I did not interpret the OP’s words as such, and think it is quite a stretch. However, P., you seem to have a tendency to be suspicious to the point of paranoia. “Setting up traps”?! That’s a real stretch.Such a position is arguable, as this thread will prove. I noticed you both asked the question and then posted your own answer later. That is disingenuous. If you wanted to debate it, then you should simply state so and not ask innocently and then argue with those that answer you. You may find that people will be slow to respond if you have a history of setting up traps.
Obviously not, or I would not have said it, so I will just disagree with you. Perhaps I should not have pointed it out. I will consider that point. I did addressed the issue discussed with the first sentence in the first paragraph, and in the second, third and fourth paragraph. So let us *both *heed the advice you gave and return to the topic. I will repost it here in case you missed.I did not interpret the OP’s words as such, and think it is quite a stretch?
Of course,”choir,” comes from monastic practice. I was in many pre-vatican II churches and few adhered to that rule. The present arrangement of seats in the House of Commons seems to derive from that, although in St. Stephen’s chapel it did not. All that aside, the liturgical reforms were heavily influenced by those who wished to make Catholic worship closer to that of the evangelical churches, and to promote congregational singing. My point being that acapella singing led by a strong lead from the front works best for that. Only in Mexican churches have Ifound that guitar musics blends properly with the liturgy. Too much of the music since the 1960s was derived from the commercial “folk” music from that time, and most crowds cannot sing it. Pianos are better, but not with the heavy hand intended to keep the congregation in time and in tune, because no one can come up with the right key most of the time.From The Ceremonies of the Roman Rite Described, which describes the pre-Vatican II (and still in force) rubrics of the Latin Mass:
WE must note first that the “choir” during a service
does not necessarily mean those who sing.
It was so originally. In theory, no doubt, it
should be so still, namely, that the singers have
their places right and left of the altar and sing
there. But there are often practical difficulties against this.
In singing part-music especially it is often difficult to produce
a good artistic effect when the singers are arranged in two
rows facing each other, perhaps at some distance, across the
church. Often, therefore, the actual singers are placed elsewhere,
in a space together at the side behind a grating, behind
the altar, or in a gallery at the other end of the church. In
such cases no notice is taken of them during the ceremonies.
Not all parishes that celebrate the OF Mass have “the drum set and guitar problem.” Far from it. Find a new parish or ask God for the grace not to be sidetracked in your worship of Him.Hello friends,
I have seen here some of you discuss the ‘drumset and guitar problem’ which many of us are trying to work through. In my entire county, there are no Catholic churches that do not have this problem. I have tried them all ):
I honestly cannot do it anymore. It is interfering majorly with my relationship with Christ in the mass. I cannot continue to listen to guitar while praying after receiving the Blessed Sacrament, and most of the songs have theological problems to them which severely ennervate me.
The closest Byzantine rite church is three hours away. I want to start going to the Greek Orthodox Church down the street just for the liturgy, but I cannot do this because by my convictions I must keep full faithfulness to the Roman Catholic Church.
Any suggestions for this? Please help. It becomes almost painful for me sometimes during mass. Of course I cannot and will not stop going to mass, so I don’t know what to do. Thank you for your help.
Agree, I also noticed the ongoing chatter that happens when everyone is practicing their music in Church. I can’t tell you how many different parishes I visited and while stopping in for a prayer I get the hear whole conversation between the music director the choir along other things. They don’t even attempt to whisper either. This all happening right in front of the Tabernacle. There seems to be a lack of respect for what the Church really is. It’s being used as a social hall instead of a house of prayer. Honestly, If we think about it, God truly being there in the tabernacle…That’s a pretty big deal, but it gets treated as though no one is there. I mean this is God but it seems no big deal to people, they just carry out their normal business. God help us.Experience has taught me that when the guitars, piano, (and yes, we have an accordian, ) are up front, it goes hand in hand with a few other things. Audible talking before Mass, choir practice in the few minutes before Mass which is distracting from a reverent mood, and even quite often asking parishioners to learn a new song in the few minutes before Mass begins. Then follows the casual clothing so many love and in my mind shows a lack of reverence for what we are about at Mass. People really need to understand just what participation in the Mass means. This is pretty much the setting in all the parishes close by me, and not so close by. People think we are talking about just the music, but it is so much more than that. My biggest complaint is the total lack of reverence that grows out of all these inovations. I thought things would change some after the Roman Missal changes were made in Avent 2012, but no…People are stubborn. Perhaps it is because people do not understand what receiving the Eucharist means.
To be fair, if you want the congregation to sing, you have to teach a new hymn and the only time to do that is before Mass. But that should be over at least 5 minutes before the start so that silence is well established before the Entrance Procession.Experience has taught me that when the guitars, piano, (and yes, we have an accordian, ) are up front, it goes hand in hand with a few other things. Audible talking before Mass, choir practice in the few minutes before Mass which is distracting from a reverent mood, and even quite often asking parishioners to learn a new song in the few minutes before Mass begins.
I think you’re right…the music has such a big effect on us in every way. If the music is chosen well, we behave well. If the music lacks reverence, we often do too.People think we are talking about just the music, but it is so much more than that. My biggest complaint is the total lack of reverence that grows out of all these inovations.