Nine Reasons People Aren't Singing in Worship

[clem456]

I think people take an either/or stance in these things, and that’s not what it is, as Michelle Arnold pointed out. I agree with the adage that a vibrant parish is a singing parish, but that’s not an exclusive idea, that somehow *not *singing proves the negative.

It’s unfortunate that listening and contemplation is seen as somehow lesser worship. The idea that silence and contemplation are not active worship is simply not supported in Catholic thought.
JP2 has a good expression of active listening:

Ad Limina Address of Pope John Paul II to Bishops of the United States On Active Participation in the Liturgy
Discourse of the Holy Father to the Bishops of the Episcopal Conference of the United States of America (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska) at their Ad Limina Visit October 9, 1998.
…
Active participation certainly means that, in gesture, word, song and service, all the members of the community take part in an act of worship, which is anything but inert or passive. Yet active participation does not preclude the active passivity of silence, stillness and listening: indeed, it demands it. Worshippers are not passive, for instance, when listening to the readings or the homily, or following the prayers of the celebrant, and the chants and music of the liturgy. These are experiences of silence and stillness, but they are in their own way profoundly active. In a culture which neither favors nor fosters meditative quiet, the art of interior listening is learned only with difficulty. Here we see how the liturgy, though it must always be properly inculturated, must also be counter-cultural.

Conscious participation calls for the entire community to be properly instructed in the mysteries of the liturgy, lest the experience of worship degenerate into a form of ritualism. But it does not mean a constant attempt within the liturgy itself to make the implicit explicit, since this often leads to a verbosity and informality which are alien to the Roman Rite and end by trivializing the act of worship. Nor does it mean the suppression of all subconscious experience, which is vital in a liturgy which thrives on symbols that speak to the subconscious just as they speak to the conscious…
If subconscious experience is ignored in worship, an affective and devotional vacuum is created and the liturgy can become not only too verbal but also too cerebral. Yet the Roman Rite is again distinctive in the balance it strikes between a spareness and a richness of emotion: it feeds the heart and the mind, the body and the soul.

 

[Elizium23]

The reason that active listening is so important is because there are parts of the Mass where it is not our place to speak or sing. There are many parts of the forma extraordinaria, indeed sometimes all the way through, when the congregation does not speak or sing. Even in the forma ordinaria, there are prayers which are proper to the priest: we may have them printed in our little disposable missallettes, but they are in normal-weight type, not boldface, and therefore they are there for us to listen and contemplate and actively participate thus.

However, other parts of the Mass demand our voice. There is, as I have proven, a Divine Command to sing, to lift our voices in praise. Even if that voice is not well-trained, or sounds like a bleating sheep, we should try. And by trying, we train ourselves to get better. By trying, we learn the words, we learn the tunes, we hear ourselves in our bones, we exercise the muscle memory. We internalize these things by active participation much better than by active listening. And I don’t see anything that contradicts me. Of course everyone who writes on active participation will have something to say about silence. It is very important for everyone to know when it is his turn to speak, and when it is his turn to be silent and listen.

The Internet gave rise to text chat and text chat has a weird property, you can “speak” while “hearing”. I learned this in 1989 when I was using “write” on a System V Unix 3B2. I didn’t have to wait for my companion to finish what he was saying, I could type up a storm and finish a thought and send it out any time I wanted, and I would still receive his communication and be able to read it and digest it. This is not true in liturgy or in personal conversation. These things are “half duplex”, as we would say. We need to use “flow control” where one person remains silent and listens actively while the other person speaks. In liturgy, sometimes that is God speaking. However, when we are given the tools to participate, when it is our place to make noise, we make a joyful noise, as we are COMMANDED by God throughout all of salvation history.

 

[clem456]

I think we can all agree the worship of God is part of the virtue of justice. It is “right and just to give him thanks and praise”.
How is it expressed? I think it’s an overreach to suggest that the only way to do things is to sing always or be considered an inactive non-participant.
I like this from JP2’s thoughts:

In a culture which neither favors nor fosters meditative quiet, the art of interior listening is learned only with difficulty. Here we see how the liturgy, though it must always be properly inculturated, must also be counter-cultural.

