Question about music at Mass

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I’ve never posted anything to a forum before, but I am searching for advice.

What is a faithful Catholic to do if they have difficulty with the music and singing at Mass each weekend?

It seems like ever since the new translation, there has been a change in the music and singing at Mass, with more parts being sung and the types of songs being more formal with melodies from centuries ago. The Communion reflection songs at some Churches rival those you might hear at an opera. The Mass, with its more formal translation and this type of grand music, sometimes comes across as a performance or a show. At our church, when the Recessional Hymn is finished, the organist plays a piece of very dramatic music while people are exiting and at the end there is often clapping by those who remain.

I think it would be nice if we could occasionally recite the Gloria, or hear the prayers spoken during the Preparation of the Gifts (Blessed are you Lord God of all creation) instead of always singing an Offertory Hymn, or recess from Mass in silence. Also, it seems that the organ is now the only acceptable instrument to be used at Mass and that “Sacred Music” only consists of melodies and songs written in the 16th to 19th centuries. I don’t know if the Church realizes it, but not everyone likes that type of music, at least not a lot of it every weekend.

I’ve gone to 10 different parishes in our Diocese and they are all essentially the same. Maybe it’s just an issue in our Diocese, but the Masses on TV (EWTN, The Sunday Mass) seem to be more formal with more music as well.

I wish we were able to count a quieter Saturday morning Mass as having met the Sunday obligation, but I know that’s not possible. I’m guessing the answer is to participate as best you can, which I do, but it’s getting more difficult to get through each week. Mass seems to always be so grand and loud; never simple, quiet and reverent.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
The mass is really supposed to be grand and reverent. Perhaps you should try to embrace this form of mass as being more suitable to the mystery being celebrated?
 
northpost said:
I think it would be nice if we could occasionally recite the Gloria, or hear the prayers spoken during the Preparation of the Gifts (Blessed are you Lord God of all creation) instead of always singing an Offertory Hymn, or recess from Mass in silence
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I personally agree with you here, but the hard truth is that the Mass is not primarily about catering to our personal preferences. I look at it this way: greater, holier minds than mine have decided that music should be a big part of the Sunday Mass. Then I consider the music ministers who are only trying to implement the Church’s directives. So I sing along, but inside I sometimes look at it like eating broccoli at someone’s house. The cook worked hard preparing it, and I’m told it’s good for me even though I dislike the taste, so I eat it.
 
To be honest I’d be grateful if there was more grand and formal music at mass. I personally dislike the “gospel choir” style of music and I don’t believe it adds to the reverence of the sacrament.
 
While you may prefer more grand and formal music at Mass, not everyone feels that way and for those of us who don’t, it can be difficult. I, and others I know who feel the same way, do embrace Mass every week. We just find it difficult to embrace the songs always being so loud and grand, and would prefer to recite more parts of the Mass and have more time for silent reflection. Just think if the Churches near you changed the music to a style you really didn’t like and kept it that way every week for years without change. You might find it difficult to embrace as well.
 
The music at our masses seems more for the sake of the two lead singers…they call out a number and jump right in, most people take a good bit of time just to find the hymn (they don’t put the numbers up on a screen or board as I have seen elsewhere…If I can catch the refrain, I just sing that…if not I just listen!
 
Just curious, Northpost, what do you mean, you “have difficulty” with it? It is difficult for you to sing along? Or does that mean you don’t like it?
The funny thing is, many churches changed in the 1970s to a pop / fake folk style, and stayed that way for decades.
Do you realize that the Church teaches that Gregorian chant and use of the organ are to be encouraged? Are you in the diocese of Marquette, by any chance?
 
northpost said:
I don’t know if the Church realizes it, but not everyone likes that type of music, at least not a lot of it every weekend.
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Oh the Church knows this. They know that people complain about everything, especially music. They are the ones who hear it.

It is impossible to make everyone happy. Personally I love the organ and older music, most especially chant. I’m not a big fan of the four hymn sandwich. I think more majestic music has its place but certainly the Mass should also have quieter, more reflective times.

