The Divine Command to sing, proper antiphons, and you.

[pnewton]

We are duty-bound to show him what an authentic interpretation of Church documents and Sacred Scripture reveals about the nature of liturgical music and our obligations.

Yes, one can express their opinions of what authentic interpretation is to the bishop. but if his opinion of authentic interpretation is different, then it is his interpretation that carries authority. Note that I use the word “opinion” because we frequently think of “authentic” as something that is not debatable. In the statement about there is not “authentic” interpretation. That is why the Catholic Church has placed the onus of the liturgy with the bishop. I know that is not the American way to think, where we think all of us have equal weight in our opinion, but it is the way the Church operates.

Nice blog, by the way. I always like her stuff.

 

[pnewton]

Honestly, Pope Francis told us to make a mess. Redemptionis Sacramentum is law and guarantees us an abuse-free liturgy.

That document gave specific abuses, none of which had to do with which of the four options a diocese use for music. It deals with reporting abuses, not options we do not like.

 

[Enim]

It is not my opinion but it is a FACT, indicated in the Missal that options 1 ,2 ,3 are the proper psalms or antiphons. That’s three out of four options. There is no option that gives precedence to opinion, even if it 95% who choose to sing hymns. The highly marketed commodity of new hymns have brought with it some works that have problems both in the texts and the character of the melodies. That is why the bishops were instructed by JPII to approve the texts of hymns, while promoting the chant form.
I am easily taken in by a catchy tune and enjoy some spiritually cool buzz words, - not prayer but entertainment. To avoid this pitfall I always defer to the propers for for the text or at least to find a similarly inspired theme in the hymn.
** It is also quite liberating to know that the Church has already provided music** for these parts of the Mass. Chant. And many, many times we since VCII we are instructed to use chant as the template for our music. The melodic form is crucial!. Chant defers to the the phonetic, rhetorical, and tone of the text. It serves prayer humbly. Chant bears the marks of One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic.
Is one melody is as good as another? Not really. Would you sing “Tantum Ergo” to “Mack the Knife,” during the Eucharistic adoration, or conversely would we sing the words of " Mac the Knife" to “Pange Ligua” at a lounge. Music and melody have objective values. To say the melody does not matter, would mean the music can neither edify or destroy the texts our prayer, or our attitude of prayer.

  So many  musicians are afraid of change and are unaware of the treasury of music that the church has already assigned to the Mass since VC2.  There is also a false assumption  among musicians the chant is slow, austere and  framed within  the sad minor keys.This view  show the  need for more education. 
   
      Implementing the propers with  congregational participation is easily achieved with a  small schola leading , yet  according to the GIRM congregational singing is only an option and not demanded  with the propers .

DUC IN ALTUM.

 

[BertBlyleven]

Though I agree with most of what you say in Part 2, especially with need for liturgical music and for the quasi-psalm pop to give up the ghost, a few issues come to mind with what you say.

1. Nobody has an obligation to sing in the Liturgy. You can read scripture, the psalms a certain way and come to that conclusion, but it has never been a liturgical teaching of the Church.
2. The responsorial psalm was introduced to the Roman Rite in the 1960s. There is a lot of psuedo-scholarship surrounding this, and many opinions on when and where it was removed and what it was like before removal. The intentions of inserting it back was probably congregation participation, which to me, sounds more like a community exercise than pure liturgy. This falls in line with using bad, limited, but convenient texts (since the first purpose isn’t to recite an actual psalm, particularly the one appointed for the Sunday, for worship of God, but to get people to sing) with crud music that the people allegedly like.

I too am in this great adventure study. Great info, great direction for the faithful attending Mass, but it’s hard for me to take all the responsorial psalm stuff seriously, especially about it being a jewel of the Church’s liturgical tradition. I’m all for the faithful praying the Liturgy of the Hours, but I am more for purging the current ICEL version from its bad texts, bad translations, middle-school language, and goofy psalm-prayers (that are rarely used anyway, thankfully).

 

[pnewton]

It is not my opinion but it is a FACT, indicated in the Missal that options 1 ,2 ,3 are the proper psalms or antiphons. That’s three out of four options.

Yes, your math is factual correct, AllCaps, not withstanding. The majority of what has been offered here, though, is opinion. If one tries to apply an opinion to a parish or community that he or she does not know, then this person is doing so while ignorant of critical data. This is why the Church operates on the principle of subsidiarity.

 

[thistle]

We have a clear obligation to sing just as we must make the spoken responses. If we sing badly, then practice. If the resources are lacking, petition for them. If we cannot sing the words with a clear conscience, then make a complaint to the proper authority. But it is a spirit of obedience and worship to God which compels us to participate. It is not merely the call of Vatican II to fully conscious and active participation, it is the Divine Command in Sacred Scripture which directs us to praise God with all our being.

