Music during Adoration

[cspb56]

Since I don’t have it in front of me I’m not 100% sure of this but the document concerning exposition does say something to the effect that during prolonged periods of adoration periods of auricular prayer and singing is appropriate.

 

[agapewolf]

No, it wasn’t harsh- when they are asserting their very narrow incorrect opinion of what they think should be done as if it is concrete objective fact. THAT is what is harsh.

It may not be your taste for prayer . Fine, it doesn’t have to be. But stop invalidating it for others, because the church allows for it, and even suggests it as an option.

 

[Phemie]

Is this what we are teaching our young people about adoration. Where is the reverence and the idea that everyone is there to pray individually without anyone directing their thoughts while they are in the presence of our Lord. I would think the talk should have been done prior to them going in and the singing - well, I don’t know what to think about that. Can someone help me out here. Am I really old school here and are things changing that much. I am really disappointed.

There is very little silent adoration during our parish’s monthly Holy Hour. The Blessed Sacrament is exposed in the Monstrance, readings are done, the rosary is recited, other prayers are said. It’s not my cup of tea and I don’t attend, reserving my adoration for Holy Thursday when we DO have a long period of silent adoration, but it’s perfectly valid and is done according to a liturgical book published long ago.

In fact, Redemptionis Sacramentum had this to say about Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament:

[137.] Exposition of the Most Holy Eucharist must always be carried out in accordance with the prescriptions of the liturgical books.[235] Before the Most Holy Sacrament either reserved or exposed, the praying of the Rosary, which is admirable “in its simplicity and even its profundity”, is not to be excluded either.[236] Even so, especially if there is Exposition**,** the character of this kind of prayer as a contemplation of the mystery of the life of Christ the Redeemer and the Almighty Father’s design of salvation should be emphasized, especially by making use of readings taken from Sacred Scripture.[237]

Also in 1973’s ***EUCHARISTIAE SACRAMENTUM *** from the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship we find this:

Brief Period Of Exposition
89. Shorter expositions of the eucharist are to be arranged in such a way that the blessing with the eucharist is preceded by a reasonable time for readings of the word of God, songs, prayers, and a period for silent prayer.[9]
Exposition merely for the purpose of giving benediction is prohibited.

 

[Student09]

There is very little silent adoration during our parish’s monthly Holy Hour. The Blessed Sacrament is exposed in the Monstrance, readings are done, the rosary is recited, other prayers are said. It’s not my cup of tea and I don’t attend, reserving my adoration for Holy Thursday when we DO have a long period of silent adoration, but it’s perfectly valid and is done according to a liturgical book published long ago.
:

My parish has both silent Adoration and what you describe, with many prayers. There is a period for silence at one point during these prayers but it usually only lasts 2-3 minutes, and then the prayers start again and I’m going, “What? No! Shush!” But as you said, that is my preference, and I’m just grateful that the parish does make silent Adoration possible too.

And sometimes, group vocal prayers and readings in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament can be quite beautiful and powerful. It does not sound like this was the case with what the girl in the OP experienced, but that doesn’t mean it is wrong to have vocal prayers, just as the fact that bad music is sometimes/often played at Mass doesn’t mean that it’s wrong to have music during Mass. A good thing can be done badly.

 

[latingirl]

No, it wasn’t harsh- when they are asserting their very narrow incorrect opinion of what they think should be done as if it is concrete objective fact. THAT is what is harsh.

It may not be your taste for prayer . Fine, it doesn’t have to be. But stop invalidating it for others, because the church allows for it, and even suggests it as an option.

It is just an opinion and maybe you should show some respect for people who think differently than you do, just as you yourself are complaining about?

 

[MissRose73]

I prefer to go to Adoration in places that offer Perpetual Adoration the most although I’ve gone to places that offer a few hours on certain days. You can come and go as based on your schedule and/or if you want you may volunteer to commit to a certain day(s) and time(s) too. I go when I am able, and prefer to spend the time in silent prayer, reading and reflection. Some people do pray the Rosary, but do so quietly. This is how I like to go to Adoration.

I’ve gone to Benediction and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. The church I went to is an ethnic parish where they pray the Rosary in that language starting around 3pm. Then when it is finished, then Benediction & Exposition is done with the prayers in Latin and/or English like Tatum Ergo etc. Then the Rosary is often prayed in English before the Sunday afternoon Extraordinary Form Mass, with a priest hearing Confessions for about 15 to 20 minutes before Mass starts then he goes to vest with Mass starting at 4pm.

 

[agapewolf]

It is just an opinion and maybe you should show some respect for people who think differently than you do, just as you yourself are complaining about?

