Top Catholic Songs

There are many categories and styles of Catholic music. Here is a list which is being fine-tuned as we go along. Some summaries are drawn from Google AI Overviews.

1) Gregorian chant: Church music sung as a monophonic (single vocal line) in free rhythm and a restricted scale (plainsong), in a style developed for the medieval Latin liturgy. Gregorian chant developed mainly in western and central Europe during the 9th and 10th centuries, with later additions and redactions.

2) Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque sacred music: Medieval sacred music, like Gregorian chant, was primarily monophonic and unaccompanied. The Renaissance saw the rise of complex polyphony, with more voices, larger choirs, and new forms like the mass and motet, often supported by the church and the printing press. The Baroque era introduced emotional expression, ornamentation, and a more layered sound with the increased use of accompaniment, instruments like the violin and harpsichord, and contrasting soloists and ensembles, with genres such as oratorios and cantatas becoming prominent. 

3) Hymnody: liturgical music for congregational singing, usually following structured patterns, often categorized by their stanza length, meter, and rhyme scheme. Common examples include common meter (8.6.8.6 syllables, alternating 4 and 3 beats), long meter (8.8.8.8 syllables), and short meter (6.6.6.6 or 6.6.8.6 syllables). Many hymns also follow larger forms like a verse-chorus structure or a more general strophic form, where the same music is repeated for each stanza.

4) Folk Mass: The Catholic folk Mass (a.k.a. guitar Mass) emerged in the 1960s, inspired by the Second Vatican Council's call for more accessible liturgy and the influence of popular folk and rock music. It became a way for many parishes to adapt to the new emphasis on vernacular language and active participation, often using guitars and other modern instruments in place of traditional organs. 

5) Charismatic Music: A form of worship within the Catholic Church through the Catholic Charismatic Renewal movement which began in 1967. It is characterized by emotional singing, spontaneous prayer, and a strong emphasis on the Holy Spirit. It coexists within the broader Catholic tradition, though its style differs from traditional liturgical music. The Vatican has given cautious acceptance to the movement, provided it remains within the bounds of Catholic teaching and complements the faith rather than replacing it. Example: Maranatha Music.

6) Contemporary Liturgical (Stage 1): Liturgical music for congregational singing, post Vatican II up to around 1990. A heavy Folk/Broadway influence, as defined by the St. Louis Jesuits, North American Liturgy Resources (NALR), Dan Schutte, Marty Haugen, David Haas, Fr. Michael Joncas, Ken Foley, Bernadette Farrell, Bob Dufford, Roc O’Connor and others.  This seems to be the predominant form today.

7) Contemporary Liturgical (Stage 2): Liturgical music for congregational singing, post 1990s, after the first style has taken root, and are not as dated-sounding as the former, but are still not as well known as its forebears. Example: Spirit and Song.

8) Praise and Worship: Music for small groups, charismatic groups, evangelical outreach and prayerful meditation.  Jim Cowan, Songs of Praise, and a mixture of Maranatha/Integrity songs.  Also includes John Michael Talbot.

9) Modern Praise and Worship: music for youth groups, a little more cutting-edge, heavily U2-sounded, lots of emotion and repetition. Matt Maher, Spirit and Song and Catholic Metal are examples of this. Those who write worship music for groups are going to have to become familiar with this. Many of the artists and churches that helped define contemporary praise and worship were themselves part of the charismatic movement. Praise and worship music can be more general and is used in many denominations, with a focus is on the direct praise of God and acknowledging His greatness.

10) Non-Liturgical Inspirational and Self-Renewal Songs:  Songs to listen to at home, in the car, about real life and not meant for congregational singing. These songs can be used for education or personal ministry. Amy Grant is an example in this category.

11) Saint-specific Catholic devotions: Not just Mary (although she takes a big piece of the pie), but also Blessed Faustina, St Thérèse of Lisieux, St. Joseph, St. Jude. Really, any Saint that earns a major devotion, and the songs built around that.

12) Children’s songs: Songs for Sunday School, CCD, Catholic School, from elementary to youth-group. Not necessarily praise and worship; more for fun edutainment.

Are there any categories that we’ve missed?  Please share your comments.