Another one of THOSE Threads...

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Schatzl

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Yes, another liturgical rant. Might as well get this over with.

This past Sunday, Father mentioned a celebration of the Transfiguration during Lent, he still wore the purple vestments, and the alter cloth was still purple. The only differences were the opening hymn was to be used during the Transfiguration (Tis’ Good Lord to Be Here) and the Gospel reading was the story of the Transfiguration. I didn’t mind that, but it’s what the MAss is going to that I don’t like. I mean it’s Lent people! Why are we rejoicing? It’s a time of penance. They had a choir, a flute and two guitars! It’s one thing if it’s a youth Mass, but this is noon Mass on a Sunday during Lent! What ever happened to the solemn Masses? I remember when I was little, they did a chant Our Father (in English) but now we’ve gone to this echo thing. A prayer’s a prayer, but still, it’s a solemn part of the year! I really don’t like the path liturgical music has gone down in the last year. NExt thing we know, they’re going to rip out the organ and put in a drum set!
 
I’m not sure what the problem is. That was the Gospel reading in the liturgical schedule. And, I didn’t know music wasn’t allowed during lent. So long as the colors were correct and they didn’t sing the Gloria or Alleluia, I don’t see what was incorrect?

In Christ,
Ellen
 
ALLGIRLS said:
I’m not sure what the problem is. That was the Gospel reading in the liturgical schedule. And, I didn’t know music wasn’t allowed during lent. So long as the colors were correct and they didn’t sing the Gloria or Alleluia, I don’t see what was incorrect?

In Christ,
Ellen
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It’s not the readings, it’s the fact that Lent is supposed to be a solemn time, not a time when they have guitars in the church. This is actually becoming a regular thing.
 
Schatzl said:
Yes, another liturgical rant. Might as well get this over with.

This past Sunday, Father mentioned a celebration of the Transfiguration during Lent, he still wore the purple vestments, and the alter cloth was still purple.
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I think you have misunderstood. It was not the Feast of the Transfiguration. That is August 6. It was the Second Sunday of Lent, so of course the vestments and altar appointments were purple.
Schatzl said:
The only differences were the opening hymn was to be used during the Transfiguration (Tis’ Good Lord to Be Here) and the Gospel reading was the story of the Transfiguration. I didn’t mind that, but it’s what the MAss is going to that I don’t like. I mean it’s Lent people! Why are we rejoicing? It’s a time of penance.
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Um, I don’t know why you believe this is a problem? The Gospel for this Sunday was the Transfiguration everywhere, not just your parish. This is the reading in the Lectionary for the 2nd Sunday in Lent, Cycle C. Hence the music that reflects the assigned reading for the day.
Schatzl said:
They had a choir, a flute and two guitars! It’s one thing if it’s a youth Mass, but this is noon Mass on a Sunday during Lent! What ever happened to the solemn Masses? I remember when I was little, they did a chant Our Father (in English) but now we’ve gone to this echo thing. A prayer’s a prayer, but still, it’s a solemn part of the year! I really don’t like the path liturgical music has gone down in the last year. NExt thing we know, they’re going to rip out the organ and put in a drum set!
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These are things to talk to your pastor about if you feel passionately about them. But again, I think you are all ramped up over a non-issue. The priest did nothing wrong, the readings were the Lectionary readings.
 
I’m with 1KE in not quite understanding what’s wrong.

The gospel was the correct gospel for Sunday. (You can look them up at usccb.org/ if you’re ever unsure.) The liturgical colors were what is called for during Lent.

The only thing I see is that you didn’t like the nature of the music chosen. It happens. We all have different preferences in music. Some people like more contemporary music while others prefer something more traditional. You can make your feelings known to the pastor, but I wouldn’t necessarily expect things to change. The pastor either approved the music that was used or has enough faith in the music director to delegate the selection to her/him. Still, if it’s something that bothers you there is always the option to speak up.
 
We have two guitars and a keyboard every Sunday, including Lent. They are perfectly acceptable because the music selections are appropriate to the season.
 
What you explained is appropriate for the 2nd Sunday in Lent. Nothing was inappropriate.
 
Sundays are actually OUTSIDE of Lent,. in that they are not part of the 40 days. Ash Wednesday is 46 days before Easter. When you subtract the 6 Sundays then you are left with the 40 days of Lent.

However the Sundays are still part of the Lenten season.
 
We used to have bongo drums, but thank heavens so many complained they are finally gone. Yuck.
 
triumphguy said:
Sundays are actually OUTSIDE of Lent.
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Every Sunday is in fact a mini-Easter, a day of celebration. Even in the penitential seasons (Lent and Advent) one of the Sundays will be designed to be joyous - these are called Laetare Sunday and Gaudete Sunday respectively. Priests will often don rose vestments (pink to you and me) and so on.

Not to mention other feastdays also take precedence over Lenten observance. Eg if the feast of St Joseph falls on a Friday we will normally be exempt from the rule of abstinence.
 