I didn’t “not” show respect.

The poster several times spoke as if they were the final authority on the way things should be done, as if their opinion on the matter was straight objective church reality—which is far from the truth.

This was said:

my heart was very saddened that they are not being taught this beautiful prayerful experience in the way it should be taught. They left there not knowing what they had just experienced and how deeply it may have touched them. .

There are all kinds of presumptions and judgments made on the people attending and the people running it.

 

[anruari]

I can certainly see many sides in this discussion.

The traditional Benediction followed by a Holy hour of silent Adoration (or longer) is a venerable “Gold Standard” for how exposition of the Eucharist should be carried out.
in My parish it’s all day Saturday, where the Blessed Sacrament Is exposed After Saturday Morning Mass unitl it is reserved at 17:30 Half an hour before the Anticipitatory Mass in the evening for the next day. There are prayers led by the priest at the exposition and the reposing. I know he leads a litany as part of the prayers at the exposition.
I confess to not being there often enough at those times to know which prayers are said when. I cant remember at which time he carried out the benediction.

There is never any music at these events in my parish except plain chant led by the priest.

I have also experienced may varied experiences of adoration in various prayer groups. Often there would be some music or meditations, but those would be outweighed by time spent in silent prayer.
Most retreats I’ve been to have perpetual adoration in a designated chapel throughout the retreat. - that’s always silent:- except where a planned group prayer session is held in that chapel or the Blessed sacrament is brought to an altar in a larger main venue for Mass or Adoration.

My opinion is this:
In parishes where adoration is rarely available it should be as traditional as possible.

In areas where there is a variety of times and / or locations where adoration can be accessed, then it is good to permit various different charisms and styles of worship - but the most venerable and “by the book” examples should always be easily available and upheld as the “Gold Standard”
This applies not just to Adoration of the blessed sacrament, but also to other forms of prayer and liturgy.

 

[liturgyluver]

There should, of course, be time for silent adoration, but is traditional to sing the O Salutaris and Tantum Ergo plus a hymn in Benediction services. If you have an old Catholic hymnal you will normally find a section that says Benediction hymns.

 

[latingirl]

I didn’t “not” show respect.

The poster several times spoke as if they were the final authority on the way things should be done, as if their opinion on the matter was straight objective church reality—which is far from the truth.

This was said:

There are all kinds of presumptions and judgments made on the people attending and the people running it.

Okay I see.

 

[TimothyH]

The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in New York City have a benediction and Eucharistic Adoration which I would love to go to. Seems to be well attended based on the pictures.

catholicunderground.net/photos.html

-Tim-

 

[Irishgal49]

That is unfortunate, but the good news is, I don’t think it’s common or that this is the way things are headed. I have been to Adoration at a number of different parishes in different dioceses and have never encountered this. There is one parish I know of that has a “Hispanic Holy Hour” where they pray and sing hymns in Spanish in front of the Blessed Sacrament, but it’s only one hour a month and the rest of the time they have silent Adoration. I’ve never heard “Be not Afraid” as a Benediction hymn. On the other hand, I do make a point of trying to find parishes that are not too wacky.

Since she attended this as part of a class and there was a woman talking about Adoration, it sounds like maybe it was a (misguided) attempt at an educational session and Adoration is not usually like this at their church? Or, if this is how it’s usually done there, take her to the chapel where you attend Adoration so she can experience it as it should be experienced.

I am not shocked at all, I’m sad to say. At my parish we have Adoration on Tues evening from 7-9 (right after Mass) and then all day on Friday from 8 am to 8 pm. On one Friday evening a month our parish has a Euchre tournament in the basement. Well this makes a lot of noise. It was decided that Gregorian Chant music would be played but this was never announced to anyone. So I’m sitting there chomping at the bit, I cannot wait for Adoration to start and everyone to BE QUIET so I can pray. Then a woman gets up walks to the back and kicks on the chant music. I was shocked. Well I wrote an email to the priest and included one other person who was also complaining. He explained about the noise and so I figured OK, once a month, I will make a note to not go there, I will go to another Adoration (there’s another one 20 minutes away). Well this woman took it on herself to play music EVERY Friday night. I complained again (poor priest, I know) and said I was not attending Adoration any more on Fridays if this continued…I wasn’t nasty, just found it really distracting. Well the next Friday I’m there, and she starts the music. The priest comes out of the Confessional, walks to the back, clicks off the music, whispers to the woman, nods at me and goes back in the Confessional. He is SO AWESOME!! God bless Him for giving us that quiet time.
I would have left if what you described happened while I was there, that’s terrible. No one wants silence any more–but that’s when I hear the Lord and I long to hear Him. I have noisy people in my face all week long. I WANT to be in the quiet with Him.