[BIBLEDRB]Psalms 50:16-17[/BIBLEDRB]
[BIBLEDRB]Psalms 103:33[/BIBLEDRB]
[BIBLEDRB]Psalms 46:7-8[/BIBLEDRB]

There is much more where that came from. Here are 41 verses about singing in the Bible.

The hymns that are often used at Mass, the other music of which I spoke which is not the proper antiphons, is not entirely deficient. You can often find paraphrases of sacred scripture and uplifting tunes and exciting harmony. I am partial to old-fashioned Protestant four-part hymns which I find easy to sing. As long as the competent liturgical authority sees fit to offer us this kind of music in preference to others, we should subordinate ourselves in obedience to their decisions. And that means singing like we mean it.

It is not that I think that traditional hymns and songs should be completely overthrown in favor of antiphons and chant. While the latter types should have “pride of place” there is certainly still space in the liturgy to feature other styles as well. I just believe that the frequency thereof should be greatly reduced. Perhaps for a special liturgy such as a funeral, pastoral sensitivity demands that we use hymns and songs instead, because the family has requested it. This is something that is permitted by the rubrics and liturgical authority so we should recognize this flexibility and be prepared to respond to the needs of the people.

I have been a choir member in various parishes for 14 years. And almost never have these choirs sung chant, polyphony or proper antiphons. I am largely untrained, except for some musical experience in high school playing an instrument. But others have remarked on my talent, and it is this that I give back to God by singing His praises. I use my skills, time and talent for His greater glory. This thread is about my personal opinion. My bishop happens to share this opinion, but so far my parishes have not followed suit. I believe this can change, but it will all happen in God’s time. The kind of music I advocate for needs grassroots support, because there is much opposition when it is introduced, and pastors take notice of complaints. So be an evangelist. Share my words with others. Teach them what the Church calls for in her documents, and what Sacred Scripture teaches us about singing, prayer, praise and worship. Everyone should be able to share fully in the rich gift of our liturgy; it is our patrimony and our treasure to be guarded jealously.

I’m confused. Are you suggesting everyone who does not sing is committing a sin of grave matter?

 

[27lw]

Cat, you stated:
"I’m sure many pastors ARE aware of the alternatives to hymns. But if they don’t have the musicians, or the money in the budget to pay the musicians, then what are they to do with those alternatives?! They can’t just say, “OK, everyone, sing those chants now,” or “OK, pianists, play that organ now.”

---

But the pastor could say: “okay, music director, we are going to start going in a different liturgical direction. You can get a lot of the music from chantcafe.org, or musicasacra.com. Then, let’s start by using the propers instead of / along with the entrance hymn (ahem - - “gathering song”). If you don’t know how to play that organ there, let’s see if we can get you started on it, or taking lessons.”

The only cost I see there is organ lessons, and I know our diocese actually has a special organ training program in place. These things could be gradually implemented, at very little - to NO cost. The priests either don’t know, or it is not at the top of their priority list to improve the music at the liturgy. Everything wouldn’t be better overnight, but what is that expression “better to light a candle than to curse the darkness”.

---

 

[pnewton]

If you don’t know how to play that organ there, let’s see if we can get you started on it, or taking lessons."

The only cost I see there is organ lessons, and I know our diocese actually has a special organ training program in place.

Few Church’s I know have staff musicians that can be give such an assignment. Most would simply bow out of music rather than take on a new life direction as organist. For examply, have you learned to play the organ?

Everything wouldn’t be better overnight, but what is that expression “better to light a candle than to curse the darkness”.

In this case, one can also turn on a flashlight or flip a switch.

Or just not curse but pray.

 

[27lw]

Maybe there aren’t a lot of churches that would have the capability or $$ to so this. Even if they just used the propers (with piano, I suppose or voice alone), that would be do-able.
And I bet there are some churches that are capable of finding a student organist at a university, or some kind of organist. (It’s not like Catholic Churches are known for paying their musicians all that much - - they could probably squeak together a little more for a stipend for a college student organist).

Also, have I trained to be an organist? No, I have thought about it though, but I am not employed as a Church musician. I am in a field where I am supposed to educate myself to keep my job though(as are a lot of us, I think).

It’s really not impossible!

 

[pnewton]

Also, have I trained to be an organist? No, I have thought about it though, but I am not employed as a Church musician. I am in a field where I am supposed to educate myself to keep my job though(as are a lot of us, I think).

