Amazing Grace innapropriate for Church?

  • Thread starter Thread starter thewanderer
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

thewanderer

Guest
Hi, on another thread I saw that there were mulitple people claiming that Amazing Grace is not suitable for Church because it is “protestant”.

My question is, since the actual lyrics of Amazing Grace are theologically sound and it is an uplifting song, why do some people consider it innapropriate?

I realize that it was originally written by a protestant, but why should that prevent us from using it? The tradition of Christmas Trees came from other religions as well. The Catholic Church adapts traditions/practices etc from other religions all the time. So long as there is nothing heretical in the lyrics, how can it be innapropriate?
 
Because people are stupid…sorry, that’s really all I’ve got. :doh2:

I mean, honestly, considering the heretical OCP tripe in our hymnals, THIS is what people get upset about?!
 
Gosh, I find many ‘Protestant hymns’ are sung when I attend mass, even “A Mighty Fortress” by Martin Luther. Then you have the Battle Hymn of the Republic", “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today”, “We Gather Together”, “In Christ There Is No East or West”, “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing”, “O Little Town of Bethlehem” “For the Beauty of the Earth”, “Lord of the Dance”, “Softly and Tenderly”, “Fill My Cup, Lord” - and scores more.
Why the concern about "Amazing Grace" when so many 'Protestant hymns' are sung? Some of them are my favorites, such as "How Great Thou Art", "America, the Beautiful" and "Be Still My Soul". They are first and foremost Christian hymns and it would be silly, arrogant, and bigoted to ignore them. Protestant hymnals have many 'Catholic hymns'. Don't we have the same God? Of course!
 
This question has been asked before in this forum. Please see the thread:

Is the popular hymn “Amazing Grace” heretical and unsuitable for Catholic liturgy?

There has been a lot of discussion about this hymn, and I, personally, have decided not to program it any more when I am planning music for Mass.
 
It has something to do with the lyric- “saved” a wrech like me. We have sung it in our church and the word is changed to something else (with I can’t remember what)
 
Our choir sings it from time to time and people love it.
If you research the history of this song, it is very interesting. The last verse of the song speaks of the mystery of time in the spiritual sense. I don’t understand how anyone can object to this music. :confused:

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

T’was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we’ve been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’ve first begun.
 
cessnawag said:
It has something to do with the lyric- “saved” a wrech like me. We have sung it in our church and the word is changed to something else (with I can’t remember what)
Click to expand...
I wonder why? Jesus did come to save us and the guy who wrote it was a wretch, in his own mind, consumed with guilt and deserving of hell. Which is why he thought God’s Grace so amazing. I agree with him.
 
I was brought into the church at the Easter Vigil. I went to Mass Easter Sunday and Amazing Grace was our closing hymn. It has always been one of my favorite hymns and it was special to me to sing it that day.
 
cessnawag said:
It has something to do with the lyric- “saved” a wrech like me. We have sung it in our church and the word is changed to something else (with I can’t remember what)
Click to expand...
“Soul” has been inserted where “wretch” was originally penned. Other, more profound changes have also been made to it in recent times. This change promotes us from “wretch” to simply “soul”. Our former Priest explained that this change may tend to lessen our sense of culpability. As well, the man who penned it was Calvinist and this “total depravity” is reflected in the verses. As we see from its history, all is not crystal clear: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazing_Grace
 
John Newton was a Calvinist, and the Calvinist belief of “total depravity” is reflected in the verses. Yet, without knowing this, would we see that bias in it? From the Wiki, we also see that the song’s history is not crystal clear: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazing_Grace
 
thewanderer said:
Hi, on another thread I saw that there were mulitple people claiming that Amazing Grace is not suitable for Church because it is “protestant”.

My question is, since the actual lyrics of Amazing Grace are theologically sound and it is an uplifting song, why do some people consider it innapropriate?

I realize that it was originally written by a protestant, but why should that prevent us from using it? The tradition of Christmas Trees came from other religions as well. The Catholic Church adapts traditions/practices etc from other religions all the time. So long as there is nothing heretical in the lyrics, how can it be innapropriate?
Click to expand...
One of the things that divides Catholics and protestants is the issue of salvation. Protestant belief teaches once saved, always saved and never losing that salvation. The line, “saved a wretch like me” bothers some Catholics because they know that once saved, always saved is wrong. Sometimes it is hard to say or sing words you disagree with.

There are some other lines that go against Catholic teaching, so there are some questions to the “theologically sound” part of the song but it is a beautiful song with good parts.
 
maltmom said:
I was brought into the church at the Easter Vigil. I went to Mass Easter Sunday and Amazing Grace was our closing hymn. It has always been one of my favorite hymns and it was special to me to sing it that day.
Click to expand...
Aw!:bighanky: God is good. sniff
 
I suspect the objection is to the language of having been “saved” and perhaps also the statement that “grace will lead me home”. Both of these likely reflect a non-Catholic philosophy of grace and salvation, but it seems to me they can also be given orthodox interpertations.
 
The problem is the meaning given to the word, “saved”. Since it is in the past tense it may portray the idea of “once saved always saved” as is taught by so many Christian sects but not by the Catholic Church. Of course the word “saved” in the context of the song could also be understood in a way that is consistent with Catholic belief.

…and so the war over the song continues…
 
I think some people object to the line,

How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.

Since grace is always offered to us it is through grace that we come to believe. Yet, the way I see it, and I love the song, is that the person was unaware of grace until he believed. You have to believe God before you can understand His working in your life. That is what the song is about. He realizes that it was grace that led him to his conversion.
 
cessnawag said:
It has something to do with the lyric- “saved” a wrech like me. We have sung it in our church and the word is changed to something else (with I can’t remember what)
Click to expand...
You sing it but change the word saved??? Does your church realize that what St. Augustine taught about Grace in his writings against the pelagians??? We are not saved through our own effort. We are saved through Grace. Yes, we must also make an effort, but ultimately salvation comes from Grace, not from us.
 
Prayer of St. Ambrose:

…Wherefore, O gracious God, O dread Majesty, I, **a wretched creature **caught in difficulties, have recourse to You, the fount of mercy; to You do I hasten taht I may be healed, and take refuge under Your protection:…

I think those Protestants got that “wretched” stuff from us. 🙂

Also, I understand the man who wrote Amazing grace had read a copy of Thomas A Kempis Imitation of Christ on his ship. It changed his life. He was a slave trader and became a Christian. He was English and became an anglican.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top