Is a no-music Mass on Sunday justifiable?

[VociMike]

Given the statement of the Church that music is pars integrans (an integral part) of the liturgy, is a Sunday Mass without music justifiable? If so, under what conditions is it justifiable?

 

[rwoehmke]

Justifiable? Don’t know. Precedent for? Yes. Before the NO or OF we had low Mass with no music. Lots of times even on Sunday. After the change over from the EF to the OF many parishes had at least one Sunday Mass without music. Usually the early Mass on Sunday morning which was attended by the older folks who did not like music with their liturgical celebration. In my parish there are stirrings of music even at that Mass now, but it has taken nearly 40 years.

 

[KingAlfred]

Given the statement of the Church that music is pars integrans (an integral part) of the liturgy, is a Sunday Mass without music justifiable? If so, under what conditions is it justifiable?

I think there should be some singing, but not too much, and definitely not ‘undignified’ singing. Electric guitars, drums, tamborines, trumpets, out-of-tune pianos and screeching vocalists should be ‘uninvited’. It’s nerve-wracking and distracting. I can’t commune with God with such racket blasting in my ears. Whatever happened to the idea of solemnity?

 

[markadm]

As said, there were and are often “Low Masses”. I know of one Church where it just depends, whether its Low Mass or Missa Cantata.

KingAlfred: I agree about rock music and the self-appointed vocalists, though I am unsure music is always necessary. Though I prefer chant, I am equally comfortable with silence and a said Low Mass.

 

[ethelzguy]

For several years, a nearby parish held a “quiet Mass” at 8:00 am on the last Sunday of each month. They returned to “normal” music about 2 years ago.

 

[KingAlfred]

As said, there were and are often “Low Masses”. I know of one Church where it just depends, whether its Low Mass or Missa Cantata.

KingAlfred: I agree about rock music and the self-appointed vocalists, though I am unsure music is always necessary. Though I prefer chant, I am equally comfortable with silence and a said Low Mass.

Same here. I actually prefer no music, but I usually get ‘booed’ into submission whenever I say that. I haven’t attended a Mass without music in decades. Where do they exist? The Masses that get really strange are those in which the priest sings to the congregation. I just don’t like music *badly done. *

 

[KingAlfred]

As said, there were and are often “Low Masses”. I know of one Church where it just depends, whether its Low Mass or Missa Cantata.

KingAlfred: I agree about rock music and the self-appointed vocalists, though I am unsure music is always necessary. Though I prefer chant, I am equally comfortable with silence and a said Low Mass.

There’s a church nearby with the worst music you’ve ever heard, and the craziest Irish priest you’ve ever seen, heard about or known. This guy is in a league all his own. The music is the most horrendous noise I’ve ever heard. God bless them all.

 

[japhy]

If the faithful were taught some of the simple chants of the Mass (even in the vernacular!) then perhaps a Mass with no accompaniment but a capella singing would be feasible. Either that, or find some easy to sing and well-known hymns.

I think singing without accompaniment is beautiful, and while it might take some getting used to, I think it has great benefits.

I’d like it more than organ music. And THAT’S saying something!

 

[Tommy_Joe]

Our traditional parish has eight Masses a week.
The early Mass on Sunday is “Sung”,…the remaining seven are “Low” Masses with no singing or music.

I’m pretty sure they’re all “justifiable”.

 

[mattkubes]

My parish stops all music for the summer to give the choirs a break - I think one of the four Sunday Masses has an organ accompaniment, but that’s it.

Last weekend was the of the summer where there was no music, not even a capella. I thought it would be more common (apparently I was wrong), but I kinda like the break too.

 

[rotlex]

I certainly hope it is justifiable. My parish first mass on Sunday is at 7:30am. There is no music whatsoever. This is normally the mass my family and I attend. To be honest, I find it more enjoyable without the music, although I do like attending when they have the childrens choir performing the hymns.

