Latin chant or folk guitar: What should Catholics sing at Mass?

10/10/2025 54 min
Latin chant or folk guitar: What should Catholics sing at Mass?

Listen "Latin chant or folk guitar: What should Catholics sing at Mass?"

Episode Synopsis

This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac speak with Kate Williams, the vice president of sacred music at GIA Publications, publisher of the “Gather” and “Worship” hymnals. 

Ashley, Zac and Kate discuss:

- Why Catholics don’t sing at Mass

- How the role of music in liturgy changed post-Vatican II

- Why the slightest changes in language make all the difference when it comes to hymns

In a brief “Signs of the Times,” Ashley points to America’s coverage of Pope Leo’s first major document, “Dilexi Te,” and calls for audience comments and questions.

Links for further reading: 

Latin chant or folk music at Mass? A debate on what makes liturgy ‘reverent’

The new Gather hymnal is just good enough — and that’s perfect

What makes for good liturgical music? St. Thomas Aquinas has 3 criteria for what works at Mass.

Pope Leo in first major document: Love for the poor is not optional for Christians

Read “Dilexi Te”

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