America the Beautiful - at Mass today?

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God has blessed me with a mother and father, even though I also have a the holy Mother Church and God the Father. My homeland is heaven, but on this Earth, God blessed me to have a father land. I do not really go for the non-national mentality, just because I do like have a song like America the Beautiful does not mean that any other nations are so much the worse, it’s because it is special to me. If I say my mom is the best mom, I do not mean to contradict anyone’s opinion that their mom is the the best mom either. I have a special place in my heart for the nation that has helped molded me, and let me grow as a person. I should hope everyone feels that way about their nation.
 
As the music director of a parish, I will not program these for during Mass unless the pastor requests them. (And then I’d have to explain my reasoning for NOT singing them at Mass.) I don’t even like them for the recessional or as a prelude or postlude. IMO, these are not hymns. I’ve always wondered why they are in our hymnals.
 
We sang Battle Hymn of the Republic as our recessional hymn yesterday.
 
I found this when searching online…
ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zliturg8.htm

Not an “official” response, but a published answer to the question…
Several readers asked me to comment as to the propriety and orthodoxy of particular hymns and songs, for example singing patriotic songs such as “America the Beautiful.”
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It is unfortunately impossible for me to deal with each example, but as a general principle, since most regulation of liturgical music falls within the province of the bishops’ conference and the local bishop, one may trust that a song approved by them has a certain guarantee of overall orthodoxy.
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Sometimes these texts may be subject to several interpretations, such as one sample a correspondent sent in saying, “Sing a new church into being, one in faith and love and praise.” Since this particular song received episcopal approval, one may suppose that in this case the novelty refers to the inner renewal of the Church’s members and is not proposing a Church other than the one founded by Christ.
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Episcopal approval, though offering assurance of doctrinal orthodoxy, does not guarantee musical or literary quality or doctrinal clarity. Pastors, with the help of their music directors, should select these texts with great care lest the legitimate poetic license enjoyed by composers lead to confusion among the faithful.
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Composers of liturgical music, aware of the importance of their mission, should also strive to present the truths of the faith as clearly as possible.
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While patriotic hymns should not be the norm, local custom may allow for them on special occasions such as Independence Day. Healthy patriotism has always been considered a Christian virtue. Nonetheless, even when permitted by the bishops, it appears most appropriate to reserve them as closing hymns, sung after the blessing and dismissal, rather than during Mass itself. ZE03112520
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We sang it as the recessional.

Eh. I have ennui on this one.

I would have preferred Eternal Father, Strong to Save (Navy Hymn), God Bless America (that’ll get 'em out of the pews- but we always sing this one at Tuesday Rosary For Peace), Faith Of Our Fathers, or God Of Our Fathers. But it was one hymn, and beat the living daylights out of Ditty (City) Of God.

My feelings would not be hurt if I happened to be in the UK and there is a song such as America the Beautiful or God Bless America sung at Mass on a British partiotic holiday- with the exception of Guy Fawkes Day. 😉 That day, they better be plain’ for da team.
 
Kevin42 said:
I think I would be ok with it as long as the song started after they said “The Mass is ended, go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” If they played it during the actual Mass though, I think I would have a BIG problem.
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That’s when we sang it. It did take me a sec to figure out why we were signing it though! LOL
 
I have grown up in very traditional parishes singing this song at times of national holidays and for funerals for military veterans. If you look at your Missal, there are Masses for national needs. While Catholic and universal, Holy Mother Church still exists in each country and in some countries is PART of the national identity (Ireland, Poland, etc.) We sang this on Sunday, and I was in tears. Read the lyrics. It’s a beautiful prayer asking God’s blessing on our country and praying for an increase in virtue and celebrating those who lay down their lives for their countries.

I am from the DC area. That alabaster city was dimmed by human tears on Sept. 11. I stood in Arlington Cemetery last Sunday and looked over at the Pentagon where so many died on Sept. 11., associates of my family. (You can see the spot where the plane hit from the gravesites of those who died that day). There was a mother who was sitting by her son’s grave whom I talked to. A devout Catholic. One of those who “more than self his country loved, and mercy more than life.” Many who join the military have profound religious reasons for doing so. So in that respect, separation of Church and State is a crock. We have a duty and obligation to pray for our nation and our nation’s leaders and those who fight to protect our right to practice our Catholic faith here.

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
 
I am the organist/pianist for our parish and the choir director requested that I play “My Country Tis of Thee” as the processional. It is in the hymnal…what is the big deal? The whole song alludes to God our Creator.
I thought it was very appropriate as long as it wasn’t the Communion song.
 
My Church sang America the Beautiful at the 5:00 Saturday Mass. guess it was because of July 4. Don’t know how I feel about it, but it was at the end of the Mass right before the procession leaving the altar.
maryann
 
What’s wrong with choosing to bless our country by singing a prayer about it near one of our national holidays?

Look at the wording of these songs…many of them are actually HYMNS and they read like prayers, asking God to continue His blessings and gifts to our land…this is bad?

