Should "God bless ye merry gentleman" be sung during mass

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Eastwind

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Recently, during Mass, the choir sang, “God Bless Ye Merry Gentleman” at Communion. I always thought the song a more secular tune and thought it was not allowed during the celebration of the Eucharist. I would appreciate some feedback. Thanks.
 
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Have you even read the lyrics to the song?

Hardly secular…
 
If you could point to the secular bit…? 🙂

(Now, if they were singing about wassailing during the Communion line, I could see your point! 😛 )
God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s pow’r
When we were gone astray
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
Oh tidings of comfort and joy

In Bethlehem, in Israel
The blessed Babe was born
And laid within a manger
Upon this blessed morn
The which His Mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn
O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy!

From God our Heavenly Father
A blessed angel came;
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same:
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by Name
O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy!

“Fear not, then,” said the Angel
“Let nothing you affright
This day is born a Savior
Of a pure Virgin bright
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan’s power and might.”
O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy!

The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm and wind:
And went to Bethlehem straightway
The Son of God to find
O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy!

And when they came to Bethlehem
Where our dear Savior lay
They found Him in a manger
Where oxen feed on hay;
His Mother Mary kneeling down
Unto the Lord did pray
O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy!

Now to the Lord sing praises
All you within this place
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace
This holy tide of Christmas
Doth bring redeeming grace
O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy!
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As long as they don’t change the lyrics and start singing about fast-food fried chicken dinners, I think you’re safe… 😉
 
Thank you. I guess the tune has been bastardized so often that I felt it invoked a more commercial feel to it during the Eucharist. By the responses, I guess it’s just me.
 
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My question was a serious one. I don’t appreciate the snarky response.
 
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Eastwind said:
thought it was not allowed during the celebration of the Eucharist
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Checking the Missal, the rubrics, and the General Instructions and I see no mention that “God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen” cannot be sung…is there a secret list of banned song titles I’m not aware of?
 
I am surprised they haven’t got rid of the word gentlemen in favor of a more inclusive term. God Rest Ye Merry Everyone? 😜
 
There is hardly even one line of that hymn that doesn’t either directly reference God or one of the basic teachings of the Church.

I guess the litmus test is: can you sing it at your workplace without someone complaining about Christian proselytizing? 😉 I think not…
 
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