Music and being Saved

[freudmacher]

Someone please help with some some proof from the C.C.C. or something similar.

The other day the kids at a CCD Mass where singing a song where they were saying over and over again “if you are saved clap your hands, if you are saved stomp your feet” (I wouldn’t have had an issue with this if none of them had not stomped nor clapped cause then they would have known they weren’t, haha). But I talked to the DRE (director) and she said “it’s just a song”.

Can someone out there point me to something in the CCC that talks about this so I can take it to her? Also, how do I reply to “it’s just a song” (which I know was just a copout)?

 

[nickybr38]

It’s a participation song. It’s supposed to goad people into participating in the music… and it’s supposed to be fun.

I actually know this song. We used to sing it at summer camp when I was in Protestant Land. Was this sung in Mass??? Somehow… I can’t see how that’s terribly appropriate as it’s a very Protestant type song. I DO know that when I was a kid I loved it.

Ah well… Hopefully someone can help you out. I’m still new to this so I have no idea what the churches stance on such music is.

 

[freudmacher]

Thank you nick for your reply.

I should have mentioned…the part of the song that’s at issue is that we are “saved”. We aren’t saved. That’s the part that I need to show the DRE. yeah the “participation” part was ok, it was the exit song…but we aren’t saved and that’s what the kids were singing.

 

[nickybr38]

Thank you nick for your reply.

I should have mentioned…the part of the song that’s at issue is that we are “saved”. We aren’t saved. That’s the part that I need to show the DRE. yeah the “participation” part was ok, it was the exit song…but we aren’t saved and that’s what the kids were singing.

Absolutely. I agree that singing a song that declares your salvation with some level of arrogance isn’t exactly appropriate. It’s a very Protestant mentality because it’s a Protestant song.

 

[Joe_5859]

Saying that we are saved is theologically incomplete, but not altogether incorrect. Our salvation is not some total mystery where at any given moment we have absolutely no idea whatsoever whether heaven or hell await us. We cannot presume to know that we will remain in that state at the end of our life, but we can certainly have a pretty clear idea of where we’re at now.

You might want to check out Catholic Answers faith tract: Assurance of Salvation?

The ending sums it up nicely:

“Are you saved?” asks the Fundamentalist. The Catholic should reply: “As the Bible says, I am already saved (Rom. 8:24, Eph. 2:5–8), but I’m also being saved (1 Cor. 1:18, 2 Cor. 2:15, Phil. 2:12), and I have the hope that I will be saved (Rom. 5:9–10, 1 Cor. 3:12–15). Like the apostle Paul I am working out my salvation in fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12), with hopeful confidence in the promises of Christ (Rom. 5:2, 2 Tim. 2:11–13).”

Any activity a kid does in CCD is a form of catechesis and formation. That’s the whole point. Whether a teacher is using lecture, discussion, drama, writing, song, or even crafts, the end goal of all catechesis is to hand on the deposit of faith in all its rigour and vigour to enable the children to come to a living encounter with Our Savior Jesus Christ. Not everything has to be serious, but nothing is extraneous.

But in terms of “picking your battles”, I’m not sure if this is something I’d go to the mat for. It was just one cutesie song that they sung one time (hopefully not really at Mass!? ). If it’s just one example in a pattern of questionable activities, then that may be another matter.

 

[Joe_5859]

I just noticed that you said the song was the exit song. So it really was used at Mass!? I can understand using it as a campy, get-the-kids-moving-so-they-don’t-fall-asleep-for-the-rest-of-class exercise. But it is totally inappropriate for Mass. Mass is not the venue for audience participation songs.

 

[nickybr38]

I just noticed that you said the song was the exit song. So it really was used at Mass!? I can understand using it as a campy, get-the-kids-moving-so-they-don’t-fall-asleep-for-the-rest-of-class exercise. But it is totally inappropriate for Mass. Mass is not the venue for audience participation songs.

Nope, not at all. Youth Masses are often like this though. What do you do?

 

[freudmacher]

Thank y’all both for yalls replies. It helps so much. Also it helps because I began to think I was over reacting. But that it was at mass, I was more concerned.