Is listening to songs with sacreligous lyrics of grave matter?

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I used to think this wasn’t okay, but am now unsure. Anyway, does anyone know as a fact that listening to music with sacreligous lyrics is of grave matter to listen to? I’m not talking about music used in Black Mass or anything like that, but music by a band that uses metaphors that are sacreligous in some of their songs. I would never sing along to such songs or play them for others to hear please note (the latter because I wouldn’t want anyone to get the wrong idea about me.)

I did research to find out if this particular band is Satanic or not and found that they do not identify themselves as such (although of course they could lie and it would be to their benefit to lie in this instance…)
 
Interesting topic. As someone who listens mostly to metal, this is something I think about a lot (well, not sacreligous lyrics in my case, but lyrics that are negative in other ways).

I just wanted to drop a comment so that I see this thread in my My Posts selection.

Looking forward to seeing the replies. If you reveal the band at some point, I will be interested to see that.

A lot of my metal friends differentiate between bands with sacreligous lyrics that mean it and those who acknowledge that it’s just a schtick and they don’t actually believe it. I don’t differentiate and I avoid both, but I’m aware that others make that distinction.
 
It most definitely could be a problem. It’s funny, I just listened to this informative audio on this subject the other day, and happened to see this thread now. Here’s the link for the homily given by an Exorcist on this subject: sensustraditionis.org/multimedia.html Scroll down to “Homilies given by Fr. Ripperger in Tulsa:” and under that click on the “music” link.

God bless :signofcross:
 
I cannot answer specifically if it constitutes grave matter, but I will refer you to this verse from St Paul and then ask you a question…
23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. (1 Corinthians 10:23)
Now consider…Does listening to such things “build up” faith? Love? The Kingdom?
If the answer is no…then they should be avoided.

Peace
James
 
Wampa said:
Interesting topic. As someone who listens mostly to metal, this is something I think about a lot (well, not sacreligous lyrics in my case, but lyrics that are negative in other ways).

I just wanted to drop a comment so that I see this thread in my My Posts selection.

Looking forward to seeing the replies. If you reveal the band at some point, I will be interested to see that.

A lot of my metal friends differentiate between bands with sacreligous lyrics that mean it and those who acknowledge that it’s just a schtick and they don’t actually believe it. I don’t differentiate and I avoid both, but I’m aware that others make that distinction.
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They’re called HIM.
 
Unfortunately, yes, it is a problem. If you listen to anything, I mean anything, with lyrics saying anything against Christianity and God or anything connected to Him at all, it will be an invite for Satan. Ask God for forgiveness, pray, and if you need to, cast out any demons.

Pray the Rosary.

Truly your Brother in Christ,
Escopiliatese.
 
Just to add…I think it may also depend on what one means by “Listens to”…
I think of listening as an active engaged activity as opposed to simple “hearing” - which could be much more passive.
There is also the matter of why one listens to something.
If a person is doing a review of an album that is one thing…
If a person is listening for enjoyment…Well the first time is gaining knowledge…but the second time…That’s a different matter…

As I said earlier - the best question to ask is NOT whether it constitutes grave matter but to ask if it builds up the kingdom. Asking if it constitutes grave matter indicates that one has already asked if it is a good thing and that answer is no.

So - if it is a bad thing, and it can be avoided, then it should be avoided - period.

Peace
James
 
JRKH said:
Just to add…I think it may also depend on what one means by “Listens to”…
I think of listening as an active engaged activity as opposed to simple “hearing” - which could be much more passive.
There is also the matter of why one listens to something.
If a person is doing a review of an album that is one thing…
If a person is listening for enjoyment…Well the first time is gaining knowledge…but the second time…That’s a different matter…

As I said earlier - the best question to ask is NOT whether it constitutes grave matter but to ask if it builds up the kingdom. Asking if it constitutes grave matter indicates that one has already asked if it is a good thing and that answer is no.

So - if it is a bad thing, and it can be avoided, then it should be avoided - period.

Peace

James
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Considering what these songs are actually about (I did clarify that I was talking about metaphor use) I don’t think they are meant to be against Christianity. They’re not attacking Christian beliefs or saying anything that is meant to be just plain disgusting.

Also, it’s not the kind of music I listen to all the time. When I listen to music, I usually have my MP3 player on shuffle so I listen to a great variety of music. Once in a great while a HIM song plays and I usually listen regardless of lyrics. (When I put the music on my player, I hadn’t even realized there were sacreligous lyrics in any of their songs.)

I listen to it because that’s more enjoyable than just hearing music. I like to focus on whatever I’m listening to. I like their music because it has a unique sound and a strange feel. The first songs I heard by them had no sacreligous lyrics and most of their songs don’t.
 
