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When the Harps Went Still: The Tragic Decline of Catholic Sacred Music
In a world filled with disharmony, the topic of sacred music may seem less than relevant. But the need to restore authentic worship is more crucial than ever.
We've all experienced it. As we prepare to enter into the silence of the sacred liturgy, banal music peals over the sound system, and we are barraged with irritating strains just as we are trying to quietly, peacefully worship the Lord.
When the Harps Went Still, by Aurelio Porfiri, Athanasius Schneider, and Guido Milanese, is a compelling exploration of the crisis facing Catholic sacred music today. This deeply insightful book uncovers the hidden tragedy of how sacred music, once the cornerstone of Catholic worship, has been diminished in modern liturgical practice.
From the soaring melodies of Gregorian chant to the intricate harmonies of Renaissance polyphony, the authors trace the rich heritage of sacred music that has shaped the spiritual landscape of the Catholic Church. They argue passionately for the revival of these timeless traditions, highlighting how sacred music not only enhances the liturgy but also serves as a powerful medium for worship and a profound expression of faith.
In these enlightening pages, you will learn
The profound history and evolution of Catholic sacred musicThe power of sacred music to radiate the beauty that draws people to God The crucial role of music in elevating the liturgical experience and fostering spiritual growthThe factors contributing to the decline of sacred music in contemporary worshipThe theological underpinnings that make sacred music an indispensable part of worshipInspiring stories of communities and individuals who have successfully revitalized their musical traditionsActionable steps to restore and integrate sacred music into the liturgy todayWhy education in sacred Catholic music is crucial for evangelizationThrough thoughtful analysis and heartfelt advocacy, When the Harps Went Still serves as both a wake-up call and a guide to rejuvenating the spiritual and aesthetic richness of Catholic liturgy.
This book is more than an academic treatise; it is a passionate plea to remember and reintegrate the beauty of sacred music into our worship, thereby reconnecting with the divine through song.
Join the movement to revive the sacred sounds of our faith. Let When the Harps Went Stillinspire you to bring the transformative power of sacred music back to the heart of the Church.
We've all experienced it. As we prepare to enter into the silence of the sacred liturgy, banal music peals over the sound system, and we are barraged with irritating strains just as we are trying to quietly, peacefully worship the Lord.
When the Harps Went Still, by Aurelio Porfiri, Athanasius Schneider, and Guido Milanese, is a compelling exploration of the crisis facing Catholic sacred music today. This deeply insightful book uncovers the hidden tragedy of how sacred music, once the cornerstone of Catholic worship, has been diminished in modern liturgical practice.
From the soaring melodies of Gregorian chant to the intricate harmonies of Renaissance polyphony, the authors trace the rich heritage of sacred music that has shaped the spiritual landscape of the Catholic Church. They argue passionately for the revival of these timeless traditions, highlighting how sacred music not only enhances the liturgy but also serves as a powerful medium for worship and a profound expression of faith.
In these enlightening pages, you will learn
The profound history and evolution of Catholic sacred musicThe power of sacred music to radiate the beauty that draws people to God The crucial role of music in elevating the liturgical experience and fostering spiritual growthThe factors contributing to the decline of sacred music in contemporary worshipThe theological underpinnings that make sacred music an indispensable part of worshipInspiring stories of communities and individuals who have successfully revitalized their musical traditionsActionable steps to restore and integrate sacred music into the liturgy todayWhy education in sacred Catholic music is crucial for evangelizationThrough thoughtful analysis and heartfelt advocacy, When the Harps Went Still serves as both a wake-up call and a guide to rejuvenating the spiritual and aesthetic richness of Catholic liturgy.
This book is more than an academic treatise; it is a passionate plea to remember and reintegrate the beauty of sacred music into our worship, thereby reconnecting with the divine through song.
Join the movement to revive the sacred sounds of our faith. Let When the Harps Went Stillinspire you to bring the transformative power of sacred music back to the heart of the Church.
- GenresCatholic
176 pages, Paperback
Published November 19, 2024
About the author
Athanasius Schneider
51 books77 followersAthanasius Schneider, O.R.C. is a Catholic prelate, serving as the Auxiliary Bishop of Astana in Kazakhstan. He is a member of the Canons Regular of the Holy Cross of Coimbra. (Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 20, 2026
An interesting book to read while Pope Leo visits African countries. I’ve seen many videos of amazing choirs and joyful music in vernacular languages that don’t square with the thesis of this book. Unfortunately the authors don’t seem to account that music is a cultural expression (especially in their chapter on culture!).
