Longtime prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship invites Catholics to rediscover the true meaning of worship — not in aesthetic preference, but in Christ Himself
SAN FRANCISCO — People throughout Catholicism have taken entrenched sides in the Church’s seemingly never-ending liturgy wars without asking what the Church herself really wants when it comes to worship, especially when it comes to music.
Now in the groundbreaking THE SONG OF THE LAMB: Sacred Music and the Heavenly Liturgy, Robert Cardinal Sarah, prefect emeritus of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, joins with Peter Carter, director of the Catholic Sacred Music Project, to dive into the spiritually rich tradition of Catholic sacred music, tracing it from the Church’s earliest days all the way through the Second Vatican Council and beyond.
His Eminence minces no words in critiquing the liturgical confusion of our times, which has touched every corner of the Church. However, he always returns to the true center: not potentially subjective aesthetics, but the beautiful person of Christ Himself, God incarnate.
THE SONG OF THE LAMB is thus an insightful, in-depth look at the Catholic Church’s tradition of sacred music and its relevance today. It continues the work Cardinal Sarah undertook as prefect of the dicastery, especially highlighting Pope Benedict XVI’s contribution to understanding sacred music’s role in every form of liturgical celebration.
The Cardinal speaks eloquently of the often-misunderstood nature of the liturgy, foundational to appreciating the artistic and musical culture that has developed around since Christianity’s birth. Vatican II calls the liturgy the “source and summit of the Christian life,” and THE SONG OF THE LAMB invites the faithful into deeper participation in that mystery.
“This is the best book I’ve read about sacred music,” said Mike Aquilina, author of “Rabbles, Riots, and Ruins.” “It’s extremely rare that a book about music lives up to the sublimity of music itself. This book does so because it obviously flows from the rich contemplative lives of its authors.”
THE SONG OF THE LAMB serves as the ultimate introduction to the Church’s teachings on sacred music. It is an invitation and affirmation to artists and musicians who serve the Church through their talents. It is also a call for all the faithful to restore the primacy of liturgy in their spiritual lives.
For more information, to request a review copy or to schedule an interview with the book’s coauthor, Peter Carter, director of the Catholic Sacred Music Project, please contact Brian O’Neel of Carmel Communications:
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