But I think the point is few musicians in a Church are employed as such. It is a rare Church that can employ someone just as a musician. What you ask is not the same as asking a mechanic to train how to fix a new model car, or considering the training to play an organ, asking a mechanic to learn to perform heart bypass surgery.

 

[27lw]

Really - - you think that a pianist learning the organ is the same as an auto mechanic learning to do brain surgery?
Piffle.

You think that there aren’t many people employed by churches as church musicians? I think that there are - - maybe not all of them are full-time, but I bet there are a lot of part-time employed church musicians. Priests could certainly hire new musicians that have the skills they are looking for, or the willingness to acquire the skills.

 

[pnewton]

Really - - you think that a pianist learning the organ is the same as an auto mechanic learning to do brain surgery?

I guess I really don’t know. I will go with what Cat says about it taking years and years to learn. Maybe she can give us here best guess.

Priests could certainly hire new musicians that have the skills they are looking for, or the willingness to acquire the skills.

I guess this is another area I just can’t agree with. I know here, there just aren’t organists out there looking for an organist job. There are not those in any field that are willing to commit to a large amount of training (years, Cat?) for a part time, low pay job.

I think in theory, you have a good idea. I do not think there is any practical application. Furthermore, I think the lack of organist show that the market simply is not there to support this type of profession enough to stock Catholic church’s with a fresh crop of organists. I think it is undeniable that there are fewer organists. I know of none in my area that aren’t already over-extended in different Churches. Most are elderly or retired.

 

[27lw]

Well, I would agree that it takes years to play the organ masterfully. I’m sure a lot of people would be able to do a decent job in a far shorter time.
You may not think this has any practical application, but, I think this is exactly how it is done when parishes turn around their music programs. I suspect it’s done more than we know.
Have a good day - - pnewton - - it’s been nice jousting with you.

 

[TimothyH]

An interdict? Prohibited attendance at Mass? You’re joking, right. For interpreting Church documents in the light of Sacred Scripture and encouraging people to make their preferences known to the bishop? Who exactly is going to impose an inderdict on me, and for what canon? I sincerely doubt it will be my bishop, who has published a four-part series on sacred music, the importance of plainchant and the significance of the proper antiphons. Many of the things I have said in this thread and others have been in lock-step support of my own bishop.

For crying out loud. I would imagine, no, I would guarantee, that a lot of priests who try to add tiny bits of Latin, chant, organ, or polyphony to the Mass generate TONS of complaint mail to his ordinary. I read the testimony of a priest recently (I can’t remember where - Fr. Z’s blog) who said that he made tiny changes, and putting the Kyrie in Greek started “World War III”. So why can’t the bishop hear from the other side? Why can’t we make our preferences known? By all means, write words of praise on behalf of that priest who puts the Kyrie in Greek. Write a recommendation letter for a pastor who implements more chant, organ, or polyphony in the liturgy. Be positive and charitable. But if we run into the opposite, why should we be quiet about it?

Honestly, Pope Francis told us to make a mess. Redemptionis Sacramentum is law and guarantees us an abuse-free liturgy. It also guarantees us the right to make our voices heard. Poor music is an insult to right liturgy. It is like tying a millstone around the neck of the priest as he celebrates. He can be as reverent as he wants and say the black, do the red, but bad music can just drag it down.

It is a deeply ingrained abuse that has become acceptable. The biological solution is beginning to work here, but we can do more to expose young people to truly great sacred music, we can do more to educate people in the fine arts. We can offer them a good alternative to what has passed for music in the last 50 years. The Roman Rite has so much more to offer. And so much of it can be had for less money and unencumbered by restrictive copyright and licensing agreements. That is merely the icing on the cake. Pastors should be made aware of the alternatives. We can’t wait for them to cast around and find out for themselves. Liberals know how to be the squeaky wheel, strident and disobedient. Let’s prove that we can squeak much better than they can, in charity and obedience.

You didn’t encourage others to make their preferences known. You encouraged others to form groups to demand things from the bishop. You can’t do that. It’s called intimidation and it is punishable under canon 1375.

-Tim-

 

[Elizium23]

Perhaps I used indelicate language in that post. I shouldn’t be encouraging others to demand anything. Personally I want to always urge charity and humility in all dealings with Church authorities. I have already stressed in this thread how we owe them our obedience, no matter how bad we feel the music presently is, and we should accept that and sing heartily, contributing our prayers to the liturgy as the Divine Command requires us to.