ChibiViolet said:
Considering what these songs are actually about (I did clarify that I was talking about metaphor use) I don’t think they are meant to be against Christianity. They’re not attacking Christian beliefs or saying anything that is meant to be just plain disgusting.
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Then I have to wonder why you have asked the question…
Also, it’s not the kind of music I listen to all the time. When I listen to music, I usually have my MP3 player on shuffle so I listen to a great variety of music. Once in a great while a HIM song plays and I usually listen regardless of lyrics. (When I put the music on my player, I hadn’t even realized there were sacreligous lyrics in any of their songs.)
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I’m assuming that if you can put songs on you can take them off. That being the case, if it were me, I would delete the offensive items and keep the rest…
I listen to it because that’s more enjoyable than just hearing music. I like to focus on whatever I’m listening to. I like their music because it has a unique sound and a strange feel. The first songs I heard by them had no sacreligous lyrics and most of their songs don’t.
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Well…I don’t know about, “unique sound and a strange feel”…I basically gave up on modern music when the Eagles went “disco” with the “long run” album…😃

But like I said earlier…The rule that I use is simply, does it “build up”. Which I understand to mean build up spirituality within myself as well as in those around me who might be exposed to whatever it is through me…

I have suggested already that, since you felt the need to ask the question, you already know the answer…That this is something negative and should be avoided - regardless of the particular “gravity”. This might be something to talk over with your confessor.

Peace
James
 
JRKH said:
Then I have to wonder why you have asked the question…

I’m assuming that if you can put songs on you can take them off. That being the case, if it were me, I would delete the offensive items and keep the rest…

Well…I don’t know about, “unique sound and a strange feel”…I basically gave up on modern music when the Eagles went “disco” with the “long run” album…😃

But like I said earlier…The rule that I use is simply, does it “build up”. Which I understand to mean build up spirituality within myself as well as in those around me who might be exposed to whatever it is through me…

I have suggested already that, since you felt the need to ask the question, you already know the answer…That this is something negative and should be avoided - regardless of the particular “gravity”. This might be something to talk over with your confessor.

Peace
James
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I asked my question in the first place because I wanted to find out if it was of grave matter. I tend not to think much about venial sins…As of now I’m thinking this might not even be a sin at all…Thank you though, but if there is no official Church stance on this, I’m going to continue listening.

On another note, there is plenty of modern music with a unique sound. It tends not to be mainstream though. As for the stange feel, it just gives me a strange feeling and I like it.
 
When you continue to listen to something you know it is wrong and yet you like it, it means you are opening your heart and accepting something that is anti-God. Then, you need to examine your heart, whether there is rebelliousness, hatred, perverted or adulterous desires secretly lodged within your heart. Check your past relationships with your parents, kindred, elders, teachers, etc., some emotional hurts, some form of abuse, humiliation, etc.

Pray and surrender all these feelings to God along with all the sad memories, forgiving and blessing all those who hurt you, and asking for a healing yourself. It would be helpful if you can do these things in front of the Eucharist. Take some priest or mature spiritual person’s help if needed. God will surely bless your humble act of trying to spiritually battle powers too strong for you.
 
Before dealing with this issue I would like to mention that with any of these issues there is always a spiritual risk. Whether it is minor or a grave matter there is always a risk if we are open to it. Yes, we must avoid risks so we want to know whether this issue can become or is a grave matter. It is good to use forums like this to ask the question. We need to question. We are told to test everything. So well done to that person who has posed this question. However it is my opinion that we are being reactive. There is a way to become pro-active and so mitigate spiritual risks.
With this issue and many others similar to this it is extremely important to have a strong spiritual life well in advance of these things happening. The Catholic Church places much emphasis on this point. The many sacraments give this strength to the faithful. A strong prayer life is indeed another plus to minimise the spirtual risk even further.
However today the Catholic Churches’ pro-active advice is often ignored and thus they have to deal in a reactive mode to the affects of this spirtual risk which they often do within the framework of reconciliation or confession.
So if there is a simple answer, it is to have the spiritual strength so that if you come across spiritual risks, then you will have the wisdom sent by the Holy Spirit to recognise the evil before it gets to become a grave matter. And I must add from experience you will instinctively know what is spirtually right and what is spiritually wrong and so will not have to ask the question.
 
Careful with that stuff. When I was very into metal I convinced myself that I wasn’t letting the lyrics affect me but compared to when I listened to a lot of Pagan and Satanic music and compared to after I limited my intake to more morally neutral bands my mental and spiritual health has improved.
 
Actually, I’m not sure anymore about the “sacreligous” HIM chorus actually being sacreligous. I looked up the song lyrics and no one seems to know what they mean…(I did say they have “songs” that have sacrilegious lyrics, but I think I actually only know one.)
 
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