Mass Appeal

[SSTeacher]

On page 65 of his book The Purpose Driven Life (Zondervan, 2002), Pastor Rick Warren writes: “God loves all kinds of music because He invented it all.”

I think it’s probably true to say that many Protestant Christians have bought into this same idea i.e. that music is amoral. How is it in Catholicism? Is a Mass similar to the beautiful Divine Liturgy of the Eastern Orthodox Church or might a visitor to a Catholic Church on a Sunday morning be forgiven for supposing that he or she had entered a theater by mistake?

Grace and peace,
Mick

 

[LDNCatholic]

On page 65 of his book The Purpose Driven Life (Zondervan, 2002), Pastor Rick Warren writes: “God loves all kinds of music because He invented it all.”

I think it’s probably true to say that many Protestant Christians have bought into this same idea i.e. that music is amoral. How is it in Catholicism? Is a Mass similar to the beautiful Divine Liturgy of the Eastern Orthodox Church or might a visitor to a Catholic Church on a Sunday morning be forgiven for supposing that he or she had entered a theater by mistake?

Grace and peace,
Mick

Depends. Within the Catholic Church are the 22 sui juris ‘‘Eastern Catholic Churches’’, most of which have a corresponding Orthodox Church and have a Divine liturgy. Within the Roman Rite, it differs drastically from church to church.

 

[SSTeacher]

Depends. Within the Catholic Church are the 22 sui juris ‘‘Eastern Catholic Churches’’, most of which have a corresponding Orthodox Church and have a Divine liturgy. Within the Roman Rite, it differs drastically from church to church.

LDNCatholic,

Interesting. Why are there drastic differences within the Roman Rite and how drastic are those differences - could you perhaps see your way clear to giving an example from your own personal experience?

Cordially,
Mick

 

[po18guy]

LDNCatholic,

Interesting. Why are there drastic differences within the Roman Rite and how drastic are those differences - could you perhaps see your way clear to giving an example from your own personal experience?

Cordially,
Mick

Mick, first of all, welcome! As to the music, I see it as a matter of whether or not the parish has a music director. If they do, they are usually paid staff. The human tendency here is to justify your paid position by making sure that there is a lot of music. This can run counter to the solemnity of the mass, in which we are at Calvary. I sincerely doubt that much music was played at Calvary!

Again, many, perhaps most parishes have a “communion song”. I do not sing it, because it can only detract from the consumption of the Body and Blood of Christ. This is such a mystical and soulful experience that no external human effort can heighten it, but rather only detracts from it.

The priest who married us uses Gregorian chant during mass. This, in combination with incense, adds a layer of history and reverence to the mass. The Catholic Church does not tend to nail every single detail down, but allows flexibility in such matters, as befits the enormity of God’s grace.

Some Catholics “parish shop” for a priest, or music, or a mass that they like. As with the scripture regarding the servants and the talents, each priest has his own level of ability. Rather than pick and choose, I have changed my focus and go there only for Jesus Christ. I’m sure you’ll agree that there is no other reason to go.

Christ’s peace be with you.

 

[LDNCatholic]

LDNCatholic,

Interesting. Why are there drastic differences within the Roman Rite and how drastic are those differences - could you perhaps see your way clear to giving an example from your own personal experience?

Cordially,
Mick

Well at the Abbey down the road music is kept to a minimum. Any singing is usually performed by the monks (Gregorian chant), another church is very much ‘‘happy clappy’’ guitar music and pop-folkish sounding. I prefer traditional music if there is to be any at all.

 

[SSTeacher]

Well at the Abbey down the road music is kept to a minimum. Any singing is usually performed by the monks (Gregorian chant), another church is very much ‘‘happy clappy’’ guitar music and pop-folkish sounding. I prefer traditional music if there is to be any at all.

LDNCatholic,

Thanks, that’s even more interesting. So, in terms of lex orandi, lex credendi there apparently isn’t much difference in the West between Catholics and Protestants – except that Protestants wouldn’t nurture a singing nun, of course. I’m beginning to conclude that it’s only the Eastern Orthodox Church that has managed to keep the culture at bay. But perhaps they’ll eventually cave in, too.

Peace,
Mick