By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A Nigerian archbishop was not beating war drums, but his call for greater respect for African music, dance and instruments in the Mass could be seen as fighting words next to calls for more Gregorian chant and organ music.

Several members of the Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist echoed the call in the synod's working document for greater use of traditional Catholic music and Latin prayers, especially at Masses with an international congregation, according to information released by the Vatican.

But Archbishop John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan of Abuja, Nigeria, said Oct. 10 that the church "should rejoice at the wonderful things" the Holy Spirit has brought to the liturgy since the Second Vatican Council.

"The Eucharist deserves and is receiving the best of our cultures," he said. The Vatican made portions of his and other texts available to journalists.

Africa "may not have much to offer in terms of the glorious architecture of European cathedrals or the fabulous paintings of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. But what we have we are happy to give: our songs and lyrics, our drumming and rhythmic body movements, all to the glory of God," he said.

Archbishop Onaiyekan said organ music, Gregorian chant and Latin are European cultural expressions incorporated into the liturgy centuries ago.

"Solemnity and sacredness can be expressed not only in plainchant and organ, but also by the gong, the xylophone and the tam-tam," he said.

One of the psalms, the archbishop said, calls on believers to praise the Lord with tambourines and dancing and King David "danced before Yahweh with all his might, and the Lord was pleased with him."

Zambian Bishop George Zumaire Lungu of Chipata said the liturgy must be seen as God's work and God's living relationship with his people rather than focusing on "the human activities encapsulated in liturgical traditions, norms and rubrics."

The bishop said he thought the synod's working document was "overoptimistic about the organ, Gregorian chant and even the use of Latin at international meetings" to meet the needs of all people.

"We should not go back to making these instruments of worship universal," he said.

Organ music and Latin prayers should be options for people who find them helpful for their prayer, he said, but that would not be the experience of Catholics in his country nor in most mission lands.

"Our hope lies in the future and not in the past," he said. "We need courage to face our present pastoral challenges with regard to the Eucharist without nostalgic tendencies if the Eucharist is to respond to the pastoral needs of the time," the bishop said.

Copyright (c) 2005 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops