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HelenRose
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I conned my husband to sing with our choir in Church. Watch Out!! He converted and is now a dedicated Catholic.
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Hoosier_Daddy
Guest
Yeah, they do tend to blur a little. As a Catholic All Saints and All Souls are clearly not Halloween (secular) or Samhain related. While All Hallows eve is a starting point for modern day Halloween it certainly has no religious significance to a modern day Catholic.All Saints. All Souls. They kinda blur together anyway.
I was in Rome for Oct 31, Nov 1st and Nov 2nd one year. I will never ever confuse the days again.
On Oct 31st American Tourists and teenagers dressed up and ran around the streets.
On Nov 1st. Many were gathered at St Peters to Celebrate the Saints. And on Nov 2nd We attended a papal audience.
I won’t confuse them anymore…
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Linybaby
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Go for it, it could help you find Christianity and Jesus!!
As I would say, God is good all the time…and Jesus can always change your heart!
As I would say, God is good all the time…and Jesus can always change your heart!
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revert_jen
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If you believe you have found the truth, and it is that Christianity is false, I can totally understand your wanting to teach this to your daughter. However it makes it totally inappropriate for you to play at Mass.I am quite comfortable to be judged for teaching my daughter the Truth as best I understand It.
I have been thinking about this. I think that, given that you would prefer your daughter not be a Christian, it would be wrong for you to join her at Mass. It feels like undermining your wife’s commitment to raise her Catholic. It would also be either a tiny bit dishonest (if you don’t tell the others at the parish that you would prefer your daughter not be a Christian) or undermining for possibly other children in the choir (if you do tell them).
I think that Mass is the one time you should probably not accompany your daughter. I think that the parents of other children in the choir have a right to expect that their children will not be exposed, at Mass (and other Church-related activities, like rehearsals), to non-Christian ideas. And how could you not express non-Christian ideas without lying? And your participation in musical lies (to you) is not a good example to anyone.
If you want to go to Mass (and this would be great!!), you should go to another Mass where you wouldn’t be sending mixed messages to your daughter. And in any case it just doesn’t make sense to have a non-Christian helping to lead the music.
Sorry, it’s just been on my mind. Frankly, my primary concern isn’t what’s best for you, I think the important thing here is what is best for your daughter. I really don’t think you playing for Mass would be best for her. However I can see why you, who must want your daughter to be a non-Christian when she grows up (since you think Christianity is false), may have different ideas about what is best for her. But the fact that your aims for her are completely opposite of the purpose of going to Mass is the reason it would not really be 100% ethical for you to do this.
Of course, I must include the standard caveat: “I may be wrong.”
–Jen
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adawgj
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This is off topic, but why the Druids?
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cheese_sdc
Guest
I’m curious - is there a difference between an B minor chord played by a Christian and a B minor played by a Non-Christian? Is there a difference between a Christian’s 3/4 time signature and non-Christian’s 3/4 time?
I’m confused.
If I play a B flat note over the piano’s G minor, is that lying?
I don’t follow how I’m being untruthful. I haven’t misrepresented myself to the choir director, my daughter, or the other musicians.
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cheese_sdc
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I don’t think I said that. I said I am happy to teach her the Truth as I know It. Her choice is up to her. I will be very happy if she remains Catholic all her life.
Those serving in a Mass choir are doing more than just playing or singing. They are performing a liturgical function, and as such, is their part in the prayer and worship of the Catholic Church.
If this is not something you intend to do interiorly, then you should not do so exteriorly. Merely playing a B minor chord and a perfect 3/4 time signature does not qualify one serve in choir.
Because the Catholic faith is something you do not share, then it is not appropriate for you to serve in Catholic worship. This holds the same for other ministries such as ushers, collectors, readers and altar servers. This is where the comment on “misrepresentation” comes from. By serving, you give the impression that you hold the Catholic faith, regardless of what the priest or any individual parishioners think or know. By being there, you are stating with your action, “I believe what Catholics believe about what they are doing now.” But that is not the case.
You are most welcome to be at the Mass to follow along or sit with the congregation. But it is not appropriate for you to serve.
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cheese_sdc
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Actually, I think you’re a little mistaken here, but I’ll have to look it up later. My understanding is that the choir is liturgically no different from the rest of the congregation. I’ll ask the choir director about it.
Interesting.
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Hoosier_Daddy
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Well, it kind of depends. If the parish is poor in liturgy then you might just be playing songs off the Christian top 20 charts but in many parishes you will be handling the great works of musicians who have specifically crafted their pieces to be a prayer.
“Jesu the Joy of Man’s desiring” is more than just a chord. It is more than a pretty song used at weddings, it is in fact a prayer to God. Not a personal god, but a specific God.
