CONVERTS: Do you miss the old protestant hymns?

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iguana27 said:
“Just As I am, without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me. Just as I am without one plea, just as I am , I come, I come.”

I miss the songs that recognize our sinfulness before an almighty God. Most of the songs we sing at our Catholic parish sound more like “We are the body of Christ.” Rah rah aren’t we great!!! There’s a place for that, I suppose, but I really think it needs to be in the proper context.
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“Just as I Am!” Wow…we used to sing that for the altar call in the Baptist church and as a communion hymn in the Episcopal church. It was beautiful. You’re right about the current songs that seem to be basically cheerleading, more concerned with our self-esteem than our salvation.
 
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boppysbud:
I guess that I am the only one here who did not convert from Baptist or other Fundamentalist churches.

I was Episcopalian and we just didn’t use those type hymns at all. A lot of what we sang was old Catholic Hymns and chants translated into English.

I have to admit that I still prefer things like “For All the Saints”, “Hail Thee Festival Day”, and “All Glory Laud, and Honor” done with pipe organ, to a lot of the things done in “modern” Catholic churches like “On Eagle’s Wings” with a praise band, drums, guitars but never an organ.
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:crying: Me too! We need a musical revival in the Catholic Church, I miss the old stuff!
 
iguana27 said:
“Just As I am, without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me. Just as I am without one plea, just as I am , I come, I come.”

I miss the songs that recognize our sinfulness before an almighty God. Most of the songs we sing at our Catholic parish sound more like “We are the body of Christ.” Rah rah aren’t we great!!! There’s a place for that, I suppose, but I really think it needs to be in the proper context.
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Beautiful song! But, forget not an important lyric that would make it even more appropriate as a Communion hymn:

“Just as I am, without one plea
But that thy blood was shed for me
And that thou bidd’st me come to thee
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.”

Beautiful song. That’s one of the ones you’ll find yourself singing even years after you last heard it… I know it’s playing in my head now and it’s been at least 10 years.

-Michael
 
Sorry, I’m a Mormon convert.

One question, how can the Church which commissioned so many of the greatest hymns of all time, not print the bass line in its hymnals? The two things I miss are : 1) people willing to sing; and 2) being able to sing in parts.
 

Lift High the Cross (Modern revision)​

Refrain
Lift high your hands,
the love of Jesus proclaim
since all the world adores his really nice name.​

Come and follow where our best friend trod,
our pal the winner, Jesus (who’s a lot like God!)*

Refrain

Led on their way by Jesus’ friendly sign,
the friends of our Friend in joy and love combine.

Refrain

Each newborn baby of our best friend true
walks about acting nice to those he never knew.
  • Refrain *
  • If there are those present who may be offended at a reference to ‘God’, this verse may be omitted or ‘God’ may be replaced with another suitable word.
 
(A bit of background: I was raised Catholic, later started attending Protestant churches, and now I am coming back to the Catholic Church. So I have a reverse perspective on this question.)

At the Protestant church I have attended for the past couple of years, I actually found myself missing the old Catholic hymns. The church had a band, and the majority of the songs were modern Protestant Praise and Worship songs. Most of them were meant to be sung by a soloist (and that is how they are heard on the Christian radio stations). So there were all of these complex rhythms and jumping melodic intervals. It is ridiculous to expect a congregation to be able to follow these brand new, complex songs with ease. The congregation had a hard time following along. Even those of us with musical backgrounds had trouble. It really takes away from the worship when one is stumbling along, trying to figure out a new and complex song. I think simplicity and/or familiarity is the best way to go.

We would occasionally sing an old hymn. But the music director could barely let an old hymn be sung without messing with it. For example, we sang Holy, Holy, Holy (Lord God Almighty…). Instead of leaving it be and singing it the way it’s been sung all along, the music director interspersed a modern P&W song in between the stanzas. Very annoying! I would miss the old Protestant hymns I suppose - if we were ever allowed to sing them at that church.

When I went back to Mass this month, it was like a breath of fresh air to sing the old Catholic hymns! An organist playing! Straightforward rhythms and melodies! It was lovely.

Aunt Martha
 
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ruzz:
So why does the church prohibit them?

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The Church here in America generally doesn’t, which can be a mixed blessing. We can access some of the lovely old prot. hymns, but we also get a bunch of absolute dreck, esp. anything that comes out of Oregon Catholic Press.
 