There were some helpful points for me to take away as a volunteer music director for a small Catholic college: music should be vertical not horizontal, participation doesn’t need to be dumbed down to only hymns everyone knows, and that there is a desire of young people to connect to the mystery of the traditions of the Church.
Sacred music in my context is largely catechetical which is another dimension I feel lacking in this thesis. Overall, it feels like the authors long for a vision of Church in their image, rather than listening to God and the “signs of the times” (even if those signs have shifted from 60 years ago).
There were some helpful points for me to take away as a volunteer music director for a small Catholic college: music should be vertical not horizontal, participation doesn’t need to be dumbed down to only hymns everyone knows, and that there is a desire of young people to connect to the mystery of the traditions of the Church.
Sacred music in my context is largely catechetical which is another dimension I feel lacking in this thesis. Overall, it feels like the authors long for a vision of Church in their image, rather than listening to God and the “signs of the times” (even if those signs have shifted from 60 years ago).
July 25, 2025
4.5 stars
August 16, 2025
UPDATE:
Not sure if I've ever read the same book twice in as many months before; I couldn't resist working through this again, and will have to read it a third time soon.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
This is the first sub-24-hours cover-to-cover read I've had in a while. I could not put this down.
It's a very well written 150 page summary and explanation of the obvious, hopeless and miserable truth that our musical and spiritual heritage has been and continues to be sabotaged from both within and without. I say hopeless because, humanly speaking, I don't think anything substantial can be done at this stage other than frequent confession to beg for mercy yet again for your increasingly frequent desire to reassess the ethics of murder. I'm not sure the authors would disagree with me either. They call for a revolution.
It's a joy to read, however, because it sometimes feels very lonely being a victim of the post-conciliar Catholic education system [nervous twitch] when you work in the post-conciliar Catholic education system [double twitch] and have contributed to the sacrilege on so many occasions [triple twitch; mea maxima twitch].
It serves as an excellent complementary volume to Kwasniewski's "Good Music, Sacred Music, and Silence" but, like that and so many other great works on liturgy, it probably won't reach the eyes, hearts and intellects of those who need to change their minds because, seriously, who needs books and minds and ideas when you've got feelings, four chords and a P.A. system? God have mercy on us all.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, clap, clap, clap.
Jesus is my boyfriend; am singin for da yoof.
Wanabee a pop star; clappety clap.
Four beats, four chords: feels like troof.
WHOoooooOoahh, I feel so holy.
WhoooOOooahh, raise your hands to the lovely big G,
WOOOOOhhAahhhhh, look at me worship,
Look at me, look at me, me, me, me, me, me.
[P.T. Alleluia, clap, clap]
Not sure if I've ever read the same book twice in as many months before; I couldn't resist working through this again, and will have to read it a third time soon.
We must not be afraid to declare that these recent years of reforms (often savage) have ended in a comprehensive failure, and this acknowledgement is the necessary condition for glimpsing the hope of a recovery and and a new beginning.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
This is the first sub-24-hours cover-to-cover read I've had in a while. I could not put this down.
It's a very well written 150 page summary and explanation of the obvious, hopeless and miserable truth that our musical and spiritual heritage has been and continues to be sabotaged from both within and without. I say hopeless because, humanly speaking, I don't think anything substantial can be done at this stage other than frequent confession to beg for mercy yet again for your increasingly frequent desire to reassess the ethics of murder. I'm not sure the authors would disagree with me either. They call for a revolution.
It's a joy to read, however, because it sometimes feels very lonely being a victim of the post-conciliar Catholic education system [nervous twitch] when you work in the post-conciliar Catholic education system [double twitch] and have contributed to the sacrilege on so many occasions [triple twitch; mea maxima twitch].
It serves as an excellent complementary volume to Kwasniewski's "Good Music, Sacred Music, and Silence" but, like that and so many other great works on liturgy, it probably won't reach the eyes, hearts and intellects of those who need to change their minds because, seriously, who needs books and minds and ideas when you've got feelings, four chords and a P.A. system? God have mercy on us all.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, clap, clap, clap.
Jesus is my boyfriend; am singin for da yoof.
Wanabee a pop star; clappety clap.
Four beats, four chords: feels like troof.
WHOoooooOoahh, I feel so holy.
WhoooOOooahh, raise your hands to the lovely big G,
WOOOOOhhAahhhhh, look at me worship,
Look at me, look at me, me, me, me, me, me.
[P.T. Alleluia, clap, clap]
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews