Should the guitar be played in mass?

[Padraig1972]

No! I would say like cardinal Arinze has said: mass is no place for secular music, dancing or a concert-a-like feeling. A guitar has no room in the mass.

We should focus on the Lord, not on modern instruments like guitars and such.

 

[Jennifer_J]

No! I would say like cardinal Arinze has said: mass is no place for secular music, dancing or a concert-a-like feeling. A guitar has no room in the mass.

We should focus on the Lord, not on modern instruments like guitars and such.

At some point, the organ was a modern instrument…just sayin’…

 

[Eugenius]

It isn’t the instruments that make the music work or not work, it is the choice of song and the approach…

I agree. The guitar is a stringed instrument like the harp and lyre. I can see King David singing one of the Psalms while stumming on one of those ancient instruments.

 

[DesDiamondS]

In our mass, the only instrument we have is a guitar. The person that plays it does it in a respectful and beautiful way. I think it all depends on how the person plays and what they sing and not necessarily the instrument itself. I know the parish has a small organ but I don’t think it’s been played in a long time. My guess is that there is no one that knows how.

 

[Monica4316]

I really dont like going to mass that has contemperary stile music. Will this be adressed in the new mass?

Pope Benedict said that the guitar should not be used at Mass. Neither should drums, etc. And the VII documents call for Gregorian chant. Sadly few know about this.

 

[po18guy]

Bolded is mine. I am not to sure of that, chant style has been used for secular music, and IMO it sounds really good lol. youtube.com/watch?v=iOkHpVVAFEQ [/QOUTE] Specifically, Gregorian chant. I should have specified. Secular chant is rather a profane use of it, IMO.
archangel04;7891570:

But I see what you are trying to say. Also Gregorian chant from its origins was made for the worship of the Lord, that is something that other music in modern time does not have.

Preach it!

 

[ConstantineTG]

I come from a culture that loves the guitar. Many play the guitar. Not many can play the organ, or even a piano. So definitely is one can play well and use good hymns, why not.

 

[Eugenius]

Pope Benedict said that the guitar should not be used at Mass. Neither should drums, etc. And the VII documents call for Gregorian chant. Sadly few know about this.

I did not know BXVI said this, can you tell me more details (where, when)?

Luckily I already sing in a Gregorian schola .

 

[archangel04]

I come from a culture that loves the guitar. Many play the guitar. Not many can play the organ, or even a piano. So definitely is one can play well and use good hymns, why not.

I like the guitars as well as i stated this before. But in this culture there is opportunity to learn chant and even know how to play the organ, but there is always the same old excuse “no one wants to learn that” or “it’s too hard”. It’s one thing to use guitars or what is available in an area or culture that does not have the means to learn the music that the Church has give highes honor, but I honestly don’t think most of western civilization has that problem.

 

[archangel04]

I did not know BXVI said this, can you tell me more details (where, when)?

Luckily I already sing in a Gregorian schola .

I know in his book “spirit of the liturgy” he wrote when he was still cardinal he mention that rock type music and other secular type music should be avoided at mass. He mentions that is basically “selling out” to the culture. I dont have the book so I can quote is exactly but that’s basically what he said there.

 

[ConstantineTG]

I like the guitars as well as i stated this before. But in this culture there is opportunity to learn chant and even know how to play the organ, but there is always the same old excuse “no one wants to learn that” or “it’s too hard”. It’s one thing to use guitars or what is available in an area or culture that does not have the means to learn the music that the Church has give highes honor, but I honestly don’t think most of western civilization has that problem.

Since I became a Byzantine Catholic, of course I favor the chant more! I actually love the Byzantine tradition that does away with all musical instruments. But growing up in the Philippines as a Roman Catholic, we have many wonderful hymns that were composed with guitars. Its how the faith was incultured in our corner of the world. As much as I love chanting and polyphonic hymns, I don’t want to erase decades of Filipino expression of the faith.

 

[hn160]

The only time that a guitar should be used in a church service whether it is a Lutheran Divine Service or a Mass is at Christmas if it is used for Silent Night.

 

[Cat]

I know in his book “spirit of the liturgy” he wrote when he was still cardinal he mention that rock type music and other secular type music should be avoided at mass. He mentions that is basically “selling out” to the culture. I dont have the book so I can quote is exactly but that’s basically what he said there.

Rock music and guitar are not the same thing.

We shouldn’t put words into our Holy Father’s mouth.

 

[laszlo]

I believe the proper question should be: Can the quitar be played in mass?

The first Christians rejected the hymns, (the contemporary songs) as gnostics, but beginning of St Ambrosius they became part of the Liturgy.

During the renaissance the polyphonic was considered earthly and avoided, Pius XII explicitly advises it as part of the liturgy.

The fist guitar Mass I attended was in 1958. It draw large crowd into the church.

If King David could praise the Lord with high sounding cymbals (Ps 150:5) so can we with guitar.

Naturally there are other ways to.

 

[NewsTheMan]

I think it can be permitted. Whether it should be permitted - I think the answer depends on how the guitar functions overall. Whether it should be encouraged - the answer is no.

Personal story:

We have “student masses” at my Parish. Drums, guitars, some “hand praising” as they call it. During Communion, a local performer sings a guitar solo themed around “love” and everybody claps afterwards.

It’s fantastic…

 

[Padraig1972]

To me it`s organ or chants. Nothing else. We are attending mass to honour the Lord, not to go to some casual ballroom dance.

 

[Melchior_1]

The OP should have known the answer(s) he would receive based on the type of people who frequent this section. The majority of the people here prefer the Extraordinary Form, so most will say “no”.

Anyway, Blessed JP2 and BXVI haven’t put the hammer down. Several organizations utilize the guitar, and drums, at Mass with no issues. Cardinal Arinze has also said he doesn’t plan on banning guitars anytime soon.

Lazzlo brought up some good points as well. But really, there’s not much of a point in having a dialogue when most people around here are pretty set in their ways.

 

[ProVobis]

At some point, the organ was a modern instrument…just sayin’…

But where does it stop? What would prevent everyone bringing in rubber bands to strum while singing in cases where you have no talented musicians?

 

[ProVobis]

Anyway, Blessed JP2 and BXVI haven’t put the hammer down. Several organizations utilize the guitar, and drums, at Mass with no issues. Cardinal Arinze has also said he doesn’t plan on banning guitars anytime soon.

I believe that would be the local bishops’ call to make. Naturally if it’s done in poor taste, he will have a say.

 

[laszlo]

But where does it stop? What would prevent everyone bringing in rubber bands to strum while singing in cases where you have no talented musicians?

In any way the sounds themselves remain in our very limited world. Only he openness of hearts can reach God.