Patriotic music at Mass

[Bbigam]

Does your parish have patriotic music at Mass on or near national holidays?
What do you think about this practice? Explain.

I post it now because of the Fourth of July, USA’s Independence Day, tomorrow. But if you’re in another country feel free to contribute as well. I know Canada Day was on Friday.

My own comments will be in another post.

(Please refrain from comments such as, “you’d never have to worry about this in the TLM/Extraordinary Form/Mass of the Ages/SSPX/Byzantine Liturgy/etc.!” We know, sure, fine, but that’s not the point of this thread. Thanks.)

 

[Nowhere_Man]

Yes, today both the processional and recessional songs are patriotic (America the Beautiful and God Bless America) in my parish. I despise this practice. The point of Holy Mass is to worship Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, not our country. While I have no problem at all with a healthy dose of patriotism, I think this is a little much. I mean, I could understand having the Mass offered for the good and betterment of our country, but that is still connected to the worship of God, unlike singing secular songs about how great America is.

 

[Stylites]

Similarly, the Church honors the family as a social institution. There is nothing wrong with honoring one’s country in Mass on special days.

 

[ChiRho]

Never. These songs take the focus away from God, and lead way to a nationalistic fervor. The lyrics of the songs act as if America (since I live here, I’m not sure about other countries’ practices) is somehow better than other countries or ordained by God. Given America’s history and the fact that we are involved in multiple unnecessary wars, maybe we shouldn’t be so haughty.

It’s always interesting to see how people will stay in the pews until the very end of America the Beautiful, but half of them cant be bothered to stay in for the full length of songs every other Sunday – songs that are explicitly dealing with God. Nowhere else do I see people so passionately singing their hearts out than when they sing to America – God doesn’t inspire anywhere close to this sort of outward showing of thanks.

Patriotic songs about the Vatican, however, I could get behind!

 

[heathernoel]

We had “America the Beautiful” and “God Bless America” today. We had a priest visiting from Haiti, and in his Homily today, he praised our country and stated that yes, we are a blessed country, thanks be to God…

 

[Stylites]

Never. These songs take the focus away from God, and lead way to a nationalistic fervor.

The Church recognises the whole person, including one’s family and community and even the larger family of the nation. There is nothing nationalistic about honoring one’s larger family. Love of country is not the same thing as nationalism.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

Thankfully we never have to put up with this. However, we are generally poor in the UK for celebrating national days not that we have any as such. In England little is made of St. George’s Day. Ireland, Scotland, and Wales are more proactive in celebrating their patron saints’ days.

 

[laszlo]

In Hungary at least since the time my grandfather was child in the 19th Century the National Anthem was sung in certain feasts at the end of the Mass.

 

[ChiRho]

Love of country is not the same thing as nationalism.

correct, it’s not, but that’s what it turns out to be. Until people can be as passionate about songs to God as they can to America, there’s a serious problem. It turns into a “my country is God’s country” anthem, and people forget the entire purpose of a mass.

People will deny nationalism until they’re blue in the face, but it exists in churches of every denomination. My parish prays for “the safe return of our troops, once their mission is complete”, which essentially gives consent to American involvement abroad. For a country with the highest abortion rates, has been involved in many wars killing millions of civilians, and the pornography capital of the world, maybe we should be asking for mercy rather than parading how great we are.

 

[MissRose73]

Recessional and/or processional.

I would say if the song is like the Battle Hymn of the Republic or America the Beautiful, those fit well for a holiday like the 4th.

At Mass yesterday, our music person chose “Let there be peace on earth” instead of a patriotic themed selection that was most likely chosen by other places.

 

[Stylites]

correct, it’s not, but that’s what it turns out to be. Until people can be as passionate about songs to God as they can to America, there’s a serious problem. It turns into a “my country is God’s country” anthem, and people forget the entire purpose of a mass.

A serious problem is abortion, or race relations, or homelessness, or even thinking one can read the minds of others. Singing at the end of Mass about the love one holds for the country of one’s birth is not a serious problem.

 

[ChiRho]

Singing at the end of Mass about the love one holds for the country of one’s birth is not a serious problem.

it isn’t automatically, but in practice, given the state of the country sung about, it is useless. I doubt there is anyone who comes out of church more critical of the wrong their country has done and wants to bring it closer to God and change it for the better, but rather with warm fuzzies about how awesome America is.

 

[josephback]

I wish it didn’t happen. Today we were led to say the pledge of allegiance. Boo hoo I refused. Later though I participated in some patriotic song I’m sure the early Christians were seen as unpatriotic in their refusal of emperor worship. Why should we sing hymns to our country It’s silly.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Our usual parish always includes patriotic songs for the Sunday before July 4th. We went to another parish last night in order to avoid this. I think these songs are wonderful IN CONTEXT, which is not during the Mass. If people wish to sing them, they can stay after Mass and do so. A few weeks ago, inexplicably, God Bless America was used as the Eucharistic hymn!!!

The parish we went to is much more orthodox and although I am sure there were many patriotic members present, the hymns were not nationalistic.

 

[josephback]

it isn’t automatically, but in practice, given the state of the country sung about, it is useless. I doubt there is anyone who comes out of church more critical of the wrong their country has done and wants to bring it closer to God and change it for the better, but rather with warm fuzzies about how awesome America is.

America is awesome? For what? I love your sarcasm:thumbsup:

 

[exnihilo]

Similarly, the Church honors the family as a social institution. There is nothing wrong with honoring one’s country in Mass on special days.

Yes but then it is honoring the institution of family not a specific family. The honoring of the state is for a particular state not the generic institution of government. I think it unlikely most people would want to honor the abstract state with its power of taxation and other powers of authority.

 

[zab]

Here is what the experts say:

Colon B. Donovan STL answers question about patriotic hymns at Mass
origin.ewtn.com/vexperts/showmessage.asp?number=443753&Pg=Forum8&Pgnu=1&recnu=6

and from Rome, Nov. 11, 2003 Zenit Daily Dispatch:

While patriotic hymns should not be the norm, local custom may allow for them on special occasions such as Independence Day. Healthy patriotism has always been considered a Christian virtue. Nonetheless, even when permitted by the bishops, it appears most appropriate to reserve them as closing hymns, sung after the blessing and dismissal, rather than during Mass itself. ZE03112520

 

[exnihilo]

For a country with the highest abortion rates, has been involved in many wars killing millions of civilians, and the pornography capital of the world, maybe we should be asking for mercy rather than parading how great we are.

If we are going to honor America we had best forget that God is just and that from those who have been given much, much will be demanded. If you set your nation up as the righteous judge of other nations you will so be judged. God help us!

 

[ChiRho]

I wish it didn’t happen. Today we were led to say the pledge of allegiance.

Wow, that’s awful. Why pledge allegiance to a country which frequently allows evil or takes actions which are against the Catholic religion, either explicitly or by their immorality?

 

[MillTownCath]

Does your parish have patriotic music at Mass on or near national holidays?
What do you think about this practice? Explain.

I post it now because of the Fourth of July, USA’s Independence Day, tomorrow. But if you’re in another country feel free to contribute as well. I know Canada Day was on Friday.

My own comments will be in another post.

(Please refrain from comments such as, “you’d never have to worry about this in the TLM/Extraordinary Form/Mass of the Ages/SSPX/Byzantine Liturgy/etc.!” We know, sure, fine, but that’s not the point of this thread. Thanks.)

Usually it’s Amazing Grace