Songs with gestures

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Quaere_Verum

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Are songs with gestures acceptable during Mass? How about when there is a song performed by a group of children such as first communicants which include gestures? I suppose the word “perform” maybe more than the gestures is the issue here.

Does anybody have any comments? Silly me, of course you guys have comments.
 
I am biting my tongue because I am afraid if I say what I really think I will get banned. As a DRE I would tolerate it, for one song, for a first communion Mass, either before Mass begins, or just before the final blessing, for a song they know and is appropriate, such as Shine Jesus Shine. I would only tolerate it if it was already the custom of the parish. I would not and have no plans to introduce it.

I would tolerate it at my grandchild’s first communion Mass, since I am not in charge, and the overall conduct of the celebration proved the children have been very well prepared to understand and participate in the Mass, and there were no egregious liturgical abuses otherwise.

I think those songs and those gestures are fine in an RE setting at a family gathering, youth rally etc. but tend to blur the distinction between true liturgical worship at Mass and so-called “praise and worship music” which is the hallmark of many non-denom mega-churches and constitutes their chief or only method of Sunday worship. (that is obviously not true of most mainstream Protestant denoms who have more structured liturgy including celebration of the Lord’s Supper regularly. These generally have better liturgical music than the average Catholic parish anyhow.)

I would not only tolerate I would encourage sign interpretation of the liturgy for those deaf persons present, especially when the CCD class for the deaf is participating, even to the point of their class signing one song with their hearing peers participating.
 
puzzleannie said:
I would not only tolerate I would encourage sign interpretation of the liturgy for those deaf persons present, especially when the CCD class for the deaf is participating, even to the point of their class signing one song with their hearing peers participating.
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Sign language is not gestures, it’s actually a language, so I agree fully with you.

We have the Nativity play in our church BEFORE mass. If the kiddies want to perform it should be before or after mass. In the nave or hall if possible.
 
Songs arenot the only part of the Mass where gestures are used, if it is a Mass in Sign Language for the Deaf 👍
 
How about the wave? My parish is kinda built like a stadium and circular.
This is great for full participation!

I can have the nun in her slacks run with the Holy Water in a semi-circle as she choreographs it.
For any first communion there should be utmost respect and all the silliness that goes on in teen masses and such should be put off until they are older or until it is finally eliminated from the Holy Mass. They go to Mass for God not for a show.

I would much rather have a reverent Mass and with a first communion, I would much rather have my daughter go to a kneeler and receive as we should receive our Lord.
No way would I let any of my kids disrespect the Lord in the Eucharist.

If someone else wants to lead little kids to Hell by ignoring Christ in the Eucharist that is up to them, but my first communion class is receiving our Lord Jesus with the most respect possible.

In Christ
Scylla
 
Gestures are ok in black gospel choirs and latino choirs. Those kinds of choirs are ok if the ethnicity of the parish matches that kind of music.
 
Please, only under the most limited of cirumstances, please, pretty please, I beg of you- not in the regular parts of the Mass. Please? Our very dear DRE has managed to eliminate girls wearing dresses more designed for disco clubs than Mass, and other oddities. Don’t give anybody any ideas, please, please, please.
 
I knew I could count on you for comments, opinions, and comic relief. Most importantly I could count on you for liturgically correct information. Thanks!
 
This is coming from a young women who was very active in the Charismatic Movement and Life Teen for three years when I was a teenager. There were gestures for just about every song that was sung. I feel that many of the gestures are inappropriate for Mass, mainly because they are silly and fun. Mass is not supposed to be silly and fun. I am no longer involved in Life Teen and prefer more Traditional Novus Ordo Mass, although the Tridentine Mass is quite beautiful.
 
Deo_adiuvante_2 said:
This is coming from a young women who was very active in the Charismatic Movement and Life Teen for three years when I was a teenager. There were gestures for just about every song that was sung. I feel that many of the gestures are inappropriate for Mass, mainly because they are silly and fun. Mass is not supposed to be silly and fun. I am no longer involved in Life Teen and prefer more Traditional Novus Ordo Mass, although the Tridentine Mass is quite beautiful.
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Good for you!!!
Welcome to CAF. I used to do the innovative mass myself. Now I am with you. 🙂
 
Thank you. I really appreciate it. There are some good discussions on this board.
 
Many songs in Mass require gestures.

From the 2002 General Introduction to the Roman Missal (GIRM) which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html , n. 275(a):

“A bow of the head is made when the three Divine Persons are named together and at the names of Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of the Saint in whose honor Mass is being celebrated.”

So, for example, the Gloria requires two bows of the head by everyone. The first for “Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father”. The second at the end: “you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.”
 
John_Lilburne said:
Many songs in Mass require gestures.

From the 2002 General Introduction to the Roman Missal (GIRM) which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html , n. 275(a):

“A bow of the head is made when the three Divine Persons are named together and at the names of Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of the Saint in whose honor Mass is being celebrated.”

So, for example, the Gloria requires two bows of the head by everyone. The first for “Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father”. The second at the end: “you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.”
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I guess a clairification on Liturgical gestures and Theatrical gestures are in order.
 
Thank you very much for sharing this with us. I was unaware of this. I am learning more all the time.
 
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