Rock music at World Youth Day Mass

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DavidJoseph

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I’m sure most of us will agree that rock music is out of place at Mass. Well, at World Youth Day Masses, there has been rock-type music (or at least that’s what I’ve heard). I’ve heard traditionalists basically accuse John Paul II of not exercising his authority by allowing rock music at such Masses. However, I’m not so sure the Holy Father had any control of that type of thing, especially in regard to an event with thousands upon thousands of people. What do y’all think?

Just for the record, I’m trying to respond to the aforementioned trads. Any help is appreciated.
 
I don’t think its that bad. Is this formed off the “Rock N Roll is of the Devil” idea? This might be a problem next World Youth Day.
 
No, it’s not the “rock and roll is evil” notion but rather the fact that rock music just isn’t appropriate at Mass. There’s a time and place for everything. There’s a time and place for rock music, even. But Mass isn’t the time or place.
 
I am not being sarcastic with this question but am honestly curious.:confused: Why not have rock music at mass? I would prefer something more in line of Gregorian Chanting myself but I can’t see that any particular form of music in itself is bad. I would think that it would be the message and the lyrics of the individual song that were important not the beat and rhythm of the music. Are we just talking about Catholic songs done to a rock beat or by rock and roll do you mean more secular music?
 
It was almost 12 years ago that I went to World Youth Day in Denver, so my memory is a bit fuzzy on this but I do remember this kind of music. It wasn’t really rock music but what I think is called “Contemporary Christian Music”. There was one song in particular that we sang at all of the gatherings including the one at Mile High Stadium with the Pope and at the Mass at Cherry Creek State Park. I think it was called “We are One Body”. There were other songs too but that’s the only one that I even vaguely remember.
 
I can’t see that any particular form of music in itself is bad.
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first, gregorian chant has pride of place in the roman rite according to sacrosantum concillium.
116. The Church acknowledges Gregorian chant as specially suited to the Roman liturgy: therefore, other things being equal, it should be given pride of place in liturgical services.
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even the ancient greeks understood that music can dramatically influence people. it’s explained this way: certain rhythms and beats stimulate sesual passions, while others affect the intellect. so you really can’t separate the music from the lyrics. rap and rock music is pretty much low-brow music for carnal passions.

some music is more suited for the mass then others. as much as i’d like to hear hair-bands perform during mass, it would inheirently contradict what is going on.
 
You were correct as you suspected. The Holy Father does not plan the Liturgy for World Youth Day. Yes, he shows up around Thursday of the events and gives a welcome address. He will go to WYD on the Sat. night to do Vespers and a prayer vigil with the youth and on Sunday morning he returns to say Mass. But he does not plan what goes on. In fact, I would almost be willing to bet that there will be very loud music during Mass there this year as well as a strong possibility for liturgical dance as there was in Toronto. It is very sad…JPII didn’t agree with or promote liturgical dance, but there, right before him they did it anyways. I will not be surprised if they do the same to Pope Benedict XVI. Although I have heard a few good things of the Bishop of Cologne so maybe he won’t allow it. (to his defense though, I am not sure that he is in charge either, there is probably a committee that plans the whole thing)
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DavidJoseph:
I’m sure most of us will agree that rock music is out of place at Mass. Well, at World Youth Day Masses, there has been rock-type music (or at least that’s what I’ve heard). I’ve heard traditionalists basically accuse John Paul II of not exercising his authority by allowing rock music at such Masses. However, I’m not so sure the Holy Father had any control of that type of thing, especially in regard to an event with thousands upon thousands of people. What do y’all think?

Just for the record, I’m trying to respond to the aforementioned trads. Any help is appreciated.
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Call me crazy, but I love Contemporary Christian music. It takes all forms of musical expression (pop, rock, soul, country, rap), but if the lyrics are worshipful, why not? I love Dana’s We Are One Body from the Denver World Youth Day.

Look at in-church music and how it has changed through the years. I used to sing traditional hymns, then in the 70’s we sang all that guitar folk music hymns in church (the 8th grade boys used to insert “yehaws” under their breaths sending us girls into hysterics), now our hymn books are loaded with modern bland hymns that just don’t do it for me. Music styles change.
 
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snowgarden:
Call me crazy, but I love Contemporary Christian music. It takes all forms of musical expression (pop, rock, soul, country, rap), but if the lyrics are worshipful, why not? I love Dana’s We Are One Body from the Denver World Youth Day.

Look at in-church music and how it has changed through the years. I used to sing traditional hymns, then in the 70’s we sang all that guitar folk music hymns in church (the 8th grade boys used to insert “yehaws” under their breaths sending us girls into hysterics), now our hymn books are loaded with modern bland hymns that just don’t do it for me. Music styles change.
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I would submit that it is a matter of taste. If the words glorify God and the music is beautiful (thus also glorifying God), then it is okay. I personally agree with Pius X, who said that liturgical music should be Gregorian Chant or as close to it as possible, but I am not going to impose my preferences on everybody else. There is a German techno group called “E Nomine” that has a Christian album “Das Testament”. (They are NOT a Christian group that I know of, and I would not recommend their other stuff.) “Das Testament” has a beautiful (to my ears at least) rendition of the Hail Mary and the 23rd Psalm. I wouldn’t play it during Mass, but I wouldn’t take it too amiss if somebody else wanted to.
  • Liberian
 