I’m not forming groups here. I don’t have a website or a Facebook page. I’m not going to be an organizer of this. As for me, personally, I have made my preferences known to our parish music director and our pastor. I have not demanded anything. I know well how our bishop feels about it all, so there is no need to contact him, although I have dropped small hints in person how pleased I am with the Cathedral liturgies and Pontifical Masses. That is the key, after all. We should be positive in our outlook, and compliment the small things that please us. We should be more ready with a compliment than a complaint - after all, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

I would draw comparisons here to the stable groups who request Masses celebrated in the EF from their ordinary under the provisions of Summorum Pontificum. If this is intimidation then there are vast swaths of traditionalists who are guilty of it, and some prominent bloggers who are goading them on. I would like to think that some forms of organization are peaceful and positive, not using mob tactics to threaten Church authorities, but just making their preferences known in all charity. Father Z has practical tips for writing to Church authorities, which he intends for people requesting the EF, but can be applied in a general way as well.

But I don’t think that my interpretation of Sacred Scripture and Church documents is anything novel or unusual. The Church has always, over millennia, been the patroness of fine arts and good music. Look at all the classical composers who wrote entire Masses and parts thereof. With the Mass of Paul VI and the vernacular, much of this music became unusable, so there is a fresh need to foster the musical contributions of expert artists and composers. The music we have endured for the past 50 years is sure to leave a lasting mark on liturgy as we know it. But it is still an insignificant corner of history in the grand scheme of things, and there is something to be said for recovering authentic customs and traditions in a hermeneutic of continuity with the past. Personally, I do not wish our lasting patrimony to be locked up in the copyrights and license agreements of the big publishing companies who currently have a lock on the industry.

And I recognize that this is dangerous thinking. There are millions of dollars at stake and careers on the line; many people depend on the status quo right now. But I am just saying that we, as a Church, deserve better.

And I’m still super-confused about how any ecclesiastical penalty could dispense my obligation to attend Mass, much less prohibit me from going.

 

[Elizium23]

The reason that this effort must start at the grass roots is that it needs to be supported by education and building awareness. Children must be taught by their parents to appreciate the musical patrimony of the Roman Rite, and the parents and young adults need to seek out education on Latin and chant and polyphony and organ playing. Seminaries are already starting to offer more Latin and training in offering the EF. These efforts must be commended and redoubled. These skills need to make a resurgence even before we can expect to see widespread adoption of these musical styles, because the foundation must be built first. It is chicken-and-egg. It is difficult to foster appreciation when this music is not encountered in most parishes. But this music will not be encountered in most parishes until there are people who are trained and willing to provide it. That is the obstacle we face, and that is why groups should be organizing, not to intimidate ecclesiastical authorities, but to prepare ourselves as vessels to offer the sacred liturgy as the Church envisions it.

 

[thistle]

The reason that this effort must start at the grass roots is that it needs to be supported by education and building awareness. Children must be taught by their parents to appreciate the musical patrimony of the Roman Rite, and the parents and young adults need to seek out education on Latin and chant and polyphony and organ playing. Seminaries are already starting to offer more Latin and training in offering the EF. These efforts must be commended and redoubled. These skills need to make a resurgence even before we can expect to see widespread adoption of these musical styles, because the foundation must be built first. It is chicken-and-egg. It is difficult to foster appreciation when this music is not encountered in most parishes. But this music will not be encountered in most parishes until there are people who are trained and willing to provide it. That is the obstacle we face, and that is why groups should be organizing, not to intimidate ecclesiastical authorities, but to prepare ourselves as vessels to offer the sacred liturgy as the Church envisions it.

I repeat. Are you suggesting anyone who does not sing is committing a sin of grave matter?

 

[Elizium23]

I repeat. Are you suggesting anyone who does not sing is committing a sin of grave matter?

That is above my pay grade, to borrow a phrase. I am not qualified to answer matters of conscience. Ask your confessor.

 

[TimothyH]

Perhaps I used indelicate language in that post. I shouldn’t be encouraging others to demand anything.

We all love the Church and you obviously have tremendous zeal for God and the Church. I just think you need to breath a little, shift into a lower gear and ease off the gas. I think we have to avoid coming across as fanatics. Nothing turns people off more than a fanatic.

Nobody listens to the guy who screams and yells all the time. Everyone is taken aback by the quiet guy who suddenly stands up and speaks his mind out of nowhere, the guy who says, “This is not right and I will not participate!” and then calmly sits back down and continues about his personal business.

Dude… check this out… The writings of a Catholic saint. escrivaworks.org/book/the_way-subject-141.htm. Especially number 10.

-Tim-

 

[ProVobis]

There is no money to be made by using traditional music.

Actually there is some truth to this. And since the Vatican has issued Jubilate Deo at no charge, it is easy to see why the local publishers dislike the JD music.