Part VI: Organ and Instruments
15. Although the music proper to the Church is purely vocal music, music with the accompaniment of the organ is also permitted. In some
special cases, within due limits and with proper safeguards, other instruments may be allowed, but never without the special permission of the
Ordinary, according to prescriptions of the Caeremoniale Episcoporum.
16. As the singing should always have the principal place, the organ or other instruments should merely sustain and never oppress it.
17. It is not permitted to have the chant preceded by long preludes or to interrupt it with intermezzo pieces.
18. The sound of the organ as an accompaniment to the chant in preludes, interludes, and the like must be not only governed by the special
nature of the instrument, but must participate in all the qualities proper to sacred music as above enumerated.
19. The employment of the piano is forbidden in church, as is also that of noisy or frivolous instruments such as drums, cymbals, bells and the
like.
20. It is strictly forbidden to have bands play in church, and only in special cases with the consent of the Ordinary will it be permissible to
admit wind instruments, limited in number, judiciously used, and proportioned to the size of the place-provided the composition and
accompaniment be written in grave and suitable style, and conform in all respects to that proper to the organ.
21. In processions outside the church the Ordinary may give permission for a band, provided no profane pieces be executed. It would be
desirable in such cases that the band confine itself to accompanying some spiritual canticle sung in Latin or in the vernacular by the singers
and the pious associations which take part in the procession.
Part VII: The Length of Liturgical Chant
22. It is not lawful to keep the priest at the altar waiting on account of the chant or the music for a length of time not allowed by the liturgy.
According to the ecclesiastical prescriptions the Sanctus of the Mass should be over before the elevation, and therefore the priest must here
have regard for the singers. The Gloria and the Credo ought, according to the Gregorian tradition, to be relatively short.
23. In general it must be considered a very grave abuse when the liturgy in ecclesiastical functions is made to appear secondary to and in a
manner at the service of the music, for the music is merely a part of the liturgy and its humble handmaid.
Part VIII: Principal Means
24. For the exact execution of what has been herein laid down, the Bishops, if they have not already done so, are to institute in their dioceses
a special Commission composed of persons really competent in sacred music, and to this Commission let them entrust in the manner they
find most suitable the task of watching over the music executed in their churches. Nor are they to see merely that the music is good in itself,
but also that it is adapted to the powers of the singers and be always well executed.
25. In seminaries of clerics and in ecclesiastical institutions let the above-mentioned traditional Gregorian Chant be cultivated by all with
diligence and love, according to the Tridentine prescriptions, and let the superiors be liberal of encouragement and praise toward their young
subjects. In like manner let a Schola Cantorum be established, whenever possible, among the clerics for the execution of sacred polyphony
and of good liturgical music.
26. In the ordinary lessons of Liturgy, Morals, and Canon Law given to the students of theology, let care be taken to touch on those points
which regard more directly the principles and laws of sacred music, and let an attempt be made to complete the doctrine with some
particular instruction in the aesthetic side of sacred art, so that the clerics may not leave the seminary ignorant of all those subjects so
necessary to a full ecclesiastical education.
27. Let care be taken to restore, at least in the principal churches, the ancient Scholae Cantorum, as has been done with excellent fruit in a
great many places. It is not difficult for a zealous clergy to institute such Scholae even in smaller churches and country parishes-nay, in these
last the pastors will find a very easy means of gathering around them both children and adults, to their own profit and the edification of the
people.
28. Let efforts be made to support and promote, in the best way possible, the higher schools of sacred music where these already exist, and
to help in founding them where they do not. It is of the utmost importance that the Church herself provide for the instruction of her
choirmasters, organists, and singers, according to the true principles of sacred art.
Part IX: Conclusion
29. Finally, it is recommended to choirmasters, singers, members of the clergy, superiors of seminaries, ecclesiastical institutions, and
religious communities, parish priests and rectors of churches, canons of collegiate churches and cathedrals, and, above all, to the diocesan
ordinaries to favor with all zeal these prudent reforms, long desired and demanded with united voice by all; so that the authority of the
Church, which herself has repeatedly proposed them, and now inculcates them, may not fall into contempt.
Given from Our Apostolic Palace at the Vatican, on the day of the Virgin and martyr, St. Cecilia, November 22, 1903, in the first year of
Our Pontificate.
