Noticing more traditionalism, i/e head coverings, traditional music, etc

[jtkalehua88]

I’ve recently returned to Mother church after selfishly falling about for about 4 years. Now that I’ve been attended Mass regularly again (also my first experiences with the fairly “recent” changes in some of the English translations of the Mass) I’ve noticed my old parish has changed a little bit. Or perhaps organically progressed. For example, the English mass I used to attend, the 11 am Mass had a guitar choir. It seemed more of a “modernized” mass, the choir had guitars and tambourines and the hymns had a “folksy” feel to them. That was years ago before I fell away. Since I’ve been back, there’s a new pastor and the same Mass now just uses a piano and the hymns sound a little more traditional. I’ve also noticed at the same Mass, more women wearing head coverings. A lot more than I would see before. I’m wondering if these were some changes that came about after the fairly recent update in the Roman Missal for the English Mass? It’s interesting to see more head coverings though, it reminds me of my abuelita. She used to wear a veil whenever she was inside a church.

I’m just asking this out of sheer curiosity. Has anyone else noticed things like this in their parishes??

Yours in Jesus and Mary.

 

[PietroPaolo]

I’ve recently returned to Mother church after selfishly falling about for about 4 years. Now that I’ve been attended Mass regularly again (also my first experiences with the fairly “recent” changes in some of the English translations of the Mass) I’ve noticed my old parish has changed a little bit. Or perhaps organically progressed. For example, the English mass I used to attend, the 11 am Mass had a guitar choir. It seemed more of a “modernized” mass, the choir had guitars and tambourines and the hymns had a “folksy” feel to them. That was years ago before I fell away. Since I’ve been back, there’s a new pastor and the same Mass now just uses a piano and the hymns sound a little more traditional. I’ve also noticed at the same Mass, more women wearing head coverings. A lot more than I would see before. I’m wondering if these were some changes that came about after the fairly recent update in the Roman Missal for the English Mass? It’s interesting to see more head coverings though, it reminds me of my abuelita. She used to wear a veil whenever she was inside a church.

I’m just asking this out of sheer curiosity. Has anyone else noticed things like this in their parishes??

Yours in Jesus and Mary.

Laus tibi, Christe!

Yes, I do believe the worse excesses that the Church suffered in the wake of the Council (not because of the Council) are starting to come to an end. Deo gratias!

 

[jtkalehua88]

Laus tibi, Christe!

Yes, I do believe the worse excesses that the Church suffered in the wake of the Council (not because of the Council) are starting to come to an end. Deo gratias!

Do you think it may be part and parcel of the fairly recent changes to the Roman Missal in English?

 

[PietroPaolo]

Do you think it may be part and parcel of the fairly recent changes to the Roman Missal in English?

Could be. I tend to think the changes are a part of a larger trend that also includes the changes in music and attire you are seeing rather than the cause of those changes. The cause, IMHO, is the moving off the stage of those who lived through (and were greatly attached to) the most excessive changes in the aftermath of the Sacred Council.

 

[Windmill]

I think the younger generation is seeking after their religious heritage. They may feel that the excesses of the 60’s and 70’s in church worship are a fad that has run its course. The young crowd sees a world that has no identity and they see a 2,000 year old Church that still stands firm in it’s teachings. Such a message attracts youth. When they find that there is nothing to be afraid of with traditional dogma, they are more open to traditional worship.

The pendulum is swinging back to center.

 

[jtkalehua88]

Personally I have no problem with the music whether with guitars or more traditional pianos. The guitar music at the English mass at my parish, the 11 am Mass, was really folksy, with occasional clapping along with the music and the “clappy” Gloria.

The Spanish Mass had guitars but the music was less folksy and more traditional Mexican sounding. Every Spanish Mass I’ve ever been to has had guitars with Hispanic-style hymns.

Before I fell away, the 9 AM Mass was seen as the most conservative with mostly senior citizens and the 11 AM Mass was seen as more modernized, as far as music and the attire of the congregants. With the 1 PM Spanish Mass being exclusively Latino.

I’m a sociology major so I found that aspect fascinating. And I always wondered what the reason was between the differences of the 9 AM and 11 AM Masses. Many of the members of the Catholic Charismatic group attended the 11 am Mass exclusively.

