/12)  The Ten Basic Neumes (Part 1) (4/22/12) Abbreviations: BM = Byzantine Music in Theory and in Practice by Prof. Savas I. Savas, trans. Nicholas Dufault, Boston: Hercules Press, 1965. BP = Byzantine Prosomia: The Chanter's Companion by Holy Transfiguration Monastery (2005). DMS = De musica sacra et sacra liturgia , Instruction by the Sacred Congregation for Rites (9/3/1958) GMEOC = A Guide to the Music of the Eastern Orthodox Church by N. Lungu, G. Costea, and I. Croitoru, trans. Nicholas K. Apostola, Brookline: Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 1984. GTM = Great Theory of Music by Chrysanthos of Madytos, trans. Katy...

Χριστος ανεστι!  It is well-known that the Second Vatican Council declared that Gregorian chant is "specially suited to the Roman liturgy: therefore, other things being equal, it should be given pride of place in liturgical services" (SC 116).  This does not mean that other types of music are completely banned from the liturgy (as some, including myself at times, try to claim), but it does mean that there is no place for completely doing away with Gregorian chant. Why is Gregorian chant so suited to the liturgy?  For one, it was specifically created for the liturgy.  Its original purpose is for the glorification of God through the divine rites.  It is a music set apart.  Second, it keeps the liturgical texts prominent.  The chant involves simple music which serves to highlight the text rather than hiding it in auditory flourishes.  This is keeping with Pope St. Pius X's description of sacred music: "Since its principal office is to clothe with ...

This is a collection of links to English translations of Church documents found on-line that relate to any topic I could not find a way to place under any other topic.  It is part of my Church Documents project. Nota Bene: If you have any good ideas on where to place these amid the other pages of my project, please let me know. Miscellaneous ?/?/1455: Romanus pontifex ad illorum by Pope Callistus III Bull: On the Ruined Churches of Cagliari 3/23/1534: [Untitled] by Pope Clement VII Bull: Against the Divorce of Queen Katherine of England 2/24/1581: Inter Gravissimas by Pope Gregory XIII Bull: Establishment of the Gregorian Calendar 12/25/1775: Inscrutabile by Pope Pius VI Encyclical: On the Problems of the Pontificate 8/1/1854: Apostolicae Nostrae Caritatis by Pope Bl. Pius IX Encyclical: Urging Prayers for Peace 4/27/1859: Cum Sancta Mater Ecclesia by Pope Bl. Pius IX Encyclical: Pleading for Public Prayer 10/27/1867: Levate by Pope Bl. Pius IX Encyclical: On th...

 This is a collection of links to English translations of Church documents relating to the Church's social doctrine found on-line. It is part of my Church Documents project. General Economics 11/1/1745: Vix Perveni by Pope Benedict XIV Encyclical: On Usury and Other Dishonest Profit 5/15/1891: Rerum Novarum by Pope Leo XIII Encyclical: On Capital and Labor 5/15/1931: Quadragesimo Anno by Pope Pius XI Encyclical: On Reconstruction of the Social Order 10/2/1932: Nova Impendent by Pope Pius XI Encyclical: On the Economic Crisis 5/14/1971: Octogesima Adveniens by Pope Paul VI Apostolic Letter: On the Occasion of the Eightieth Anniversary of the Encyclical Rerum Novarum 9/14/1981: Laborem Exercens by Pope Bl. John Paul II Encyclical: On Human Work on the Ninetieth Anniversary of Rerum Novarum 5/1/1991: Centesimus Annus by Pope Bl. John Paul II Encyclical: On the Hundredth Anniversary of Rerum Novarum 12/30/2010: For the Prevention and Countering...

This is a collection of links to English translations of Church documents relating to the deposit of faith (that is, the teaching of the Catholic Church) and Christian thought found on-line. It is part of my Church Documents project. Catechisms ?/?/1566: Roman Catechism (Catechism of the Council of Trent/Catechism of Pope St. Pius V) ?/?/1908: Catechism of Pope St. Pius X 10/11/1992: Fidei Depositum by Pope Bl. John Paul II Apostolic Constitution: On the Publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church Prepared Following the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council   8/15/1997: Laetamur Magnopere by Pope Bl. John Paul II Apostolic Letter: In Which the Latin Typical Edition of the Catechism of the Catholic Church Is Approved and Promulgated ?/?/1997: Catechism of the Catholic Church   6/28/2005: Motu Proprio for the Approval and Publication of the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church by Pope Benedict XVI   ?/?/2005: Compendium of the Catec...

This is a collection of links to English translations of Church documents relating to the Sacraments found on-line. It is part of my Church Documents project. General ?/?/1439: Exultate Domine by Pope Eugene IV Bull: Decree for the Armenians [on the seven Sacraments] 2/19/1987: Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments 4/30/2001: Sacramentorum Sanctitatis Tutela by Pope Bl. John Paul II Motu Proprio: By Which Are Promulgated Norms Concerning the More Grave Delicts Reserved to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Anointing of the Sick/Unction 11/30/1972: Sacram Unctione Infirmorum by Pope Paul VI Apostolic Constitution: On the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick Baptism 1/1/1973: Rite of Baptism for Children, Introduction (Second Edition) by the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship 10/20/1980: Instruction on Infant Baptism by the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the...

This is a collection of links to English translations of Church documents relating to national and regional churches (that is, the Church in various countries and regions) found on-line. It is part of my Church Documents project. Africa 9/14/1995: Ecclesia in Africa by Pope Bl. John Paul II Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation: On the Church in Africa and Its Evangelizing Mission Towards the Year 2000 11/19/2011: Africae Munus by Pope Benedict XVI Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation: On the Church in Africa in Service to Reconciliation, Justice and Peace Asia/Oceania 2/2/1854: Neminem Vestrum by Pope Bl. Pius IX Encyclical: On the Persecution of Armenians 8/29/1911: [Untitled] by Pope St. Pius X Bull: Instituting the Apostolic Vicariate of Kottayam for the Southists People 6/29/1958: Ad Apostolorum Principis by Ven. Pope Pius XII Encyclical: On Communism and the Church in China 6/11/1999: Ecclesia in Asia by Pope Bl. John Paul II Post-Synodal Apostolic Exh...