Critics cite USCCB guide, “diverse” selection

Notre Dame’s Campus Ministry announced that it will be replacing the current Newman Hymnal with the fourth edition of Gather, a popular Catholic edition of hymnals. Advertised as 70 percent contemporary, 30 percent traditional, Gather IV includes several hymns that the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has determined have “potential deficiencies” in doctrinal clarity, according to their 2020 statement, “Catholic Hymnody at the Service of the Church: An Aid for Evaluating Hymn Lyrics.”

The Gather hymnal is produced by GIA Publications, a major Catholic publisher of sacred music, hymnals, and musical education materials. Campus Ministry has advertised that the hymnal will replace all current Newman hymnals in the basilica and all dorm chapels starting this summer.

GIA’s website describes Gather IV as a “more diverse, more inclusive, more representative, and more balanced” edition than previous Gather hymnals. “Every piece of music in this edition met theological, pastoral, liturgical, and musical criteria and is representative of today’s world and the modern Catholic Church. No matter who you are, we are confident that you will see yourself in this hymnal.”

Fr. Brian Ching, C.S.C., who serves as Rector of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, explained the reasons for the hymnal switch.

“Campus Ministry decided to procure new hymnals because it became clear in recent years that the physical condition of the Newman Hymnals currently in use were degrading rapidly and that they would not physically last much longer,” Fr. Ching told the Rover. “Given the unique arrangement with regards to the licensing of hymns for use in the Newman Hymnal, it was not possible for us to purchase or print new copies.”

He continued, “In order to select a new hymnal, a consultative body of liturgical musicians, liturgists, hall Mass musicians, and rectors was created. Finding a perfect hymnal for the Notre Dame community was no easy task and in a certain sense a ‘perfect’ hymnal would be impossible to find.  Our worshiping community of students, faculty, and staff, is made up of individuals with a wide variety of liturgical tastes and it was important that the hymnal chosen would be able to speak to the different preferences and tastes in liturgical music.”

Fr. Ching explained that the Gather hymnal presents a variety in liturgical taste that is necessary at a university like Notre Dame, where “hall Masses differ in their musical selections with some halls trending towards more traditional hymnody with others using more contemporary hymnody.”

One student, a member of a university choir, criticized this “diversity” in musical selection, which “incorporat[es] some good music along with much more that is utterly unfit for liturgy.”

When asked about the USCCB’s guidelines on hymn use, Fr. Ching noted, “I am certainly well aware of the USCCB’s guidelines for evaluating Catholic Hymnody. While they are helpful guidelines, they are guidelines and do not constitute liturgical law. … A hymn’s presence in the hymnal does not constitute a requirement that it be used and Campus Ministry will continue, as it already does, to offer guidance to hall Mass musicians on how to best select hymns for Mass. Of course, the USCCB guidelines will be taken into account in the administration of that guidance.”

The USCCB’s document states that the most important element of sacred music is “the use of words that are appropriate for liturgical worship.” After outlining general guidelines for hymn selection aligned with doctrine, the statement provides examples of how to apply the guidelines with regard to certain doctrines. Among the examples of doctrinally deficient hymns are six hymns in the Gather IV hymnal: “God Is Here! As We His People”; “All Are Welcome”; “Let Us Break Bread Together”; “Sing a New Church”; “As a Fire Is Meant for Burning”; and “Canticle of the Sun.”

Allie Steiner, Coordinator of Special Projects in Campus Ministry, responded, “Gather IV has received a nihil obstat, which means that it is approved by the Church as a work which does not contradict Church teaching. Campus Ministry will continue to make music recommendations for our campus liturgies that are consistent with USCCB guidelines.”

The announcement was met with criticism from students on campus.

The student choir member argued that “the decision to purchase and implement the Gather IV hymnals is at best woefully ignorant and foolish, and at worst shockingly heterodox and even anti-Catholic. It is no secret that Notre Dame has become increasingly fraught ground for the faithful Catholic, and now this has permeated even the Holy Mass.”

The student continued, “Campus Ministry’s caving to publishers like GIA and the heterodox banalities that their hymnals contain sends a clear message: beautiful and traditional music is not a university priority, ‘diversity’ means forced and hideous conformity, and USCCB directives are just another political obstacle to be avoided.”

Daniel Martin, president of Children of Mary, echoed this sentiment: “The Mass is never about the congregation. Liturgical music should lift the soul to God, not ‘reflect ourselves.’ Campus Ministry placed ideals like ‘community’ and ‘diversity’ in liturgical taste at the expense of doctrinal soundness, which is disappointing, to say the least.”

Campus Ministry is hosting a “Hymnal Launch Party” on March 30 to introduce the hymnal to dorm musicians, students, and rectors.

Michael Canady is a junior from northern Virginia studying classics and constitutional studies. He can be reached at mcanady2@nd.edu. 

Lucy Spence is a sophomore majoring in piano performance and the Program of Liberal Studies. She can be reached at lspence@nd.edu. 

Photo Credit: PxHere, licensed by Creative Commons

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