Catholics and Gospel Music

[BListon]

Are there any other Catholics out there that LOVE old gospel hymns such as I’ll fly away, He leadeth me, softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, or sweet bye and bye, or is it just me?

 

[joanofarc2008]

Our Catholic Church has a good Gospel choir - you may want to find a good Black Catholic Church or if you are in the South you are more likely to see some of this.

 

[BListon]

I’m not black, but I was raised in an old-time pentecostal church (not one of the crazy new-age ones), but after converting the hymns just stuck with me.

 

[joanofarc2008]

I’m not black, but I was raised in an old-time pentecostal church (not one of the crazy new-age ones), but after converting the hymns just stuck with me.

Oh please don’t get me wrong - I am not trying to say that you have to be black to appreciate them I am not black either. I am just saying that this is where you may find this music in the context of a Mass.

 

[ruth0903]

Are there any other Catholics out there that LOVE old gospel hymns such as I’ll fly away, He leadeth me, softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, or sweet bye and bye, or is it just me?

I, too, love those old hymns, also love our Catholic songs…You are not alone.

God Bless!

Ruth

 

[Richard320]

I like some of the bluegrass versions. And I’ve always thought this song would be particularly appropriate for the recessional song. youtube.com/watch?v=S8bLjIMX3bE

 

[happymommy]

YES! I have to say, as a convert to the Catholic faith, that the music at Mass has been the hardest thing for me to get used to!!

 

[Lacour]

YES! I have to say, as a convert to the Catholic faith, that the music at Mass has been the hardest thing for me to get used to!!

I agree. I was raised Southern Baptist in East Texas and I miss the music.

It’s kind of funny, but my uncle is a Methodist Music Minister and he’s the most anti Vatican II person I know. He says it ruined all the good Catholic music.

 

[Elisabeth51]

Are there any other Catholics out there that LOVE old gospel hymns such as I’ll fly away, He leadeth me, softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, or sweet bye and bye, or is it just me?

I was raised Protestant and love those traditional hymns…I sing them at home and have been known to sing away while alone in the church filing music in the pipe organ loft However, I really don’t miss singing them at Mass. I prefer the chant, the Latin, all the liturgically based music available for the organ, I can’t say that I’ve missed singing those songs in church when I am constanly discovering “new” pieces with threads of ancient chant or “new” pieces that were written for the various parts of Mass (that’s new to me). Our organist has the gift (I firmly believe it is a gift) of improvisation and does the most beautiful things at offertory and communion when the chant or hymn run out before the Mass part does, all woven around the chant or hymn.

I do sometimes still find comfort in those hymns though, the words will come to mind and they’re beautiful.

 

[severus68]

Are there any other Catholics out there that LOVE old gospel hymns such as I’ll fly away, He leadeth me, softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, or sweet bye and bye, or is it just me?

I love them too. My mother used to sing them.

 

[28562]

I love them too. Our 8am Sunday Mass has a black gospel choir. They give such a different feeling to the day than the other choirs. I don’t even attend any other Mass. If I can’t go to 8, I feel like there is something missing from my day. They can sure make you feel like the Holy Spirit is right there with you.

Getting goosebumps just thinking about them now!

 

[TheRealJuliane]

ME!!! I DO!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE old gospel hymns as well as bluegrass gospel. There is a lot of feeling in those hymns.

 

[Musician]

A lot of old gospel is really good! I generally play these for communion and such…have had many parishioners come up and express appreciation for these hymns. I don’t play them all the time, but occasionally will play one…

 

[Cat]

I grew up with Gospel music and really like it, especially Fanny Crosby hymns.

I agree with happymommy–I have a hard time with Mass music and miss the wonderful old-time blood-stirrer-uppers. I don’t like chant at all, either modern or ancient. But fortunately I do love traditional hymns like Crown Him With Many Crowns, and I also happen to like a lot of the “modern” Catholic hymns by Haugen, Haas, etc. So I can usually find a lot of music to enjoy in the Masses in our parish.

 

[Anne72]

Same here! I do love the music in Mass but I still love some ‘I’ll Fly Away’ and "Looking for a City’ ! from my childhood in the pentecostal church.

I’m not black, but I was raised in an old-time pentecostal church (not one of the crazy new-age ones), but after converting the hymns just stuck with me.

 

[Black_Moses]

I play the sax for my church down here in Texas. We (along with the gospel choir, of course) play and sing Gospel music most of the time. When the kids sing (youth Mass) they do the same, but with easier Gospel songs.

 

[SeekNFind]

I love these good ol’ hymns too

Just a Closer Walk With Thee
At Calvary
The Old Rugged Cross
I Come to the Garden Alone
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name

I never heard a hymn I didn’t like, including Catholic music.

 

[happymommy]

I love these good ol’ hymns too

Just a Closer Walk With Thee
At Calvary
The Old Rugged Cross
I Come to the Garden Alone
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name

I never heard a hymn I didn’t like, including Catholic music.

All of those! I love I Come to the Garden Alone! One of my favorites

 

[tafan]

Many of the old time gospel songs have a theologically problematic verse or two, it seems. But often not as problematic as some of the common modern “catholic” hymns we hear in mass at many parishes.

And put me on record as saying “The Old Rugged Cross” is one of the most beautiful songs ever; that is an objective fact as far as I am concerned, not even open for discussion.