JKirkLVNV said:
“Just as I Am!” Wow…we used to sing that for the altar call in the Baptist church and as a communion hymn in the Episcopal church. It was beautiful. You’re right about the current songs that seem to be basically cheerleading, more concerned with our self-esteem than our salvation.
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I wanted to use that as a communion hymn at our wedding Mass, but I was afraid to ask. I thought it was appropriate.

Another favorite of mine is the “Old Rugged Cross” It definitely venerates the cross.

“How I love that old cross, where the dearest and best, for a world of lost sinners was slain.”
 
From what I’ve seen, about 50% of the Lutheran hymns and the Catholic hymns are the same. Especially after we got our new hymnals. My favorite hymns though are “There is a Green Hill Far Away” (I’ve never seen that in a Catholic songbook, and please forgive my use of that, I can’t figure out how to spell the right word) “Lift High the Cross” (Haven’t seen that one either), and “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” (I haven’t seen that, nor do I think I ever will considering Martin Luther wrote it)
 
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Arwen037:
“Lift High the Cross” (Haven’t seen that one either), and “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” (I haven’t seen that, nor do I think I ever will considering Martin Luther wrote it)
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Both are found in Catholic hymnals – though it sizzles my grits (even as a Convert) that we can sing “A Mighty Fortress” in my parish but we are not permitted by our liturgical coordinator to sing a single syllable in Latin – like O Salutaris Hostia . . .
 
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mercygate:
Both are found in Catholic hymnals – though it sizzles my grits (even as a Convert) that we can sing “A Mighty Fortress” in my parish but we are not permitted by our liturgical coordinator to sing a single syllable in Latin – like O Salutaris Hostia . . .
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Mercy: You’re in New York. There are no grits in New York.:rotfl:
 
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puzzleannie:
Why we as a church are being punished by having to ban beautiful music and replace it with insipid music, poorly performed by largely untalented amateurs singing banal lyrics is a question for moral theologians. Undoubtedly it is part of the great chastisement that we should suffer this way.
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Hmmm… I’m wondering something, Annie. Did you tell your RCIA group that they were joining a Church that was so bad she had to be “punished” by some “great chastisement”? I can’t begin to tell you how much comments like this discourage and sadden a new Catholic like me who has fallen helplessly, hopelessly in love with the Church. Every day I get down on my knees and thank God with all my heart for leading me to the Catholic Church and it pains me to no end to read posts like this.

It has gotten to the point that reading these forums is actually harming my faith more than helping and I’m beginning to strongly believe that Jesus is leading me away from here. There is so much negativity and criticism that it becoming very hard to find the helpful posts scattered in the middle.

Speaking of “insipid music” with “banal lyrics”, I was listening to a Protestant “praise and worship” CD tonight before attending a Mass with novena and one of the songs made me think of this thread. As I listened to the song, my heart was drawn deeply to Jesus in worship and yes, He is what it is all about – not beautiful songs sung by talented musicians.

Heart of Worship

When the music fades and all is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring something that’s of worth
That will bless Your heart

I’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart

I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You
All about You, Jesus
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You
All about You, Jesus

King of endless worth, no one could express
How much You deserve
Though I’m weak and poor, all I have is Yours
Every single breath

I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You
All about You, Jesus
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You
All about You, Jesus
(Matt Redman)

In His love,
Rhonda
 
Catholic hymns I know and like are some of the latin ones about Mary and the “I watch the sunrise” one which we had at my mum’s funeral. Generally though, we listen to christian worship and praise cd’s at home/ in the car and although evangelical in nature cover how sinful WE are and how abundant in love and mercy Our Lord is. My favourite singer is probably Matt Redman who runs Soul Survivor for young people, Do Something Beautiful is such an inspiring song. His songs are always about the Glory we should give to God and how unworthy of His mercy we are and the message to do Something Beautiful in the name of Jesus is an important one often forgotten.

“Lord we lift your name on high” by Rick Founds is another one of my personal favourites and I tend to enjoy praise and worship music more than hymns. The Mass seems to be more about sacrifice than glory and praise which irritates me immensely. The general attitude I experience at Mass is that those who want to offer worship to their redeemer are frowned upon by those who constantly focus on the sacrifice of Jesus rather than the result as well. These are the ones who say children shouldn’t be allowed to enjoy the Mass because it is not there to be enjoyed.