I think it’s important that parish staff, musicians, liturgy directors, keep in mind the diversity of our people, and the different expressions of worship. While providing every opportunity for robust singing we can appreciate the worship of our actively but quietly participating people. I can tell you that in our parish staff circle, the quiet types have become “those people”, derisively called “pew plugs”. It’s an intolerance that is really unfortunate.

The man I referenced earlier had a profound conversion experience listening to the liturgical music before Christmas Eve Mass. Was his listening passive? You’d have to take that question up with the Holy Spirit.
He sings now at Mass when the songs are singable, and leads the rosary, and has just begun to lead a group of young people with his high school age daughter.

 

[Cat]

This is what Michelle Arnold says:

I’m wondering where you find her saying bad things about active listening at Mass?

One is not a lesser Catholic or necessarily a bad example because one does not sing hymns. If one conveys to the kids that active participation is beneath them or not worth the effort, now you have bad example. It would be great if everyone sang at the top of their lungs. But not everyone participates that way. My father never once sang at Mass. Was he a bad example for us? Hardly. Was he participating? Yes.

Everyone at Mass is *invited to *immerse themselves in the Mass and participate. Participation simply takes different forms, and we need to accept the diverse spiritual dispositions and ways of expression, not cajole people into our own framework. Nothing drives people away like the expectation to do it like we do it. We have “Unity through diversity”.

We were told long ago by our choir director to not worry about whether the congregation is singing along with a particular hymn or not. And as I said earlier, some the hymns we do are not even in the book, they are not sing-alongs. Are we still praising God? Yes. Lori True’s Magnificat is another beautiful song we do that is not in the book. Everyone generally knows the verses from Scripture but the song is not in people’s hands. It’s a beautiful meditative piece. It’s thoughtful and prayerful.

Our ministry is to sing God’s praise and lead. The rest is the work of the Holy Spirit. If one person is expressing God’s grace, other’s can be led. The Spirit can spread like a fire and inspire a lot of people to sing along. It can also spread like a fire and bring people to silent thought and prayer. Neither is a lesser expression of faith. We are called to participate and give God our best.

OK, so don’t sing. I can sing alone, and I’ll play for Jesus and the angels and the few people in the congregation who do bother to sing the hymns that the music director has selected for that particular Mass.

But can all of you “active listeners” at least open up the missallette or hymnal, or hold up the song sheet, and follow along with the words? Please?

I have a very hard time believing that you know all the words to all the hymns by memory, or that you are such a good listener and your parish sound system is so top-line that you can understand every word that the choir or cantor is singing.

Thanks.

Is “active listening” going to be the rule in heaven, too? The Redeemed Ones who don’t want to sing along with everyone else can just stand there?

Sigh. This thread is depressing. I simply have no conception of “not singing.” When I get a cold and can’t sing, my heart is broken. And I am definitely not a good singer. And I don’t listen to music on the radio, and I don’t own an iPod. I just love singing songs about God with a congregation.

But it’s not about me, right?

 

[jmcrae]

Sigh. This thread is depressing. I simply have no conception of “not singing.” When I get a cold and can’t sing, my heart is broken. And I am definitely not a good singer. And I don’t listen to music on the radio, and I don’t own an iPod. I just love singing songs about God with a congregation.

But it’s not about me, right?

I’m with you on this one - I like to sing, too.

I’ve had moments at Mass when I didn’t sing, not because I didn’t want to, but because at that particular moment, the tune made no sense to me, and I couldn’t get caught up with the words - quite often, due to an “attack” of sensory overload.

I have ADD (not ADHD, which is something entirely different), so I’m slow at the best of times, and when I’m badly distracted or when I’m experiencing sensory overload, everything just falls apart.

But I know that when I get to Heaven, my ADD will be resolved, and I will be singing out loud with the Angels and with the Saints.
:extrahappy: :dancing: :extrahappy: :dancing: :extrahappy:

You keep doing what you’re doing, and I’ll do everything I can to sing along, my dear!

 

[clem456]

OK, so don’t sing. I can sing alone, and I’ll play for Jesus and the angels and the few people in the congregation who do bother to sing the hymns that the music director has selected for that particular Mass.

