Ex Ore Infantium

...Under the name of Pius XI, he not only took the college under his special protection but, during the first year of his Pontificate, he published, on the feast of Saint Cecilia, November 22, a solemn Motu Proprio in its favor...

...Realizing the need of a serious college of sacred music for the training of teachers, he submitted a plan to Pope Pius X for the foundation of such a college in Rome, itself to be under the protection of the Holy See...

...That the children of America should be the ones to offer the Holy Father this relief, is symbolic of the whole character of the movement in America for the reform of sacred music—a movement organized for the benefit of the individual parishes, yet transcending the limits of parish, and even of nation...

...it fixes the program of studies which lead up to the academic degrees of doctor in Gregorian chant, in organ, and in sacred composition, with the conditions required...

...The results of the experiment were so satisfactory that Pius X gave the college the title of Pontifical, and accorded its faculty the right to confer academic degrees...

...Pius X accepted the proposition, and even aided the undertaking from a financial standpoint...

...450 THE COMMONWEAL September 16, 1925 EX ORE INFANTIUM By JUSTINE B. WARD "LTALF a million Catholic school children of the ¦*¦ ¦*• United States and Canada are already well launched in a movement which is destined to bring about the ultimate reform of sacred music in the parish churches of this continent...

...Father di Santi, as president, did not confine his efforts to the reorganization of the Cecilian Society of Italy, but at once went to the heart of the situation...

...This gift is to be devoted to strengthening the centre of musical reform in Rome, by providing an endowment fund for the Pontifical College of Sacred Music, a work which is dear to the heart of the Pope who carries personally the financial burden...

...In his Motu Proprio, Pope Pius X recognized this need and urged the bishops to form diocesan or inter-diocesan schools of sacred music...

...Its utility to the world at large as the authoritative training school for Catholic Church musicians entitles it to international support...

...The existing conservatories either ignored the subject of liturgical music completely, or, if they dealt with it at all, their teaching was incorrect, or insufficient for the needs of musicians who were to specialize in the music of the Church...

...After the promulgation of the Motu Proprio, the reform movement took on fresh vitality...

...Twenty years have passed with little apparent difference in the parishes about us...

...As a sign of their devotion to the Holy See, these young singers are making a joint gift to the Holy Father in honor of the jubilee year...

...The promulgation of this Motu Proprio fixes the permanent status and official character of the Pontifical College of Sacred Music, which thus becomes the logical successor of the ancient Roman school founded by Saint Gregory the Great...

...The reform in sacred music, launched by Pope Pius X, may have seemed slow in bearing fruit...

...The war followed and the new institute faced its most critical period, but continued to function in spite of all difficulties because of the protection of the Pope...

...As the students are drawn largely from the clergy, the tuition fees can never be expected to cover the current expenses...

...Schools were required, the express purpose of which would be the teaching of liturgical music, as distinct from secular...

...And this filial act of devotion to the Holy See by half a million little children will demonstrate the unifying power of a great cause, and will link them closely to the centre of Christianity—the source of true liturgical reform...

...and finally declares the college to be international...

...in Italy, the Cecilian Society elected as its president, Father Angelo di Santi, S. J., veteran in the field of Church music reform...

...In this document, Pope Pius XI confirms all that had been done in favor of the college by Pius X and Benedict XV...

...A week later Father di Santi, founder and first president of the college, died...

...The leaders realized clearly that if the reform were to be solid and permanent, the first requisite was the formation of teachers who would be masters in Gregorian chant, in figured music, and in organ...

...It places the college under a Cardinal protector as its superior and as direct representative of the Pope...

...it decrees that the active director or president shall be named by the Pope himself...

...The Popes who succeeded Pius X have not only enforced his decrees in regard to sacred music, but have assured their ultimate success by developing an important international centre at Rome for teachers...

...This Motu Proprio became, as it were, the Magna Charta of the college, conferring and defining its pontifical status and constitution...

...but it is encouraging to know that if the reform has been slow, it has been sure...

...Moreover, this Motu Proprio declares that the term "pontifical" is not to be interpreted as a mere title of honor, but as meaning that the college is under the direct jurisdiction and control of the Pope...

...An endowment fund thus becomes essential if the Holy Father is to be relieved of the present drain upon his resources...

...Benedict XV had planned to confer upon the college a solemn official constitution, but he died before the plan could be carried out...

...Cardinal Ratti, the new Pope, had been a dear friend of Father di Santi and a strong supporter of the movement for the reform of sacred music...

...This college was to be, not merely Roman and diocesan, nor merely Italian, but catholic (that is, universal) and international...

...Thus, before the reform of sacred music could even be launched, provision had to be made for an adequate training school for Church musicians and teachers...

...Long before the publication of the Motu Proprio of Pius X, the movement for the reform of sacred music had become strong throughout Europe...