Many of you would just die at military parishes… and I find that pretty offensive, because the Catholics we knew in the service, including my husband, were there because of their faith. They are living out the love Jesus spoke of that comes when you lay your life down for others…
 
RWMorris said:
I am the organist/pianist for our parish and the choir director requested that I play “My Country Tis of Thee” as the processional. It is in the hymnal…what is the big deal?
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It’s God Save the Queen, for goodness sake, that’s what! On the occasion that we commemorate our declaration of independance from England? 😉
 
They are beautiful patriotic hymns.
They are appropriate liturgically near Independence Day.
They are great hymns known by the assembly and loudly sung by all.
There is no reason why they should not be used on our near the 4th of July that I can see.

God shed his grace on thee
 
Since it was technically after the Mass had ended, it didn’t bother me (they sang it at our church too), though maybe it wouldn’t have been my first choice. To tell you the truth it bothers me more when they sing Amazing Grace, since it does have questionable lyrics and I have heard it during Mass several times. Where I grew up in order to include a song in the Mass it had to be written for the Mass. I liked that. The recessional hymn did not have to be written for the Mass since it was not part of it, but they didn’t allow any random song (though my family went to a wedding once where the bride sang a weird song after the nuptial Mass, but anyways). Sure, the Church is universal, but there are different Catholic traditions and Catholic celebrations done in different parts of the country (and in different countries for that matter) based on where the diocese is located. And, after all, the Church does encourage healthy patriotism.
 
I voted No. I also do not like to see the American flag next to the sanctuary. Can I tolerate either one when associated with the Church functions? Yes

I really like the song and respect the flag. I think that kids should recite the pledge of allegiance everyday in school. However, I am still not impressed by the fact of associating civil solemnities with Church functions.
 
As long as the song is God-centered, yes. I believe America the Beautiful is praising God for shedding his grace on us. God Bless America is a prayer, if you think about it. My Country tis of Thee, while it sounds like a reverent title, reveres the country’s fathers, not God.

I draw the line at Stars and Stripes Forever, though…😃
 
Patriotic songs have their appropriate time after the Mass is over. That’s when my parish sings them – on or near patriotic holidays after Mass is over and everyone’s getting ready to leave after the priest has left the altar.
“America, America, God shed his grace on thee and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea”.
There’s a good and noble sentiment. Blessed, Happy and Safe
4th of July everyone!
👍
 
bankerdavid said:
As long as the song is God-centered, yes. I believe America the Beautiful is praising God for shedding his grace on us. God Bless America is a prayer, if you think about it. My Country tis of Thee, while it sounds like a reverent title, reveres the country’s fathers, not God.

I draw the line at Stars and Stripes Forever, though…😃
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What about You’re A Grand Old Flag? (Complete with liturgical dancers running down the aisle waving it proudly).
 
When I was in grade school, we sang “Fifty Nifty United States” (not for Mass, though).

“…each individuall state contributes a quality that is great. Each individual state deserves a bow, let’s salute them now…”

It’s a great way for remembering the states, though.
 
Rob_s_Wife said:
We sang America the Beautiful at mass today. Granted it was the exit song, but still…
Mass is for the worship of the Lord.
Seems like the songs should be for/about HIM, not our beloved nation.

**So thoughts? I’m NOT against the song. Heck, no. Not me. One of our favorites. We’re patriots in this house!:love: **

But we’re Catholics first. If we sang it at a Church BBQ, if we sang it at the ice cream social, these would not have bothered me in the least.

**BUT at MASS?! Yikes. This rather bothered me.:o **
**My dh, non-catholic, says it would have been better to sing “God Bless America”, thus it would have been a blessing in his mind. hmm, spliting hairs a bit there I think? Besides, the church is neutral in nationality?:confused: **
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My wife and I kind of mumbled along, not quite knowing what to do. We must have been a sight. Awkwardly looking at each other. Puzzled looks on our faces. It felt odd and wrong to us. We talked about it after Mass. We’re fairly new Catholics, and were not expecting it. I can already tell we’re going to be somewhat “traditional” or orthodox Catholics. We both discussed how we are part of the body of Christ when at Mass, and countries shouldn’t enter into it at all. I guess a case can be made for a patriotic homily, as long as it is also dogmatically, and canonically correct, and doesn’t espouse any ideas contrary to the Catholic Church. But a song about a country? I’m really going to have to look into this. I’m anxious to read some of the replies here. Is the closing hymn part of the liturgy? We were taught that it was, in RCIA. People aren’t supposed to leave, etc. If it’s not, then I guess that would change things a little. I don’t know. It just seems odd. Nobody else commented or seemed to notice really. I know we take this stuff pretty seriously. Probably to the point of being out of proportion. If we’re wrong on this, and it’s perfectly okay, I really want to know. I’d also like to hear from Catholics in other nations. Do you sing patriotic songs when Mass is close to a patriotic holiday in your country?
 
I love our country. For that reason I often have difficulty with the Church’s position on some issues, such as illegal immigration, that I feel short-change America’s security and/or national identity.

That being said, I feel it is downright sacreligioius to sing any patriotic song during Holy Mass or even during the recessional. That’s not the time or the place. Mass is where we focus on the Lord and His Kingdom, not man or the kingdoms of men.

I hope America is around for a long time. I hope we survive all that the humanistic/new age/anti-American one-world dweebs are doing to destroy our sovereignty and national identity; I hope we once again become a nation that seeks goodness and righteousness, turning away from evil.

But ultimately, we all hope for one final end, and America ain’t it.
 
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