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NetNuncio
Guest
I believe that practice was removed from the “official” Life Teen Mass after many correspondance with Cardinal Arinze and the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
Adam
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Adam
M
Michael_Welter
Guest
Excellent point. Of course, that can be said of any Mass.
My parish has had Life Teen for over 15 years, so we’ve been able to see the long term results. Our Life Teen Mass is done very reverently and without any liturgical abuse. We are very careful about that. The Life Teen band includes acoustic and electric guitars, bass guitar, drums and keyboards. The music is beatiful, contemporary and reverent.
We have many young adults in our parish who grew up, spiritually, in the Life Teen program. They are deeply in love with Christ, His Church, and each other. Many of them have gotten invloved in other ministries. Many others have gotten married and moved to other parishes where they are deeply involved.
The bottom line is that it has been wonderful for our parish. But then, we do it in a manner that remains faithful to the rubrics and Church teachings.
A
Anima_Christi
Guest
I went to a “Life Teen” Mass twice and didn’t like it. I think it’s great that teenagers are actually participating in their faith, but making the Mass into a rock concert is NOT the way to go about it! Maybe it was different back in the 1960s, but I actually think kids these days would be more attracted to a traditional, reverent liturgy than a pop mass. They hear that boring old secular rock music all the time, why should they have to hear it at Mass too? Give them the opportunity to enter into the sacred mysteries.
I have heard several times from secular people my age who said that if they were any religion, they would be Catholic, because they love the tradition, and all that contemporary stuff is fake. They haven’t experienced a “Life Teen” mass though . . .
I have heard several times from secular people my age who said that if they were any religion, they would be Catholic, because they love the tradition, and all that contemporary stuff is fake. They haven’t experienced a “Life Teen” mass though . . .
W
Windmill
Guest
When the Church tries to be MTV, it is bound to fail.
M
Michael_Welter
Guest
Anima Christi:
Anima Christi:
I couldn’t agree more. The music at a Life Teen Mass is not to be entertaining. It is to lead the congregation in worship, just like at any other Mass.
Anima Christi:
Secular music is not allowed at any Mass, including Life Teen. If anyone hears secular music during Mass, I hope they report the abuse to the Bishop.
P
Pisio
Guest
Michael Welter:
Areas where it works well (Mesa, St. Charles, Marietta, Littleton; etc.), teenagers are exposed to traditional prayer, charismatic prayer and contemplitive prayer (and more). They get a wide varierty of musical styles from chant to “rock” within the Mass, and an orthodox priest is highly involved in the program and youth ministry activities. The diversity, tradition and beauty of the Catholic faith shines when the model is used correctly (as with any Mass).
Areas where it does not work well are places where, the pastor is hands off, the program pushes a certain spirituality and the diversity and beauty of Catholicism never comes through. The youth minister, and music minister may use it to push a certain type of spirituality or as an excuse to do their own thing.
Even the founders of Life Teen admit it is not the answer to all youth related program problems. They do however provide great resources and experience for any Parish to draw from and adapt to its own unique situation. As with any program it comes down to how it is implemented. You either follow the Life Teen model for the program (which includes following the GIRM), or you do not.
Frankly though… From my experience with the program (at an organizational level), it does not push an agenda, it does not condone Liturgical Abuse and it seems to be pretty Orthodox in its teaching, yet unorthodox in its methods. **Unfortunately people at the Parish level use it to push their own agenda, and do not care how it reflects on the larger organization when they persist in doing things they were told explicitly not to do. **
As someone who has been personally touched by the program, and who knows the Holy Spirit uses it for good,** it pains me to see people can not get it through their heads that it is not the Organization, but the individual parish that screws with the Liturgy and continues in the abuse.** The organization stopped when asked too (whether they went to the Vatican or the Vatican came to them), and they asked all who use the name to stop.
In Christ,
Pisio
Thank you… I think that main problem with Life Teen is that people use it to push agendas, and not as it was intended. It has been my experience that it quickly becomes charismatic and nothing else.
Areas where it works well (Mesa, St. Charles, Marietta, Littleton; etc.), teenagers are exposed to traditional prayer, charismatic prayer and contemplitive prayer (and more). They get a wide varierty of musical styles from chant to “rock” within the Mass, and an orthodox priest is highly involved in the program and youth ministry activities. The diversity, tradition and beauty of the Catholic faith shines when the model is used correctly (as with any Mass).
