Need Help with Mass!

[Th0t]

Ok. So I’ve been in the Spanish choir in my parish for about 4 years. In the beginning when I joined, the talk about bringing in a bass and a drum set and an electric guitar sounded awesome. We (I did also) had the idea that it would attract more people to the Mass etc…
But through out the years, I began to learn more about what is ok in the Mass and what isn’t. I have to my understanding that it is not ok to have that at all. Guitars, piano and an organ is ok. Though I have heard that except for the organ, guitars and the piano are not allowed. But I see that when they have Mass with the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, they have violins and etc.

I need to know if there is an official document saying what is ok and what isn’t. They say that if the priest allows it, then it is fine. I am just confused because they continue to talk about this. For example: “Can’t wait for Fr. so and so to let us bring a bass and drums to play in Mass.” “Man! That’ll be the day!” and I am afraid to speak out of ignorance to them.

HELP! :] Please…

 

[StrawberryJam]

Ok. So I’ve been in the Spanish choir in my parish for about 4 years. In the beginning when I joined, the talk about bringing in a bass and a drum set and an electric guitar sounded awesome. We (I did also) had the idea that it would attract more people to the Mass etc…
But through out the years, I began to learn more about what is ok in the Mass and what isn’t. I have to my understanding that it is not ok to have that at all. Guitars, piano and an organ is ok. Though I have heard that except for the organ, guitars and the piano are not allowed. But I see that when they have Mass with the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, they have violins and etc.

I need to know if there is an official document saying what is ok and what isn’t. They say that if the priest allows it, then it is fine. I am just confused because they continue to talk about this. For example: “Can’t wait for Fr. so and so to let us bring a bass and drums to play in Mass.” “Man! That’ll be the day!” and I am afraid to speak out of ignorance to them.

HELP! :] Please…

The Mass I attend does have a violinist nearly every week. There are four sunday Mass times in the parish I visit.
I can not comment on what instruments would be allowed or not allowed. I think I read that some cultures that have been evangelized to the catholic faith that had previously worshipped in a way that incorporated something like drums, would be allowed to do so.
Which makes me wonder why the church I attend has the sulptures it does have in it.
It is so distracting.

 

[UponTheAltar]

I once spoke with a seminarian who said “if you ever want to get a debate started real quick, just ask what liturgically appropriate music is.” He was right.

You will get many that are very Pro-Organ and those who are very Pro-Electric Guitar, those being the extremes of both sides. The argument is that traditionally (and we are a church of tradition) Organ has been the only acceptable instrument along with the occasional Violin and Piano. It is seen to be traditional as well as the most reverent of the instruments for liturgical music. Those for more contemporary musical instruments in the mass argue that one can play just as reverently with a guitar or bass as one could with an organ. This might be so but, in my humble opinion, liturgical music using instruments such as the bass have never been as reverent as more classical instruments. In fact they have, in my experience, been more distracting and attention-grabbing than the more classical instruments.

As we all know, it is not about the music, it is about Christ, who is truly present at Holy Mass in the Most Holy Eucharist. The music is only there to accompany and assist prayer. If music is distracting from a prayerful environment, is must be changed or if absolutely necessary removed and replaced with chant such as they do in most daily masses. I am 19 and I have always found that I am more at peace and connected to The Spirit with a soft organ or violin in the background. I prefer Organ, piano, violin and occasionally the flute or clarinet. Orchestral instruments have a unique way of supporting a prayerful environment.

If you have a preference to more traditional styles of music or concerns about the use of contemporary styles at mass, don’t hesitate to bring it up. Chances are, you are not the only one. Kindly suggest that such music would be better held at youth group or another social function rather than at Mass where, even if people like such music, the traditional always invokes a non-comparable feeling of prayer that all can appreciate.

God Bless:harp:

P.S.

"I think I read that some cultures that have been evangelized to the catholic faith that had previously worshipped in a way that incorporated something like drums, would be allowed to do so. "

You might have been reading about acceptable methods of worship due to region and culture such as the debate over liturgical dance. The law states, and I do not quote, that worship can incorporate the methods of worship familiar to a culture. (Watch this: youtube.com/watch?v=9rJFdmmqj_s ) So, it is safe to say that whereas the organ might be the most reverent for European and American worship, the bongos and ivory horn may be more appropriate in some parts of Africa, you know? But, this is different than what we are talking about.

 

[FCEGM]

Ok. So I’ve been in the Spanish choir in my parish for about 4 years. In the beginning when I joined, the talk about bringing in a bass and a drum set and an electric guitar sounded awesome. We (I did also) had the idea that it would attract more people to the Mass etc…
But through out the years, I began to learn more about what is ok in the Mass and what isn’t. I have to my understanding that it is not ok to have that at all. Guitars, piano and an organ is ok. Though I have heard that except for the organ, guitars and the piano are not allowed. But I see that when they have Mass with the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, they have violins and etc.

I need to know if there is an official document saying what is ok and what isn’t. They say that if the priest allows it, then it is fine. I am just confused because they continue to talk about this. For example: “Can’t wait for Fr. so and so to let us bring a bass and drums to play in Mass.” “Man! That’ll be the day!” and I am afraid to speak out of ignorance to them.

HELP! :] Please…

This article by (then) Cdl. Ratzinger, might be helpful:

adoremus.org/0408SacredMusic.html