The Second Vatican Council in the Constitution of the Sacred Liturgy, added the following reminder to its exhortation that vernacular languages should have a suitable place in liturgical celebrations: “It should be arranged that the faithful can say or sing together in Latin those parts of the Ordinary of the Mass that belong to them.”

The Supreme Pontiff Paul VI has followed this trend of thought in recent times. He has often expressed two desires: that Gregorian Chant with its pleasing melody might accompany and support the Eucharistic celebrations of the people of God; that the voices of the faithful might resound in both the Gregorian Chant and the vernacular.

This book, being sent as a gift to all the bishops, is a response to the wishes of the Supreme Pontiff. In it are collected some of the more simple melodies. These are the ones that the faithful...can sing together.