Shocked by Song Choice at Mass

[Wolseley]

As Paul said to the Corinthians, “Let all things be done according to personal preparation, which will be different for everyone.” (1 Cor. 14:40).

Oh, wait…

 

[RoyJr]

The music during the Mass - ALL the music during the Mass- is supposed to be SACRED - not "fun’ or “happy” but sacred.

That is the saddest thing I’ve ever heard.

And Gregorian Chant is the music of the Church and the Mass. Read thd documents of the Church 0- the enclclicals about the music of the Mass.

FYI: Songs & music other than Gregorian Chant are considered “sacred music”. I’m not trying to upset or offend you or anyone, but do “traditional catholics” think that Gregorian chant is the only music that should be used at Mass? Really?? I wonder if the first Apostles would agree. The first “Mass” was actually said in Aramaic & songs were sung in Hebrew…now THAT’S “tradiation”.

You can sing and dance afterwards -

I am literally in tears. I thought Holy Mass was supposed to be a “celebration”. hmph.

communion is the time when you… you - all by yourself… must prepare yourself (your (belonging to you) self( your personal being)) to receive INTO YOUR PERSONAL BEING, the PERSONAL BEING of Jesus Christ. It is the most personal thing you do in the Mass.

I agree & also disagree. “Church” is not one person all by themself, now is it?

You don’t get to prepare your neighbor. He should be busy preparing himself.

Well, I am a Music Minister (15 years), & my “job” is to prepare others for the celebration of Holy Mass (Liturgy of the Word & the Eucharist). If the congragation DOES NOT SING, then I HAVE NOT done MY JOB as a minister. I’ve told our parishoners on many occasions that I am not there to “entertain” them, they need to sing, or they are not “working to the full extent of their possibilities” (check my sig).

 

[RoyJr]

As Paul said to the Corinthians, “Let all things be done according to personal preparation, which will be different for everyone.” (1 Cor. 14:40).

Oh, wait…

What translation are you using for that scripture?
The New American Bible reads: “but everything must be done properly and in order.” 1 Cor14:40

Not to alarm you, but St. Paul was talking about the charismatic gifts of prophesy & tongues in this entire chapter, not music used at Mass…“Mass” in his day was said in Aramaic/Greek & songs(psalms) were sung in Hebrew.

 

[fix]

I am literally in tears. I thought Holy Mass was supposed to be a “celebration”. hmph.

I am confused? I thought the phrase celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the mass meant a coming to together, not a happy, clappy, emotionalistic celebration like a birthday party?

 

[Wolseley]

What translation are you using for that scripture?
The New American Bible reads: “but everything must be done properly and in order.” 1 Cor14:40

Not to alarm you, but St. Paul was talking about the charismatic gifts of prophesy & tongues in this entire chapter, not music used at Mass…“Mass” in his day was said in Aramaic/Greek & songs(psalms) were sung in Hebrew.

Don’t they have sarcasm where you come from, boyo?

 

[Nordar]

I am confused? I thought the phrase celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the mass meant a coming to together, not a happy, clappy, emotionalistic celebration like a birthday party?

Count me in I am just as confused as you are!

 

[PatienceAndLove]

You are, in fact, wrong.

A meditative nature should not be cultivated during communion.

Find a perpetual adoration chapel if you want to meditate on the Eucharist.

Could you please explain this further, cause I am still confused as to why you think this.

 

[theoprofessor]

I have been on a crusade to change “some” of the music in my parish. Particularly the songs during communion. I am generally in favor a song or hymn when communion is being administered, but I question why it is necessary to have the congregation sing until all have received. * Pope John Paul II has commented on the practice of continuous singing during communion by saying that this practice interferes with the silence necessary to fully reflect on what is truly happening; simple, that we now have Jesus within us.

In my parish the second song is usually sung in several voices by the choir and is truly beautiful. However, the result is that the congregation applauds sometimes. This is most unsettling because it indicates that the congregation is listening to the music and not what Jesus has to say to us.

