Singing obligatory?

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I believe that when I’m praying the mass, I am joining my voice to the voices of everyone praying the mass around the world.

The mass includes singling. To be a full participant, I am obliged to sing. I offer my voice to the trinity.

I sing loud enough that I can hear my voice, but no louder. God did not bless me with a drop of musical ability. I participate, but do not create a distraction to those around me.

At times, in my mind, I picture myself joining my voice to the chorus of angels joining us for mass at church. Doing this really enhances my mass experience.
 
No, you’re not the only one. When I was attending daily when my mother was sick, I could sometimes barely standup, let alone sing.
 
“Let’s not talk about the awful musical quality of most of the contemporary mass songs.” 🙂 🙂
Yes, in the English Mass, that’s a definite problem.
If your Parish has a Spanish Mass, I encourage you to try it. 🙂
 
Flor said:
“Let’s not talk about the awful musical quality of most of the contemporary mass songs.” 🙂 🙂

Yes, in the English Mass, that’s a definite problem.

If your Parish has a Spanish Mass, I encourage you to try it. 🙂
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I enjoy Spanish masses, but to dismiss the music at every single one of the thousands, probably tens of thousands, of English Masses at every single church in North America as being awful is just more of the same bias, intolerance and shortsightedness that usually comes up when we discuss music on this forum.
 
Flor said:
“Let’s not talk about the awful musical quality of most of the contemporary mass songs.” 🙂 🙂

Yes, in the English Mass, that’s a definite problem.

If your Parish has a Spanish Mass, I encourage you to try it.
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Only if I have to, in order to fulfill my obligation. I really dislike the contemporary Mass songs, but I do prefer them over a mariachi band.

D
 
I can’t hold a tune myself though I do like to sing, so if there is a good lead in the choir or parish then i am good to give it a good old go whether I know the hymn or not. Otherwise if a lead is missing I will really only manage if I know the hymn.
I don’t think it can be obligatory logically speaking as some masses are without singing. I know my dad prefers a quiet mass as he can’t see much so can’t read the words of hymns, actually he’s a fabulous singer but his sight is too poor. I’d imagine disabilities must hinder many. I would imagine it’s a case of doing your best, ie if you can, do, but I am guessing. I’ve heard a priest repeating a quote that singing is like praying twice but can’t recall who it was attributed too, likely a saint.
 
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Ha Ha - well, I can only speak about what I have heard locally … Sorry to have hurt your feelings. And, music taste does differ, for sure. When I became Catholic 4 years ago, I thought I was giving up church playing/singing FOREVER 🙂 That was my impression. Due to only attending English Mass in my neighborhood. So maybe it was a spiritual test for me : would I be Catholic if that’s what’s I have to listen to ?
 
You didn’t “hurt my feelings”. I’m not a Church musician and I couldn’t care less if you or anybody else likes the music at a particular Church or not.
I’m just tired of reading posts whining about Mass music.
I go to many different churches, and the music I hear is all over the map. Some good, some bad, some contemporary, some old-fashioned, some sung well, some sung poorly, and quite a few Masses I attend do not have any music at all especially during the week.

Someone making a blanket generalization about “English Mass” music based on a couple of places they went to church is basically being biased, intolerant and overgeneral, as a matter of fact.
And I imagine you are making a joke by saying “would I be Catholic if that’s what I have to listen to?” because we do not go to Mass to hear the music. If that was the case, nobody would be at the many weekday Masses with no music going on at all.
 
The problem in this regard isn’t just music or the quality of performance. It’s also the absolutely insipid lyrics of much of what passes for “liturgical music.” When you compare it to the vast treasury of texts from tradition…it’s an utter embarrassment.

And when you wed those insipid lyrics to poor imitations of Broadway show tunes…well…you get the standard repertoire of most American parishes today.
 
