For Traditionalists that are opposed to Protestant Music

[Linnyo]

Hey - it takes more than just luck. God’s grace has a lot to do with it. I used to be a protestant. I only got past the ‘closed door’ thing because a Catholic friend invited me. She invited lots of us. We were all protestant Christians. We thought we had God’s fullness. I realised that the fullness was in the Catholic Church only after I visited. Prior to my visit, I thought Catholics were a strange breed of people that didn’t like non-catholics. I thought that because they kept themselves separate in nearly every area of their life. Separate schools, own Brownie packs, football clubs, etc, etc. Even the Catholic kids where I lived refused to play with those who weren’t Catholic. That’s just the way it was then and I just accepted that. As a Catholic parent, I don’t think that is acceptable. I teach my kids that everyone is important to God and nobody is to be left out. They can invite their friends to Church if they wish - they are more than welcome. I teach them that they are to love everybody and treat others the way they wish to be treated. They can sing and praise God with whoever wishes to do so. My girls have taught their freinds lots of hymns and songs and they have learned somegreat praise songs. It is lovely to see children so keen to love and praise God.

 

[HelenMary]

Groan…
The catholic mass only brings graces to those who are catholic! Nobody else is allowed to participate. The whole point of ecumenical worship is to be able to worship together with those who are not necessarily catholic but, nevertheless, love God. No wonder many non-Catholics think that the Catholic Church is 'closed ’ to outsiders! If all of us Catholics refused to ‘eat with the tax-collectors’, then there would probably be very few converts! Thankfully, Jesus doesn’t have a superiority complex. (even though He has every right to)

I respectfully disagree that the Holy Mass only brings graces to Catholics. I have heard of several conversions, including Dr Scott Hahn, because of attendance at Mass. Also, I have never been to a Catholic Church that excluded any member of another faith from participating in the liturgy EXCEPT IN THE RECEPTION OF HOLY COMMUNION.

As for the music, he wrote some lovely hymns. We needn’t criticize Holy Mother Church for extending the olive branch of an ecumenical service to our wayward brethren once in a while. Our Lord sees these efforts and He will use them to bring them home to the fold.

 

[HelenMary]

Hey - it takes more than just luck. God’s grace has a lot to do with it. I used to be a protestant. I only got past the ‘closed door’ thing because a Catholic friend invited me. She invited lots of us. We were all protestant Christians. We thought we had God’s fullness. I realised that the fullness was in the Catholic Church only after I visited. Prior to my visit, I thought Catholics were a strange breed of people that didn’t like non-catholics. I thought that because they kept themselves separate in nearly every area of their life. Separate schools, own Brownie packs, football clubs, etc, etc. Even the Catholic kids where I lived refused to play with those who weren’t Catholic. That’s just the way it was then and I just accepted that. As a Catholic parent, I don’t think that is acceptable. I teach my kids that everyone is important to God and nobody is to be left out. They can invite their friends to Church if they wish - they are more than welcome. I teach them that they are to love everybody and treat others the way they wish to be treated. They can sing and praise God with whoever wishes to do so. My girls have taught their freinds lots of hymns and songs and they have learned somegreat praise songs. It is lovely to see children so keen to love and praise God.

You set a good example of Faith in action. :clapping:

 

[brotherhrolf]

My cathedral parish choir routinely sings hymns, motets, and anthems which were composed by protestant authors. Sad to say that they are more “Catholic” than a whole lot of the stuff we have had to sing for diocesan events from GIA or OCP.

We sing a whole lot of late 19th , early 20th century compositions from Anglican composers. They are so catholic it’s not even funny as compared to OCP, Haugen, Haas, etc. What a bitter pill to swallow that the 1940 Episcopalian hymnal is more Catholic than Glory and Praise, Gather, etc.

 

[vocatio]

But better beware of allowing those little one’s attending Protestant bible classes. Send em to CCD or a good Catholic bible class, it that exists. I teach my own children and explain the Church teaching part without all the onlys…grace only, faith only, bible only… I know that by my own example, we used every oportunity to proselytize …expecially…little ones to “plant the seed”. How ashamed I am for those days…I do regular penance in hopes that the Catholic ones will not be affected as I was in my youth. I was proselytized by the same ecclesial community that I converted to having been “re-proselytized” out of my Catholic faith during turbulent times and serious soul searching that caused me to stumble. God showed mercy on me. But keep you babies away from those Protestant bible classes for their sake.

 

[SemperFidelis]

Oh, but what do you suggest we do? Actually debate with Protestants, use rational argument to bring them over? Draw the line at our cathedrals, refuse to let those hostile to the Church sing their songs and spout their ideas? That would be so insensitive to their feelings.

Well, the Church did have more converts when it didn’t practice the religious indifferent ecumenism you see today. Not to mention you didn’t have as many people leaving the Faith, which today is a direct effect of the very indifference espoused by those very “ideals” of false ecumenism. Maybe let the Faith speak for itself. I’m all for evangelization, but what fruit has this “I’m okay, you’re okay” ecumenism done for the salvation of souls?

 

[pnewton]

Well, the Church did have more converts when it didn’t practice the religious indifferent ecumenism you see today.

Ecumenism and indifferentism are not the same thing. I have never seen a real example of indifferent ecumenism, although perhaps others here have. What I was curious about is the number of converts. Where Catholic Churches of the past largely Protestant converts? I ask because my parish is majority converts and can not imagine your statement to be factual.

 

[SemperFidelis]

Ecumenism and indifferentism are not the same thing.

Yes, but the way in which ecumenism is largely practiced today, there is a definite blurring of the lines. False ecumenism is most definitely indifferentism. True ecumenism is of course not.

I have never seen a real example of indifferent ecumenism, although perhaps others here have.

Search on your favorite search engine for the USCCB document “Reflections on Covenant and Mission.”

What I was curious about is the number of converts. Where Catholic Churches of the past largely Protestant converts? I ask because my parish is majority converts and can not imagine your statement to be factual.

I don’t have a hard time believing this in a day and age when the president of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity Walter Cardinal Kasper refuses to allow the Traditional Anglican Communion full union with Rome because “We are on good terms with the Archbishop of Canterbury and as much as we can we are helping him to keep the Anglican community together." Never mind that they don’t even pay attention to the Archbishop of Canterbury. I found the convert number comparisons in an article, as soon as I can find them, I’ll post them.