A sixteen word liturgical rant

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

OK I too like “Eagle’s Wings”, and find all the overdone fellowship sometimes distracting.

What about # 1 & 4?

Lux

 

[Biblioassistant]

I’m not a fan of** Eagle’s Wings**. I don’t hate it with a pure and white hot hate like I hate Ashes and Anthem, but I think it is wimpy. And I can’t hit the notes. I swear I think that some of the new hymn writers are castrati.

I think I’d rather have **The Navy Hymn **(Eternal Father Strong To Save) sung at my funeral. My father was in the navy and I love the hymn.

 

[PaixGioiaAmor]

<<Aye, so is “We are the Light of the World” (Matthew 5:16), another terrible offender in this area. It’s about context, context, context. Who says Scripture can’t be comandeered for illegitimate ends?>>

It’s 100% scriptural and totally appropriate for the mass.

To say that we can never sing a hymn that talks about “us” actually borders on narcissism and a “holier than thou” attitude" itself.

 

[PaixGioiaAmor]

To paraphrase the disciples on the road to Emmaus: Were not OUR hearts burning within US?

 

[H_Opey]

“On Eagles Wings” is not my favorite. It does not help me focus or draw me to greater heights of worship. INstead, it conjurs up images of flying, happy giddy feelings.

Chapter 91
1
1 2 You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
2
Say to the LORD, “My refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust.”
3
God will rescue you from the fowler’s snare, from the destroying plague,
4
Will shelter you with pinions, spread wings that you may take refuge; God’s faithfulness is a protecting shield.
5
You shall not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day,
6
Nor the pestilence that roams in darkness, nor the plague that ravages at noon.
7
Though a thousand fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, near you it shall not come.
8
You need simply watch; the punishment of the wicked you will see.
9
You have the LORD for your refuge; you have made the Most High your stronghold.
10
No evil shall befall you, no affliction come near your tent.
11
3 For God commands the angels to guard you in all your ways.
12
With their hands they shall support you, lest you strike your foot against a stone.
13
You shall tread upon the asp and the viper, trample the lion and the dragon.
14
Whoever clings to me I will deliver; whoever knows my name I will set on high.
15
All who call upon me I will answer; I will be with them in distress; I will deliver them and give them honor.
16
With length of days I will satisfy them and show them my saving power.

 

[otjm]

Godefridus is reacting that way because of the focus of the Mass, when you see a Mass conducted that way it sets a tone of people centered liturgy which would illustrate the intent of the hymns.

I would agree with you if you had said “Godefridus is reacting that way because of his perception of the way…”. We have altogether too many rants that are based, not necessarily on reality, but on the individual perception of what that reality should look like, and a complaint that it doesn’t. In particular, I am seriously tired of hearing the word “horizontal” used (you didn’t), or references to worshiping one another. Some people seem to want a Mass in which there is no acknowledgement at all that we are a community worshiping together. Acknowledging that we are does not make the Mass “horizontal”, nor “ego-stroking”, nor any of the other dismissive comments made. I have no problem with someone who prefers, for example, the EF; but they don’t need to denigrate the OF because of that.

I can sing a hymn and have a meaning different from the person next to me. I can kneel and be tying my shoes or I can kneel and be giving reverence to God or I can kneel and be muttering obcenities under my breath. It all depends on the attitude and focus of the people.

Exactly; and one can easily project on to others one’s own attitude, and presume it is theirs. Much of the rant is simply that he doesn’t like certain things; now, because of that people are “ego-stroking”. That is an overblown case of hubris, IMHO. Instead of ascribing a very non-reverant attitude to others, he might try asking them what they are really thinking, what they really intend.

He is just reflecting the focus of the Mass, though I myself have no problem with the song, I can understand how the liturgy can be so people focused that it would taint our perception. Sometimes such a bad taste in your mouth can make everything seem bad.

And sometimes the bad taste in the mouth is one’s own hallitosis, not something actually caused by those around one.

In my Parish we have adoration, but the very same nun who allows this, conducts meetings in the Church, dances around

So is it Jazz, or ballet, or improve??? (Sorry! Just couldn’t:extrahappy: help!)

 

[estesbob]

I’m sorry you had a bad experience.

However you did you did get to hold our Lord and Savior in your hands and follow his instructions to eat his body and drink his blood. I hope that is what you focused on in the end- not your dissatisfaction with the mass.