What I mean is that music should be in Mass with a choir and an organ. I don’t agree with a cantor. I don’t like a cantor at the altar singing the psalms. Some not all but some have used it as a platform to perform. I like traditional hymns. I don’t like Gather nor Glory and Praise. Marty Haugen is not even Catholic!!! and the mass of creation I HATE!!! it! everything is in minor. The Gloria needs to be in Cmajor!! a joyful sound. Nothing like a huge pipie organ in C or F major with 16’ reeds in the pedal to give a recessional hymn that growl. I could go on and on. but the point is that organ is key and a huge choir is heavenly. I love guitars and I love drums.
I don’t know much about music so that all means very little to me, and I don’t mean to judge, but other than the comment about Haugen (I don’t even know who that is to be honest) it sounds like a bit of musical elitism to me. Like I said this isn’t a topic I know a whole lot about and I don’t know what regulations the Church puts on it, but the way I took what you said it sounds purely like opinion. I’ve seen the same strong opinions on the other side and both ends frustrate me (despite sympathizing more with you). If our focus is so strongly tied to the music and the choices of the priest and music minister then clearly we are not centered on the TRUE focus of the mass: the Eucharist.
Also I don’t agree to make Mass “relevant” to be dumbed down to entice teens to go to Mass.
I never said that so I would prefer you not misquote me. I said different Mass settings may be more appropriate for different participants in Mass. Not only that, but playing different hymns/songs during Mass does not “dumb it down” for teens and the goal is not to entice it is to make it accessible. Many teens do not have the understanding or preference for certain Mass settings that you do. Giving them that understanding is certainly important and I agree the integrity of the Mass cannot be sacrificed for the encouragement of teens; however, if a different setting can be used that better reaches them and it still fits within the Cannon then what is the problem? Your opinion on how it sounds? I’m sorry, I’m sure there’s more to it than that, but that is the way it sounds from your post
There isn’t reverence in Mass as there used to be.
I would disagree especially at my home parish where the music I described is played.
My feelings, I may be wrong but when you see a teen enter into Mass with tight short shorts and a tee shirt I find it offensive and almost a blastphemy.
I wouldn’t say you’re wrong, but I would say you’re making a gross generalization about teens and that is extremely offensive. I would agree that ANYONE dressing inappropriately is offensive, but not to us, to THEMSELVES and to the Eucharist. It is not our jobs to police Mass looking for anyone who doesn’t dress to our standards.
we need to bring back the mystery of the Mass the reverence the respect and pre vatican II traditions.
Note quite sure what you mean by pre vatican 2 traditions because I was not alive in the period of transition, but in my opinion -and from my experience- the way the Mass has been said in almost every place I’ve been has not diminished the beauty of the Mass nor taken away from the Eucharist. I feel I must emphasize to you that the focus is on the Eucharist, and certainly you are not the only one, I think we could all stand to focus on that. That is not to say that the other parts of the Mass are unimportant (the are very important), but when we sit in our pews quietly analyzing every move looking for something to go wrong, or being haunted by our opinions of what’s happening we miss out on the bigger picture and that is our Christo-centric community coming to consume (and thus be consumed by) Christ’s body, blood, soul, and divinity.
But I am confident that it all will come back again and girls will dress modestly and so on so forth. Scoob.
I’m sure that you’re right, but that doesn’t come from us scrutinizing them, it comes from loving, well planned teaching that speak to those who do not understand already. If all we do is bash people with how we “hate” different things that people choose to do within Mass they will never be convinced by us, much less even consider the points we make.
God bless,
B