Letter to Cardinal Respighi on the Implementation of Inter Sollicitudines
Lord Cardinal,-A desire to see the decorum, dignity and holiness of the liturgical functions flourishing again in all places has determined Us to
make known by a special writing under Our own hand Our will with regard to the sacred music which is employed in the service of public
worship. We cherish the hope that all will second Us in this desired restoration, not merely with that blind submission, always laudable though
it be, which is accorded out of a pure spirit of obedience to commands that are onerous and contrary to one's own manner of thinking and
feeling, but with that alacrity of will which springs from the intimate persuasion of having to do so on grounds duly weighed, clear, evident,
and beyond question.
Even a little reflection on the end for which art is admitted to the service of public worship, and on the supreme fitness of offering to the Lord
only things in themselves good, and where possible excellent, will at once serve to show that the prescriptions of the Church regarding sacred
music are but the immediate application of those two fundamental principles. When the clergy and choirmasters are penetrated with them,
good sacred music flourishes spontaneously, as has been constantly observed, and continues to be observed in a great many places; when
on the contrary those principles are neglected, neither prayers, admonitions, severe and repeated orders nor threats of canonical penalties
suffice to effect any change; for passion, and when not passion a shameful and inexcusable ignorance, always finds a means of eluding the will
of the Church, and continuing for years in the same reprehensible way.
This alacrity of will We look for in a very special way among the clergy and faithful of this beloved City of Rome, the center of Christendom
and the seat of the Supreme Authority of the Church. Indeed it would seem but natural that none should feel more deeply the influence of
Our word than those who hear it directly from our mouth, and that the example of loving and filial submission to Our fatherly invitations
should be given with greater solicitude by none more than by that first and most noble portion of the flock of Christ, the Church of Rome,
which has been specially entrusted to Our pastoral care as Bishop. Besides, This example is to be given in the sight of the whole world.
Bishops and the faithful are continually coming here from all lands to honor the Vicar of Christ and to renew their spirit by visiting our
venerable basilicas and the tombs of the martyrs, and by assisting with redoubled fervor at the solemnities which are here celebrated with all
pomp and splendor throughout the year. "Optamus ne moribus nostris offensi recedant," said Our predecessor Benedict XIV in his own time
in his Encyclical Letter Annus qui, speaking of this very subject of sacred music: "We desire that they may not return to their own countries
scandalized by our customs." And farther on, touching on the abuse of instruments which then prevailed, the same Pontiff said: "What opinion
will be formed of us by those, who, coming from countries in which instruments are not used in church, hear them in our churches, just as
they might in theaters and other profane places? They will come, too, from places and countries where there is singing and music in the
churches of the same king as in ours. But if they are persons of sound judgment, they must be grieved not to find in our music that remedy for
the evil in their own churches which they came hither to seek." In other times the contradiction between the music usually executed in the
churches and the ecclesiastical laws and prescriptions was, perhaps, far less noticeable, and the scandal caused by this contradiction was
doubtless more circumscribed, precisely because the evil was more widely diffused and general. But now that so much study has been
employed by distinguished men in explaining the liturgy and the art used in the service of public worship, now that such consoling, and not
infrequently, such splendid results have been obtained in so many churches throughout the world in the restoration of sacred music,
notwithstanding the very serious difficulties that had to be faced , and that have been happily overcome; now, in fine, that the necessity of a
complete change in the order of things has come to be universally appreciated, every abuse in this matter becomes intolerable, and must be
removed.
