Why do Catholics chant?

Answer 1

Chant is the "type" of music best suited for Catholic worship.

The four square hymnody which is exemplified in the traditional Protestant Church does not work well with Catholic worship (as is seen in many Catholic parishes across the county on a regular basis.) Music in the Catholic Church is meant to accompany the Liturgical act. Also, what is chanted is often times the Psalms. Because music is meant to accompany the Liturgical action, and because it is most appropriate to Chant the Psalms. (What better then to chant the Word of God during Mass?) it is also very easy to end the chant when the liturgical action ceases.

The Mass is intended to be a reflection of the Divine worship that takes place in heaven, and an encounter with God. In short it is meant to be an "other worldly" experience. This is why churches were traditionally ornate and beautiful, and why statues were placed in and around the Church. Since the saints are in heaven, and Mass is an encounter with heaven, it follows that the saints are with us as we worship. Most Catholic parishes built prior to Vatican II were relatively ornate, beautiful buildings with beautiful artwork because of the emphasis on the Divine aspect of the Mass. Everything in the Church was meant to draw our hearts, minds, and eyes upward towards the Divine.

In short, what visual artwork is to the eyes chant is to the ears. Chant is a "type" of music that is reserved for sacred worship, just as much of the art work and architecture in many of the older Catholic churches was reserved for sacred use. Chant is not something one hears every day, but only in worship. Again, like the visual aids, it is about raising the mind to the divine. Chant does not speak to the emotions typically, but rather appeals to our higher natures, it appeals to our intellects. Mass is not supposed to necessarily appeal to the "emotions" because emotions tend to be fleeting and we are not determined by our emotions.

According to the Vatican II Documents, Chant is to have pride of place in Catholic worship, along with the use of Latin, but this directive is all but ignored in most modern parishes today in favor of more "hip" "Glory and Praise" or "Gather" book type music. Chant is certainly not "hip" and "cool" or even "with it" but the whole point of Divine worship is that it is PRECISELY DESIGNED NOT to be worldly! Those who try to make the Mass more "relevant" or "hip" miss the whole point of Divine worship.

Answer 2

Everyone should sing songs in church. It give honor and glory to God and He loves it. It is like praying twice!