Cardinal Sarah on Sacred Music, the Four Last Things, and True Peace
‘We are created to sing the praises of Almighty God for all eternity,’ the African cardinal reminds the faithful.
The vital importance of sacred music to the liturgy, the need for every Catholic to be watchful and prepared for the Four Last Things, and the recognition that only Christ’s kingship will bring true peace were among the key messages Cardinal Robert Sarah brought to the United States late last year.
Cardinal Sarah’s visit to the U.S. was centered around the launch of his new book, The Song of the Lamb: Sacred Music and Heavenly Liturgy, co-written with Church musician Peter Carter.
In two talks on Nov. 21 and 22, 2025, delivered at Princeton University, where Carter serves as director of sacred music for the Aquinas Institute, Cardinal Sarah underscored that at a time when, for decades, the Church’s liturgy has “too often been instrumentalized,” it is important to understand what the liturgy is and why sacred music is a central part of divine worship.
Noting that the liturgy “has become politicized” in recent decades, the prefect emeritus of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments also defended those who have legitimately highlighted abuses, denouncing as “wrong” the fact that some Church authorities have “persecuted and excluded” these critics.
Recalling Benedict XVI’s hermeneutic of continuity between the reformed and pre-reformed liturgy and the late pontiff’s emphasis on “what earlier generations held as sacred remains sacred and great for us too,” Cardinal Sarah said liturgical abuse detracts from the twofold nature and purpose of the liturgy: to “render to Almighty God the worship that is his due” and to recognize that the liturgy “is not about what we do,” but rather about what the Lord “does for us and in us.”
Through the worship offered by the Church in her liturgical rites, “we are sanctified,” Cardinal Sarah stressed, which is why “full, conscious and actual participation in the liturgy is essential.” By participation, he said he was not referring to many external actions but rather attuning “our minds and hearts and souls” to the “meaning of the sacred rites and chants and prayers of the Church’s liturgy.”
“That is how we ‘plug-in’ to, or connect with, the saving action of our Lord Jesus Christ in the liturgical rites,” he said. “This, my friends, is why the liturgy is ‘sacred.’”
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We have a small semi-rural Oregon parish. Our pastor is one of two in our regional area who does the Latin Mass weekly at 30 mikes away at another parish, but it has always been at 3:30 on Sunday. That tends to reduce the attendance, especially in the winter. But our local parish is still deep in the tyranny of outrageously expensive and copyrighted OCP/GIA missals. Those choir teams apparently get their marching orders from the “helpful” OCP/GIA marketing department. They saw fit to use a modern music version of O Come Emmanuel at Advent and it ruined my four weeks. And this is the diocese with Archbishop Sample who wrote brilliant letters regarding use of sacred music at his former diocese. The new bishop of Marquette took those letters and helped the diocese formulate its own reverent hymnal over five years. But no, here in Portland diocese the All Are Welcome tyranny continues apace even years later.
You might enjoy this expose about the Hymnal Industrial Complex.
https://www.lepantoin.org/wp/the-hymnal-industrial-complex/
Thank you for this great interview with Cdl Sarah. Just like Pope Benedict he understands that liturgical music is of utmost importance to the liturgy. Not a compliment but an integral part of the liturgy. I remember when a professor ( in Rome) in liturgical music told me a few years ago that the priest candidates in the seminars don't receive one single hour's lecture on liturgical music. So when these priests come to the parishes they are dependent on the small group of ladies ( usually) that you see in all the parishes. Who themselves know just about as much as the priest. In countries like Spain, in modern churches there is usually no organ in the churches. Not even a piano. " Where is the choir? Where is the organ?" is a common reaction among Protestant friends visiting Catholic churches in Spain. Its difficult trying to explain to them that there doesn't exist any choir tradition. That there is no cantor/ organist to form and lead a choir. A few times a year some elderly ladies sing flamenco songs accompanied by guitars and drums. While I love the flamenco tradition, it is quite painful to listen to it during the Mass. Latin is non existing in Spanish parishes. So where does one even begin trying to introduce reverent and beautiful liturgical music? To me it seems obvious that in order to achieve a major improvement in liturgical music there should be a thorough overview of the seminars. Introducing liturgical music on the schedule throughout the formation. Experts in liturgical music should be invited to teach. Priests should be reminded that banal pop songs have no place in the liturgy. That not all songs can be considered as good and suitable for Mass. Bishops must take a leading role in encoraging their priests in this endeavour. Priests should not be fixated on a wrong perception of participation and leave aside the temptation to sing along themselves throughout the Mass. Showing humility instead. Encouraging eventual parishioners who are trained singers or musicians and are happy to contribute. Instead of uplifting mediocrity. It's all very well with the wonderful flower arrangements, handing out book for free, organising bus excursions etc. Sadly, beautiful and reverent liturgical music continue to be regarded as an unnecessary luxury. ( even though the singers and musicians offer their service for free.) Above all the seminars must teach that liturgical music is not superfluous. That priests cannot change or introduce anything whatsoever according to their personal taste. That they should have the humility to ask for advice from knowledgeable and experienced people. There is no doubt in my mind that Pope Benedict was right when he said that poor liturgy and poor liturgical music was one of the main reasons that so many people have lost their faith. There are many examples of atheists who came to believe in God after having listened to beautiful Gregorian Chant or other kinds of beautiful music in the church.
Thank God for Cardinal Sarah who is open to truth and beauty.