Are Protestant Hymns Allowed at Mass?

[Jennifoo]

Hello all. I did a search for this question and couldn’t find anything. I’m wondering if Protestant Hymns such as contemporary Christian and Gospel are allowed at Mass? Please note: I’m not looking to debate the musical merit of these genres of music- I enjoy these genres at home, in the car, etc.- I’m just asking if they’re allowed at Mass.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

Can you give an example of what type of “Protestant hymn” you’re talking about? When I think of hymns, I think of hymns such as All Creatures of Our God and King and Christ is Laid the Sure Foundation, both of which are Anglican hymns but sung in Catholic Churches as they are not heretical.

The Church has said a lot about what kind of music is to be used during Mass. Gregorian Chant has pride of place, as it is the music of the Latin Rite Church, but it does make allowances for polyphony. Hymns may also be used, but Gregorian Chant is to be preferred to all other music.

The majority of music that one hears at Mass such as On Eagle’s Wings, Gather Us In, All Are Welcome, or those “Praise and Worship” songs such as I Lift Your Name on High are not appropriate music for Mass, as they are secular in nature and not sacred music.

This was emphasized in Vatican II.

 

[Confiteor_Deo]

As long as the Bishop has allowed the hymns to be sung during Mass, it is permitted. Some hymns, like “Be Still, My Soul”, “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”, & “The Church’s One Foundation”, are written by Protestants and are often sung in many traditional Catholic churches. As long as they don’t contain heresy, they are usually allowed. Personally, I am against the contemporary hymns from what I have read from Church documents and the Vatican’s statements, but Bishops have allowed these to be sung as well.

 

[JurisPrudens]

Hello all. I did a search for this question and couldn’t find anything. I’m wondering if Protestant Hymns such as contemporary Christian and Gospel are allowed at Mass? Please note: I’m not looking to debate the musical merit of these genres of music- I enjoy these genres at home, in the car, etc.- I’m just asking if they’re allowed at Mass.

Thank you in advance.

We sing “Amazing Grace” often at our University chapel.

 

[Beryllos]

If the hymns happen to be aligned with Catholic teachings, don’t worry. We worship the same God and are guided by the same Spirit. How wonderful it is, that we have so much in common! Give thanks and praise to God.

 

[DaveBj]

If the hymns happen to be aligned with Catholic teachings, don’t worry. We worship the same God and are guided by the same Spirit. How wonderful it is, that we have so much in common! Give thanks and praise to God.

^^^This. Perhaps it might be more useful to think of them not as “Protestant hymns,” but as Christians hymns that happen to have been written by Protestants.

(Except, of course, for hymns that specifically espouse Protestant or anti-Catholic teachings in their lyrics )

 

[angell1]

^^^This. Perhaps it might be more useful to think of them not as “Protestant hymns,” but as Christians hymns that happen to have been written by Protestants.

(Except, of course, for hymns that specifically espouse Protestant or anti-Catholic teachings in their lyrics )

which they generally don’t

the vast majority of songs by protestant artists, contemporary or not, stay in the realm of “Jesus, I love you” and don’t go beyond that

as for the argument that contemporary songs are “secular”, music genres are music genres, it’s the words of the hymns that make them more sacred.

if you made up a Gregorian chant about flowers in the field, for example, that would be secular as well.

not that I’m saying all forms of music are appropriate for mass but we do tend to get caught up in this issue a bit, in my humble opinion

 

[Ad_Orientem]

it’s the words of the hymns that make them more sacred.

The Church teaches otherwise. See Tra le Sollecitudini, nos. 1-6.

 

[Catholic1954]

Hello all. I did a search for this question and couldn’t find anything. I’m wondering if Protestant Hymns such as contemporary Christian and Gospel are allowed at Mass? Please note: I’m not looking to debate the musical merit of these genres of music- I enjoy these genres at home, in the car, etc.- I’m just asking if they’re allowed at Mass.

Thank you in advance.

Usually not; however there are some popular protestant hymns that have been modified to reflect Catholic theology and they are allowed. (Amazing Grace and How Great Thou Art, etc…)

 

[ProVobis]

^^^This. Perhaps it might be more useful to think of them not as “Protestant hymns,” but as Christians hymns that happen to have been written by Protestants.

RIght. Many people forget that Protestants, such as JS Bach, wrote music specifically for the Mass as well.

