Music & Friend Problem

[St_Francis]

A new bilingual Mass has been started, and it is particularly convenient for both my friend and me. It was started mostly for the benefit of those who speak the other language, and there are people who play music in that language; however, they do want to have one or two hymns in our language. My friend and I both play guitar, so it may be that we will end up playing giutar as accompaniment for the hymns, those being the only instruments available.

Now, I really like old hymns. I am not too happy with the new ones that are prevalent in this area. The old hymns have stirring inspiring words–when I sing them, I feel that I am praying! OTOH, my friend used to be Charismatic, and thinks I am too old-fashioned, so I have never pushed it.

If we do this, I want to only do hymns with some meat to them, but I don’t want to fight with my friend and the church folks… the priest says friends during the Consecration instead of apostles, so I think I would be alone in this. What should I do?

Thanks very much for any advice or comments!

(I must say that as a result of this, I have learned a lot about hymns and the history of what is going on, and plan to get the hymnal and CDs from Adoremus/Ignatius to teach my children!)

 

[CatholicNerd]

St Francis:

A new bilingual Mass has been started, and it is particularly convenient for both my friend and me. It was started mostly for the benefit of those who speak the other language, and there are people who play music in that language; however, they do want to have one or two hymns in our language. My friend and I both play guitar, so it may be that we will end up playing giutar as accompaniment for the hymns, those being the only instruments available.

Now, I really like old hymns. I am not too happy with the new ones that are prevalent in this area. The old hymns have stirring inspiring words–when I sing them, I feel that I am praying! OTOH, my friend used to be Charismatic, and thinks I am too old-fashioned, so I have never pushed it.

If we do this, I want to only do hymns with some meat to them, but I don’t want to fight with my friend and the church folks… the priest says friends during the Consecration instead of apostles, so I think I would be alone in this. What should I do?

Thanks very much for any advice or comments!

(I must say that as a result of this, I have learned a lot about hymns and the history of what is going on, and plan to get the hymnal and CDs from Adoremus/Ignatius to teach my children!)

Bilingual as in Latin and English? Hehe

 

[Olympia]

Are you a few years older than you friend?

Are you from a different background or culture than your friend?

You sound like you are from a different background/culture than the priest in this parish–you have already discerned this fact.

Face reality: sing some hymns that they want, sing some hymns that you want. Meanwhile be looking for another place to worship.

Maybe you are being called to another place of worship more in tune with your culture.

 

[St_Francis]

Bilingual as in Latin and English? Hehe

I wish!

Face reality: sing some hymns that they want, sing some hymns that you want. Meanwhile be looking for another place to worship.

I remember some hymns from when I was a child, before my mother left the Church, and was entranced by the words of the hymns I read as I looked into this. You answered my main question (which I didn’t make clear), which was is this important enough to make a stand aganist all these people? And you are right: I wouldn’t do anything except upset people… Thank you!

I am only a little older than my friend, but she is a convert.

Unfortunately here in the Bible Belt there are few options. But we are fortunate in that when we visit my parents we have a wide range of options and can visit churches of Eastern Churches.

 

[Olympia]

Olympia:

Are you from a different background or culture than your friend?

I just re-read this post. When I said “culture” I did not necessarily mean Spanish or English.

What I meant to convey is: are you more comfortable in a traditional Catholic culture, (not necessarily Tridentine Mass), or the modern American Catholic culture?

 

[pnewton]

I have always tried to mostly use hymns that are familiar to the parish. If you stick with the basics, you can gradually introduce one new hymns here and there, but do so slowly. There are a lot of good solid, Catholic hymns available. Variety in style is not a bad thing, as long as the congregation participates.