Is Guitar mass okay

[Beryllos]

“Upon this Rock I will build my Church.”

 

[Dougbro1]

Well, is there something absurd implied about previous generations of Catholics rocking out at Mass?

I’m not one for “rocking out at Mass.” Rocking out is not the sole use of a guitar. Electric guitars, maybe, but not guitars as a whole.

 

[Dougbro1]

“Upon this Rock I will build my Church.”

Lol. Good one!

 

[Loud-living-dogma]

Loud-living-dogma:

Well, is there something absurd implied about previous generations of Catholics rocking out at Mass?

I’m not one for “rocking out at Mass.” Rocking out is not the sole use of a guitar. Electric guitars, maybe, but not guitars as a whole.

Well, okay, sorry to imply that you personally rock out at Mass, or that you approve or condone rocking out at Mass, but a lot of people here seem to think it’s totally fine.

 

[on_the_hill]

“Silent Night,” was written by a Catholic priest and first played at a Christmas Mass on a guitar.

 

[Loud-living-dogma]

“Silent Night,” was written by a Catholic priest and first played at a Christmas Mass on a guitar.

Because the organ was being repaired.

 

[on_the_hill]

But nonetheless it was played on a guitar.

The point is–the “Hallelujah Chorus,” isn’t the same without an organ, but we don’t always need the earth shattering reverberations of a pipe organ to let God know we’re here. There’s a time and a place for everything under the sun.

 

[Loud-living-dogma]

You know what’s awesome…
This…
Equally appealing to ten-year-olds and the Doctors of the Church!

 

[Dougbro1]

Well, okay, sorry to imply that you personally rock out at Mass, or that you approve or condone rocking out at Mass, but a lot of people here seem to think it’s totally fine.

Understandable. If I preferred organ and knew someone else preferred guitar, “rocking out” would be the first thing that comes to my mind, too. The thing is that I have seen people who are able to play guitar solemnly, and I respect that. It’s not that I dislike organ, but it’s good to see legible options for music at Mass, whether on organ, guitar, or piano.

 

[DeniseNY]

I’ve been to Spanish masses with guitars, and while nice, it’s not really my preference as I’m used to (and love) the Byzantine Liturgy

 

[Loud-living-dogma]

I’m wondering if the OP realized what a can of worms he opened up.
But it’s good fun for all!

 

[whatistrue]

In general, the guitar(and drums, saxophones, etc.) do not inspire reverence.

What? I hear tasteful reverent guitar music at most Masses I go to. I also hear quite cacophonous and definitely not reverent organ music in pretty much every Major League ballpark I have ever been in. It is not the instrument. I would much rather hear a competent and artistic guitar accompaniment to an organ played so poorly that it sounds like accordions being sent though a wood chipper. And I have heard that too.

 

[blackforest]

His guidelines are here, but he only prohibits the electric guitar. https://d2y1pz2y630308.cloudfront.net/12494/documents/2019/1/Sing to the Lord a New Song.pdf

Care must be taken, however, to ensure that instruments are suitable for sacred use, that they are fitting for the dignity of the Church and can accompany the singing of the faithful and serve to edify them.48Those instruments, such as electric guitars, that are used in performing Rock Music, even Christian Rock are not suitable for accompaniment at Holy Mass. Moreover, although certa(name removed by moderator)ercussion instruments can sometimes enhance selectpieces used at HolyMass,the rock drum kit is never appropriate

He encourages pipe organs but recognizes the logistical and financial constraints. I prefer them, too, frankly. I actually have a history on CAF as a vociferous music snob and OCP-basher. It’s just no longer my mountain to die on, and it’s not a sin or against Church teaching to use most other instruments.

Remember, too, that music selection is not just about preference, but also culture. African Mass - Offertory Procession - YouTube

 

[whatistrue]

a lot of people here seem to think it’s totally fine

Guitar does not equal rock.

 

[PetraG]

Firstly I declare a vested interest as an electric bass player here but just to say that, with the technology of today, an electric guitar can produce a fair representation of a pipe organ (our lead guitarist seems to demonstrate that function on his pedal board before every gig!)

More generally, if we had remained as rigidly glued to the past as it sometimes seems we have with musical instruments then there’d be no zippers, no printing, no pasteurisation…

If it’s permitted and it’s reverent and it’s not glaringly inappropriate then why not glorify God with whatever instruments and musicians are available?

Although the organ in our cathedral is wonderful and the organist has been blessed with a great gift, sometimes even the most uplifting carol is hampered by ‘lack of tempo’ for want of a better phrase and I find myself wishing there was a ‘gas pedal’ to speed him up a little!

Edit: Only to remove my failed italicisations!

In the end, it is the musical effect, not the source of the sound, that makes an instrument appropriate or not appropriate for sacred music. It is rare that anyone who knows how to use a drum kit would be judicious enough to use it appropriately in a church, though. Archbishop Sample has ruled them out at Mass, and I think that is why.

My aunt played organ and said a common mistake was to slow the tempo because the congregation didn’t seem to be keeping up. She said the organist has to understand this is an artifact of the time it takes for sound to travel in a church. She said that you had to choose the right tempo and then be careful to stick with it, rather than allowing yourself to gradually slow down in response to what you’re hearing from everybody else.

 

[PetraG]

The “If it’s not appropriate at the Foot of the Cross, it doesn’t belong in Mass” seems to prohibit ALLELUIA, though? That just doesn’t work. The Mass is a memorial of the entire Pascal Mystery. It is not a funeral. (Even a literal Christian funeral has a different meaning than the funerals of those who have no hope.)

 

[Loud-living-dogma]

10 characters!

 

[blackforest]

And I couldn’t disagree more strongly. Mass has its solemn moments, but it is also a celebration. While we mourn His passing, our faith ultimately centers around his Resurrection.

There’s a place for JOY at Mass and JOY in our faith. Did you just see that Youtube video that I posted of a Mass in Kenya? Were they being blasphemous by dancing joyfully, as we would decidedly NOT do at the foot of the cross? Is it suddenly a sin to sing “Joy to the World” when we go to Christmas Mass?

I seriously think our culture fears this emotion called joy. I’ve attended Mass in a lot of countries and cultures, and overall, I think U.S. Catholics look the most miserable.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Me and my girlfriend have been “debating” the moral validity of guitar mass.

There is nothing immoral about guitar Mass. If it was immoral, then just about every bishop in the US would be committing sins of promoting immorality by permitting guitar Mass at many churches in his diocese.

Some people object to guitar Mass on the basis of their own personal taste, but that doesn’t make it immoral.

 

[OldCAFMember]

I absolutely abhor the use of guitars at Mass. However, I must object to making this a question of “moral validity”, as the OP has framed the matter. This is far from a moral concern.

Me and my girlfriend have been “debating” the moral validity of guitar mass. I basically just say it’s not the time and place and the mass should be different from everything else you experience. I was wondering if anyone has good objections to guitar mass and what doctors of the church have said on the matter.