Fuming about ....

[blessedtoo]

From my post to the OP, you know I agree with the substance of what you’re saying, but you are not saying to just shut up and take it, no matter what, right? I agree with learning to accept those things we cannot change, but I hope you’re not arguing a total abdication of responsibility or a total roll-over when it comes to being as forthright with your own needs as you are willing to listen to the needs of others.

I don’t mean to get into a parochial fight over music, but there is nothing wrong with speaking up instead of carrying around a lot of resentment over an issue we haven’t been willing to speak up about. Nobody has to get crucified over rubrics, let alone likes and dislikes, but surely we can learn to communicate like civilized people. Even the pagans can manage that!

There are times when we do have to accept bad circumstances, there are places where there is nothing to be done for a certain amount of time but continue to patiently endure bad liturgy, but we owe it to everyone involved to repectfully speak up when things are not right. You never know what good things might happen.

And: let those of us who enjoy good music and good homilies week after week pause for a moment to give thanks. Surely we are greatly blessed!!

I am saying that if we choose to attend a Parish whose music offends us so dramatically that we can’t concentrate on the Mass nor can we overcome the distraction with prayer, then it’s time to move to another Parish.

Sure, we could complain. I’ve done it. I am on a first name basis with our Archbishop. The Church I’ve been attending for the last month not only uses the loathsome Praise and Worship Hymnal, but also changes the words of the Lamb of God to fit the time signatures and meter of the folksy melody to which it is sung. They also clap during the Gloria. “Discussion” on the issue of liturgical music is a dead end, IMO. Confronting pastors will do nothing but make the complainer feel righteous - I have yet to see one thing change in my diocese as a result of “discussions” about music. So, for me, it’s about finding the Parish that best suits my needs rather than trying to shape a parish to fit my preferences.

 

[coleraine]

The ‘Peter, Paul, and Mary-hippie fest music’ at my parish.

I have tried to ignore it. I cannot help it though. I wind up leaving mass absolutely fuming over the style of music played during mass. I miss the beautiful choral stylings I used to hear. Now, they are not only using guitar (too crude and common an instrument IMO for sacred music), but have added a shaker and a tambourine! Mass used to actually ‘feel’ sacred to me. When I went, I felt that I was part of a holy endeavor. Now, I feel dirty when I leave because I am angry that this horrible music is played.

To make matters worse, My husband attended his second mass with me this past Sunday. The week before we went to the evening mass and he hated the music and laid-back atmosphere. So, he decided we would go to the 8 a.m. service. The music was the same. My husband is more angry over it than I am.

“I thought Catholics held very reverent services”, he said.
“I expect THAT at a protestant church, not the Catholic church.”

To make matters worse, we had visiting priests that talked about their mission churches in India and Africa instead of the homily. My poor husband was in a fit all week because he didn’t get his homily (he is not Catholic and I am praying for a conversion).

He wants me to complain. But, I do not want to be one of THOSE people at the church. But if I do not, I am afraid we’ll lose any chance of my husband ever setting foot in a church again. Any suggestions as to how to deal with this?

This happened to me at my parish. so, i found the diocese website for my area, and voiced my concerns. The next week i went to mass and it was perfect.

 

[EasterJoy]

I am saying that if we choose to attend a Parish whose music offends us so dramatically that we can’t concentrate on the Mass nor can we overcome the distraction with prayer, then it’s time to move to another Parish.

Sure, we could complain. I’ve done it. I am on a first name basis with our Archbishop. The Church I’ve been attending for the last month not only uses the loathsome Praise and Worship Hymnal, but also changes the words of the Lamb of God to fit the time signatures and meter of the folksy melody to which it is sung. They also clap during the Gloria. “Discussion” on the issue of liturgical music is a dead end, IMO. Confronting pastors will do nothing but make the complainer feel righteous - I have yet to see one thing change in my diocese as a result of “discussions” about music. So, for me, it’s about finding the Parish that best suits my needs rather than trying to shape a parish to fit my preferences.

That does happen, and certainly I would be ready for it. At some parishes, though, a compromise is struck or the parishioners as a whole express enough distaste that changes that weren’t vetted don’t endure.

 

[de_profundis]

If there is the need to ‘modernise’ the music for the sake of a ‘youth’ mass or the like, it can at least be done in good taste. I consider myself a ‘youth’, but if I wanted to hear disposable top40 soft rock, I’d turn on the radio. Simplicity and beauty in music is timeless - there is no place for the latest radio fads to be performed during mass.

 

[Chuy]

The ‘Peter, Paul, and Mary-hippie fest music’ at my parish.

I have tried to ignore it. I cannot help it though. I wind up leaving mass absolutely fuming over the style of music played during mass. I miss the beautiful choral stylings I used to hear. Now, they are not only using guitar (too crude and common an instrument IMO for sacred music), but have added a shaker and a tambourine! Mass used to actually ‘feel’ sacred to me. When I went, I felt that I was part of a holy endeavor. Now, I feel dirty when I leave because I am angry that this horrible music is played.

Andres Segovia and others proved you wrong many years ago. You might indeed have some valid points but your credibility gets completely eliminated with one erroneous comment like that. Please beware.

What I am absolutely certain of is if you are that angry and it there is little hope of change, you need to find a parish where you will be propely nourished…

 

[juliasmith]

Andres Segovia and others proved you wrong many years ago. You might indeed have some valid points but your credibility gets completely eliminated with one erroneous comment like that. Please beware.

What I am absolutely certain of is if you are that angry and it there is little hope of change, you need to find a parish where you will be propely nourished…

How do you prove an opinion, a subjective thing, wrong? Feh.

Well, it sounds nice to just pick up and move around on a whim, but not practical. Running away is not an option. And before I converted I thought it was one, Holy, apostolic church where I could go anywhere in the world, and barring cultural differences, could worship the same way and know what is going on and be able to participate. I am beginning to see that it is just not true.

What truly amazes me is that I came here looking for some (name removed by moderator)ut on how to deal with the anger issue and it became a ‘guitar’ issue. Weird.
So, after having observed how this played out, I’ve decided to make an effort at asking for more traditional music. I have also decided to pray that Our Pope will put an end to ‘pop-culture’ church.

I don’t care whether you like the guitar or not. That was not the main point of my problem. My anger and how to deal with it was the main point. Because I do not plan to run. God has us where we are for the moment. And worshiping God is not like picking out a restaurant (except that most in our culture seem to believe that it is). As I understood it, you have a church that serves the needs of a certain area. Within the boundaries of that area, you attend the church that serves that area. That happens all over the world.But now there is a lot of confusion and it seems that secular society, not holy society is running things. That, my friends, is a sad state of affairs.

To those who ‘helped’, thanks. It made a huge difference. Ask politely and pray. Right? Did I miss anything else?

To those who do not have to suffer these pop-culture inventions in the mass, thank God tonight that you do not. You are blessed and I am just a little jealous.