Catholic Dictionary
Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.
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HYMNODY
Religious lyric poetry different from epic poetry and distinct from profane lyric poetry. Catholic hymnody is divided into liturgical and nonliturgical. The former has hymns belonging by their nature to the Sacrifice of the Mass and the canonical hours such as are found in the Breviary. The nonliturgical embrace hymns for use in private devotion or during the liturgy when they are approved by the hierarchy.
