Mass without Singing/Music

[KnightIHSV]

I do not enjoy singing at Mass and I also do not like a lot of hymns, especially the modern ones which are somewhat effeminate.

Is it possible to have a Mass that has no singing and no music? Which could perhaps leave more room in the service time for better preaching?

I realise that many if not most will disagree with me.

Thank you to all who can assist.

 

[freddo]

Yes, it is possible. The Mass I grew up going to doesn’t have any singing or music. I enjoy hymns, though, and much prefer the Mass with music.

 

[YoungTradCath]

It is possible. My parish does daily masses without any music.

However, I don’t think this practice will be widespread until, and if, there is a strict, rule-set difference between a Low (music-less) Mass and High (with music) Mass like there once was. I think one of the weeds of the “Spirit” of Vatican II is that it forces nearly every mass to have music, to have hymns, to have singing, and there’s really never the sacredly silent type of mass anymore. This is because the “Spirit” of Vatican II presumes everyone wants to sing all the time, in an attempt at “active” participation.

I don’t get why I just can’t participate with my mind. But no, I’m basically not allowed to do that. I have to do something to “actively participate.” The “Spirit” of Vatican II makes one false assumption: the congregation has to “do” something outward to “participate.” I can’t express how wrong that assumption is. First, you don’t have to “show” everyone to “participate.” Second, just because you’re saying something or whatever doesn’t mean you’re actually thinking about it, or its meaning, or why it’s being done. I can’t tell you how many people I see on Sundays looking at their toes while saying the responses. “Full, active, conscious participation” happens firstly in the mind, and only then with the body. Sadly, people seem to overlook the word “conscious” in that phrase and think that just because you “do” something that you’re “participating,” and get offended when someone brings up the possibility that one doesn’t, in fact, have to “do” anything to “participate.”

How does someone with throat cancer who can’t speak “participate?” If I asked that question to an average parishioner, I’d probably get, “Oh! we make a participation exception for that person!” Yeah, but I thought the only way to “participate” is to babble some words every few minutes at mass. People participate in their thoughts, not in what they “do” at mass.

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

I do not enjoy singing at Mass and I also do not like a lot of hymns, especially the modern ones which are somewhat effeminate.

Is it possible to have a Mass that has no singing and no music? Which could perhaps leave more room in the service time for better preaching?

I realise that many if not most will disagree with me.

Thank you to all who can assist.

Yes, the modern hymns are quite effeminate (in the bad sense)!!!

 

[bearer]

The following passage from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians comes to mind. Although not specific to the Mass, it applies to life and worship in general:

Therefore it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. (Ephesians 5:14-20)

 

[Gordon_Sims]

Our early Mass each Sunday is a Low Mass. I’ve always enjoyed singing at Mass, but I really prefer the Low Mass. Many others do as well, apparently, since the last few weeks have been standing room only. I know a big part of the appeal is that it’s much quicker than a High Mass, although the thing I enjoy most about it is its basic, simple nature. You get the core of the Mass without all the trappings, which I think lets you focus more on the actual content of the Mass.

I don’t mind admitting that I also like the fact that it’s early, quick and gives me the rest of my Sunday to enjoy with my family. We typically go out to breakfast afterward, and are done with breakfast before the High Mass even starts. However, that’s really just the icing on the cake, at least for me.

 

[frteatao]

Singing and music contribute beautifully to the meaning of the Mass. Thus hymns should be chosen appropriately to the readings.

However, in my country Kiribati located in the pacific are mostly Catholic. Every Masses there are 3-4 hymns; the opening, alleluia, after each intercession and final hymn. This is a daily Masses. Sunday masses beautiful hymns are sung throughout the mass;
opening
kyrie
Gloria
Alleluia
psalms
intercession hymn (chant)
sanctus
as the priest raised the body and blood of christ
great amen
Pater noster
at communion
final hymn to Mother Mary

Sometimes the procession with the Word and Gift for the offertory are sung esp on featdays, like Christmas, Easter and Assumption.

But you can also attend a Mass without singing or music when there is one.

God bless

 

[prbarrera]

Greetings.

If I remember right, St. Augustine was mentioned that “singing is twice the form of prayer.”

In my Archdiocese, if there is no choir singing during Mass, the Commentator who is capable of singing appropriate liturgical songs for the Mass may do so. Therefore, it’s acapela, since there’s no instruments played.

Just to keep in mind:

If there is no Entrance / Opening Song, the Opening Antiphon is said.

If there is no Communion Song, the Communion Antiphon is to be said.

 

[pnewton]

Yes, the modern hymns are quite effeminate (in the bad sense)!!!

I was unaware that one could apply gender to music.

Yes, it is possible to have Mass with no music. It might even be prudent if the the parish for some reason had a majority, or a large minority that agreed with the OP, to have such a Mass. There is nothing wrong with accommodating personal tastes like that, evn though the Catholic Church has always treasure music, and it seems the large majority of people like music.

 

[alwayslooking]

I don’t mind the mass parts being sung. I just have a problem with the “sandwich hymns”.

My biggest problem is with the offitory hymn and the communion/after communion hymns. These are times those in attendance should be silently praying.

 

[TheMc]

In the Mass, there is more than tastes at stake. The highest form of the Mass, by definition, is sung. The least solemn form is a low Mass, which is completely spoken. On Sundays and feast days, it is very fitting that the celebrant sing at least part of the Mass, and that there be other music.

 

[Sarabande]

Of course, there are masses without music. I’ve found that the very early Sunday masses would often times be without music. And as a musician and someone who does sing for a living and views singing as a prayer and connection to God, even I sometimes like to be able to attend a “quiet” mass. Just because I’m not singing, doesn’t mean I’m not “participating”.

