National Anthem as a Processional?

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Pitcairn17

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The question of patriotic songs at Mass comes up around national holidays. Today, the “Star Spangled Banner” was used as the entrance “hymn,” which struck me as wildly inappropriate. I’ve experienced songs like “America the Beautiful” as a recessional, which seems more benign, but what happened at Mass today seemed just wrong. Or is it just me?
 
The National Anthem is a secular piece of music, not appropriate for Mass.

Speak to your pastor or music director, remind them that the US National Hymn is far more appropriate for Mass. God of Our Fathers

 
This won’t be the most well-received comment that has ever appeared on CAF, but I always cringe inwardly when patriotic hymns are sung at Mass. For one thing, in many parishes you have people of all different nationalities and citizenships (permanent residents are not citizens and have sworn no loyalty to this country), and patriotism to a country that is not their country, is being forced upon them.

Mass needs to be spiritual, and it needs to be universal. Add to this, the United States is not a Catholic country and never has been. Catholicism is not woven into the thread of the nation, as it is in Poland and other such countries.
 
I too, cringe. For those reasons, but also because we are Catholic, we are one. Playing an anthem or song that declares a tribe or nationality seems contrary to the Mass. add to that, the USA government has banned Church in some areas and seems to want to seize control of the Church it seemed a little like Wearing the jersey of the opposing team.
 
Pitcairn17 said:
but what happened at Mass today seemed just wrong.
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The song isn’t appropriate for Mass. That being said, my guess is that the music director had good intentions and isn’t aware of this.

Unless there are additional serious issues with the music ministry, I would let this misstep go.
 
I’ve never had a problem with patriotic songs at Mass. One does hear the National Anthem at Mass from time to time, particularly at Veterans’ Day or Memorial Day observances where those in attendance are less likely to object. It can be used as an entrance hymn or a recessional. I don’t see a difference myself.

I know some don’t like patriotic songs at Mass and some think of the Star-Spangled Banner as problematic specifically because it’s about a battle, it only mentions God in the rarely-sung verse 3, or they think it’s putting the flag above Jesus. To me, this is all preferences.

If the song selection bothers you, talk to your pastor. It wouldn’t bother me or my mother or a lot of other Catholics I’ve known. I’m glad to hear it at church.
 
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Cruciferi said:
I’ve never had a problem with patriotic songs at Mass. One does hear the National Anthem at Mass from time to time, particularly at Veterans’ Day or Memorial Day observances where those in attendance are less likely to object. It can be used as an entrance hymn or a recessional. I don’t see a difference myself.

I know some don’t like patriotic songs at Mass and some think of the Star-Spangled Banner as problematic specifically because it’s about a battle, it only mentions God in the rarely-sung verse 3, or they think it’s putting the flag above Jesus. To me, this is all preferences.

If the song selection bothers you, talk to your pastor. It wouldn’t bother me or my mother or a lot of other Catholics I’ve known. I’m glad to hear it at church.
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Tis_Bearself said:
I’ve never had a problem with patriotic songs at Mass. One does hear the National Anthem at Mass from time to time, particularly at Veterans’ Day or Memorial Day observances where those in attendance are less likely to object. It can be used as an entrance hymn or a recessional. I don’t see a difference myself.

I know some don’t like patriotic songs at Mass and some think of the Star-Spangled Banner as problematic specifically because it’s about a battle, it only mentions God in the rarely-sung verse 3, or they think it’s putting the flag above Jesus. To me, this is all preferences.

If the song selection bothers you, talk to your pastor. It wouldn’t bother me or my mother or a lot of other Catholics I’ve known.
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The rare occurrence on CAF when one Catholic agrees exactly with another!
 
This is a glitch 🙂 Cruciferi actually posted that he thinks it’s NOT appropriate for Mass.

This happened to someone else on another thread where their post was duplicated under the previous poster’s name. It goes away after a minute, or should. I can’t see the dupe myself so I reckon it’s browser or device related.

The post shown is all mine.
 
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That was inappropriate. While the recessional is not an official procession of the mass, the entrance is. Because of this, the introit or some similar hymn should be used.
 
In the UK it is not unusual for the national anthem to be sung at church services. Perhaps the difference is that our national anthem takes the form of a Christian prayer for our monarch. It wouldn’t be sung during a procession, which would seem a bit irreverent.
 
If this is the most offensive part of the mass you attended, I would say, how fortunate for you!

What’s that old humorous (yet dark) saying? “Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?”
 
dscath said:
If this is the most offensive part of the mass you attended, I would say, how fortunate for you!
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I read this a lot on CAF. Unfortunately you are right. Many parishes have bigger fish to fry than worry about the processional. But it’s also sad that the faithful have to put up with innovations like this, and they are not addressed because hey, it could be worse.
 
TheLittleLady said:
The National Anthem is a secular piece of music, not appropriate for Mass.
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Not to mention the fact that there are specific things that are supposed to be done by those who are in earshot: face the U.S. flag, stand at attention, and salute. Processing doesn’t enter into the picture.
 
DaveBj said:
Processing doesn’t enter into the picture.
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Yes, that’s why I wouldn’t expect people to sing God Save the Queen while walking around. One is supposed to stand respectfully.
 
EmilyAlexandra said:
Yes, that’s why I wouldn’t expect people to sing God Save the Queen while walking around. One is supposed to stand respectfully.
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For the record, when I was in the military, we were instructed to treat the anthem of any country with which we were not at war the same as our own anthem – stand at attention and salute.

D
 
I wouldn’t let it bother you. Your priest has a ton on his plate, this is a relatively minor issue. Let it go.
 
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