Since you don’t know me from Adam, an actual understanding conversation is probably impossible on an anonymous public forum. That’s ok.
We don’t go to Mass to hear the music, true. But unless you wear expensive earplugs, you can’t block out the music (good, bad, or indifferent).
“A joke…” well, sometimes the truth is funny. 🙂
 
Yes !!! There was a golden era in the 70s , Glory and Praise songbook, from OCP. Unfortunately out of print. Catholic compositions were original and spiritual, touching the heart.
 
Singing is like praying twice, St Augustine, highly recommended by one of our greatest Saints.
 
I have just been recruited into the choir. I can’t read music and my voice is nothing to praise, but I can sing a bit and that’s what matters.
 
Tis_Bearself said:
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PeterT:
Now — for the record — I am NOT saying that is a sin. But it is something that is indeed contrary to the spirit and the purpose of the Mass itself.

(Nor should most anyone — who is physically able — find singing or saying the appropriate prayers and responses of the liturgy burdensome.)
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Well, I’ve been to Masses where I was so tired or depressed that pretty much all I did was sit in my seat and cry silently through the whole thing. I’m sure I’m not the only one.

You might not find something “burdensome”, but everybody is not like you, and we don’t all live up to expectations on all days. Better to be at Mass doing what one can do, even in the face of judgments like you seem to be handing out, than to not be there at all and distancing themself from Jesus.
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I’m not handing out any judgement. And please don’t read any more into what I had written.

I specifically wrote “most anyone” because I fully understand that those who are depressed or grieving while attending Mass could find it very hard and burdensome to sing at that moment or time. Outside of a funeral Mass though, I would expect that the vast majority of those who attend a Mass won’t be in such a state of depression or grief that saying (or chanting or singing) the words of the prayers or responses of the liturgy would be emotionally difficult or burdensome for them to do.

And I sure the Church has the same expectations otherwise it would have NOT been written in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) all what has been written in regards to singing and chanting at Mass.
 
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Flor said:
“Let’s not talk about the awful musical quality of most of the contemporary mass songs.” 🙂 🙂
Yes, in the English Mass, that’s a definite problem.
If your Parish has a Spanish Mass, I encourage you to try it. 🙂
Click to expand...
My experience with Spanish Masses is that the music is way too amplified for my taste.
 
Flor said:
Yes !!! There was a golden era in the 70s , Glory and Praise songbook, from OCP. Unfortunately out of print. Catholic compositions were original and spiritual, touching the heart.
Click to expand...
The Glory and Praise hymnal isn’t out of print. It can still be purchased from OCP (as well as their Journeysongs hymnal). Both hymnals still have those songs from the 70s in them. But very few parishes seem to use those hymnals anymore. Most parishes where I’ve attended Mass that use OCP products seem to have settled on the annual “Music Issue” from OCP.

Glory and Praise Hymnal, Third Edition

Journeysongs: Third Edition
 
I don’t have a great voice, but I can carry a tune, sing with others, and I play a little piano and guitar, and I can read music.
I sing loud and proud, just to remind God he gave me the love of music without giving me any real talent! 😜😂
 
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Thank You ! I have copies of the Red & Green Glory and Praise guitar books. Those must be the first and second editions. I can’t imagine why most parishes settle for the annual Music Issue, when much better material is in print.
 
PeterT said:
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Flor:
Yes !!! There was a golden era in the 70s , Glory and Praise songbook, from OCP. Unfortunately out of print. Catholic compositions were original and spiritual, touching the heart.
Click to expand...
The Glory and Praise hymnal isn’t out of print. It can still be purchased from OCP (as well as their Journeysongs hymnal). Both hymnals still have those songs from the 70s in them. But very few parishes seem to use those hymnals anymore. Most parishes where I’ve attended Mass that use OCP products seem to have settled on the annual “Music Issue” from OCP.

Glory and Praise Hymnal, Third Edition

Journeysongs: Third Edition
Click to expand...
Peace is flowing like a river, flowing out of you and me, flowing out into the desert, setting all the captives free… 🎶
 
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