Shocked by Song Choice at Mass

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PatienceAndLove

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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! :eek:

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)
 
these songs are great, orthodox, and uplifting. not everyone is suitable for liturgy necessarily, but all are suitable for worship in other settings. not everyone’s style perhaps and it would be nice to have a choice, by the way Mass at Steubenville, whether the Cowan family or other musicians are playing will always include lots of latin gregorian chant as well, in fact, that is the first place I heard it since my teen years. the particular song you name was not written by Cowan, but he does write a lot of original material as well.
 
PA:
My point was that:
  1. I don’t feel that the Cowan Mass setting is appropriate for Lent
  2. “Blessed Be Your Name” is not an appropriate Communion song
How do I address these issues in a letter to my pastor and the Music Minister without coming off whiney?
 
If you don’t like the music just “a few times” I wouldn’t send a letter to anyone. The song you name is not heritical in anyway, it’s just a bit peppier than you’d like. You may write your letter saying you prefer more traditional hymns and another parishioner may write one saying they loved the song choice! Since there is nothing wrong with the song, I imagine the music minister will continue to choose from a variety of music–some that you’ll like and others you won’t.
 
PatienceAndLove said:
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! :eek:

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)
Click to expand...
What is shocking about blessing God’s name? For that matter, what is shocking about worshiping God with the body?

This is an excellent example of the way things that first drew me to Catholicism turn out to be not only atypical of most Catholic parishes but to be rejected by the more self-consciously traditional Catholics when they do occur. Silly old me–I used to think that individualistic, over-intellectualized religion was a Protestant problem!

Edwin
 
Contarini said:
What is shocking about blessing God’s name? For that matter, what is shocking about worshiping God with the body?
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The worst that could probably be said for the song choice is that it has nothing specifically to do with the Eucharist, and Communion songs really should be about the Eucharist.

As to worshipping God with the body, there is a time and a place for every good thing. There is no tradition in the West of clapping during the Mass, especially at Communion. The vast majority of Catholics, at least in this country, are thus not expecting clapping during Communion, and would be distracted, annoyed or even angered by it. We are taught to avoid those things which will make our brother stumble, and in most parishes in this country, clapping during Communion certainly qualifies.
 
I just thought that the song was not conducive to the meditative nature that should be cultivated during Communion…
but I guess I am wrong.
 
PatienceAndLove said:
PA:
How do I address these issues in a letter to my pastor and the Music Minister without coming off whiney?
Click to expand...
offer to become involved in music ministry and assist with choosing appropriate seasonal and liturgical music, and with training musicians, choir members and parishioners to sing it. is there some reason we are discussin lenten music in Sept? I assume that since lent you have had nothing to complain about in the music dept. at your church? lucky you, some of us envy you.

for a concurrent discussion of personal preferences in this department see:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=186084
one man’s traditional hymn is someone else’s shocker.
 
PatienceandLove,

I completely agree with you. I used to attend a Protestant community church. The music was, as a young person, very appealing for its energy.

Now that I’ve become Catholic however, I prefer more traditional/reverent music. Blessed Be Your Name is a perfect example of a song I would NOT want to hear in Mass. Another example would be “Lord I lift Your Name on High”.

I prefer a specifically Catholic sounding Mass. This is really the issue here. When Mass starts to use music that is typical and indicative of modern Protestant churches, many of us sense the departure in tradition. Catholic music brings us into a sense of continuity with our Catholic past. Some might consider these mere cultural differences or tell me to “get with the times”, but when I’m at Mass I don’t like to feel that I might be at a “ho down”.
 
PatienceAndLove said:
I just thought that the song was not conducive to the meditative nature that should be cultivated during Communion…
but I guess I am wrong.
Click to expand...
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.
 
PaixGioiaAmor said:
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.
Click to expand...
:confused:

This came out of left field.

So we should not be meditating on the Eucharist during Holy Communion? What, please tell me, should we (in your humble opinion) be doing?
 
puzzleannie said:
offer to become involved in music ministry and assist with choosing appropriate seasonal and liturgical music, and with training musicians, choir members and parishioners to sing it. is there some reason we are discussin lenten music in Sept? I assume that since lent you have had nothing to complain about in the music dept. at your church? lucky you, some of us envy you.

for a concurrent discussion of personal preferences in this department see:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=186084
one man’s traditional hymn is someone else’s shocker.
Click to expand...
I had observed one or two instances where I was shocked a bit disappointed at the song choices, but just went along with it. After yesturday’s song choice, however, I am even more confused. And I thought that perhaps I did need to write a letter expressing my confusion, shock and disappointment over the choices.

And as much as I would love to join the choir, I have no time. I am going to school full time and attempting to finally graduate. I quit working to focus on getting school done. Trust me, if I had the time, I would be singing at Mass in a heart beat.
It takes moving heaven and earth to get to adoration each week.
 