I can see the marquee out front now:
YOUR MASS OF HITS
HEAR WHAT IS # 1 ON THE LITURGICAL HIT PARADE THIS WEEK
 
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DavidJoseph:
I’m sure most of us will agree that rock music is out of place at Mass. Well, at World Youth Day Masses, there has been rock-type music (or at least that’s what I’ve heard). I’ve heard traditionalists basically accuse John Paul II of not exercising his authority by allowing rock music at such Masses. However, I’m not so sure the Holy Father had any control of that type of thing, especially in regard to an event with thousands upon thousands of people. What do y’all think?
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I can respect various views on musical styles. However, I think people are purposefully fooling themselves when they pretend the late Holy Father did not approve at the type of music that was played consistently at WYDs.
 
I’ve been to WYD twice and have a CD from the Toronto gathering that I still listen to over and over. I would not describe the music as rock musicl. The music is a little more upbeat, maybe than what a lot of us hear at Mass, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. One of the big things they attempt at WYD, including musically, is to represent many cultures. For example, many songs are multi-lingual, and some follow traditional styles from around the world, with an emphasis on the country and continent that hosts the WYD. There are some songs that are a little more rock sounding that are a part of WYD, but these are typically a part of WYD events outside of the Mass.

WYD is amazing and helps young people love our universal Church. Young people are able to see the Church alive, and even the Eucharist alive. Music is a part of the celebration that can help touch hearts, but its not about the music, its about Christ. (and the music is pretty good too.)
 
tom.wineman said:
I can see the marquee out front now:

YOUR MASS OF HITS

HEAR WHAT IS # 1 ON THE LITURGICAL HIT PARADE THIS WEEK
Click to expand...

Yeah, I can see it too. Give me Gregorian chant and the Tridentine Mass any day of the week. But I will not condemn our brethren and sistren who like less traditional music.
  • Liberian
 
Liberian said:
Yeah, I can see it too. Give me Gregorian chant and the Tridentine Mass any day of the week. But I will not condemn our brethren and sistren who like less traditional music.
  • Liberian
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Keep your traditional music.
Keep your contemporary music.
Give me sacred music.
If it can’t be used in St. Peters in Rome
I can do with out it.
 
tom.wineman said:
Keep your traditional music.
Keep your contemporary music.
Give me sacred music.

If it can’t be used in St. Peters in Rome
I can do with out it.
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which, from personal experience, I can tell you includes “Gospel” style music.
 
I can’t help but wonder how folks felt when the ancient sung Mass adopted the newer forms of chant and then someone invented an Organ. Before too long those innovators like Mozart et. al. were composing new forms of music for Mass. Really hard to see that “modern” stuff as being pproper and reverent.
 
I love traditional hymns more than anything else, like Hail Holy Queen Enthroned Above.

Though one Protestant hymn I like quite a bit is How Great Thou Art. That is a lovely song.
 
I listen to a lot of secular rock and metal and the like. I do not like “Contemporary Christian Rock” or whatever. It’s just too cheesy for me. It seems to take reverence and make it over into pop music, it’s just too upbeat and has a “peppiness” or “happiness” that seems almost forced. If I want music that is reverent, nothing, NOTHING supplants the Gregorian Chant. That said, as far as WYD is concerned I won’t be there so I guess I don’t have a problem with whatever they are going to play. But even though I am a big hard rock/metal fan, I do NOT think it is appropriate for Mass. Give me the chant. Not the kumbaya/guitar Mass music that is so prevalent in parishes today. 🙂
 
I think music is powerful, and if you want to get a message across to the youth, what better way than to but some thought provoking, inspirational, christian lyrics behind a beat they can relate to. I personally think it’s a great thing to do for world youth day. World youth day is different than Sunday morning service.

Our pastor at our church talked a little about music and how some people are opposed to this type during mass, and others that type. He made a good point…If you don’t care for the music look beyond that and try instead to get something from the words.
 
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UnworthySoul:
I listen to a lot of secular rock and metal and the like. I do not like “Contemporary Christian Rock” or whatever. It’s just too cheesy for me. It seems to take reverence and make it over into pop music, it’s just too upbeat and has a “peppiness” or “happiness” that seems almost forced. If I want music that is reverent, nothing, NOTHING supplants the Gregorian Chant. That said, as far as WYD is concerned I won’t be there so I guess I don’t have a problem with whatever they are going to play. But even though I am a big hard rock/metal fan, I do NOT think it is appropriate for Mass. Give me the chant. Not the kumbaya/guitar Mass music that is so prevalent in parishes today. 🙂
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I have a friend who listens to a lot of CCM, and I have to admit, I find it bores me nearly to tears. If I’m gonna listen to rock/pop, I’ll listen to Aerosmith or Enigma or Rob Dougan. If I’m gonna praise the Lord, I’ll sing Gregorian chant, or Mass settings by classical composers. If I have to listen to another rendition of “Lord, I Lift Your Name On High” at the local Novus Ordo parish, I am going to start wearing earplugs to Mass, or maybe smuggle in an iPod (with some sort of Bluetooth earbuds) and load some Gregorian chant MP3s on it.
 
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