"Gregorian chant is uniquely the Church’s own music. Chant is a living connection with our forebears in the faith, the traditional music of the Roman rite, a sign of communion with the universal Church, a bond of unity across cultures, a means for diverse communities to participate together in song, and a summons to contemplative participation in the Liturgy." - USCCB Sing to the Lord (2007).
From the time of the early Roman Church to the present day, no music has remained as consistent in the history of the Church as Gregorian Chant. Named after Pope St. Gregory the Great, who is credited with the first organization and codification of liturgical chant, this simple music is entirely and uniquely Catholic. It is the golden standard of Catholic music: it is "specially suited to the Roman liturgy" and given "first place in liturgical services" (Sacrosanctum Concilium, Vatican II). Unlike other traditional forms of music, such as hymn singing, it is truly "the mass sung," with all of its texts taken from scripture passages and prayers particular to each Sunday and feast day. Our choir delights in using Gregorian Chant for the ordinaries (Kyrie, Sanctus, Angus Dei) as well as occiasonal Communion Antiphons in both Latin and English, and other Sacred Music pieces.