I am often credited with helping to establish "Contemporary Catholic Music." Well, I have worked hard for many years at helping to create a body of music that would be both relevant in style and "sound," but also reflect Catholic theology and teaching. I am a very small part of a larger group of women and men who have done this work over the years. The list of names is long, and so many have already been forgotten that it saddens me. But we will all fade into the sunset at some point — it is the preaching and the living of the Gospel that is important.

But it the meantime, I want to remind some, and tell others, of those who have gone before. spiritandsong.com is ten years old, but this "New Evangelization" has been going on for years before. Last weekend we posted a song by Cyprian Consiglio titled "Song for the Child." What a beauty that song is! I love the lyrics. Here is a sample:

"May you never seek joy at the price of serenity . . . "

Cyprian has been crafting music steeped in sacred scripture, wrapped in sound theology and composed brilliantly for going on 3 decades now. His CD There is A Light influenced many a Catholic songwriter (including the one writing this column), and his ministry of singing, performing and composing has flowed out of his life of prayer and a lived faith. He was instrumental in bringing a relevant musical style to our Catholic experience many years ago. He needs to be acknowledged and thanked. He should be given a "lifetime Unity award" or something similar, as one of the founders of Contemporary Catholic Music.

And he is not alone. Rory Cooney, Gary Daigle, Ken Canedo, Ray Repp, the Dameans, Ray Bruno, the St. Louis Jesuits, Bob Hurd, Joe Wise, John Michael Talbot, Tom Franzak, Terry DeSario, and many, many others laid the pavement that many of us regularly drive our "musical" cars upon. So a simple "thank you" goes out to Cyprian and the many others.

It should be noted that when one tries to minister in a contemporary style, musical or otherwise, there will always be stiff criticism and the danger of making the Gospel, and the teachings of the Church, trite and or shallow. Those of us who have worked in this area have all been guilty of these pitfalls at one time or another. I am sure that those in any missionary work have been guilty of the same. We should never diminish the challenge of the Gospel message for the sake of the "hipness" or relevancy of the vehicle that carries it.

So remember those who have gone before us — their work, dedication, and gifts — and let us continue to work to make "Contemporary Catholic Music" solidly grounded in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Listen to Father Cyprian's There Is A Light.

Fr. Cyprian Consiglio, OSB Cam