"Creative" Memorial Acclamations?

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In some recent travels I have come across several parishes that have substituted a verse from Marty Haugen’s song “We Remember” for the Memorial Acclamation (Christ has died, Christ has risen, etc.) during the Eucharistic Prayer. Notwithstanding my less than charitable feelings about Mr. Haugen’s music in general :banghead: , nor my thoughts about inserting the song lyrics of a Lutheran into a pretty significant place in the liturgy :bigyikes: , I was wondering whether this practice is considered a liturgical abuse.

I always thought the “mystery of faith” was watered down pretty significantly in the *novus ordo * when compared with the old missal and this practice seems to make a bad situation even worse - let alone the disconnect that comes from singing in the middle of the Eucharistic Prayer :ehh: .

I really don’t want to get into a “I’m more Catholic than you” debate, but this sort of thing really irks me. Is my irk-edness misguided? Maybe I should just lighten up… :hmmm:
 
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OhioBob:
In some recent travels I have come across several parishes that have substituted a verse from Marty Haugen’s song “We Remember” for the Memorial Acclamation (Christ has died, Christ has risen, etc.) during the Eucharistic Prayer…

I really don’t want to get into a “I’m more Catholic than you” debate, but this sort of thing really irks me. Is my irk-edness misguided? Maybe I should just lighten up… :hmmm:
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May I add my reassurance? In matters of religion, form matters for many reasons; indeed, the Church has long asserted that the form of prayer (lex orandi) is the form of belief (lex credendi). When fools tamper with the words of the central mystery of faith, they cannot help perverting its meaning. IMHO.
 
I am definitely with you on Marty Haugen, who appears to be a favorite of our liturgical director.

I don’t believe it’s permissable to change the words of the acclamation. Of course, it is not permissable to change the words of the Agnus Dei, either, but they do it all the time in our diocese.

God Bless,

GrannyC
 
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OhioBob:
…Notwithstanding my less than charitable feelings about Mr. Haugen’s music in general :banghead: , nor my thoughts about inserting the song lyrics of a Lutheran into a pretty significant place in the liturgy :bigyikes: , I was wondering whether this practice is considered a liturgical abuse.
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Marty Haugen is a composer of Catholic and Protestant liturgical music. His Catholic works reflect proper Catholic doctrine. He is a professional composer, i.e. he is paid to write music appropriate for the Catholic Mass. I really get irked when I hear people go on about him not being Catholic. It reminds me of the arguments that you have to be a veteran to have an opinion on war or peace.

Marty Haugen is on of my two favorite composers, the other is Paul Haas. Michael Joncas runs a close third.

giamusic.com/sacred_music/audio/CD326.ram

giamusic.com/sacred_music/audio/AllAreWelcome2.ram

Listen to the words…nothing Lutheran in these works.
 
Thank you for the heads up in this thread. I will start watching for this problem and making appropriate selections.

“Mass of Rememberence” (which uses “We Remember”) has as a first option for Memorial Acclamation “When we eat this Bread”, etc.

While I like some of Marty Haugen and Paul Haas, I also dislike a lot of their music. GIA is way over the top on using some composers. But I understand the financial reasons. If they use composers on staff it is easier on the royalty payments.
 
It’s David Haas.

But I still don’t like his music. 😉

Betsy
 
My problem with Mr. Haugen (and much of modern Catholic worship music, particularly the OCP/GIA offerings) is the squishy references to “sacrifice”, “supper”, “bread” and “wine” that, in my opinion, contributes to the watering down of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist (no pun intended).

There is a series of articles that addresses this at the Adoremus web site written by Lucy Carroll. (one is adoremus.org/1102MassMusic.html) and Dr. Carroll uses examples to make the point much better than I:

“A constant diet of these symbolic and reversal texts, without explanations, without mention of sacrifice, Body, Blood, Eucharist, can only erode the understanding and belief in Catholic doctrine…” “Only by purging our churches of questionable texts and by insisting on hymns that correctly state the nature of the Eucharist can we hope to restore belief in the Real Presence. Only by emphasizing the Sacrifice rather than the supper can we bring to this sacrament the reverence it deserves.” (“Singing for the Supper or Sacrifice”, Lucy Carroll, Adoremus Bulletin, 2002).

I don’t mean to disparage Lutherans, or Mr. Haugen for being Lutheran, I only mean to suggest that music used in the most solemn portions of Catholic worship should be appropriate theologically and should accurately reflect Catholic teaching.
 
No, the Haugen text should NOT be used at this point in the liturgy. The Sacramentary calls for one of four texts to be sung here:

A. Christ has died, etc.

B. Dying you destroyed our death, etc.

C. When we eat this bread etc.

D. Lord, by your cross and resurrection

As far as I know, no other texts may be used.

God Bless,
PrayingTwice
 
Wow, just realized this thread is a year old. I feel a little silly . . .
 
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