Patriotic Songs at Mass

  • Thread starter Thread starter JMJ_coder
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
J

JMJ_coder

Guest
What is your take on singing patriotic songs at Mass – like “America the Beautiful” for Memorial Day or the Fourth of July?
 
I love it! Never get to sing them anywhere else especially now that schools hardly ever play them or for that matter hardly ever teach them.

One thing though, I don’t want to sing Finlandia on an American holiday. It is wishy washy if considered a patriotic song.
 
If we must, then only as the recessional, since at that point the Mass is over but I would prefer to keep those out of the Mass completely.

I cringe when July 1st falls on a Sunday, because it’s guaranteed we’ll sing “O Canada” at Mass. I’ll sing it at the top of my lungs at any other time but at Mass, no.
 
It is almost always the recessional, after the Mass concludes, and I’m all for it.

It would be problematic during Mass.

God Bless
 
I’m as patriotic as the next guy, but patiotic songs should not be part of the mass. There are number of songs which speak of unity that can be used.

Peace,
FAB
 
I’m against them being made remotely a part of any liturgical service whatsoever. Patriotic sings are nice, but they were not written for the liturgy, and by that alone they’re unacceptable for use in chruch.

And really, they’re secular songs that have nothing to do with why we’re in the nave in the first place, and I would be shocked if anyone found them to be spiritually helpful in the least.
 
I will have them this year at the Mass that falls on the Fourth. I see no contradiction in praying for the country and Mass. Do those who disagree with any such song also think that praying for one’s country should not occur in the context of a Mass?
 
pnewton said:
I will have them this year at the Mass that falls on the Fourth. I see no contradiction in praying for the country and Mass. Do those who disagree with any such song also think that praying for one’s country should not occur in the context of a Mass?
Click to expand...
I can see praying for our country at Mass. There’s nothing wrong since we are praying for people, a country, etc. We pray for others, why not our country?

As for the OP’s question:
However, patriotic songs at Mass? Nope. Don’t like it. I’m not there to honour my country. I’m there to partake in the Mass. Singing a patriotic song is not prayer for one’s country.
 
I think it’s ok, best during the Recessional though. At least let them be nice, reverent, tasteful patriotic songs. No marching band “My Country Tis of Thee” please! It’s Mass, not a parade.
 
pnewton said:
I will have them this year at the Mass that falls on the Fourth. I see no contradiction in praying for the country and Mass. Do those who disagree with any such song also think that praying for one’s country should not occur in the context of a Mass?
Click to expand...
I think you’ve hit on the essential distinction. A patriotic song which celebrates the nation is not appropriate at Mass (even as a recessional), but a patriotic song which prays for the nation is indeed appropriate–at least that’s how I see it.

The question is: are we always able to make that distinction? When we sing God Bless America do we really mean it?
 
FrDavid96 said:
I think you’ve hit on the essential distinction. A patriotic song which celebrates the nation is not appropriate at Mass (even as a recessional), but a patriotic song which prays for the nation is indeed appropriate–at least that’s how I see it.

The question is: are we always able to make that distinction? When we sing God Bless America do we really mean it?
Click to expand...
My gripe is that it is VERY DIFFICULT to find a nice, quiet, REVERENT and subdued mass where there isn’t all this commotion going on.

Some of us like it subdued. One reason why I may start going to Divine Liturgy more rather than Latin Rite.
 
FrDavid96 said:
The question is: are we always able to make that distinction? When we sing God Bless America do we really mean it?
Click to expand...
I remember the first time my priest asked us to sing that song (at the end of Mass). It was the first Sunday after the 9/11 attacks. On that day, this was not a hard question to answer.

FYI - I would never suggest some song that was not specifically a prayer for blessing (e.g. The Star-Spangled Banner). I also only do one song. Likewise I will always include Faith of Our Fathers on Father’s Day. Now Mother’s Day, I usually pack with Marian hymns. 😃
 
Phemie said:
If we must, then only as the recessional, since at that point the Mass is over but I would prefer to keep those out of the Mass completely.

I cringe when July 1st falls on a Sunday, because it’s guaranteed we’ll sing “O Canada” at Mass. I’ll sing it at the top of my lungs at any other time but at Mass, no.
Click to expand...
The only time I’ve heard “O Canada” ( or any other patriotic song for that matter ) sung at Mass was at the end of the High Mass on January 1st, 1967. It was Canada’s 100th anniversary as a nation. After the “Ite, Missa Est” and the response, our pastor asked everyone to remain standing in the pews and join with the choir in the singing of the national anthem. After the initial shock at actually being asked to sing after the High Mass wore off, the congregation belted out the song with enormous gusto.
That may have been due to all the partying the night before!😃
I wouldn’t be very happy if it was a regular occurance or even just once a year. Once in a lifetime was plenty for me!
 
Frosty said:
The only time I’ve heard “O Canada” ( or any other patriotic song for that matter ) sung at Mass was at the end of the High Mass on January 1st, 1967. It was Canada’s 100th anniversary as a nation. After the “Ite, Missa Est” and the response, our pastor asked everyone to remain standing in the pews and join with the choir in the singing of the national anthem. After the initial shock at actually being asked to sing after the High Mass wore off, the congregation belted out the song with enormous gusto.
That may have been due to all the partying the night before!😃
I wouldn’t be very happy if it was a regular occurance or even just once a year. Once in a lifetime was plenty for me!
Click to expand...
Our former pastor was a military brat. He couldn’t pass up an occasion to sing the national anthem. He wouldn’t replace the flag with the pall at a funeral either.
 
JMJ_coder said:
What is your take on singing patriotic songs at Mass – like “America the Beautiful” for Memorial Day or the Fourth of July?
Click to expand...
I see nothing wrong with it. My dad was military when I was growing up, so we have always belonged to a military parish (even now that he is retired, my family still goes on-base, and i sometimes go with them). That being said, patriotic songs were sung. I always loved it! 🙂
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top