I don’t get my preferences at my parish. I just try to remember it isn’t about me. It is just like not every homily speaks to me. But it might speak to someone who needs to hear exactly what is said that day.
 
Mostly, it is difficultly with the type and volume of the music. It is so loud it almost feels like being yelled at. But, it is also difficult to sing the actual songs as well. I was born post-Vatican II and grew up in the 1970s, so I’m familiar with the music from back then. I do realize that the chant and organ are to be encouraged and I’m not saying that shouldn’t be the main form, I just don’t understand why we can’t occasionally recite more parts of the Mass. I so miss reciting the Gloria and especially the prayers during the Preparation of the Gifts. For the past 6 years, we have sang one of two versions of the Gloria at every single Mass and have never recited it. No, I am not in the Marquette Diocese.
 
Am I way off to feel that people clapping after a dramatic organ piece at the end of Mass makes it feel like the end of a performance, especially after an hour of performance-like songs?
 
Yes, I think that clapping is not supposed to be encouraged. Technically, I believe that after the priest’s final words, Mass is over, so sometimes there is a little bit of weird stuff that happens right at the end of Mass. But you’re right, the clapping really shouldn’t happen, since it is not a performance for an “audience”, but an offering to God.

As for the loudness, is it possible to mention to the priest / music director that the volume is just too loud? Maybe there is another location in the church where it just not as loud? I have been subjected to really loud music at Mass, (although guitar- / amp / speaker based) and it really was painful.
 
Thank you. I’ve been debating how to mention this to someone at our church, or the diocese since it’s the same at all of the churches in the area.
 
I guess you read CAF long enough you read it all.
Mass is supposed to be solemn, reverent, joyful, and full of praise.
PArticipate and stop making it about your feelings.
People work hard to provide music for liturgy and I’ll bet they don’t get paid a dime. They are people and worshippers like you.
Cut them some slack, eh?
Participate and give thanks.
 
I don’t think my question should be that startling or surprising. How about cutting some slack to a faithful Catholic who is simply having genuine difficulty with the music at Mass? I don’t question anyone’s effort and I do participate as best I can and give thanks.
 
northpost said:
Am I way off to feel that people clapping after a dramatic organ piece at the end of Mass makes it feel like the end of a performance, especially after an hour of performance-like songs?
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I understand what you are saying here. I like the music of the Mass but we have a wonderful Music Director who knows the role of music in the Mass. We have an older, early 20th century, church with a choir loft at the back. There is NO clapping at the end of Mass for the choir nor do they expect any. The music is reverent and beautiful.

I’ve been to parishes where the music isn’t quite so lovely. It is painful.
 
Not really. While it might not be my cup of tea, the reason I go to mass is not for the music. It’s for Jesus. That’s the important thing and I’m sure I could survive without my preferred music as long as I had the Eucharist.
 
Agreed. That is why it is difficult when the music seems to be the focus. Let us focus on Jesus and His Word and His Presence in the Most Blessed Sacrament.
 
Northpost, maybe I’m asking the obvious here, but I’ll try – if you’ve been to 10 churches in your diocese, isn’t there one that might have a weekend Mass that doesn’t have a lot of music? Say, one at a Catholic hospital chapel or a church that perhaps has a quieter Sunday evening Mass? Thinking back, the least music-intense Mass I’ve been to was a Saturday evening Mass at a small Catholic church in my old neighborhood in Minneapolis, but that was many years ago. Depending on your family situation, you may not be able to attend a Mass at an unusual time of day, though.

I really look forward to weekday morning Masses as they are often peaceful and typically music-free with the exception of some beautiful a Capella prayers. Could you possibly add a weekday Mass to your routine to get your fix of quiet reverence?

Edited to add: masstimes.org is a great website where one can enter any city name and it’ll give a list of local Masses. The information isn’t 100% error-free, but it also has links to individual church websites for further reference.
 
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Good points. Thank you. I didn’t think about a Sunday evening Mass. We live in a large diocese, so maybe there are some available.
 
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