But can all of you “active listeners” at least open up the missallette or hymnal, or hold up the song sheet, and follow along with the words? Please?

I have a very hard time believing that you know all the words to all the hymns by memory, or that you are such a good listener and your parish sound system is so top-line that you can understand every word that the choir or cantor is singing.

Thanks.

Is “active listening” going to be the rule in heaven, too? The Redeemed Ones who don’t want to sing along with everyone else can just stand there?

Sigh. This thread is depressing. I simply have no conception of “not singing.” When I get a cold and can’t sing, my heart is broken. And I am definitely not a good singer. And I don’t listen to music on the radio, and I don’t own an iPod. I just love singing songs about God with a congregation.

But it’s not about me, right?

I’m really at a loss as to how to respond to this.

I’m sorry you are upset. There is no reason to be upset. I sing at Mass. I’m in the choir. Our parish has quite a bit of singing.

I’m not quite sure why you would be personally wounded here.
I have not read anyone say people should not be encouraged to sing.

Really I don’t get it.

 

[TheLeastofThese]

OK, so don’t sing. I can sing alone, and I’ll play for Jesus and the angels and the few people in the congregation who do bother to sing the hymns that the music director has selected for that particular Mass.

But can all of you “active listeners” at least open up the missallette or hymnal, or hold up the song sheet, and follow along with the words? Please?

I have a very hard time believing that you know all the words to all the hymns by memory, or that you are such a good listener and your parish sound system is so top-line that you can understand every word that the choir or cantor is singing.

Thanks.

Is “active listening” going to be the rule in heaven, too? The Redeemed Ones who don’t want to sing along with everyone else can just stand there?

Sigh. This thread is depressing. I simply have no conception of “not singing.” When I get a cold and can’t sing, my heart is broken. And I am definitely not a good singer. And I don’t listen to music on the radio, and I don’t own an iPod. I just love singing songs about God with a congregation.

But it’s not about me, right?

Hi Cat~

I too LOVE to sing, and even though I’m sure I’m not really great at it, (no solo’s for me,) I sing my heart out every time I am at Mass! I have always loved to sing and it saddens me that there seem to be so many people who don’t, but that’s probably because I cannot fathom the thought of a life without it.

So you sing as loud as you can and maybe, one day, we’ll meet in heaven and then we can sing together!

 

[pnewton]

There is NO secular activity that is comparable to singing in a congregation in church.

Texas A&M Midnight Yell Practice, at least if you compare it to many congregations today. Why? They have a traditions that they are proud of and excited to be a part of. What do we have? We have traditions that are centuries old and the Creator of All coming into our midst.

Which brings me to my point. The worst thing for an Aggie to be is a two percenter. Somehow being a two percenter is acceptable in Mass, even for those who would never slack off at work, or even for a football game.

 

[ProVobis]

Yes.
I wish the light bulb would go on in parish offices around the country, and people would realize the face of change seems to be stuck in the Western European 70’s-80’s, and much of the music reflects it.

FWIW, I pointed out on another thread that many who seem to be “stuck in the 70’s” tend to point fingers at those “stuck in the 50’s” but at least one person took offense to it.

 

[ProVobis]

But can all of you “active listeners” at least open up the missallette or hymnal, or hold up the song sheet, and follow along with the words? Please?

I do that and wonder why the antiphons listed for that Sunday are skipped. What’s wrong with them?

 

[johnnyc176]

Isn’t there a # 10? Some people would rather have quiet? That’s why we have Quiet and Low Masses?

 

[Elizium23]

Isn’t there a # 10? Some people would rather have quiet? That’s why we have Quiet and Low Masses?

Yet, there is a Divine Command to sing; following this, the Church teaches that the solemnity of Mass may be increased when some or all of it is sung. For many people, Missa Lecta on Sundays is not an option, only Missa Cantata or Missa Solemnis is offered, so what are you going to do if you “like quiet”? Not go on Sunday?

 

[Cat]

I’m really at a loss as to how to respond to this.

I’m sorry you are upset. There is no reason to be upset. I sing at Mass. I’m in the choir. Our parish has quite a bit of singing.

I’m not quite sure why you would be personally wounded here.
I have not read anyone say people should not be encouraged to sing.

