Can anyone once and for all tell me why people want a protestant hymn rather than the Gregorian introitus?

[MiserereMeiDei]

No. But beauty is one of many reasons to be attracted to the church.

 

[IdaCatholic]

Once and for all? Ok. Because people dont think the same as you or I and we have lost a lot of our Catholic identity.

 

[CarmeliteKnight]

I can’t tell you friend. I too miss Gregorian Chants in church. What I would give to get the choir to sing “Salve Regina” at the end of every mass…sigh

 

[twf]

You don’t go to Mass for the music. Christ is the focus of the Mass. Who cares who sings what!

This isn’t fair. Yes, Christ is the focus, and yes we should go to Mass whether we like the music or not…but the Church definitely does teach that music matters. There is a body of teaching on sacred music and its place in the liturgy. Sacred music is important and the Church teaches that it should be beautiful and inspiring.

 

[twf]

Probably not the main reason to join the Church…

Ultimately, no…but why shouldn’t the beauty of the liturgy draw people to the Church and ultimately to Christ? If you ask an Orthodox Christian how you can learn more about Orthodoxy, they will tell you to “come and see”…as in, experience the Divine Liturgy…soak in the chant, the incense, the prayers. The liturgy, including sacred music, is the most sublime expression of our faith. If we can’t use the Mass itself to evangelize, there is something wrong.

I once brought a Protestant friend to our cathedral. It was a beautiful (OF) Mass with chant and incense and a beautiful, stunning choir. As we walked away she said “how do I sign up?” She was received into the Church not long after. Not everyone will “read” their way into the Church (though that was my own conversion experience)…the Holy Spirit touches us in different ways.

 

[Peeps]

Ultimately, no…but why shouldn’t the beauty of the liturgy draw people to the Church and ultimately to Christ?

Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder.

I’ve been Catholic since 2004, so I’ve heard plenty of Gregorian chant in various parishes.

I don’t think it’s beautiful at all, and I know others, cradle Catholics, who have the same opinion.

There is no regular melody, and I personally love strong melodies.

However, I think that hymns are beautiful, not just the traditional hymns (many of which were written by Catholics), but also the “gospel” hymns and “St. Louis Jesuits’” hymns and the “contemporary” hymns.

I definitely prefer some OF Mass settings to others; e.g., I really don’t like the Mass of Creation very much because the melody has strange intervals that don’t seem to flow together well (hard to sing). I love the Mass of Angels and Saints, and I also like the Mass of Spirit and Grace. There are many others that I’ve only heard a few times, and some are very pretty (to me), and others are kind of random (to me).

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Because people dont think the same as you or I

This is the response to about 184240 of the threads posted on this forum about music, clothing and everything else that people complain about regarding Masses.

“I like this. Why doesn’t everybody else like it too?”

Um, because people have different preferences.

Of course, from there the threads always turn into, “My preferences good, your preferences bad.”

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Sacred music is important and the Church teaches that it should be beautiful and inspiring.

I personally find a lot of more modern hymns and folk music to be beautiful and inspiring.

I don’t dislike Gregorian chant but I also don’t think it’s the only beautiful form of church music out there. I have a broad taste.

I personally do not like Taize, but I can see where another person might find it beautiful and inspiring. I have an open mind.

Muting the thread now as I’m sure people will continue to argue over this just like they argue on every other music thread, and it will be the same arguments as on 100 past threads.

 

[jesusmademe]

hymns or choruses/praise music.

Protestant= Anglican and Lutheran.
I am aware of “free church” Protestant but in this case I was not thinking about them.

 

[DIERM]

Why do some people like vanilla and not chocolate?

To me, just not a hill worth dying on!

 

[jesusmademe]

or any of the happy clappy sappy schlock that passes for today’s liturgical music.

Do Catholics really sing those songs at Mass?
I cannot even believe Lutherans do it

 

[jesusmademe]

Can you tell us why you call hymns “Protestant” just because they aren’t Gregorian chant?

Most hymns might have a pre-protestant history but they grew out of the Lutheran or Anglican tradition. Abide with me is Anglican ie Protestant

 

[jesusmademe]

and if I can’t understand it, I generally try to leave as soon as I can politely do so.

You have a problem focusing for long times?
I focus too much sometimes.
Anyway, if you do not ubderstand what they sibg it means you have found a translation. Dies Irae is translated into vernacular.

 

[1ke]

Most hymns might have a pre-protestant history

IOW, they are not Protestant they are Catholic.

but they grew out of the Lutheran or Anglican tradition.

Not the pre-Protestant ones.

Abide with me is Anglican ie Protestant

Then ask that your parish not use that hymn if it bothers you. We’ve never sung that hymn at my parish.

I disagree with your position that a hymn is “Protestant” if it isn’t Gregorian chant.

 

[Mi_Rose]

Is tge hymn Immaculate Mary Protestant?

 

[1ke]

Is tge hymn Immaculate Mary Protestant?

Protestants reject the Immaculate Conception, and most other Marian dogmas and Marian devotion.

So, no.

It was written in 1873 by a French priest.

 

[Fuerza]

The beauty of sacred music draws many into the Church. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[Jen95]

…
There is no music more beautiful than ours, but it’s the triumph of substance over novelty. Modern music is the opposite. I grew to cherish our music over hours, days and years of good times and bad. A newcomer wouldn’t have that long-term love affair.

I hope I’m attributing this story correctly; I think it comes from Archbishop Chaput:

A group of inner-city kids were given their first trip into the country. Upon arrival at the farm, each was offered a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice. They tasted it, and recoiled in horror. “What Is This Stuff!!! This Isn’t Orange Juice!!!”

They grew up drinking Tang. That was reality to them.

Yes, and the problem is that Catholics everywhere are still getting Tang every week. Children are formed to think that Tang is what the Catholic Church wants them to have!
Even @Peeps who has the benefit of a fine musical education spits out real orange juice.
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

People forget that the Church has said PLENTY about the music that is best for public liturgical worship.

It’s NOT just a matter of personal preference.

 

[maryjk]

Chant. Smells. Bells. Altar rail. And now ad orientam. What’s not to like?

The chant, smells, bells, altar rail and ad orientem?

Okay, maybe not all of them.

But I would find another parish, if I could, if they had all of those things at every Mass.

 

[Peeps]

You have a problem focusing for long times?
I focus too much sometimes.
Anyway, if you do not ubderstand what they sibg it means you have found a translation. Dies Irae is translated into vernacular.

It means more to me if I can hear something in my heart language. Translation forces me to use my brain at a time I would rather simply allow the message to permeate my heart and soul.

And it makes no sense to me to be reading a translation instead of listening to the words sung, chanted, or spoken. It’s distracting to me, and I think to many others.