Question on music in Mass

[benedictgal]

For whatever it’s worth, I posted this on my blog back in late December:

A tip of the Stetson (actually, two tips) go to both Fr. Z and the fine folks at the New Liturgical Movement for providing us with two different takes on an interview of Antonio Cardinal Canizares Llorea made by Andrea Tornielli which appeared in this past Sunday’s edition of Il Gironali. Cardinal Canizares Lloera is the prefect for the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. According to Shawn Tribe, the editor of the NLM, the prefect made a rather stunning (and quite frankly, much longed for) announcement:

“The new liturgical movement will have to discover the beauty of the liturgy. Therefore, we will open a new division in our congregation dedicated to “Art and Sacred Music” at the service of the liturgy. This will lead us to offer soon a criteria and guidelines for art, song and sacred music. As well we offer as soon as possible criteria and guidelines for preaching.”

This is literally and figuratively sweet angelic music to these ears. Two years ago, while attending the Saturday session of the Gateway Liturgical Conference in St. Louis, MO, I had the unique privilege of meeting then-Archbishop Malcolm Ranjinth, who, at the time, served as secretary to the CDWDS. Now known as Malcolm Cardinal Ranjinth, he was gracious enough to allow me a question after his splendid speech. I asked him how music would play a role in an authentic Ars Celebrandi. I explained to him that the quality of music used for the Masses here in the United States was sorely lacking and that some of it had drifted into the banal. He told me that he was well aware of the problem that we were facing. He said that the CDWDS would be issuing a document in the very near future that would address the situation. However, given the change in prefects and secretaries that would occur later on, I thought that the matter would never be addressed. I am happy to have been proven wrong.

Given the greater degree of solemnity that the Papal Masses have taken since Msgr. Guido Marini replaced Archbishop Pietro Marini (no relation) as the head of the Office of Liturgies for the Supreme Pontiff and the Chief Master of Ceremonies, I suspect that these liturgies might in some way be held up as an example of how the Holy Sacrifice should be celebrated. Now, inasmuch as parishes might not be able to afford ornate vestments or sacred vessels encrusted with jewels, certainly the quality of music can and should improve.

Now, there will probably some who will complain about whatever changes the Holy See proposes (the big three US publishing houses come to mind). However, parishes do not have to rely soley on the Big Three. Fr. Sam Weber, the director of the Institute of Sacred Music for the Archdiocese of St. Louis has several of the propers set to simple music posted on the Institute’s website. The Church Music Association of America, through its MusicaSacra website, has excellent resources, including tutorials for the revised translations. The Corpus Christi Watershed project also provides another excellent source for sacred music, as do the Chant Cafe the Adoremus hymnal.

In any event, such a division within the CDWDS can only serve to bring the Church to a true Ars Celebrandi. As my Jubilarian friend once told me, “The wheels of Rome grind slowly, but, they do grind finely.”

We do not yet have a timetable for when this new division will come. However, I strongly believe that the fact that the CDWDS is taking a serious look at the music used at the Mass today is already an excellent sign.

 

[kentuckyliz]

Benedictgal, I must follow your blog!

The ones that bug me are the Pelagian heresy songs.

We shall build the city of God? No…God will.

Ashes: we create ourselves anew…?! So, you’ve quit believing in God, then?

I don’t even get bugged by the Voice of God (I) songs–they are direct Scripture quotes.

I made a decision of the will not to get irked at bad Catholic music, and the Lord has given me special graces to bear it. If it gets better, through, Halle-freaking-lujah. I know people who have left the church over painfully bad and theologically off music.

 

[kentuckyliz]

Correction to myself: songs about the Eucharist that seem to say it’s just bread and wine and a community meal. Those bother me too.

 

[pnewton]

My [favorable] views an “Amazing Grace” can be found on other threads; no need to reiterate them here.

DaveBj

Here is an interesting side note. One of the first music threads here back in '04 was on Amazing Grace. Karl Keating submitted a couple of posts on the subhect.

I also have to give a thumbs up to benedictgal’s blog. I do not always agree with her, but she does know her stuff and has taught me a thing or two.

 

[Vince1022]

I was using those songs to show what ought to be left out of Mass. Those songs, and ones similar, should not be played IMO. The references are helpful.

Right. A matter of personal opinion, as these songs can be interpreted in many ways. Just like Scripture.

 

[DaveBj]

Here is an interesting side note. One of the first music threads here back in '04 was on Amazing Grace. Karl Keating submitted a couple of posts on the subhect.

I have great respect for Karl; one of his books was part of the body of influence that brought me into Catholicism. We disagreed on “Amazing Grace” in '04. I don’t know what his thoughts are now.

Actually, AG isn’t the only thing he and I disagree on. He rides bicycles off-road; I ride on pavement.

DaveBj

 

[PabloPira]

Regarding the many questions in the first post:
No. It is not forbidden.
And the main reason for it not going very often to Mass is a matter of prudence.

On the other hand, I use Amazing Grace and do so in good conscience that it conforms to the norms of the Church. Tra le sollecitudini, while espousing good principles, does not take into account more recent developments in the liturgy, most notably, the vernacular.

Which is not really part of the question. The important thing is that whatever song you are using is beautiful, holy, and universal.

Personally, I do not go back further than Musicam Sacram for that reason, and also look to the guidance of the USCCB in Sing to the Lord. That is just my criteria and guidelines and I will not argue for or against their use.

I try to stay up to date with whatever is said by the bishops on Sacred Music. However, since Magisterium usually has no expiry date I think we should not just throw the older things in the wastepaper basket. Look for the main ideas and do not get lost in the details. There are many things written more than a hundred years ago that are still very useful.

Now, Let me say why I would not use it. In my case, since I am in a Spanish speaking country we have similar problems with songs like “Alabaré” and “Sumérgeme”.

It is my own personal opinion, but I think it is worth sharing. When I was a kid my country was overwhelmingly Roman Catholic (over 90%). Now, it is about 60% Roman Catholic. there are at least two dioceses where Roman Catholics are a minority, and things are not getting any better. By using a well known Protestant song, you are likely to confuse people… you don’t know how many times I’ve heard “it’s more or less the same thing… they even sing the same songs”. The last thing we want to be is responsible for someone being indifferent in matters of religion.

JP

 

[pnewton]

. By using a well known Protestant song, you are likely to confuse people… you don’t know how many times I’ve heard “it’s more or less the same thing… they even sing the same songs”. The last thing we want to be is responsible for someone being indifferent in matters of religion.

I think the actual decision of what music should always be made, as you pointed out, with prudence. The Church gives us guidelines. Within those guidelines are many songs that would not be prudent in one situation or another. I am fortunate enough to have a priest that leaves no ambiquity when it comes to specific Catholic doctrine, and how we differ than our Protestant brothers. It gives me greater leeway than if we had a priest that confused ecumenism with indifferentism.

 

[zalzankavol]

“Amazing grace, my chains are gone” is the most requested song in my parish. We use it sometimes as a prelude, we use it during offertory or communion. Theologically it is very sound, it is very artful, and very reverent.

 

[Vince1022]

I was using those songs to show what ought to be left out of Mass. Those songs, and ones similar, should not be played IMO. The references are helpful.

Oh, ok, Just your opinion. No problem. Thanks.