Really I don’t get it.

Maybe this will explain.

The problem with your post and other writings endorsing “active participation” is that in the Real World of parish Masses, people now have a really holy-sounding excuse to not sing if they don’t feel like it and if they don’t like the songs (too modern, too old fashioned, too “lame”, too “Protestant”, etc.).

If people truly hate all the songs in the Mass and truly feel that the only way they can experience the True Presence of Jesus Christ is in a Mass with no music at all, then I recommend that they try really hard to find a silent Mass (no music done) or a Latin Mass that has no schola or organist so that they don’t have to experience personal torment in their souls every week.

I wish I could just not even be aware of all the other people in the Mass and be like those Catholics who ignore everyone around them because the Mass is all about their personal alone time with God.

But I’m stuck in the Real World, and in the Real World, it is a downer to be singing my heart out and realize that I’m one of only a few, while everyone else around me is “actively participating” by staring into space with a bored expression. Besides, I don’t sound that great without the men, women, and children around me singing, too. I’m not a soloist.

How about this?–if a Catholic chooses to be an “active participant” in the Mass instead of singing, and chooses not to pick up the hymnal to follow the words, how about keeping a serene and sweet facial expression that communicates to all of us that yes, they are really, truly actively participating and not just standing there counting off the minutes until Mass is over?

There’s an old Protestant song with the lines, “There’s a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place…there are sweet expressions on each face…and I know they feel the Presence of the Lord.”

Shouldn’t that song be especially true of Catholic churches where the Presence of the Lord is real?

Cken456, I am willing to bet a paycheck–several paychecks-- that most people who aren’t singing in the Mass aren’t “actively participating,” but are just not singing because they don’t want to sing and they don’t like the songs and they wish that the Mass music was more modern or more traditional or that more skilled musicians would play/sing, or that the Pope would end Mass music altogether (because then the Mass would be shorter).

And this is WRONG, and we Catholics shouldn’t be excusing bad behavior or trying to put a good spin on it.

These Catholics should be called out and reminded that if they aren’t really, truly “actively participating” in their silence, then they should man up and LEARN to sing, and LEARN the songs, or at least pick up the hymnal and LOOK at the words.

There are hundreds of Scriptural passages admonishing us to SING to the Lord! The Christians of the first few centuries SANG TOGETHER as they were herded into the arenas to be tortured and slaughtered. I can’t even imagine doing that now with fellow Christians.

 

[ProVobis]

Yes.
I wish the light bulb would go on in parish offices around the country, and people would realize the face of change seems to be stuck in the Western European 70’s-80’s, and much of the music reflects it.

I think you touched on the problem. It does seem like the bishops and priests aren’t making the decisions regarding music and the liturgy but the parishes which seem to be “stuck in the 70’s.” The funny part is that it also seems they are still fighting those bad people who are “stuck in the 50’s.”

i’m not suggesting that contemporary music is better but perhaps look at what’s really in front of us, ability to use the suggested antiphons and the ability to use the two forms of the Latin rite. This should enable us to participate in the Mass proper, no matter how we define participation.

 

[ProVobis]

Isn’t there a # 10? Some people would rather have quiet? That’s why we have Quiet and Low Masses?

Although the Council of Trent (Session 22) did teach that it was proper to use submissa voce (low tones) within the Mass so that one can “easily be raised to the meditation of divine things” it also recognized that certain things can be pronounced with “louder ones.” There is no such thing as a 100% quiet Mass but I do see your point.

 

[johnnyc176]

Yet, there is a Divine Command to sing; following this, the Church teaches that the solemnity of Mass may be increased when some or all of it is sung.

So if there is a Divine Command to sing why is there the option of a Quiet/Low Mass at all?

 

[clem456]

Maybe this will explain.

The problem with your post and other writings endorsing “active participation” is that in the Real World of parish Masses, people now have a really holy-sounding excuse to not sing if they don’t feel like it and if they don’t like the songs (too modern, too old fashioned, too “lame”, too “Protestant”, etc.).

