music at mass

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angell1

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need a confirmation, once and for all.

the current hymns that are used at mass are allowed at canon law, are they not? what about some of the more popular praise and worship songs often used at mass for younger people?

I’m looking for church teaching please, not all your personal opinions. it doesn’t matter if you like it or not, just if it’s allowed
 
angell1 said:
the current hymns that are used at mass are allowed at canon law, are they not?
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Canon law has nothing to do with what hymns are sung at mass. This is not something canon law addresses.

What has prompted such a question?
angell1 said:
I’m looking for church teaching please, not all your personal opinions. it doesn’t matter if you like it or not, just if it’s allowed
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The G.I.R.M. and other documents govern the liturgy, not canon law. And they do not specify specific songs. There is wide latitude when it comes to songs.
 
Yes, the Church gives us a great deal of freedom as to music.

Generally, all hymns used during Mass should be taken from a book approved by the bishop/archbishop of your area, or by another bishop or council of bishops in your country.

There is an official hierarchy of desirability:
  1. Gregorian chant (which is supposed to be the default option for all Masses, and to take the principal and most honored place in Catholic church music)
  2. Polyphony singing
  3. Organ-accompanied singing
  4. Everything else.
Both hymns and “praise and worship” stuff is all under “everything else.” No big difference, as far as the Church is concerned. (Assuming the praise and worship song isn’t something unapproved.)

Singing four hymns at Mass is not the default option; it’s a replacement option, for parishes who do not sing a setting of the Introit, Offertorium, and Communio antiphons with psalm verses (yes, they are part of the readings for every Mass, and they change every Sunday just like the readings). Ironically, most Catholics now live and die without ever hearing the “normal” thing.

I’m kind of surprised that “praise and worship music” hasn’t picked up on all the liturgical antiphons and turned them into choruses for praise and worship. For example, this week the Introit antiphon (ie, the one replaced by the opening hymn) is:

“Sing a new song to the Lord! Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Truth and beauty surround Him.
He lives in holiness and glory.”

(And then the psalm verses - or you can just sing the antiphon.)
 
Vatican II was quite clear when it said that Gregorian Chant is to have pride of place in the liturgy, but other music such as polyphony was also permitted.
 
Mintaka said:
Yes, the Church gives us a great deal of freedom as to music.

Generally, all hymns used during Mass should be taken from a book approved by the bishop/archbishop of your area, or by another bishop or council of bishops in your country.

There is an official hierarchy of desirability:
  1. Gregorian chant (which is supposed to be the default option for all Masses, and to take the principal and most honored place in Catholic church music)
  2. Polyphony singing
  3. Organ-accompanied singing
  4. Everything else.
Both hymns and “praise and worship” stuff is all under “everything else.” No big difference, as far as the Church is concerned. (Assuming the praise and worship song isn’t something unapproved.)

Singing four hymns at Mass is not the default option; it’s a replacement option, for parishes who do not sing a setting of the Introit, Offertorium, and Communio antiphons with psalm verses (yes, they are part of the readings for every Mass, and they change every Sunday just like the readings). Ironically, most Catholics now live and die without ever hearing the “normal” thing.

I’m kind of surprised that “praise and worship music” hasn’t picked up on all the liturgical antiphons and turned them into choruses for praise and worship. For example, this week the Introit antiphon (ie, the one replaced by the opening hymn) is:

“Sing a new song to the Lord! Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Truth and beauty surround Him.
He lives in holiness and glory.”

(And then the psalm verses - or you can just sing the antiphon.)
Click to expand...
I’m not surprised. The vast majority of such music is written by Protestants.
 
1ke said:
Canon law has nothing to do with what hymns are sung at mass. This is not something canon law addresses.

What has prompted such a question?

The G.I.R.M. and other documents govern the liturgy, not canon law. And they do not specify specific songs. There is wide latitude when it comes to songs.
Click to expand...
ok, thanks for the clarification.

as for what prompts the question, I’m trying to filter out actual church teaching vs peoples preferences, the line can sometimes be a little blurred. ie.e Gregorian chant should be used at mass and nothing else. or how certain people treat communion in the hand as a desecration, that sort of thing.

people are entitled to their preferences, however it should not rise to the level that everything else is wrong or a desecration or immoral. and I don’t necessarily mean anybody here on particular, in real life, I’ve encountered this as well.
 
angell1 said:
ok, thanks for the clarification.

as for what prompts the question, I’m trying to filter out actual church teaching vs peoples preferences, the line can sometimes be a little blurred. ie.e Gregorian chant should be used at mass and nothing else. or how certain people treat communion in the hand as a desecration, that sort of thing.

people are entitled to their preferences, however it should not rise to the level that everything else is wrong or a desecration or immoral. and I don’t necessarily mean anybody here on particular, in real life, I’ve encountered this as well.
Click to expand...
I would say that when people make such claims, the burden is on them to provide the evidence. Then, each of those things mentioned can be examined (and since we have probably seen the here already), rebutted.

Here is a link to the USCCB explaining the problems and the current relationship between the Girl Scouts and the Catholic Church.
usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/who-we-teach/youth/catholic-scouting-questions.cfm
 
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