 

[IrishAm]

I certainly hope it is justifiable. My parish first mass on Sunday is at 7:30am. There is no music whatsoever. This is normally the mass my family and I attend. To be honest, I find it more enjoyable without the music, although I do like attending when they have the childrens choir performing the hymns.

For, me, it is 7:00 a.m. Same thing. The “entrance song” and “communion song” from the Missal are simply read by all present.

 

[KingAlfred]

My parish stops all music for the summer to give the choirs a break - I think one of the four Sunday Masses has an organ accompaniment, but that’s it.

Last weekend was the of the summer where there was no music, not even a capella. I thought it would be more common (apparently I was wrong), but I kinda like the break too.

I attend a nice church. My only concern is that fake fiefdoms have come into existence within the laity attending Mass, as everybody who helps out considers what he does to be a ‘ministry’. So…we have a ‘music ministry’, an ‘ushers’ ministry’, a ‘deaconate ministry’, a ‘lectors’ ministry’, etc., etc. Sometimes I get the feeling they’re competing against each other, which is a distraction. For example, the band keeps growing, adding new instruments to the ensemble every Sunday. It plays music constantly, from start to finish, squeezing in as many songs as possible. Its members whisper to each other during Mass, and move around a lot, fiddling with their instruments and chattering over song selections. It’s distracting. Maybe the band needs to go all-out and cut an album, just to satisfy its unbridled enthusiasm.

 

[dang71]

Same here. I actually prefer no music, but I usually get ‘booed’ into submission whenever I say that. I haven’t attended a Mass without music in decades. Where do they exist? The Masses that get really strange are those in which the priest sings to the congregation. I just don’t like music *badly done. *

i believe all the weekday masses at my parish are done without music, and only the sunday masses have it.

as far as the priest singing, i think if he is singing the mass it is ok (i have seen this many times in both EF and OF), but if he is singing (by himself) the songs normally sung by the congregation, i have never seen this.

 

[KingAlfred]

i believe all the weekday masses at my parish are done without music, and only the sunday masses have it.

as far as the priest singing, i think if he is singing the mass it is ok (i have seen this many times in both EF and OF), but if he is singing (by himself) the songs normally sung by the congregation, i have never seen this.

There’s one priest I know who sings one particular song at the end of the Mass to the congregation. He has a nice voice, and loves doing it. I’m okay with it, but still consider it a bit strange. Maybe it’s my military background. In the military, any sort of *strange behavior *is pounced upon and eliminated, immediately.
‘Weirdness’ is not tolerated.

 

[rwoehmke]

As said, there were and are often “Low Masses”. I know of one Church where it just depends, whether its Low Mass or Missa Cantata.

I assume the low Masses are in Latin as there is no such thing as a NO or OF low Mass.

 

[dang71]

I assume the low Masses are in Latin as there is no such thing as a NO or OF low Mass.

St Agnes Church in St Paul, MN has a 10am (i think) mass that is NO, is sung almost entirely in latin, and is quite beautiful because they have the Twin Cities Catholic Chorale performing the music. it was described to me as a “high mass”, but i am not sure if this was an official designation or just what someone described it as.

 

[VociMike]

OK, since this is an EF-friendly forum I’ll ask specifically about the EF. If your church only offers one EF on Sunday, is it justifiable for that one EF to be without sacred music?

I understand that not every Mass on Sunday needs to have sacred music, but what about the “only” Mass (at least, the only EF Mass) not having sacred music?

 

[LRThunder]

OK, since this is an EF-friendly forum I’ll ask specifically about the EF. If your church only offers one EF on Sunday, is it justifiable for that one EF to be without sacred music?

I understand that not every Mass on Sunday needs to have sacred music, but what about the “only” Mass (at least, the only EF Mass) not having sacred music?

The Low Mass (which is EF) would not have any music, so that would be justifiable.

 

[VociMike]

The Low Mass (which is EF) would not have any music, so that would be justifiable.

Well, given that music is pars integrans of the liturgy, is it justifiable that the only EF on Sunday be a Low Mass?