The Ministers of Music

THE MINISTERS OF MUSIC:

assist the assembly  for full participation in songs, responses, and acclamations that are constitutive elements of the liturgy. These ministers of music exercise liturgical functions within the assembly and by their role add beauty and solemnity to the celebration. (GIRM, 103-4, 39-41) General Instruction of the Roman Missal.

When we gather for the Eucharist, we worship God by singing his praises. Music is a significant action of the assembly. It gives beauty, solemnity, and depth to our  Eucharistic celebration. It is not to be treated only as an accessory to our worship; it is to be regarded as an outward manifestation of the noble beauty of the mystery we celebrate and a sign of the sincerity and depth of our praise of God.

The choir is at all times a part of the assembly. The members of the choir participate in the liturgical celebration like the rest of the assembly, but as choir they are also agents of active participation. They exercise their role by leading the assembly in the singing of the praises of God. (GIRM, 103)

The music director, working collaboratively with other ministers, has a particular responsibility to help select musical settings that allow the worthy celebration of the liturgy, respecting the different nature of the texts and actions of the liturgy, the feast, and the liturgical seasons. (GIRM, 111,352,366; Sacramentum Caritatis, 42)