Begin in the liturgy: sing the parts of the Mass that belong to the assembly, and learn them by heart so that the book can be put down. Then learn a small common repertoire that any Catholic can share and that will be sung wherever you go — the Pater Noster, the Salve Regina, the Adoro te devote, the Tantum ergo and O salutaris hostia for Benediction, the Veni Creator Spiritus, and the Te Deum. Learn the simple psalm tones, which let you sing Morning and Evening Prayer without accompaniment. Sing at home: a hymn at the Advent wreath, the Salve Regina at night prayer, a carol at the crib. If your parish has a schola or choir, join it, and if it does not, ask. Sing at the pace of prayer, not of performance; chant is unmeasured and follows the words. Remember the order of things: sacred music exists for the liturgy and grows in holiness the more closely it is joined to it, and Gregorian chant, other things being equal, holds pride of place in the Roman Rite.

Sacrosanctum Concilium devotes its sixth chapter (nn. 112-121) to sacred music, calls the Church's musical tradition a treasure of inestimable value, and gives Gregorian chant pride of place in liturgical services of the Roman Rite while admitting other kinds of sacred music.

Other

Roman Rite

At every liturgy; and in the home through the seasons

other