WAY beyond a "Folk Mass"

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Kerry77

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Went to Mass at a different parish this weekend. It was…different. Very different. Just for context, I usually go to an Ordinary Form Mass, so this isn’t a comparison to the TLM. I will write the things that were different from any other Mass I have ever been to…

Anyway…So, at the beginning, the cantor welcomes everyone and asks everyone to say Hello to your neighbor. This causes all kinds of head nodding and all that. Ok. Then she says, “Please find your “Worship Aid” in front of you.” This turns out to be a piece of paper with all of the songs for the Mass on it.

Then, the music starts. It’s a guitar and drums duo playing in the choir loft. Loud. I think they had amps going. The entrance hymn is something quite…er rocking. The people seem happy though, everyone is singing quite loud.

The readings were as usual. Then the Offertory. Another rocking song. Then the Eucharistic Prayer starts. I am not kidding…the guitarist kept playing through the whole Eucharistic prayer. The only pause was during the Consecration, after “Do this in memory of me.”

During the Eucharistic doxology (Through Him, with Him, in Him…), the cantor jumps up on the altar and the rock music starts going again. I mean rock music. And all of the people sing the entire part right up through the Great Amen. I have never, ever heard that before in my life.

During the Our Father, the people were using Orans position, but I’ve seen that elsewhere. The Our Father was sung by everyone, but again, it seemed to be a contemporary composition. Very contemporary. Rock music.

I remember seeing a lot of people also using the Orans position every time they would say, “And with your Spirit”

The Lamb of God seemed to be freestyle. Again, rock music. I don’t know if you are allowed to add words, but they did.

Then after the Lamb of God, no one kneeled, everyone remained standing.

After Communion, the priest stayed seated for the final prayers. And there was nothing wrong with him, believe me, he was all over the place.

So my questions…

Is this allowed? I grew up in the 80s and I saw my fair share of “folk Masses” but I’ve never seen anything like this in my life.

This parish was run by an order, not the diocese. Does that have something to do with it?

I will say some positives…people were singing really loud. People seemed really engaged. The Mass was packed, standing room only, people out the door. The priest seemed friendly when he was outside saying goodbye as you were leaving.
 
Sounds to me like abuses were going on. First of all, there should NOT be rock music at the Sacrifice of Christ. It’s absurd! The Orans posititon is common in Catholic Churches, although there’s really no point in doing that. I keep my hands folded like the Blessed Mother would do. We’re not Protestants. I would let the Bishop know (or in this case the Superior of the Order) Our Lord deserves the best after all. Not a rock concert, that’s for sure.
 
🍿

I visited a church where the tune for the “Lamb of God” was the theme of Tim Burton’s “Corpse Bride”. Its very pretty, but still.
 
That sounds so cool!

Why are people so offended about rock music? Just go to another Parish if you don’t like it.
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LittleHannah:
We’re not Protestants
We have to be Protestants to favor rock? 🙂
 
That sounds so cool!

Why are people so offended about rock music? Just go to another Parish if you don’t like it.

We have to be Protestants to favor rock? 🙂
Because of it’s the Sacrifice of the Mass. We’re at Calvary. I don’t think we would all be standing there making noise when Christ is dying for me and you.

Think about it. It’s the truth.
 
That sounds so cool!

Why are people so offended about rock music? Just go to another Parish if you don’t like it.

We have to be Protestants to favor rock? 🙂
Agreed. I wouldn’t want a mass like the one described as the only option at my parish. But I wouldn’t be opposed to attending one such as this from time to time.
 
I feel your pain. I was recently at a Mass similar to the one you have just described. I was feeling :mad::eek::nope::tsktsk::ehh::dts::frighten: afterwards. But, that experience did make me very thankful for our parish’s very traditional priest.
 
Because of it’s the Sacrifice of the Mass. We’re at Calvary. I don’t think we would all be standing there making noise when Christ is dying for me and you.

Think about it. It’s the truth.
👍 Amen. I can’t see a rock singer thrashing around like a wounded eel in front of our Lord hanging on the cross.
 
:D…Sorry I am laughing only because just a week or so ago I wrote about the "ALL SKATE Hillbilly " music in my parish which I nearly thought I was in the wrong place. Drums, deepsouth fiddles played poorly and a Gee Tar which was dredful,just dredful. Honestly I was waiting for someone to start to play the spoons.😛

Thankfully someone on here shared a link that showed me how wrong this music is for MASS.
Honestly I am not sure what is going on here amongst parishes but for me when I enter and prepare and take part in mass I do want tradition.

I am sorry that you too have noticed a problem. I know how you feel. I used to be Luthern and there is no way they would play that junk. I have gone to a few baptist big mega churches (which I did not care for) and they have rock and roll bands. Not my cup of tea.

Maybe someone here can offer words of wisdom I can only offer understanding and compasion.
 
Went to Mass at a different parish this weekend. It was…different. Very different. Just for context, I usually go to an Ordinary Form Mass, so this isn’t a comparison to the TLM. I will write the things that were different from any other Mass I have ever been to…

So my questions…

Is this allowed? This parish was run by an order, not the diocese. Does that have something to do with it?

I will say some positives…people were singing really loud. People seemed really engaged. The Mass was packed, standing room only, people out the door. The priest seemed friendly when he was outside saying goodbye as you were leaving.
Kerry, is there a chance you can take the time to make an appointment with this priest and ask him about the Mass being different than you are used to?

He can share with you why the Mass was this way. You can share with him the feelings that you experienced.

Do not approach him with the idea that his parish and he as pastor were possibly practicing abuse.

You may feel different after hearing what Father has to say, not that you will suddenly like rock music as worship music - but that you will have an understanding as why the differences were allowed.
 
👍 Amen. I can’t see a rock singer thrashing around like a wounded eel in front of our Lord hanging on the cross.
But that isn’t what the OP described. There was no rock singer thrashing around.

Now, I don’t agree with the music the OP described, but we don’t need to exaggerate to make our point.
 
It really doesn’t matter whether you or the priest like a certain style of music. If the Church says that sacred music should be one way and not another (i.e. not imitating popular music styles), then that is what we should do. The liturgy described by the OP was a tragedy bordering on blasphemy.
 
OP-
Could this maybe have been a Life Teen Mass?

Little Hannah-
You are allowed your opinion, but to say something is “not allowed” is way above your "pay grade! If this is a Life Teen Mass, it often uses music developed specifically for it’s “core audience” which is teens. I have yet to meet a teen who attended a Life Teen Mass, and was not moved in some way. May not be what they want every week, but the all have been appreciative of the more “charismatic” worship style.

As to what I bolded in red. While going to the Bishop or Superior is an option, I will tell you from experience this is not the way to go! You start with the priest who presided. Ask questions, be respectful, and submit to his rightful authority. If your questions are not answered, ask again, and then maybe go above him, if there is a Pastor. Only after trying, and not succeeding to remedy an actual abuse, should one go the Bishop/Superior, with all the information gatehered up to that point.
Sounds to me like abuses were going on. First of all, there should NOT be rock music at the Sacrifice of Christ. It’s absurd! The Orans posititon is common in Catholic Churches, although there’s really no point in doing that. I keep my hands folded like the Blessed Mother would do. We’re not Protestants. I would let the Bishop know (or in this case the Superior of the Order) Our Lord deserves the best after all. Not a rock concert, that’s for sure.
 
It really doesn’t matter whether you or the priest like a certain style of music. If the Church says that sacred music should be one way and not another (i.e. not imitating popular music styles), then that is what we should do. The liturgy described by the OP was a tragedy bordering on blasphemy.
True. What must Our Lord think, even if it is a LifeTeen Mass. I went to it only once (being a teen myself) and was horrified. Rock band, people tapping their feet to it, girls half clothed bringing up the gifts. And, like I said, it is the Sacrifice of the Cross re-presented in an unbloody manner. Mary and John would not be at the foot of the cross half clothed or dancing to rock music for that matter. (noise. Whatever you want to call it.) So, neither should we. The Saints (I believe it was St. Padre Pio?) said we should be at Mass in the same mind frame as standing at Calvary.
 
So, neither should we. The Saints (I believe it was St. Padre Pio?) said we should be at Mass in the same mind frame as standing at Calvary.
So then it would be OK for me to throw-up during every Mass? 🤷
That’s what happened to me the first time I saw my first murder victim. :sad_yes:
 
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