Fr. Joseph Fessio, S.J., wrote an essay in 1999, called The Mass of Vatican II which, among many relevant insights, contains this startling revelation: "I called this wonderful rabbi in Manhattan and we had a long conversation. At the end, I said, 'I want to bring some focus to this, can you give me any idea what it sounded like when Jesus and his Apostles sang the Psalms?' He said, 'Of course, Father. It sounded like Gregorian Chant. You got it from us.' I was amazed. I called Professor William Mart, a Professor of Music at Stanford University and a friend. I said, 'Bill, is this true?' He said, 'Yes. The Psalm tones have their roots in ancient Jewish hymnody and psalmody.' So, you know something? If you sing the Psalms at Mass with the Gregorian tones, you are as close as you can get to praying with Jesus and Mary. They sang the Psalms in tones that have come down to us today in Gregorian Chant." All those liturgical innovators, who are striving to return the Mass to its roots in the early Church, should take special note.
