Universality

In Pope Benedict's address to the Pontifical Academy of Sacred Music, he made one point which, as a music leader and hymn writer, is a priority for me, yet a difficult mark to reach. The Holy Father said that "three characteristics distinguish sacred liturgical music: sanctity, true art, and universality, meaning its ability to be used regardless of the nature or nationality of the assembly."

This last characteristic is the toughest. Very little music has universal appeal. Nothing can drive roommates crazier, or carpoolers, or parishioners, than the musical choices others make. This is one reason we've become an individualistic nation, a nation of Ipods. And yet this is a very important point.

There have been times when I've sat very uncomfortably through liturgies in which one individual's taste or spirituality has suddenly taken over the musical selection of the day, and serves only as a distraction. Show tunes, Danny Boy, national anthems, the Beatles--though all have been used for liturgy, all are wrong in (at least) this aspect. They are songs of a time, a place, and a culture: they fail the "universality" test. The effect is serious. Instead of a Gospel that calls everyone, everywhere, we narrow down the liturgy and make a show of putting limits on the grace of God.

God calls everyone to the same newness of life. There will be differences in the way it is lived out, depending on times, places, and life situations, but the fact is, there will be more commonality than diversity among all Christ's disciples. We all know the fresh feeling of grace, the sorrow of contrition, the relief of forgiveness, the joy of knowing that in the Father's house there are many dwelling places. These are the things we should sing.