Areas where it does not work well are places where, the pastor is hands off, the program pushes a certain spirituality and the diversity and beauty of Catholicism never comes through. The youth minister, and music minister may use it to push a certain type of spirituality or as an excuse to do their own thing.
Even the founders of Life Teen admit it is not the answer to all youth related program problems. They do however provide great resources and experience for any Parish to draw from and adapt to its own unique situation. As with any program it comes down to how it is implemented. You either follow the Life Teen model for the program (which includes following the GIRM), or you do not.
Frankly though… From my experience with the program (at an organizational level), it does not push an agenda, it does not condone Liturgical Abuse and it seems to be pretty Orthodox in its teaching, yet unorthodox in its methods. **Unfortunately people at the Parish level use it to push their own agenda, and do not care how it reflects on the larger organization when they persist in doing things they were told explicitly not to do. **
As someone who has been personally touched by the program, and who knows the Holy Spirit uses it for good,** it pains me to see people can not get it through their heads that it is not the Organization, but the individual parish that screws with the Liturgy and continues in the abuse.** The organization stopped when asked too (whether they went to the Vatican or the Vatican came to them), and they asked all who use the name to stop.
In Christ,
Pisio
L
Leeta
Guest
Three years ago my sons attended a Life Teen Mass as a part of their youth group activity. Everyone else except the Holy Spirit youth group went up to the altar and stood around it at the consecration. Each visiting youth group also made a musical contribution. The others played rock music. The Holy Spirit youth group sang, Mozart’s, "Ave Verum " in four part harmony. Needless to say, the H.S. group never attended another Teen Life Mass.
The Second Vatican Council and Redemptoris sacramentum say that noone has the authority, neither priest or bishop, to change the rubrics of the Mass.
Rock music, even if it has Christian lyrics, is not liturgical music. Electric guitars are not appropriate for Mass.
The nature of the rock music is hedonistic and selfish and is totally foreign to the worship of God.
The organ is to have pride of place in the liturgical worship. (By the way, while the Christian martyrs’ deaths in the Colosseum were carried out, a primitive organ was played.)
Teen Life Mass is yet another way the faithful are being given stones instead of the true liturgical bread of worship developed over 2000 years.
The Second Vatican Council and Redemptoris sacramentum say that noone has the authority, neither priest or bishop, to change the rubrics of the Mass.
Rock music, even if it has Christian lyrics, is not liturgical music. Electric guitars are not appropriate for Mass.
The nature of the rock music is hedonistic and selfish and is totally foreign to the worship of God.
The organ is to have pride of place in the liturgical worship. (By the way, while the Christian martyrs’ deaths in the Colosseum were carried out, a primitive organ was played.)
Teen Life Mass is yet another way the faithful are being given stones instead of the true liturgical bread of worship developed over 2000 years.
L
Leeta
Guest
Dear Michael,
Rock music cannot be called beautiful in an objective sense. Rock music is certainly secular music even if it has Christian lyrics. It excites the body and does not elevate the spirit to God.
Order the set of CDs by Fr. Basil Nortz, ORC, of the Opus Sanctorum Angelorum called, “Music and Morality”. Tel. (313) 527-1739 or www.opusangelorum.org for a thorough discussion.
Rock music cannot be called beautiful in an objective sense. Rock music is certainly secular music even if it has Christian lyrics. It excites the body and does not elevate the spirit to God.
Order the set of CDs by Fr. Basil Nortz, ORC, of the Opus Sanctorum Angelorum called, “Music and Morality”. Tel. (313) 527-1739 or www.opusangelorum.org for a thorough discussion.
M
Michael_Welter
Guest
Sounds like you just described my parish!
That is your opinion, are I will defend your right to express it… Traditional choral music does nothing for me except distract me away from it. Contemporary Christian music draws me closer to God. As such, please don’t tell me what style of music ir right for me. The Church, in her wisdom, has clearly stated that all music styles, when done reverently, are to be allowed within the Mass.
B
BigPaulie
Guest
quote=netmil(name removed by moderator)
Isn’t amazing that kids can tell when they are being snowed?
They are so much smarter than we give them credit for sometimes.
