IX. Commissions in Charge of Promoting Sacred Music

68. Diocesan music commissions make an important contribution to the promotion of sacred music as part of the program of pastoral liturgy in the diocese.

As far as possible, therefore, every diocese is to have such a commission to work in close conjunction with the diocesan liturgical commission.

For greater efficiency it will be better in most cases to combine the two commissions into one, made up of experts in each field.

It is also strongly recommended that, when it is considered helpful, several dioceses establish a single commission to carry out a unified program into an entire region through a coordinated use of resources.

69. The liturgical commission recommended for bodies of bishops [46] is also to have responsibility for music and should accordingly include musical experts in its membership. It would also be well for this commission to establish contacts not only with the diocesan commissions but also with other associations of the region that are involved with sacred music. This applies also to the institutes of pastoral liturgy mentioned in the same article of the Constitution.

At an audience granted to Cardinal Arcadio M. Larraona, Prefect of this Congregation, 9 February 1967, Pope Paul VI approved the present Instruction, confirmed it by his authority, and commanded its publication, setting 14 May 1967, Pentecost Sunday, as its effective date.

All things to the contrary notwithstanding.