Lorrie

 

[Fiasco]

No, it wasn’t harsh- when they are asserting their very narrow incorrect opinion of what they think should be done as if it is concrete objective fact. THAT is what is harsh.

It may not be your taste for prayer . Fine, it doesn’t have to be. But stop invalidating it for others, because the church allows for it, and even suggests it as an option.

Notice that after the dig at Steubenville, i included the words: “Each to his own, of course.” Admittedly, it was in small print , so if your eyesight`s worse than mine, you may not have seen it.

It is just an opinion and maybe you should show some respect for people who think differently than you do, just as you yourself are complaining about?

Hear, hear!

I didn’t “not” show respect.

The poster several times spoke as if they were the final authority on the way things should be done, as if their opinion on the matter was straight objective church reality—which is far from the truth.

There are all kinds of presumptions and** judgments **made on the people attending and the people running it.

Some of the judgements getting thrown around here are being made by you.

Anyway, rather than sling insults at each other, let`s repeat in larger print:** EACH TO HIS OWN!**

i just hope Sacristan hasn`t been frightened off. A thick skin is an asset.

 

[arkwright]

There is such a “fear” of silence today .

Every Monday evening during Advent and Lent our late parish priest would have a Holy Hour of Adoration .

He would play some quiet music , except on the Monday of Holy Week , when there was total silence .

The music was not a distraction to me , but the silence of the Holy Week Adoration was beautiful and preferable to the music .

 

[sacristan1]

I am somewhat taken back by some of the comments that have been posted here - some have been very kind and informative and others simply harsh and ugly. As I stated earlier it was my intention to obtain information regarding the term XLT which I had not heard of before, not to place judgement but to get information so I could make a determination based on the information given to me by my confirmand. I was not at this event, therefore, I am basing my opinion on what she has told me. She did not enjoy her experience. She expressed that she would much rather have gone to a traditional form of adoration which we will do next week. As for me, I will not be back on this site. There is one person on here that turned everything I said around to make me sound like a judgmental and narrow minded person which is not the case at all. I did a lot of research on XLT on the internet and now I am aware of what it is and I am sure there are a lot of young people that this appeals to and perhaps a lot of adults as well. However, it does not appeal to everyone - just as the traditional form apparently does not appeal to everyone. I simply came on here to get information not to get into any sort of argumentative situation regarding adoration which I feel is a beautiful experience no matter how it is done. Whatever the church allows is fine with me. To those kind souls who showed me so much consideration and kindness, thank you very much.

 

[Sarabande]

There is such a “fear” of silence today .

Every Monday evening during Advent and Lent our late parish priest would have a Holy Hour of Adoration .

He would play some quiet music , except on the Monday of Holy Week , when there was total silence .

The music was not a distraction to me , but the silence of the Holy Week Adoration was beautiful and preferable to the music .

Although I do love music, being completely immersed in music as a musician as well as spiritually fulfilled by it, and don’t mind some music played at adoration, I do agree with you that there seems to be a fear or dislike of silence or at the very least this idea that silence isn’t allowed. It’s not just in churches, but everywhere. I see it with family members and co-workers who can’t function unless there is some kind noise. Some of them (I will note, NOT ALL) have even admitted that it makes them upset and/or anxious if there isn’t music or television sound being played. Then this idea of noise or music extends into mass or adoration. Some priests request that every time there is a silent spot, the instrumentalist will need to play “filler” music, or the musicians, themselves, were “raised” with the belief that there has to be music all the time, even if the priests don’t request it.

Now, I’m definitely NOT saying or assuming that those who want music at adoration are those who do become upset, nervous, anxious if there is silence, but I have found in my own observations and experiences in real every day life the beauty of silence has been forgotten, not taught, or disregarded in all aspects of life.

 

[agapewolf]

Notice that after the dig at Steubenville, i included the words: “Each to his own, of course.” Admittedly, it was in small print , so if your eyesight`s worse than mine, you may not have seen it.

Some of the judgements getting thrown around here are being made by you.

Anyway, rather than sling insults at each other, let`s repeat in larger print:** EACH TO HIS OWN!**

I made no such judgement or insult at all. I did not claim that one preference was the objective preference of the church and the way things “should” be. The other did. It was invalidating to what the church actually allows for, and that is wrong. Claiming preference as objective truth is a problem.

I also was not referring to your comment about steubenville.