Cohen's re-written "Hallelujah" at Mass?

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Our parish choir sang this song during a concert. They got such positive feedback that they now sing it at Sunday Novus Ordo Mass, including at this year’s Easter Mass during Communion. Is this an approved song to be sung at Mass? Whenever I’ve requested songs, I’m asked, “Is it in the hymnal?” I know it is a newish “christian” re-writing of the song but whenever I hear it, I hear the original version sung by Jeff Buckley in my head. Very distracting and doesn’t exactly put me in the mind of thinking about Jesus at a time that I should. I’m I being too scrupulous? Or is this a case of liturgical abuse?
 
There are several “Christianized” lyrics for this song—which was it?
 
Does it matter? Is a song not “in the hymnal” acceptable? Can we sing DC Talk’s “Jesus Freak” at Mass? It has christian lyrics. I play it in the car but I wouldn’t want to sing it at Mass. There may be many fine versions of “Hallelujah” floating around but is it permitted to sing them at Mass? If a person hears one of these versions at Mass but only thinks of “Shrek” it may be failing to do what it is suppose to do, help a person worship God. There may be nothing wrong with the song but I wonder about the setting.

What is the official USCCB process for deciding what is or is not acceptable for songs at Mass?
 
Ultimately the pastor is the chief liturgist of the parish and the bishop the chief liturgist of the diocese. If there’s something you don’t like you can appeal to them. Beyond that, the opinions of the people in the pews are simply that…opinions.
 
I’m not a Catholic (yet!), but this is pretty lousy. Buckley thought the song was about masturbation!

And Cohen, at best, was a non-religious Jew who was merely open to learning about Jesus (and everything else).
 
Please do not use the term Novos Ordo Mass. There is no such thing.
Speak to your pastor about complaints in Liturgy. Your responses here will run about 50-50.

How was Mass otherwise?
Happy Easter!
 
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Actually there is. Novus Ordo is legit terminology. Without realizing that I may be stepping on toes, I used it to indicate that it was not the Extraordinary Form but if it was the EF, I suppose I wouldn’t be having this question.

A question I am going to go back to: I don’t care whether it is a ‘good’ song or ‘bad’ song, what are the rubrics for a pastor to decide whether a song, quote, NOT IN THE HYMNAL (i.e. it has been approved by church leadership), is acceptable to be sung at Mass? If I do say something to the leadership, I want to know whether I am faithful to church teaching/law/guidelines or if I’m just being scrupulous. Nothing more, nothing less.

Easter was groovy, thanks for asking! 🙂
 
Actually Novus Ordo referred to one of the first editions after Vatican II. We’re past that and what we have now has been designated “Ordinary Form” by a Pope and the 1962 Missal is referred to as “Extraordinary Form”. OF & EF.

As for the choice of hymns, this is what the GIRM says referring to the Entrance Chant/Song/Hymn (the same options apply to the Offertory Chant and the Communion Chant):
  1. The singing at this time is done either alternately by the choir and the people or in a similar way by the cantor and the people, or entirely by the people, or by the choir alone. In the dioceses of the United States of America there are four options for the Entrance Chant: (1) the antiphon from The Roman Missal or the Psalm from the Roman Gradual as set to music there or in another musical setting; (2) the seasonal antiphon and Psalm of the Simple Gradual; (3) a song from another collection of psalms and antiphons, approved by the Conference of Bishops or the diocesan Bishop, including psalms arranged in responsorial or metrical forms; (4) a suitable liturgical song similarly approved by the Conference of Bishops or the diocesan Bishop.
Click to expand...
 
No no no no no no no no no

I am a fan of Cohen, the man himself would have told you that his music is not written for liturgy.
 
If it’s been adapted for Liturgical use and the Diocesan Bishop is okay with it, then I’d be okay with it.

Do you know if the Bishop approves of its usage?
 
I’ve encountered pastors who did not know this song aside from the augmented lyrics. When they read what the actual lyrics to this song (including both the popular and the extra dozen or so verses) they are appalled that someone would hear this song and thing “Church!!”.
 
Okay nevermind, I just listened to the song on youtube.

Totally, utterly, completely inappropriate for Liturgical use. 100% definite inappropriate, quite possibly a liturgical abuse.
 
I just think of angsty Shrek. I guess the lyrics would make a difference.
 
I’m very tired of hearing this song, which seems to have taken on all kinds of weird dimensions since Cohen died and SNL used it.

I don’t see anything inherently wrong with using whatever version the pastor approved, but for my personal taste, I’d rather not have to listen to it at Mass. The song for me has been associated with a lot of aging hippie/ emo types and their life and relationship angst, not with anything holy.
 
It has been used at our Mass quite often.
The music, not so much the words.
 
Maybe your priest isn’t aware of its secular origins. You could let him know.

It is akin to changing the lyrics of “Blue Suede Shoes” to let’s say “Brown Leather Sandals” and trying to make the song about Jesus. The people who first heard the Elvis version would still hear the original lyrics and think of the original associations even though the song was played with “Christian” lyrics. And that wouldn’t be their fault or make them scrupulous. It’s impossible to forget the way you first learned something.
 
I wonder what the people thought who heard What Child is This for the first time?
 
Honestly, with all the good music out there to choose from, is it really necessary to rewrite somebody’s favorite pop songs into Mass songs?

If you can’t just use the song “as is” for a reflection or something - and Cohen’s “Hallelujah” is definitely inappropriate for church with its original lyrics, which are pretty obviously about a romantic, sexual love affair breaking up - then don’t use it.

In high school I remember we used things like "“Happy Christmas (War is Over)” and Kansas’ “Dust in the Wind” for post-Communion reflections and prayer services, but we didn’t need to rewrite the lyrics to use them. Rewriting lyrics is pretty insulting to the original composer anyway. If Cohen had wanted to write a church-appropriate song, he’d have written one.
 
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