You, therefore, Lord cardinal, in your high office as Our Vicar in Rome for spiritual matters, will, We are sure, exert yourself with the
gentleness that is characteristic of you, but with equal firmness, to the end that the music executed in the churches and the chapels of the
secular and regular clergy of this City may be in entire harmony with Our instructions. There is much to be corrected or removed in the
chants of the mass, of the Litany of Loretto, of the Eucharistic hymn, but that which needs a thorough renewal is the singing of the Vespers of
the feasts celebrated in the different churches and basilicas. The liturgical prescriptions of the Caeremoniale Episcoporum and the beautiful
musical traditions of the classical Roman school are no longer to be found. For the devout psalmody of the clergy, in which the people also
used to join, there have been substituted interminable musical compositions on the words of the psalms, all of them modeled on old theatrical
works, and most of them of such meager artistic value that they would not be tolerated for a moment even in our second-rate concerts. It is
certain that Christian piety and devotion are not promoted by them; the curiosity of some of the less intelligent is fed, but the majority,
disgusted and scandalized, wonder how it is that such an abuse can still survive. We therefore wish the cause to be completely extirpated,
and that the solemnity of Vespers should be celebrated according to the liturgical rules indicated by Us. The Patriarchal basilicas will lead the
way by the example of solicitous care and enlightened zeal of the Lord cardinals who preside over them, and with these will vie especially the
minor basilicas, and the collegiate and parochial churches, as well as the churches and chapels of the religious orders. And do you Lord
cardinal, neither accept excuses nor concede delays. The difficulty is not diminished but rather augmented by postponement, and since the
thing is to be done, let it be done immediately and resolutely. Let all have confidence in Us and in Our word, with which heavenly grace and
blessing are united. At first the novelty will produce some wonder among individuals; here and there a leader or director of a choir may find
himself somewhat unprepared; but little by little things will right themselves, and in the perfect harmony between the music with the liturgical
rules and the nature of the psalmody all will discern a beauty and a goodness which have perhaps never been observed. The Vespers service
will indeed be notably shortened. But if the rectors of the churches desire on a special occasion to prolong the function somewhat. in order to
detain the people who are wont so laudably to go in the evening to the particular church where the feast is being celebrated, there is nothing
to hinder them-nay, it will rather be so much gained for the piety and edification of the faithful-if they have a suitable sermon after the
Vespers, closed with Solemn Benediction of the Most Holy Sacrament.
Finally, We desire that sacred music be cultivated with special care and in the proper way in all the seminaries and ecclesiastical colleges of
Rome, in which such a large and choice body of young clerics from all parts of the world are being educated in the sacred sciences and in the
ecclesiastical spirit. We know, and We are greatly comforted by the knowledge, that in some institutions sacred music is in such a flourishing
condition that it may serve as a model for others. But there are some seminaries and colleges which leave much to be desired owing to the
carelessness of the superiors, or the want of capacity and the imperfect taste of the persons to whom the teaching of chant and the direction
of sacred music is entrusted. You, Lord Cardinal, will be good enough to provide a remedy for this also with solicitude, by insisting
especially that Gregorian Chant, according to the prescriptions of the Council of Trent and of innumerable other councils, provincial and
diocesan in all parts of the world, be studied with particular diligence, and be as a rule preferred in the public and private functions of the
institute. It is true that in other times Gregorian Chant was known to most people only through books which were incorrect, vitiated and
curtailed. But the accurate and prolonged study that has been given to it by illustrious men who have done a great service to sacred art has
changed the face of things. Gregorian Chant restored in such a satisfactory way to its early purity, as it was handed down by the fathers and
is found in the codices of the various churches, is sweet, soft, easy to learn and of a beauty so fresh and full of surprises that wherever it has
been introduced it has never failed to excite real enthusiasm in the youthful singers. Now, when delights enters into the fulfillment of duty,
everything is done with greater alacrity and with more lasting fruit. It is Our will, therefore, that in all seminaries and colleges in this fostering
city there be introduced once more the most ancient Roman chant which used to resound in our churches and basilicas and which formed the
delight of past generations in the fairest days of Christian piety. And as in former times the chant was spread abroad over the whole Western
Church from Rome, so We desire that Our young clerics, educated under Our own eyes, may carry it with them and diffuse it again in their
own dioceses when they return thither as priests to work for the glory of God. We are overjoyed to be able to give these regulations at a
time when We are about to celebrate the 15th centenary of the death of the glorious and incomparable Pontiff St. Gregory the Great, to
whom an ecclesiastical tradition dating back many centuries has attributed the composition of these sacred melodies and from whom they
have derived their name. Let Our dearly-beloved youths exercise themselves in them, for it will be sweet to us to hear them when, as We
have been told will be the case, they will assemble at the coming centenary celebrations round the tomb of the Holy Pontiff in the Vatican
Basilica during the Sacred Liturgy which, please God, will be celebrated by Us on that auspicious occasion.
Meanwhile as a pledge of Our particular benevolence, receive, Lord Cardinal, the Apostolic Benediction, which from the bottom of Our
heart We impart to you, to the clergy, and to all Our most beloved people.
From the Vatican on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of 1903.
Pius X, Pope
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