I am still confused, as I think others are, as to why you would choose to worship something with your music that you do not believe in? Mass is not a “concert” which is what I think you are viewing it as. It is a prayer of the faithful at the foot of the Cross in front of Almighty God.
Or father daughter time. whatever works.
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VeritasLuxMea
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Hoosier_Daddy
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Yeah, that certainly is not allowed in my diocese. I think the poster perhaps misspoke.
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27lw
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No one has addressed the true underlying problem - - Too many geetars at Mass already . No more. Learn to play the organ, then maybe you’ll have a reason to be there.
Also, you sound like you are a “fallen away” Catholic. Not sure if that changes the question for anyone…
Also, you sound like you are a “fallen away” Catholic. Not sure if that changes the question for anyone…
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cheese_sdc
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I am. And I’ve been around long enough to hear all the rude comments about guitars in Mass.
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Hoosier_Daddy
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While my sentiments probably lie with yours, that is not the subject of the thread. Guitars are allowed obviously at his parish and it could very well be that they are lucky to have any sort of music ministry at all. The OP is not even addressing if the guitar is the issue or not. Lets not derail the thread, there are plenty of other threads this can be argued ad nausium. I personally find most music programs in parishes to be wanting.
Knowing how to play an organ is no more are “reason” to attend Mass than wanting to spend some family time with the daughter. (both of which are not really sufficient reasons in and of themselves) Although I have always wanted to learn how to play the Organ.
It doesn’t for me. He could be a former Mormon or Muslim or goat worshiper and it would make no difference either, the OP does not believe in the Catholic God. That he did at one time, or at least went through the motions does not change the underlying question.
I think it is important to not pick on the OP whom is asking a very respectful question. The OP has seemed more than wiling to engage in charitable dialogue and look at different sides of this.
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Hoosier_Daddy
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Cheese,
I am just throwing out thoughts here but could some of this be that you wish to share an intimate thing with your daughter and have something that brings you two together? Or could part of it also be that you want to know and see everything she is being exposed to so you can frame it for her in your beliefs?
Or perhaps a little of both?
I am just throwing out thoughts here but could some of this be that you wish to share an intimate thing with your daughter and have something that brings you two together? Or could part of it also be that you want to know and see everything she is being exposed to so you can frame it for her in your beliefs?
Or perhaps a little of both?
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revert_jen
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Publicly leading people in songs in worship of a God in Whom you do not believe, well, that isn’t entirely honest. For those who know about it, including your daughter, it tends to make God something like Santa Claus, you participating in music in which you don’t believe–which you think it’s OK for a child to believe, but you don’t believe yourself.
–Jen
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27lw
Guest
Okay - - I apologize. That was way snarkier than called for. I guess there are a few questions in my mind:
- Has the music director expressed that he / she is in need of a guitar player? Or are you possibly imposing on them, when they don’t really need a guitar player - - and it might be awkward to tell you “no thanks”. Not saying that you are thinking this way, but I think there might be people who consider the Mass to be a little like “open mic night”, and I don’t think that music directors appreciate that.
- If the idea is to spend time with your daughter, then it seems like sitting with her in a pew would be more meaningful to* her*. When I occasionally play at Mass, I know my kids don’t really like it, and would rather have me sitting in the pew with them. Otherwise, it’s like “bye and hi” at the beginning and end of Mass. I think it’s nicer to help them find the readings in the missallette, help them find the hymns, etc.
- As I re-read the original post, I see that she is in Children’s Choir, and you want to accompany the children’s choir. I don’t know - - that seems innocuous enough, but I would definitely ask the music director if he / she need a guitar player. Does the children’s choir sing every week? I’m guessing it’s more like once a month or so…
- How vocal are you likely to be against the Catholic Church? As long as you don’t loudly announce “Well, off to Druid circle!” at the end of Mass, I think your fallen away status is not that important. I"m sure you’ll have lots of people praying for your soul!
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seagal
Guest
Coming a little late to this party, but since I’m here, here’s my :twocents:
It seems to me the person to ask would be the pastor of the church. As others have pointed out, musicians in church aren’t simply putting on a performance, they are serving in a ministry. The pastor should have the final say who ministers to his flock.
It seems to me the person to ask would be the pastor of the church. As others have pointed out, musicians in church aren’t simply putting on a performance, they are serving in a ministry. The pastor should have the final say who ministers to his flock.
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TheLastUnicorn
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I don’t see why you shouldn’t. We had a Mormon organist for a few years at my Church and there are atheists who sing in the choir. If you want to, and you play well, then woot.
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