“In Heaven, There Is Only Singing” : An Interview with Fr George Rutler

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newliturgicalmovement.org/2017/08/in-heaven-there-is-only-singing.html#.WZ3Oaz6GO70
The hymns that follow complement the Liturgy but are not part of it. The whole Mass itself is its own gigantic hymn, and it is only by indult that it is said at all instead of being sung. It is liturgically eccentric to “say” a Mass and intersperse it with extraliturgical hymns. Hymns may precede or follow the Mass, but they should never replace the model of the sung Eucharist itself with its hymnodic propers. In the Latin Rite, that model gives primacy of place to the Latin language and Gregorian chant, according to numerous decrees, most historically those of Pope Pius X in Tra le Sollecitudini and Vatican II’s Sacrosanctum Concilium. The Church has normally reserved other hymns for other forms of public prayer, especially the Daily Office. And, of course, all hymns can be part of private prayer, following the Augustinian principle that he who sings prays twice.
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I hope it’s Gregorian chant. It’s the only thing I can sing… 😛
 
GEddie said:
But that would be something other than singing 🙂

Vocal is special because the “instrument” is one’s own body!

ICXC NIKA
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On the other hand, one may get to heaven before one’s body… so, no lungs, no instrument… 🤷
 
I don’t wish to argue with Father Rutler, given that he is a year older than I am; but I would like to know from whence he adverts that not singing the Mass is by indult.

If that is so, the indult had to be before Vatican 2 by a significant amount of time, as what was called the “Low Mass” was a staple in Catholic life; and if the daily Mass was said twice, there might or might not be hymns sung at it; but the early “workers’ Mass”, said before people had to be at work at 8 a.m., didn’t even have hymns.

That is further complicated by the fact that any indult would have applied to what is now the EF; and with the promulgation of the OF, indults would not likely have been carried over.

Perhaps he is saying that the “Low Mass” was itself an indult; I would be curious when that indult was granted.
 
otjm said:
On the other hand, one may get to heaven before one’s body… so, no lungs, no instrument… 🤷
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And no ears either so…no worries if singing out of tune. But it sounds awsome : perpetual concert!🙂
 
I have to admit that I always look with some skepticism at claims of what heaven will be like.

The bottom line is that we just don’t know. All we know is that we will be blissfully happy. Any claims as to that might mean, in earthly terms, are simply allegorical.

For me it gives me sufficient hope to say that we will be in eternal bliss.
 
Singing’s fine, however I really wanted to fly, to dance like Michael Jackson, and to figure skate like an Olympian…so I hope we get to do other stuff in all the time we will have*

*if we get there, of course
 
Tis_Bearself said:
Singing’s fine, however I really wanted to fly, to dance like Michael Jackson, and to figure skate like an Olympian…so I hope we get to do other stuff in all the time we will have*

*if we get there, of course
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Well, if we have bodies, we will certainly use more than just our voice!

ICXC NIKA
 
What happens to the extremely musical inept amongst us?

My kids, one day, said, mum, don’t give up your day job…after hearing me sing.
 
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