Sorry to go off topic :o but I find it frustrating that people have a superior attitude right down to how they impose their views on others as to how anyone may offer praise and thanks to the Lord. I think the individual knows their own hearts and that the Mass IS to be enjoyed as the representation of the sacrifice that has redeemed the world. Our salvation depends on how we treat others…
 
Yes, I miss some of the songs - but by no means all of the ones I’ve sung in different churches. On the other hand I can sing such hymns and songs whenever I want.

On the third hand, wherever that is, we have “protestant” hymns in the hymnbook we use at Mass. We have Graham Kendrick (Ichthus churches), Martin Luther and even the odd puritan or too. Amazing Grace is in there too, one of the most popular “protestant” hymns.

We haven’t got Matt Redman in the book though or anyone else who might lead worship at a Soul Survivor festival (or even any Vineyard or Hillsongs!) Maybe some of those hymns and songs will be in the next edition hymn book. The song quoted was written when it was felt that some in his church were making guitars, drums and trendy music more important than worship. For a time they removed ALL instruments except the Sacred Harp (human voice) from the music in the church and the song was written as a result of this. Wonderful.

Here’s another one from Matt Redman that I’ve loved for years though haven’t always lived the words as my own reality.

I will offer up my life
In Spirit and truth,
Pouring out the oil of love
As my worship to You.
In surrender I must give my every part;
Lord, receive the sacrifice
Of a broken heart.

Jesus, what can I give, what can I bring
To so faithful a friend, to so loving a King?
Saviour, what can be said, what can be sung
As a praise of Your name
For the things You have done?
Oh, my words could not tell, not even in part,
Of the debt of love that is owed by this
Thankful heart.

You deserve my every breath
For You’ve paid the great cost;
Giving up Your life to death,
Even death on a cross.
You took all my shame away,
There defeated my sin,
Opened up the gates of heaven,
And have beckoned me in.
 
teresas1979 said:
“Lord we lift your name on high” by Rick Founds is another one of my personal favourites and I tend to enjoy praise and worship music more than hymns. …general attitude I experience at Mass is that those who want to offer worship to their redeemer are frowned upon by those who constantly focus on the sacrifice of Jesus rather than the result as well. These are the ones who say children shouldn’t be allowed to enjoy the Mass because it is not there to be enjoyed.
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I like that song! It is a little short and I can only stand any song repeated more than a couple of times, though.

You bring a valid point about Mass, not the sacrifice versus praise part, but the frowning upon by each other. There is a time for everything, even at Mass. A time for sorrow and a time for joy, a time for praise and a time for solemnity. Appropriately enough, there is music for all occasions.
 
Sorry about the bold typeface in those song lyrics

I grabbed them off the Soul Survivor songbook CDs in Acrobat format and have tried to get rid of the bold print but don’t seem able to do it. What looks fine on the screen before I submit the post changes totally after I submit it.

Oh well.
 
You bring a valid point about Mass, not the sacrifice versus praise part, but the frowning upon by each other. There is a time for everything, even at Mass. A time for sorrow and a time for joy, a time for praise and a time for solemnity. Appropriately enough, there is music for all occasions.
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I’m glad you are more eloquent than I for you explain what I meant better than I 😉 I wasn’t intending to infer that praise is in opposition to sacrifice, just that there are those who frown upon the offering of joyful praise alongside heartfelt sorrowful thanksgiving for Our Lord’s sacrifice and that they should not be exclusive but rather together in the Mass.

Without liking to sound legalistic, I like to see the Mass pre Consecration (don’t know the technical term sorry) as the time for offering glory and worship and praise, and the time throughout the Consecration and thereafter as solemn and sorrowful in respect of the sacrifice made for us. The exception for me being the very end of Mass where a wonderful rousing hymn I find ends Mass on a happy note. I leave in a very thankful and praise giving mindset which I find helps my day (I tend to be less sinful after Mass and find that this helps 😉 )
 
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TomK:
Sorry, I’m a Mormon convert.

One question, how can the Church which commissioned so many of the greatest hymns of all time, not print the bass line in its hymnals? The two things I miss are : 1) people willing to sing; and 2) being able to sing in parts.
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AMEN! I’m still attending a Protestant evangelical church, but have attended a number of Masses at our local (very orthodox) Catholic parish. This parish still employs an organist, and most of the hymns have been agreeable, but I wish they’d include SATB arrangements in the hymnals.

And, in comparison to the singing at my old Episcopal church, Catholics sing r e a l l y s l o w l y. I’m sure that’s not the case everywhere, just in the parishes I’ve visited.
 
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