Wow.
I’ve posted something that is a problem? The thoughts of a beloved Pope…
I’m endorsing something? What is it that you are accusing me of endorsing?
I gave people an excuse not to sing?
Why are you going off on me for…what?
My gosh, I’m expecting the police to knock on the door any second and tell me what a problem my post is.
Can you address specific points rather than immediately resorting to an attack? Nowhere did I endorse people finding excuses not to sing.

If people truly hate all the songs in the Mass and truly feel that the only way they can experience the True Presence of Jesus Christ is in a Mass with no music at all,

Where does this launch come from? And why are you using my posts for a straw man? If you would take a deep breath, you might realize we are on the same team together.

then I recommend that they try really hard to find a silent Mass (no music done) or a Latin Mass that has no schola or organist so that they don’t have to experience personal torment in their souls every week.

People are tormented?
I don’t know anything about “Latin Mass”. Never been to one, don’t have a desire to go to one. There aren’t any here.
But don’t let that stop you…Surely you know that I really want music to disappear.

I

wish I could just not even be aware of all the other people in the Mass and be like those Catholics who ignore everyone around them because the Mass is all about their personal alone time with God.

Ah yes, “those Catholics”. Those people. Those quiet people. How bout those gays, those divorced people, those funny family situation people. Those people who aren’t like me.
Really, we are blessed that you know their souls so well as to divine their intentional “ignorance” and selfishness.

But I’m stuck in the Real World, and in the Real World, it is a downer to be singing my heart out and realize that I’m one of only a few, while everyone else around me is “actively participating” by staring into space with a bored expression. Besides, I don’t sound that great without the men, women, and children around me singing, too. I’m not a soloist.

Why the self imposed martyrdom? If leading the praise of God is such a spiritual downer, why are you doing it? Serious question. If your praise of the Lord depends upon the feedback of others, you might be in the wrong ministry.
Our choir director is a wise man with 30 years experience. He’s told us several times something like this
“leading the congregation in prayer and praise is not about you. You don’t concern yourself with who is singing or not singing, or who criticizes the music. Praise is good to have, but remember that for every praise someone is irritated. Your job is to lead the people in prayer and praise, God takes care of the rest.”
Our pre-Mass choir prayer reflects that. We lead through ministry, but it is God’s grace in action. We don’t dictate to God how his grace will take hold, or how it will express itself in the congregation. A silent curmudgeon my go home and be nice to his family all week after being touched by grace.

How about this?–if a Catholic chooses to be an “active participant” in the Mass instead of singing, and chooses not to pick up the hymnal to follow the words, how about keeping a serene and sweet facial expression that communicates to all of us that yes, they are really, truly actively participating and not just standing there counting off the minutes until Mass is over?

Good luck to you policing all that. I’m not sure how you are going to divine the motivations of people.

There’s an old Protestant song with the lines, “There’s a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place…there are sweet expressions on each face…and I know they feel the Presence of the Lord.”

Shouldn’t that song be especially true of Catholic churches where the Presence of the Lord is real?

We sing that, it’s called “Surely the Presence”. Honestly, I don’t know what expressions everyone has. Honestly, there are probably some with serene expressions, but last week if your mother died, or if you spouse is divorcing you, is there room in your church for “those people” too, whose faces don’t fit your profile?

Cken456, I am willing to bet a paycheck–several paychecks-- that most people who aren’t singing in the Mass aren’t “actively participating,” but are just not singing because they don’t want to sing and they don’t like the songs and they wish that the Mass music was more modern or more traditional or that more skilled musicians would play/sing, or that the Pope would end Mass music altogether (because then the Mass would be shorter).

And this is WRONG, and we Catholics shouldn’t be excusing bad behavior or trying to put a good spin on it.

These Catholics should be called out and reminded that if they aren’t really, truly “actively participating” in their silence, then they should man up and LEARN to sing, and LEARN the songs, or at least pick up the hymnal and LOOK at the words.

There are hundreds of Scriptural passages admonishing us to SING to the Lord! The Christians of the first few centuries SANG TOGETHER as they were herded into the arenas to be tortured and slaughtered. I can’t even imagine doing that now with fellow Christians.

Keep your paycheck please. Maybe give it to one of “those people”.
Keep the misplaced sense of moral outrage and the prejudice as well.