The great theologian, Hans Urs von Balthasar has written on this topic and I quote him: Surely excluded is everything which directs the community away from attention to God and his coming and turns its gaze back upon itself…Everything in the celebration which does not guide the hearts and thoughts toward the One being celebrated is evil…It often happens–and the danger seems greater today than in earlier times–that a liturgical community measures the achievement of a celebration against its own edification…instead of being captured by God and his gifts and letting him take part."

Accordingly the liturgical community must be certain that the music played and/or sung during the celebration of the Eucharist must be chosen, not for us, but for Jesus.*

 

[VAC]

[SIGN][/SIGN]

FYI: Songs & music other than Gregorian Chant are considered “sacred music”. I’m not trying to upset or offend you or anyone, but do “traditional catholics” think that Gregorian chant is the only music that should be used at Mass? Really?? I wonder if the first Apostles would agree. The first “Mass” was actually said in Aramaic & songs were sung in Hebrew…now THAT’S “tradiation”.

I am literally in tears. I thought Holy Mass was supposed to be a “celebration”. hmph.

I agree & also disagree. “Church” is not one person all by themself, now is it?

Well, I am a Music Minister (15 years), & my “job” is to prepare others for the celebration of Holy Mass (Liturgy of the Word & the Eucharist). If the congragation DOES NOT SING, then I HAVE NOT done MY JOB as a minister. I’ve told our parishoners on many occasions that I am not there to “entertain” them, they need to sing, or they are not “working to the full extent of their possibilities” (check my sig).

AMEN, brother!!!

 

[VAC]

I have been on a crusade to change “some” of the music in my parish. Particularly the songs during communion. I am generally in favor a song or hymn when communion is being administered, but I question why it is necessary to have the congregation sing until all have received. * Pope John Paul II has commented on the practice of continuous singing during communion by saying that this practice interferes with the silence necessary to fully reflect on what is truly happening; simple, that we now have Jesus within us. .*

Well, as someone who plans and leads music for a children/family mass with a 400+ crowd (on CCD weeks )
I’ve had people comment that the music is beautiful, but it makes it harder to pray.
I can also tell you that anytime I have attempted silence during this time it is quickly taken up with chitchat (not from typical young child/baby noises mind you, but chatter from the adults)
Our priest actually interrupted communion a couple weeks ago, while the choir was receiving before we started the song, to tell people to SHUT UP , not in those words of course. Silence can be very appropriate and prayerful IF it is observed.

 

[PaixGioiaAmor]

Could you please explain this further, cause I am still confused as to why you think this.

Simple.

Although it does little to no good to explain on these forums, Eucharist at mass isn’t about meditation and privacy. It’s about the community receiving the literal body and blood of Jesus Christ. It’s about the community BECOMING what they receive. It’s about taking Christ to the world.

 

[Nordar]

Simple.

Although it does little to no good to explain on these forums, Eucharist at mass isn’t about meditation and privacy. It’s about the community receiving the literal body and blood of Jesus Christ. It’s about the community BECOMING what they receive. It’s about taking Christ to the world.

I respectfully disagree with you, MY RECIEVING The Body and Blood of Jesus is very personal and private to ME. And is most definately a time for me to mediatate on the fact that God died for my sins, and that he has deemed me worthy to recieve him… And to thank him for the many Blessings he has given me.

At the moment when you Recieve The Eucharist it is not about community it is about You and God.

Being at Mass is the community celebration, the Consecration is community celebration. Actually recieving The Body and blood is Personal!

 

[PatienceAndLove]

I respectfully disagree with you, MY RECIEVING The Body and Blood of Jesus is very personal and private to ME. And is most definately a time for me to mediatate on the fact that God died for my sins, and that he has deemed me worthy to recieve him… And to thank him for the many Blessings he has given me.

At the moment when you Recieve The Eucharist it is not about community it is about You and God.

Being at Mass is the community celebration, the Consecration is community celebration. Actually recieving The Body and blood is Personal!

Exactly!
I honestly have never heard an explanation like PGA gave.

 

[Nordar]

Exactly!
I honestly have never heard an explanation like PGA gave.

That’s because that explanation has no understanding of the true meaning of Recieving The Body and Blood of Jesus Christ!