But that seems to have changed since I’ve returned. Perhaps the new pastor brought about those changes, I’m not certain.

It is nice to see them do-away with the clapping and the folksy tambourine like music though, I’m 26 years old (22 at the time before I left the church) and it bothered me back then. I have no problems with guitars, just when it got really folksy it weirded me out.

This reminds of a lady I used to see all the time at Mass. I’m the only active Catholic in my family, so I attend Mass alone. There used to be this really sweet elderly African American women who would attend Mass with her husband, I never did know their names, but just kind of developed a conversational friendship with her and her husband just from seeing them all the time at Mass. They would often sit by me, and we would occasional converse after Mass in the parking lot. The sweetest people ever.

She would wear the most elaborate and ornate hats ever, always in a nice dress and he would always be in a very nice three-piece suit and well-shined shoes. Honestly they were the best dressed in the sanctuary, and really stood out because most at the 11 am Mass were in jeans and button down shirts. I was always impressed by them.

 

[Jennifoo]

I’ve recently returned to Mother church after selfishly falling about for about 4 years. Now that I’ve been attended Mass regularly again (also my first experiences with the fairly “recent” changes in some of the English translations of the Mass) I’ve noticed my old parish has changed a little bit. Or perhaps organically progressed. For example, the English mass I used to attend, the 11 am Mass had a guitar choir. It seemed more of a “modernized” mass, the choir had guitars and tambourines and the hymns had a “folksy” feel to them. That was years ago before I fell away. Since I’ve been back, there’s a new pastor and the same Mass now just uses a piano and the hymns sound a little more traditional. I’ve also noticed at the same Mass, more women wearing head coverings. A lot more than I would see before. I’m wondering if these were some changes that came about after the fairly recent update in the Roman Missal for the English Mass? It’s interesting to see more head coverings though, it reminds me of my abuelita. She used to wear a veil whenever she was inside a church.

I’m just asking this out of sheer curiosity. Has anyone else noticed things like this in their parishes??

Yours in Jesus and Mary.

:tiphat: Welcome home. I began veiling during Lent of 2009. At the time I didn’t see any other women in my area veiling or wearing any sort of headcovering at the time. Now I see it a lot more. A neighboring parish has the Extraordinary Form, also known as the Traditional Latin Mass, every week and a lot of women veil for that. Also, at my parish, which I joined in 2012, I see another woman who veils. I’ve had several compliments from women plus they ask where they can get veils. The priest chants more of the Mass, even the Eucharistic Prayer ( in English) which I find to be incredibly moving, and I notice that incense is used more often.

As for the music, I see a lot of the more traditional hymns, including the older Latin ones. We have a guitar Mass once a month at the Saturday vigil. It doesn’t get too folksy, and I find the selections to be very moving. Most of the time we have organ music, with the occasional piano. No tambourine, but we sometimes have violin and trumpets, which is really lovely.

As for the causes, I’m not really sure. I do think that the laity are learning what Vatican II was really about as opposed to what some mistakenly said. Latin was never out, nor Gregorian chant, for instance.

As for the New Translation of the Roman Missal, I absolutely love it. I anticipate with joy the revision of the Liturgy of the Hours.

 

[Book_Worm]

I think there could be a regional component. I’m on the East Coast and attend Mass in four different churches, weekdays at home or on my way to work and Sundays in our own parish or with DD and her family in their parish. The folk Masses seem to be lessening, but I never see women with head coverings or any indication of a return to the older traditions.

I have a relative who very recently moved to the Midwest, and she has mentioned that the churches seem somewhat more traditional there.

 

[bben15]

The younger generation is starting to return to traditional practices of the Church. They are recognizing the errors of how some clergy implemented the Second Vatican Council, and are starting to get back to what the Council really meant, and are starting to rid of the practices liberal priests and bishops instituted.

The “spirit of Vatican II” attitude is dying-out, and will probably be gone within the next 50 years, as all the liberal priests who were ordained in the wake of the Council will either be dead or retired, and will be replaced by priests who don’t have that attitude.

 

[MissRose73]

The priest at my parish sticks to things much more compared to the previous one. I really like that and he is also extremely reverent. I think it has rubbed off onto some in the congregation. The current pastoral administrator insists on modest yet appropriate/decent dress for those who serve as lectors, cantors, etc and has made that known.