Ask how our church of 750 families has 200 Altar BOYS? Conservative “Old tyme Religion” Catholic Mass. The young people don’t want the happy-clappy stuff, just the Holy Mass.
[/quote]
I couldn’t help but notice that you said your parish has 200 altar “BOYS” (in caps.) Am I correct in assuming there are no altar "GIRLS" ?
Isn’t amazing that kids can tell when they are being snowed?
They are so much smarter than we give them credit for sometimes.
Ask how our church of 750 families has 200 Altar BOYS? Conservative “Old tyme Religion” Catholic Mass. The young people don’t want the happy-clappy stuff, just the Holy Mass.
[/quote]
I couldn’t help but notice that you said your parish has 200 altar “BOYS” (in caps.) Am I correct in assuming there are no altar "GIRLS" ?
B
BigPaulie
Guest
quote=netmil(name removed by moderator)
Isn’t amazing that kids can tell when they are being snowed?
They are so much smarter than we give them credit for sometimes.
Ask how our church of 750 families has 200 Altar BOYS? Conservative “Old tyme Religion” Catholic Mass. The young people don’t want the happy-clappy stuff, just the Holy Mass.
[/quote]
Is the mass Tridentine or Novus Ordo?
Isn’t amazing that kids can tell when they are being snowed?
They are so much smarter than we give them credit for sometimes.
Ask how our church of 750 families has 200 Altar BOYS? Conservative “Old tyme Religion” Catholic Mass. The young people don’t want the happy-clappy stuff, just the Holy Mass.
[/quote]
Is the mass Tridentine or Novus Ordo?
P
Penitent
Guest
Twice my daughter missed Sunday a.m. Mass so I took her to a 6 p.m. Sunday Mass…about a year ago, the first time I had to do this, I was extremely surprised at the Mass. Teens around the altar, inappropriate dress, and the loudest music I’ve ever heard outside of the rock concerts I’d attended. My daughter was 6 at the time…I was pretty sure I’d never go back to that Mass again.
A few weeks ago, I had to take her to that very same Mass. I wasn’t thrilled about it, but it was far better than me allowing her to miss her Sunday obligation. Although the band was every bit as distracting, there were no inappropriately dressed teens surrounding the altar. There were still adults (and that surprised me that it wasn’t the young people) waving their hands and swaying, but oh well, it’s my problem if that distracts me and I will try not to look if I have to attend that Mass again.
The only negative (aside from it just being a wee bit too charismatic for me) was the band was so loud, and the music, just so, well, I’m not sure of the word–not reverent (and yes, only according to my opinion), that it kept distracting my daughter…she kept looking over at the band instead of focusing on Who we are there for…it’s like the band is in competition for your attention. I’m not as distracted by an organ or a folk guitar, but an entire entourage of musicians is a different story.
So all the above is only personal opinion, but weak person that I (and evidently my daughter) am, I found it hard to focus on the Lord with all that noise from the band–and especially during Holy Communion.
Penitent
A few weeks ago, I had to take her to that very same Mass. I wasn’t thrilled about it, but it was far better than me allowing her to miss her Sunday obligation. Although the band was every bit as distracting, there were no inappropriately dressed teens surrounding the altar. There were still adults (and that surprised me that it wasn’t the young people) waving their hands and swaying, but oh well, it’s my problem if that distracts me and I will try not to look if I have to attend that Mass again.
The only negative (aside from it just being a wee bit too charismatic for me) was the band was so loud, and the music, just so, well, I’m not sure of the word–not reverent (and yes, only according to my opinion), that it kept distracting my daughter…she kept looking over at the band instead of focusing on Who we are there for…it’s like the band is in competition for your attention. I’m not as distracted by an organ or a folk guitar, but an entire entourage of musicians is a different story.
So all the above is only personal opinion, but weak person that I (and evidently my daughter) am, I found it hard to focus on the Lord with all that noise from the band–and especially during Holy Communion.
Penitent
P
Prometheum_x
Guest
The suitability of electric guitars is a decision to be made by the competent territorial authority. There is nothing intrinsically unappropriate in an electric guitar, anymore than there is anything instrinsically unappropriate in an organ, even though for the first several centuries of the Church the organ wasn’t used due to its association with the secular culture.
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