Yes Sundays are a part of Lent, otherwise they wouldn’t be designated as First Sunday of Lent, etc., and the Gloria and Alleluia wouldn’t be prohibited during this Season. I understand that they are not counted in the forty days and the faithful may choose to relax their penances on Sundays, but they are designated as being part of Lent to a certain extent and a spirit of penance should still prevail.

As for the Second Sunday of Lent, the previous posters were absolutely correct about yhe Readings. The Transfiguration happened shortly befote Our Lord’s Passion and is important to meditate on.
 
Did not Someone say that when we fast we should wash our face, put on our good clothes, smile, and not act glum? That is the way we should act on Lenten Sundays, if not during the rest of Lent. Oh,by the way, it was the Lord Jesus said that. 🙂 :harp:
 
Schatzl said:
Yes, another liturgical rant. Might as well get this over with.

This past Sunday, Father mentioned a celebration of the Transfiguration during Lent, he still wore the purple vestments, and the alter cloth was still purple. The only differences were the opening hymn was to be used during the Transfiguration (Tis’ Good Lord to Be Here) and the Gospel reading was the story of the Transfiguration. I didn’t mind that, but it’s what the MAss is going to that I don’t like. I mean it’s Lent people! Why are we rejoicing? It’s a time of penance. They had a choir, a flute and two guitars! It’s one thing if it’s a youth Mass, but this is noon Mass on a Sunday during Lent! What ever happened to the solemn Masses? I remember when I was little, they did a chant Our Father (in English) but now we’ve gone to this echo thing. A prayer’s a prayer, but still, it’s a solemn part of the year! I really don’t like the path liturgical music has gone down in the last year. NExt thing we know, they’re going to rip out the organ and put in a drum set!
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I agree with the other posters. I see nothing wrong here. If you are still concerned I would talk to the pastor and maybe he could clear up any misunderstandings, but I do not see anything here that I think would be inappropriate.
 
Why are the guitar or the flute any less solemn than the pipe organ, which can and does have stops for many different instruments, including flutes and sometimes plucked string instruments like the guitar?

It seems to me that if we’re going to get rid of any instrument during Lent, it should be the organ, which encompasses an entire orchestra.

Or perhaps decree that only a registration with one principle stop can be used–that might be drab enough . OTOH, a skilled organist can make even that miniscule registration sound great! So maybe the answer is to dispense with the skilled organists and hire bad ones like me, so that all of the people get to suffer through the Mass! 🙂

And what’s wrong with having a choir during Lent? I’ve only been in the Catholic Church for nine years (this Triduum!), and I’ve been on Catholic Answers Forums longer than that, but I’ve never seen anyone post documents “proving” that it is liturgically incorrect for a parish to have a choir during the Sundays of Lent.
 
Cat said:
Why are the guitar or the flute any less solemn than the pipe organ, which can and does have stops for many different instruments, including flutes and sometimes plucked string instruments like the guitar?

It seems to me that if we’re going to get rid of any instrument during Lent, it should be the organ, which encompasses an entire orchestra.

Or perhaps decree that only a registration with one principle stop can be used–that might be drab enough . OTOH, a skilled organist can make even that miniscule registration sound great! So maybe the answer is to dispense with the skilled organists and hire bad ones like me, so that all of the people get to suffer through the Mass! 🙂

And what’s wrong with having a choir during Lent? I’ve only been in the Catholic Church for nine years (this Triduum!), and I’ve been on Catholic Answers Forums longer than that, but I’ve never seen anyone post documents “proving” that it is liturgically incorrect for a parish to have a choir during the Sundays of Lent.
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Theoretically, during Lent the organ (and for that matter any other instruments) shouldn’t be used and the sanctuary shouldn’t be decorated with flowers, except on Laetare Sunday which is the 4th Sunday of Lent. This applies even to the OF.
 
OraLabora said:
Theoretically, during Lent the organ (and for that matter any other instruments) shouldn’t be used and the sanctuary shouldn’t be decorated with flowers, except on Laetare Sunday which is the 4th Sunday of Lent. This applies even to the OF.
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That doesn’t seem to be what the GIRM says.
  1. …In Lent the playing of the organ and musical instruments is allowed only in order to support the singing. Exceptions, however, are Laetare Sunday (Fourth Sunday of Lent), Solemnities, and Feasts.
To me that sounds like there shouldn’t be purely instrumental music, but instruments to support singing are OK.
 
Schatzl said:
It’s not the readings, it’s the fact that Lent is supposed to be a solemn time, not a time when they have guitars in the church. This is actually becoming a regular thing.
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Soooooo, you didn’t like the music?

That’s it???

They don’t make rants like they used to. I guess next it will be wearing black shoes after Easter.
 
I think we need to bear in mind that Sundays are always a mini-Easter even during Lent. It is a solemn celebration, but a celebration nonetheless.
 
Different parishes do it different ways. At the church I am attending now, they do not do a recessional hymn during Lent, but in the church I attended before they did.

Also the Sanctus and Agnus Dei is sung in Latin at my current church during Lent, but wasn’t at my old church.

All Catholic churches change the “Alleluia” to “Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ…”, and omit the Gloria. Purple is always the color during Lent except for Laetare Sunday (4th Sunday in Lent) which is pink.
 
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