Bad State of Mind During Mass

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I’m there with you! I’m trying very hard to hold my self together and I think I empty purgatory every Sunday. I am unable to change parishes until my husband makes the decision.

Our ‘music ministry’ seems to hijack Mass and go overboard into performance mode. Our pianists are not Catholic, so they don’t go to communion and they don’t understand the concept of moments of silence - especially during Lent. If our Mass were an outfit - it would be over-accessorized!
 
Pianist not Catholic? I have never seen music ministry NOT receive communion. Strange.
 
In the southern US, this is actually not totally uncommon.

I know an accomplished musician that was hired to play the organ at a Catholic church. He was an agnostic Baptist high school student at the time. He became Catholic, went to the seminary and became a priest. He still plays music and has been known to play a piece or two on his viola (NOT vested, of course!) before Mass. Work of the Holy Spirit…
 
  1. You are not at mass for good music.
  2. You are not at mass to hear only those with your speech patterns.
  3. You are not at mass to “feel” anything.
  4. You are not at mass to necessarily receive anything.
You are at the mass to offer yourself - without reservation - to God as a living sacrifice.
 
Excellent video, excellent priest! Thank you for sharing this.
 
Wendy1989 said:
Our ‘music ministry’ seems to hijack Mass and go overboard into performance mode. Our pianists are not Catholic, so they don’t go to communion and they don’t understand the concept of moments of silence - especially during Lent. If our Mass were an outfit - it would be over-accessorized!
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As a music minister myself, I understand. I do my best to know the put into practice the teachings of the church and its seasons. Your MM hijacks the Mass because your pastor allows it. It’s not unheard of if that there enough complaints, the music director is sent on his/her way.
 
Focusing on the knowledge that we are in the presence of the Lord and the reality that we’re receiving Him in the Eucharist has helped me through many frustrating masses where I’ve felt detached or annoyed.

Admittedly, I am delighted to now know what a “glissando” is. Agreed that it’s not suitable mass music material, but it’s a delightful sound and word otherwise. 🙂
 
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That’s already happened, once. Although the prior MM was stuck on 80’s & 90’s liturgical music, there was a ‘less is more’ ideal.

With our current MM, my husband and I have decided that we will never attend another Easter Vigil at our home parish. I don’t think the ‘Mother of all Vigils’ needs to be a junior high school musical.
 
Wendy1989 said:
With our current MM, my husband and I have decided that we will never attend another Easter Vigil at our home parish. I don’t think the ‘Mother of all Vigils’ needs to be a junior high school musical.
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Wendy, I agree, and now you got my curiosity going strong. What songs were used? What made it sound like a JHS musical to you. What stood out as being off? No judgment, just curious. Thanks.
 
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We’ve all been there. We’ve all had an “off” day at Mass.

Take it to the confessional if it’s eating you up.
 
Rory Cooney’s Easter Vigil setting. This is apparently a favorite of the pastor as it was done (and still done) at his prior parish. As a note, my pastor is 50 years old. The MM is an elementary school teacher.

My husband’s spiritual director suggested that we just go to another parish for Easter. We are Catholic, after all!
 
I’ve definitely been there. I second the other comments of trying out a different church, if there is one available (I know I personally would be willing to drive farther to get organ music as opposed to guitars and tambourines!).

Another idea is perhaps going to the super early Mass? I’ve found that those generally don’t have music and can be less distracting since there are less people. But I guess that doesn’t work if you’re in a smaller parish with only one or two Mass times.
 
Wendy1989 said:
Rory Cooney’s Easter Vigil setting.
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Thanks. Went to you-tube. So, they actually sing/chant each of the old testament readings? I see what you mean. I would have walked out. Anything else that is unappealing to you at that vigil?
 
Yes, they actually ‘singy-chanty’ the readings. I’ve really tried to understand the music and I’ve even gone to the songwriter’s blog to see where his ‘head/heart’ were when he wrote the music. No help. I’m of the ‘read the readings, sing the psalms’ kind of person. I’m also a convert, so I am rather particular about the Vigil.

Part of my problem is my husband - he doesn’t want to leave the parish. I’m thinking - stay with the parish, just go to Mass elsewhere.
 
Wendy1989 said:
Yes, they actually ‘singy-chanty’ the readings. I’ve really tried to understand the music and I’ve even gone to the songwriter’s blog to see where his ‘head/heart’ were when he wrote the music. No help. I’m of the ‘read the readings, sing the psalms’ kind of person. I’m also a convert, so I am rather particular about the Vigil.
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Totally understand. If it’s just the EV, stay with the parish and go elsewhere for the EV next year. We sing some of this composer’s music, but these are not me too. I believe that up until the Gloria at the EV, the atmosphere should be more solemn so that there is a distinct contrast when we finally sing the great song of praise, The Gloria! The lector/cantor in the video, IMHO, was over the top. The body language and hand motions were distracting and not appropriate.
 
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