Protestant Hymns

[BonnieBj]

OK, now I’ll add my 2 cents worth. Let’s give Amazing Grace a rest now. I think all too often we are too concerned about Catholic and non-Catholic. As one of the respondents said, look at the lyrics and see if there is any theological problem. I have seen in Catholic hymnals and prayer books, many items from other faiths, including Jewish, and after all, Jesus was a Jew.

There are many hymns from non-Catholic sources that a Catholic can sing, such as:

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest Name I know

Fills my every longing

Keeps me singing as I go.

The list of such hymns is long, check out a hymnal.

 

[paddy17]

This answer was given to me by a priest when i asked the question of “Amazing Grace”.

"It is a Protestant hymn composed by Rev. John Newton (1725-1807), obviously a very good man who collaborated with Wilberforce’s campaign in England to end the slave trade. But, accordingly, the grace it refers to is an indivualistic Protestant conception which lacks the Catholic truth of sacramentality whereby Christ’s grace flows tangibly into us. In Amazing Grace the sinner ‘feels’ himself saved just by thinking he’s saved, a classic Protestant error (Luther’s ‘justification by faith alone’). Sacramental grace and good works don’t come into it. "

DaveBj:

You have to remember that when John Newton wrote “…that saved a wretch like me,” he was thinking about himself, and if you’ve read anything about his life, you know that he was a genuine wretch.

Actually, when we put our individual lives up against the holiness of God and the sacrifice of Jesus’ Passion, none of us looks all that great.

In any case, this discussion is good; it’s what I suggested. Don’t look at the writer; analyze the teachings embodied in the lyrics. I have noticed, for example, that the versions of non-Catholic hymns in Catholic hymnals often leave out verses that might be interpreted as against Catholic teachings, or change the words to come more into line with Catholic teachings.

DaveBj

 

[asteroid]

I’m currently moving to catholicism so haven’t been attending mass long but noticed quite a lot of “protestant” hymns in the book we use here. Which is great as it means that converting to Catholicism doesn’t in any way entail chucking out my sizable Christian music collection. Lots of the protestant contemporary music is really good. Listening to “Catholic Jukebox” a while back on EWTN it reminded me of 1970s protestant music - mainly bad folk music or the sort of thing that would be sung in late 60s San Francisco if only the music quality was a little higher. Maybe I caught the programme on a bad day.

But last Friday contained a terrible experience - the final hymn in the mass/confirmation of the young people was “Shine Jesus Shine” by Graham Kendrick. I was truly hoping to escape that song having sung it too much in too many places and gotten very sick of it. It is horrible to think that even by turning to Rome one still has to cope with Kendrick.

(Ok - so that’s not meant really. He’s written some great songs. I’m just sick of that one. And once I had a lovely argument with the woman who translated Shine Jesus Shine into Welsh!)

Nice to know that it’s ok to sing the songs of Graham Kendrick during the Mass. But that it is not ok to be in communion with him.

Blessings

Asteroid

 

[T.More]

Nice to know that it’s ok to sing the songs of Graham Kendrick during the Mass. But that it is not ok to be in communion with him.

A tragic irony and part of the reason for my original post. While both practices (adopting song of those outside the church while precluding them from communion) may have intellectual reasons but it does not really pass the smell test.

 

[bkovacs]

I was looking through the shorter version of the divine office and noted that recommended prayers included a number of Protestant hymns, such as Amazing Grace and Luther’s Mighty Fortress. Why would a Catholic prayer book include Protestant hymns?

Because Vatican 2 was all about pleasing the Protestants and getting rid of all things traditional. And now we have an atheistic Europe because of it!.

 

[pnewton]

Because Vatican 2 was all about pleasing the Protestants and getting rid of all things traditional. And now we have an atheistic Europe because of it!.

That has to be the greatest, off-topic, illogical leap off of a wagon I have ever seen; from use of hymns in liturgy to “VII made Europe atheist.” I would love to show you some of the huge holes in your post, but unless you open a new thread, instead of trying to steal this one, in the appropriate forum, I will decline.