Innovation in Service of the Liturgy

Posted: 10/28/2021 | Innovation

Adam Bartlett – Source & Summit

Innovation and liturgy may appear to be somewhat paradoxical terms. After all, the Second Vatican Council itself said that “there must be no innovations [in the renewal of the liturgy] unless the good of the Church genuinely and certainly requires them; and care must be taken that any new forms adopted should in some way grow organically from forms already existing.” 

The reason why the liturgy itself resists innovation is due to the fact that its very nature is timeless. The liturgy transcends time and space. It is ever ancient, ever new. It pulls us out of the immediacy of our individual lives and the passing novelties of our times and it opens the door for us to eternity and to the liturgy of heaven. All people in all places and from every age, as well as the angels and saints in heaven, participate in the same liturgy. In our parishes we have the opportunity to participate in this one perfect act of worship that Christ himself offers and that sanctifies us and empowers us for mission here in our time and place.

The liturgy is, in the Church’s own words, the “summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; at the same time it is the font from which all her power flows.” The most innovative aspect of the liturgy is the innovation that missionary disciples undertake in the world after they have been transfigured by the vision they have seen and the grace they have received in the liturgy. 

And so, any innovation in service of the liturgy should have the singular aim of helping every parish,  and even every Catholic, to participate in this ineffable reality more deeply and fully. Innovative tools, as well as new ardor, methods, and expression are needed in the liturgical apostolate today. And if the liturgy really is both the source and the summit of the entire life and mission of the Church, then the success of the New Evangelization in many ways is dependent upon our parishes elevating the liturgy, which in practice can be a significant challenge.

Source & Summit is responding to this need by providing innovative tools, faithful and accessible resources, as well as reliable formation and training that are aimed at helping parishes undertake the work of authentic liturgical renewal, especially in the area of music. 

We launched the new Source & Summit Digital Platform into Beta in August of 2020 and have had nearly 2000 accounts created since then. The platform offers parishes with a complete liturgy and music preparation environment that features an expansive digital music library with access to hundreds of hymns and thousands of chant settings of the antiphons and other parts of the Mass, sheet music customization capabilities, the ability to upload and organize your own content, multi-format delivery options, and a hassle-free licensing promise. It truly is a paradigm shifting platform that can help parish music leaders, liturgists, and pastors alike prepare beautiful and faithful liturgies with confidence and ease.

We also have recently launched the Source & Summit Missal, an annual all-in-one missal and hymnal for the pews that is designed to help parishes elevate the liturgy. The missal is fully integrated with and supported by the Source & Summit Digital Platform and contains all of the features you would expect to find in a missal but with the addition of simple chant settings of the Entrance, Offertory, and Communion Antiphons of the Mass that can be sung well by congregations, in addition to over 400 theologically sound hymns and songs from the core repertoire in English, Spanish, and Latin. The stunning design and typography of the missal are enough to set it apart. But we are confident that the form and content of this resource is opening up new possibilities for parishes in their efforts to celebrate the liturgy beautifully and reverently while inviting parishioners to participate in the liturgy more fully and fruitfully.

And finally, we are preparing the Source & Summit Academy which will offer training, formation, inspiration, and support to parish musicians, cantors, accompanists, and really anyone who wants to dive more deeply into the meaning and riches of the liturgy. Stay tuned for more on the Academy in 2022.


We hope to partner and collaborate with innovators throughout the Church in our shared effort of giving glory to God and of fulfilling the Great Commission. And we also hope to continue to be a support to the liturgical life not only of parishes, but also campus ministries, Catholic conferences, and apostolate events. If Source & Summit can support you in any way, please do not hesitate to connect with us at support@sourceandsummit.com.

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