I respect your personal preference, but I beg you to recognize that it is YOUR personal preference. There are certainly children and teens who share your preferences, but there are just as many children and teens who love a more modern Mass.
Also, you are mistaken if you believe that solemnity and reverence means “silence” or “candles” or “organs.” Loud glorious music of any style can be and often is both solemn and reverent. And instruments other than the organ can be and often are used to play solemn and reverent music.
This is an incredible statement. Think carefully, with discernment, about what you have just written! It’s…well, it’s breathtaking in its audacity.
All music and instruments were “modern” when they first came out!
Are you honestly saying that ALL of the beautiful modern music and other modern innovations (e.g., microphones, use of the vernacular, songs with meter and rhythm, etc.) are irreverent and unholy?!! ALL of it?!
And I don’t understand your insistence that “stillness” is necessary for reverence and holiness! Do you not accept the Psalms, which often speak of praising the Lord with a LOUD voice and many instruments? And think about the mother rushing here and there about the house taking care of her children–is she irreverent and unholy?
This is your personal opinion. Many parents will attest to you that their children are not the least bit interested in or drawn to “tradition” the way you mean tradition–silence, candles, organ music.
And even though it is popular here on CAF to assume that all teenagers are repelled by “modernity” and attracted to “tradition,” this is simply not true in real life. These people are basing their opinion on their own experience instead of looking at the big picture. Reality is that many many teenagers shun any hint of antiquity, and are drawn to the modern in music, architecture, and teaching.
Not true. A parent who plays Peek-A-Boo with a baby is not assuming that he or she will always be a baby. The parent is using age-appropriate methods of interacting with a baby.
When it comes to children, we have to work with them where they are right now, not where they will be in the future. It would be ridiculous to hand a first-grader a book of Shakespeare and say, “Read this instead of that primary pap!”
Same for teenagers. Yes, they will be adults some day, but they are not adults right now, they are teenagers, and it is correct to respect them where they are right now and utilize teaching methods that are appropriate for teenagers.
Some teenagers are more mature, but many aren’t. A truly “mature” teenager will recognize that many of his/her peers are not mature yet, and NOT LOOK DOWN ON THEM or demean them for their lack of maturity.
This is your personal opinion. When we used to do Life Teen Mass, many adults attended, not just because it was the “Last Chance Mass” (Sunday evening), but because they honestly found the music uplifting. I know I do.
Teens will respect those who honestly love them.
Teens are drawn to those places where they are LOVED. If a “traditional” parish demonstrates practical love for teenagers, they’ll be drawn to it. Same for a “modern” parish. The “trappings” aren’t so important to a teen as the people who present the “trappings.”
Again, this is your personal opinion, not fact. Life Teen Masses can be just as reverent as “traditional” Masses, and modern music can be (and often is) as reverent as the most ancient music.