 

[I_Thirst]

Daily Mass in my local parish has no music, though (depending on the Father) an Entrance and Recessional Hymn as well as Agnus Dei will often be sung.

None of the Sunday Masses are without music.

 

[KnightIHSV]

I just cannot help thinking that I am not alone, at least among men, in not enjoying singing and not getting anything profound out of most modern and effeminate hymns, which do not establish any better relationship between God and me but instead make me cringe.

I think a Mass that had good preaching (which I crave for, frankly) and then a solemn Eucharist would be just as if not more reverential. I also think it would be easier to attract men to Mass as whenever I go to Mass on a Sunday morning, I feel outnumbered by women of all ages.

This said, I imagine many women really like today’s hymns and that they are the majority and therefore rule on this issue. But as a guy the awful music and hymns really irritate me.

Then again, perhaps this is just me.

 

[EasterJoy]

In the Mass, there is more than tastes at stake. The highest form of the Mass, by definition, is sung. The least solemn form is a low Mass, which is completely spoken. On Sundays and feast days, it is very fitting that the celebrant sing at least part of the Mass, and that there be other music.

Yes, but that refers to singing the parts of the Mass that are otherwise recited. It is the ideal that those parts of the Mass be sung, but the ideal does not need to include other hymns.

In fact, the GIRM states *"Great importance should therefore be attached to the use of singing in the celebration of the Mass, with due consideration for the culture of peoples and abilities of each liturgical assembly. Although it is not always necessary (e.g., in weekday Masses) to sing all the texts that are in principle meant to be sung, every care should be taken that singing by the ministers and the people not be absent in celebrations that occur on Sundays and on Holydays of Obligation.

However,** in the choosing of the parts actually to be sung, preference is to be given to those that are of greater importance and especially to those which are to be sung by the Priest or the Deacon or a reader, with the people replying, or by the Priest and people together**"*

Moreover, “The main place should be given, all things being equal, to Gregorian chant, as being proper to the Roman Liturgy. Other kinds of sacred music, in particular polyphony, are in no way excluded, provided that they correspond to the spirit of the liturgical action and that they foster the participation of all the faithful.”

In other words (as I read it):

1. If you’re going to sing anything, sing the important parts and skip the hymns, not the other way around.
2. If in doubt, use Gregorian chant.
3. If you’re using some other kind of music, then choose something that everyone (including the guys) will sing and will find prayerful, or else go back to (2).

 

[YoungTradCath]

Greetings.

If I remember right, St. Augustine was mentioned that “singing is twice the form of prayer.”

In my Archdiocese, if there is no choir singing during Mass, the Commentator who is capable of singing appropriate liturgical songs for the Mass may do so. Therefore, it’s acapela, since there’s no instruments played.

Just to keep in mind:

If there is no Entrance / Opening Song, the Opening Antiphon is said.

If there is no Communion Song, the Communion Antiphon is to be said.

Well, actually, I think the most appropriate way to look at this is that antiphons are preferred (as they are listed first in the options in the GIRM) and only if hymns are truly beneficial pastorally in a particular instance should they replace the proper antiphon.

We shouldn’t look at it that antiphons replace hymns. No, hymns replace antiphons. Antiphons are first and foremost, and hymns are secondary.

 

[YoungTradCath]

In the Mass, there is more than tastes at stake. The highest form of the Mass, by definition, is sung. The least solemn form is a low Mass, which is completely spoken. On Sundays and feast days, it is very fitting that the celebrant sing at least part of the Mass, and that there be other music.

Unfortunately these definitions do not apply in the Ordinary Form.

 

[YoungTradCath]

I just cannot help thinking that I am not alone, at least among men, in not enjoying singing and not getting anything profound out of most modern and effeminate hymns, which do not establish any better relationship between God and me but instead make me cringe.

I think a Mass that had good preaching (which I crave for, frankly) and then a solemn Eucharist would be just as if not more reverential. I also think it would be easier to attract men to Mass as whenever I go to Mass on a Sunday morning, I feel outnumbered by women of all ages.

This said, I imagine many women really like today’s hymns and that they are the majority and therefore rule on this issue. But as a guy the awful music and hymns really irritate me.

Then again, perhaps this is just me.

I agree fully with you, speaking from a male perspective myself.

 

[KnightIHSV]

It is very frustrating as I think the “norm” Catholic for who services are geared is a female who wants an experience. I would prefer to have good preaching, based on the day’s readings, which in turn relates to an important message. Instead I endure weak, pathetic preaching and soppy, effeminate hymns.

(One of the great things I found through Catholic Answers was the orthodox, well-thought out Catholic and ‘lay’ evangelism that I had never been exposed to as a Catholic growing up in the 1980s and 1990s. I did not have to leave my intellect and curiosity at the church door. Sadly I still find Mass itself often badly done and the music horrible.)

 

[pnewton]

Men don’t like music? Based on the fact that you are a man and don’t like music? I am all for diverse opinions, but this calling of music effiminate (gender to music, are you kidding?) is bizarre and a insulting. I do not mind being called a wuss if I have deserved it, but enough already. There is no need to degrade the opinions of others, especially when yours is so…uh… unique. Music has no gender. For what it’s worth, after hearing your rather strange reason for not liking music in Mass, I do not think you will get far with a priest.

Note I am using an effeminate font, i.e. sans serif. I think to prove I am not wussy I will switch to Times New Roman for a while and prove my manhood. Heck, I may even bold every now and then.