Sr_Sally said:
If you don’t like the music just “a few times” I wouldn’t send a letter to anyone. The song you name is not heritical in anyway, it’s just a bit peppier than you’d like. You may write your letter saying you prefer more traditional hymns and another parishioner may write one saying they loved the song choice! Since there is nothing wrong with the song, I imagine the music minister will continue to choose from a variety of music–some that you’ll like and others you won’t.
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I agree with this comment. The music minister is probably trying to go for a certain aspect of repentance, like the joy of being forgiven. Lent is a time for renewal, and we hear through many of the readings how we are accepted back with forgiveness and love.

What if you asked the minister what he/she was trying to convey through the music selections? It might spark a conversation in which he/she realizes that their message wasn’t getting through loud and clear.
 
From “Music in Catholic Worship” (usccb.org/liturgy/current/musiccathworship.shtml)
  1. We do a disservice to musical values, however, when we confuse the judgment of music with the judgment of musical style. Style and value are two distinct judgments. Good music of new styles is finding a happy home in the celebrations of today. To chant and polyphony we have effectively added the chorale hymn, restored responsorial singing to some extent, and employed many styles of contemporary composition. Music in folk idiom is finding acceptance in eucharistic celebrations. We must judge value within each style.
This document also has a wonderful quote:

In the meantime, however, the words of St. Augustine should not be forgotten: “Do not allow yourselves to be offended by the imperfect while you strive for the perfect.”

We have to keep in mind that we’re in community at Mass, and not everyone is going to like everything. However, as long as the music being chosen is doctrinally sound and appropriate in the liturgical context, then we’re ok.
 
I would not have chosen ‘Blessed be your name’ for a communion song, possibly for recessional, but not communion, and there are better songs for Lent.

Jim Cowan did not write that song. He did write “This is Jesus”
which we just started playing for communion. It’s an excellent song that a choir member (who posts here!!) brought into the group. It’s very easy to sing, my group learned it in about 5 minutes, and it’s full of ‘meat’, and is completely about the Eucharist. I am hoping for it to be used for first communion as well.

We played this song yesterday. No one clapped, but our priest had to make an announcment at the beginning of communion for people to STOP YAPPING!!! before we started to play it:eek: :eek:
 
Regarding music during Communion, Music in Catholic Worship says this:
  1. The eating and drinking of the Body and Blood of the Lord in a paschal meal is the climax of our eucharistic celebration. It is prepared for by several rites: the Lord’s Prayer with embolism and doxology, the rite of peace, breaking of bread land commingling) during the “Lamb of God,” private preparation of the priest, and showing of the eucharistic bread. The eating and drinking are accompanied by a song expressing the unity of communicants and followed by a time of prayer after communion. Those elements are primary which show forth signs that the first fruit of the Eucharist is the unity of the Body of Christ, Christians being loved by Christ and loving him through their love of one another. The principal texts to accompany or express the sacred action are the Lord’s Prayer, the song during the communion procession, and the prayer after communion. variety is recommended and even imperative. The challenge to the composer and people alike is one of variety without confusion.
The GIRM says:
  1. While the priest is receiving the Sacrament, the Communion chant is begun. Its purpose is to express the communicants’ union in spirit by means of the unity of their voices, to show joy
    of heart, and to highlight more clearly the “communitarian” nature of the procession to receive Communion. The singing is continued for as long as the Sacrament is being administered to the faithful. If, however, there is to be a hymn after Communion, the Communion chant should be ended in a timely manner.
 
PatienceAndLove said:
I just thought that the song was not conducive to the meditative nature that should be cultivated during Communion…
but I guess I am wrong.
Click to expand...
Mass is a re-creation of Christ’s sacrifice, so of course, there should be hysterical joy, hand clapping, jumping up and down, great rejoicing, that now He’s finally dead.

Just pretend you’re Annas, or Caiphas, or one of the other Pharisees. I’m sure they were literally bouncing with merriment at the Crucifixion.

(I am being completely sarcastic, of course—but only to make a point.)
 
Wolseley said:
Mass is a re-creation of Christ’s sacrifice, so of course, there should be hysterical joy, hand clapping, jumping up and down, great rejoicing, that now He’s finally dead.

Just pretend you’re Annas, or Caiphas, or one of the other Pharisees. I’m sure they were literally bouncing with merriment at the Crucifixion.

(I am being completely sarcastic, of course—but only to make a point.)
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I read a tagline in a previous poster’s message that said " Joy is not the absence of Sorrow, but the Presence of God." I like that, and it’s fitting here.

There is great sorrow to be felt at the passion of Jesus. However, even more so, and not in contrast with that sorrow, there is great joy! What He did for me on that cross brought about my ability to reconnect with God Himself. His sacrifice is our salvation. Is that not the ultimate cause for joy? Should not the music with which we choose to celebrate His passion reflect the joy that we ought to each feel at this superlative expression of the creator’s love for us?
 
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