In some cases it doesn’t matter. RIchard Proulx, for example, wrote for the Mass but he also wrote for Protestant services.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

I suspect that what the OP means by “hymns” is stuff you hear in Protestant Sunday services with electric guitars, drums, bass, keyboards etc, not Praise to the Lord the Almighty and the like.

 

[Ad_Orientem]

RIght. Many people forget that Protestants, such as JS Bach, wrote music specifically for the Mass as well.

Actually Bach’s “Masses,” while absolutely beautiful, were not intended for liturgical use (the Mass would then be several hours long). Many composers wrote a Kyrie, Gloria, etc. to round out their musical accomplishments, or for other reasons.

 

[ProVobis]

Actually Bach’s “Masses,” while absolutely beautiful, were not intended for liturgical use (the Mass would then be several hours long). Many composers wrote a Kyrie, Gloria, etc. to round out their musical accomplishments, or for other reasons.

Fair point. But at least we know they’re a real part of the Mass.

 

[Confiteor_Deo]

I suspect that what the OP means by “hymns” is stuff you hear in Protestant Sunday services with electric guitars, drums, bass, keyboards etc, not Praise to the Lord the Almighty and the like.

I made mention of that hymn just to point out that a hymn that’s composed by a Protestant doesn’t disqualify it from being sung at Mass. Sorry for the lack of clarity.

 

[ComplineSanFran]

I suspect that what the OP means by “hymns” is stuff you hear in Protestant Sunday services with electric guitars, drums, bass, keyboards etc, not Praise to the Lord the Almighty and the like.

Oh goodness, I hope not. Praise songs are pretty dreadful, in my opinion. Give me a good Anglican hymnal any day, and we will gladly share with you. Without being too boastful, I think that Anglicans have the best church music going. We really know how to bring music into the Liturgy.

Who knows the hymns of John Rutter? ‘For the Beauty of the Earth,’ ‘The Lord Bless you and Keep you,’ He is wonderful.

youtube.com/watch?v=PO17DIeI7Ec&list=PLF479DC86F9D1CF58

Of course you have Don Schutte, who is here in San Francisco. I love his ‘Here I am, Lord.’

 

[LaughingBoy1503]

Though I have never heard it sung during Mass, I have seen “A mighty fortress is our God” once in a hymnal in the pews of a Catholic church. I cannot remember if it was my parish or a different one. I actually like that hymn. I like some contemporary songs, but most annoy me for some reason lol. Probably because they sound like secular pop music to me no matter the lyrics. There are always exceptions though.

 

[ProVobis]

Though I have never heard it sung during Mass, I have seen “A mighty fortress is our God” once in a hymnal in the pews of a Catholic church. I cannot remember if it was my parish or a different one. I actually like that hymn. I like some contemporary songs, but most annoy me for some reason lol. Probably because they sound like secular pop music to me no matter the lyrics. There are always exceptions though.

For the record it was written by Martin Luther, I believe. And I like it too. It may not be heretical per se but is this liturgically the best we can do?

 

[LaughingBoy1503]

For the record it was written by Martin Luther, I believe. And I like it too. It may not be heretical per se but is this liturgically the best we can do?

Yes, that is why I was surprised to see it in a Catholic hymnal. That was my favorite hymn when I was attending a Lutheran Church. I look at it the same way I look at “Amazing grace” or “How great thou art” come to think of it, I am more than sure I have heard “How great thou art” more than once at Mass.

 

[ComplineSanFran]

Though I have never heard it sung during Mass, I have seen “A mighty fortress is our God” once in a hymnal in the pews of a Catholic church. I cannot remember if it was my parish or a different one. I actually like that hymn. I like some contemporary songs, but most annoy me for some reason lol. Probably because they sound like secular pop music to me no matter the lyrics. There are always exceptions though.

I agree on your taste in contemporary songs, but how lovely to find A Mighty Fortress in your hymnal. Lutherans should be proud!

 

[John_Lazarus]

I agree on your taste in contemporary songs, but how lovely to find A Mighty Fortress in your hymnal. Lutherans should be proud!

It’s also in the *Catholic Book of Worship III *(I believe), issued by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

I imagine, though, the line would be drawn at “Bless the Beasts and Children (but Not Them Popish with their Beads)”.