On the role of music in worship, by Edward L'Inglese

Edward, son of Arthur, grandson of Edward, of England; Artium Baccalaureus et Magister Artium, Conlegium Regina, Cantabrigia

Unto the Collegio Romano

Greetings!

May it please the esteemed College, I humbly seek admission to your noble fellowship for the purposes of finishing my Philosophić Doctor amongst the luminaries present in God’s Eternal City. To that end I propose to study the role of music, most particularly hymns and chants, as an appropriate expression of our praise for God and his Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

It is pleasing to God that we should worship him in song and voice. It is written in the 33rd Psalm (2-3) that, “Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.” Moreover the beginning lines of the 66th Psalm instructs us to “Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.”

No less a theologian than the great Saint Thomas Aquinas put the matter thus, "Hymnus est laus Dei cum cantico; canticum autem exultatio mentis de aeternis habita, prorumpens in vocem." ("A hymn is the praise of God with song; a song is the exultation of the mind dwelling on eternal things, bursting forth in the voice.")

Rome is filled with musicians and theologians of all comportment. It is my fervent hope that here, directly under the gaze of the successor to Saint Peter, I can explore the vast possibilities of the intersection of music and worship to the greater glory God, amongst and with the aid of the members of the esteemed College. I pray that this application meets with enthusiastic acceptance. Gratias tibi ago!