Hand Holding and Guitars at Mass?

[rlg94086]

katherine2:

Along with some of the dialogue about the Jews on the other thread, you are happliy confirming my views of conservatives. Scratch a conservative and you find a…

…fellow child of God. I’m hoping that’s what you meant.

God Bless,

Robert.

 

[brotherhrolf]

Unfortunately, I have had to endure far too many Masses in which more attention was given to the musicians than unto Our Lord. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck it must be…If we are a’strummin and a’swayin and a’carryin on like this is Tipitina’s in New Orleans…

 

[genevieve]

I understand that traditional music and great works by great composers give people a sense of sacred, but I’m not sure whether all, in particular, younger members of the congregation feel the same way. I love Handel’s Messiah, but I also feel a strong sense of being close to God when singing ‘Eagle’s Wings’ and others because these are the hymns I grew up with. Our parish in a small town does not have the resources to have an orchestra play at every mass, sometimes there are no musicians at all. (We do have a wonderful Italian choir, but they cannot sing at each and every mass) While a mass with orchestral and full choral music would definitely be awe-inspiring, not being available here due to lack of resources, I feel like our attempts to praise God in song with our humble voices and instruments is better than nothing.As for holding hands, I have not experienced anything like that here in Australia.

 

[genevieve]

I understand that traditional music and great works by great composers give people a sense of sacred, but I’m not sure whether all, in particular, younger members of the congregation feel the same way. I love Handel’s Messiah, but I also feel a strong sense of being close to God when singing ‘Eagle’s Wings’ and others because these are the hymns I grew up with. Our parish in a small town does not have the resources to have an orchestra play at every mass, sometimes there are no musicians at all. (We do have a wonderful Italian choir, but they cannot sing at each and every mass) While a mass with orchestral and full choral music would definitely be awe-inspiring, not being available here due to lack of resources, I feel like our attempts to praise God in song with our humble voices and instruments is better than nothing.As for holding hands during the Our Father, I have not experienced anything like that here in Australia.

 

[brotherhrolf]

Genevieve: I certainly understand what you are saying about limited resources and using what you have to praise God. Having never been to Australia, I can’t comment. But here in the US reverence walks out the door when the keyboards, drum sets and electric guitars are set up. It’s one thing for a congregation to sing “On Eagles Wings”, Be not Afraid, etc. but it’s quite another thing to see young people carrying on like it is a rock concert on the altar. Our diocese has youth rallies every year. I agree it is important to attract our young but do we have to be soooooooo secular?

 

[Prometheum_x]

brotherhrolf:

Genevieve: I certainly understand what you are saying about limited resources and using what you have to praise God. Having never been to Australia, I can’t comment. But here in the US reverence walks out the door when the keyboards, drum sets and electric guitars are set up. It’s one thing for a congregation to sing “On Eagles Wings”, Be not Afraid, etc. but it’s quite another thing to see young people carrying on like it is a rock concert on the altar. Our diocese has youth rallies every year. I agree it is important to attract our young but do we have to be soooooooo secular?

Music is a language of sorts. As such it is important that we use music that can be understood by the congregation. But it is also very important to use music that draws us from our places in this world towards heaven, for in the Mass we are participating in quite heavenly realities.

By way of analogy: A homilist must speak words which lead the congregation into a deeper realization of the truth, so he must not give a homily that resembles a Twinkie, being pleasing to the ear but containing no substance. However, neither should he speak using a foreign language or a diction unfamiliar to his hearers. Then he will simply be pleasing himself and offering nothing to his hearers.

So it is with music. Liturgical music should be that which can help to lead us from the secular into the sacred but it cannot succeed in that task unless it is done in a manner that can be comprehended and appreciated by those who participate in it.

So, in answer to your question: No, we do not have to be so secular in order to attract our young. But the music of our past is not the sole alternative.

 

[Soul_Amp]

Guitars at Mass…good pick for a first post!

Hi, All!

I’m on the fence about guitars and bands at Mass.

On one extreme, you have classical, masterful, sacred music. It is so inspiring to hear the voices of a well directed choir. I find it so warming and condusive to prayer. To me, it just feels holy.

At the other end, there are the pop-rocky LifeTeen style Masses. The music to me seems distracting, like it’s being played just to rock out - but then those 20 kids turn and kneel on the floor for the entire Liturgy of the Eucharist! It’s not just a show to them. The music focuses them on Christ. That alone inspires me to a deeper level of prayer.

In the middle, are all the songs I grew up with - the standards. Usually accompanied by an old pipe organ and Mr Beenaroundforyears. These are very mild, but can still be hit or miss when it comes to helping me pray. However, these are usually songs the whole congregation can sing without a book. The whole place singing to Christ…that’s just blessed.

I think it’s not just a question of taste - if that were so, I would be at LifeTeen Masses all the time because I am a Catholic Contemporary songwriter (non-liturgical). I think it’s more a question of what helps you better contemplate the Eucharist.

That’s why I’m on the fence. I get a better view of Christ from up here.