Music, someone once said, is a universal language.  Surely there is music in every culture.  Each has its classic form of music.  New music, contemporary music, is not so new to those who are educated to know what has been chosen and what has been copied from other older forms and styles.  We listen to music for any number of reasons.  But, music grows from our natural desire to worship and celebrate.  So, the most “valuable” music to listen to is that music which reaches the religious, spiritual, liturgical centers of our being; music which calls for an uplifting  spiritual or essentially spiritual response.  Very little popular music does that.

Classical Christian music comes from this foundation.  Upon it is built the new, the contemporary Christian and Catholic music used in liturgical and worship settings.  Religious music does indeed carry with it a message both in melody and word, the message of salvation by our creating, redeeming, and transforming God.  Which of the styles are the right ones is not a proper subject for debate.  All of them can legitimately appeal and be useful at different times and place for different reasons.  Christian songs, church music for worship services or the Catholic Mass, spiritual music for private reflection and prayer, Gospel music for group celebrations live or on CD, are all valued and useful genres of music

That is why, when thinking about religious and sacred music on CD for oneself, for use in a group, or as a gift, one should consider carefully the wide range of artists, styles and genres of classical, contemporary  and new religious music.  Christian and Catholic artists, from religious orders to individual artists, are producing exciting and meaningful music for private or public consumption.  Whether one buys a ticket for s single concert performance or one wishes to buy a CD of that performance to add to one’s own collection, religious and spiritual music in all its forms is a wonderful and natural way to get in touch with the deeper realities of our world and its lasting truths.