‘Like They Were in Heaven’: New Book Calls for Renewal of Sacred Music — Lessons for PNG and Solomon Islands
- Sr Daisy Anne Lisania Augustine MSC
- 7 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
A new book featuring Cardinal Robert Sarah is drawing global attention to the need to rediscover the spiritual depth and theological purpose of sacred music — a message with growing relevance for Catholic
communities in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, where liturgical music is a vital expression of faith and identity.
Song of the Lamb — Sacred Music and the Heavenly Liturgy, co-authored by sacred music scholar Peter Carter, explores the rich tradition of Catholic liturgical music from the early Church to the present. The book is presented as a conversation with Cardinal Sarah, former prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, and offers a theological vision of sacred music that seeks to lift souls “to the divine, to heaven, and to holiness.”
In a recent interview, Carter, who serves as Director of Sacred Music at the Aquinas Institute of Princeton University, explained that the book aims to address a widespread concern: the decline of sacred music into what many musicians and faithful describe as “mediocrity and banality.” Rather than merely lamenting the current state of liturgical music, the book offers a roadmap for renewal grounded in Scripture, tradition, and the Church’s perennial teaching.
Recovering the Heavenly Purpose of Liturgical Music
Carter emphasizes that sacred music is not merely a tool for community-building — though community is important — but exists primarily for the worship and glory of God, echoing the teaching of Pope St. Pius X. The liturgy, he notes, is a participation in the heavenly worship described in the Book of Revelation, and sacred music should draw the faithful into that mystery.
“One of the greatest compliments church musicians receive,” he said, “is when people say the music made them feel ‘like they were in heaven.’ This is not exaggeration but points to a real theological truth: that the Mass on earth is united with the praise of angels and saints.”
Much of the decline in sacred music, he argues, comes not from neglect but from misplaced priorities — focusing more on entertainment, familiarity, or emotional comfort rather than on the transcendent, sacred character of worship.
A Call for Formation — and Courage
The book provides a comprehensive introduction to the Church’s teachings on sacred music, a subject Carter believes is widely unknown among clergy and laity alike. With few recent magisterial documents issued since Musicam Sacram (1967), he sees Cardinal Sarah’s reflections as timely and necessary.
He hopes the book will “encourage and form priests and bishops in their role as guardians of the liturgy,” urging them to pursue beauty, reverence, and integrity in worship — even when doing so requires “courage and pastoral leadership.”
Relevance for Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands
The message of Song of the Lamb resonates strongly in PNG and the Solomon Islands, where music plays a central role in parish life, traditional culture, and community identity.
Across the region:
Many choirs are vibrant but lack formal liturgical formation.
Local languages and traditional melodies enrich worship, yet churches often struggle to balance inculturation with the universal norms of sacred music.
Young people are eager to participate in liturgical music but lack resources for training in chant, polyphony, and liturgical theology.
Some parishes report a shift toward performance-driven or secular styles that obscure the sacred character of the Mass.
Cardinal Sarah’s theological vision offers a path forward: one where authentic inculturation meets liturgical tradition, allowing Melanesian musical beauty to flourish within the structure and spirituality of the Church's sacred music heritage.
This echoes the principle articulated by Vatican II — that cultural expressions should harmonize with the nature of the liturgy, leading the faithful to holiness and participation in the heavenly worship.
Opportunities for Local Renewal
For dioceses and parishes in PNG and Solomon Islands, the book offers several points of practical inspiration:
Liturgical music training for choirs, catechists, and youth.
Formation programs for clergy on the theology of sacred music.
Encouragement for composers to create new works rooted in local culture yet faithful to the sacred tradition.
Stronger collaboration between dioceses and Catholic institutions to promote excellence in music ministry.
Revitalization of Gregorian chant, polyphony, and traditional Melanesian harmonies adapted for liturgical use.
By focusing on reverence, beauty, and theological depth, communities can enrich the celebration of the Eucharist — helping the faithful experience moments when worship feels “like they were in heaven.”
Launch Events
Cardinal Sarah will present the new book at several U.S. events from 21–23 November, including talks, book signings, and the celebration of Mass. While these events take place abroad, their themes and calls for renewal speak to a universal need within the global Church — a need that is deeply felt across the Pacific.
A Universal Invitation
As Carter notes, sacred music is not merely something to study — it is something to “live, breathe, and praise God through.” For musicians, clergy, and faithful in PNG and the Solomon Islands, the book offers not only insights but also an invitation: to recover the beauty and theological richness of sacred music, and to allow it to shape hearts, communities, and God's worship with renewed joy.
(Thank you to Edward Pentin of National Catholic Register for the original interview)
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