Catholic in Training - Music

[TeresTala]

mercygate brought up something on another thread that I thought deserved its own discussion: music.

Fortunately, the parish that I’m attending seems to have a wonderful music director and the music is always quite good. But what really blows my mind as a former Methodist (which denomination’s hymn book instructs you to ‘sing lustily’ - seriously…) is the number of Catholics who don’t sing.

A very nice theology prof explained to me that the Catholics have only had about Vatican II + x years of experience doing a lot of singing. So sad!

What do other Catholics In Training (and cradle-to-grave) Catholics think about this?

TeresTala

 

[Pani_Rose]

We are in the Eastern Church, so since we have no instruments, everybody sings :extrahappy:

 

[kage_ar]

You can spot the converts in Mass as they are the only Parishoners trying to sing (I say trying, as there are some very un-singable things in your average Catholic hymnal).

 

[Cairisti]

This is probably the one area that frustrates me at times. Coming from a Southern Baptist background, we always were encouraged to sing. Even if it was badly sung. cough And now that I’m Catholic, I can’t help but notice that I’m sometimes the only person singing in the pew. (And I won’t get into the types of music that’s presented. ) I agree with Kage- ar, in that it’s probably the converts that are singing. Or those who were born after VII.

Funny thing is that one of the cantors at the parish I attend is going through RCIA now (she’s a former Baptist IIRC), and that’s one of her beefs as well.

 

[SeekerJen]

You can spot the converts in Mass as they are the only Parishoners trying to sing (I say trying, as there are some very un-singable things in your average Catholic hymnal).

Hmmm…not true. Here’s one cradle Catholic who sings all the hymns and knows many, many others who do as well.

One way to get the old folks to belt it out is to choose a hymn like “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name”. Everyone sings that one and I’ve seen this phenomenon at more than one parish.

 

[mdzialo]

All too often, the music selections are not very inspiring at the churches that I attend. I don’t get it. Why not use more of the traditional great hymns - everybody signs along when they are used. EWTN has magnificent music. I love it and wish I could attend the Mass down in Alabama. I watch practically every night. Great - in so many ways.