 

[agapewolf]

I respectfully disagree with you, MY RECIEVING The Body and Blood of Jesus is very personal and private to ME. And is most definately a time for me to mediatate on the fact that God died for my sins, and that he has deemed me worthy to recieve him… And to thank him for the many Blessings he has given me.

At the moment when you Recieve The Eucharist it is not about community it is about You and God.

Being at Mass is the community celebration, the Consecration is community celebration. Actually recieving The Body and blood is Personal!

Actually, the GIRM disagrees with you…its talking about singing here, but it still gives the idea that Communion is MORE than just a personal thing.

from the GIRM: Chapter II,

During the priest’s and the faithful’s reception of the sacrament
the communion song is sung. Its function is to express outwardly the communicants’ union in spirit by means of the unity of their voices,to give evidence of joy of heart, and to make the procession to receive Christ’s body more fully an act of community]. The song begins when the priest takes communion and continues for as long as seems appropriate while the faithful receive Christ’s body. But the communion song should be ended in good time whenever there is to be a hymn after communion.

 

[PaixGioiaAmor]

I respectfully disagree with you, MY RECIEVING The Body and Blood of Jesus is very personal and private to ME. And is most definately a time for me to mediatate on the fact that God died for my sins, and that he has deemed me worthy to recieve him… And to thank him for the many Blessings he has given me.

At the moment when you Recieve The Eucharist it is not about community it is about You and God.

Being at Mass is the community celebration, the Consecration is community celebration. Actually recieving The Body and blood is Personal!

Most respected professors of liturgy, church academics, bishops, and the Church itself respectfully disagree with you.

 

[PaixGioiaAmor]

That’s because that explanation has no understanding of the true meaning of Recieving The Body and Blood of Jesus Christ!

Or does your above quote have no understanding of the true meaning of the Eucharistic liturgy?

 

[Nordar]

Actually, the GIRM disagrees with you…its talking about singing here, but it still gives the idea that Communion is MORE than just a personal thing.

from the GIRM: Chapter II,

During the priest’s and the faithful’s reception of the sacrament
the communion song is sung. Its function is to express outwardly the communicants’ union in spirit by means of the unity of their voices,to give evidence of joy of heart, and to make the procession to receive Christ’s body more fully an act of community]. The song begins when the priest takes communion and continues for as long as seems appropriate while the faithful receive Christ’s body. But the communion song should be ended in good time whenever there is to be a hymn after communion.

I am not disagreeing with what the GIRM says! Please read what I was referring to!

Recieving The Eucharist is not a time for meditation and privacy!

I was disagreeing with that statement! Recieving the Eucharist is most definately a time for private meditation as I said it is a time for Thanking God for Blessings and a private prayer!

My recieving is very personal to me, I am NOT negating that Celebrating the Mass is done as a Community!

 

[Nordar]

Most respected professors of liturgy, church academics, bishops, and the Church itself respectfully disagree with you.

How so?

Please post referrences where it says we are not supposed to meditate or say a private prayer after recieving The Eucharist!

 

[bkovacs]

I usually adore going to Mass at my parish, and I look forward to Fr. Larry’s sermons.

A few times, however, I have been a little shocked by the song choices/Mass settings. During Lent, we had the very charismatic Jim Cowen Mass (if you have been to Franciscan, you know that Mass setting). Which was a little odd, IMHO, but the Triduum was very reverent and no Cowen.

Yesturday, however, one of the Communion songs was “Blessed Be Your Name”! Some parishioners in the back even started clapping!

I don’t know how to word my letter to Father, and the Music Minister… any suggestions?

(Sorry for the horrific spelling, I cannot seem to find the spellcheck button)

I don’t find it shocking one bit!. This is the wave of future Roman Catholicism in the US. A Protestant Roman Catholic Church!. Seperate from Rome. The Pope wants beauty and the US Bishops want parties. Tell them both that the Pope wants Gregorian Chant, and classical music. Not folk music and clapping. And if they care less about what the Pope wants, call them Protestant. Simple:thumbsup: