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“The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art. The main reason for this pre-eminence is that, as sacred song united to the words, it forms a necessary or integral part of the solemn liturgy...Therefore sacred music is to be considered the more holy in proportion as it is more closely connected with the liturgical action, whether it adds delight to prayer, fosters unity of minds, or confers greater solemnity upon the sacred rites. But the Church approves of all forms of true art having the needed qualities, and admits them into divine worship” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 112).

The diocesan policy Promoting Active Participation in the Liturgy through Sacred Music, promulgated on 5 November 2024, called for comprehensive synodal discernment to determine the final form of the diocesan policy regarding the use of liturgical music. Now that an extensive consultation has taken place, which included participation by nearly three hundred people in synodal listening sessions and nearly seven thousand people in a survey conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, and consultations with the Presbyteral Council, Diocesan Pastoral Council, the Diocesan Liturgical Commission, Diocesan Youth Council, and the local chapter of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians, I am pleased to issue this decree to promulgate a permanent policy on the use of liturgical music. Therefore, I hereby

DECREE

• That the policy, Promoting Active Participation in the Liturgy through Sacred Music, is hereby abrogated;
• That the four common Mass settings previously established by the diocese, which are to be used at diocesan liturgies, must be used often enough in all parishes and schools such that the Christian faithful become familiar with them so as to facilitate their participation at diocesan liturgies;
• That the use of music by composers found guilty or credibly accused of abuse, or whose music has been restricted by their local ordinary or competent authority because of accusations of abuse, is prohibited at diocesan events and liturgies;
• That parish priests are required to develop policy that governs the use of music by such composers within the territory of their parishes by conducting a synodal discernment process among their parishioners and parish leadership. This policy shall be submitted to the Chancellor no later than the First Sunday of Advent, 30 November 2025, with an explanation of the synodal discernment process used;
• That the parish priests and those they delegate with responsibility for music in their parish liturgies are required to evaluate their selections of music using the criteria found in the document from the Doctrine Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Hymnody at the Service of the Church: An Aid for Evaluating Hymn Lyrics.

This Decree with the accompanying Instruction, Spirit and Truth: Instruction regarding the use of music in the liturgy, shall be promulgated by being published on the diocesan website and take effect immediately. The instruction expands and explains these rules and provides guidance on their implementation. It identifies the common repertoire of Mass settings for parishes, describes the criteria parish priests and those responsible for the choice of music must use when selecting music for the liturgy, and explains my commitment to supporting a more robust formation of liturgical musicians in the Diocese of Jefferson City.

Given at the Chancery in Jefferson City on the 5^th day of April in the Jubilee Year of Our Lord 2025.