Well, it finally happened

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halleone

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As a revert, I have been struggling with the changes to the Mass (yeah, it’s been that long). I really love organ music; this morning when I saw a young man come in with his guitar, I was disappointed, but figured he was offering up his talents to the Lord, so I could be kind about it. Guess what? It was beautiful! The hymns went well with his playing and he had a truly beautiful voice. I didn’t get a chance to thank him afterwards, too many other people around him, but I mentioned it to an usher, who I hope will pass on my words. I am slowly learning to appreciate this “new” Mass. 🙂
 
:eek: Alert! Alert! Let him be anathema!

I’m glad you can find beauty in the strummed instrument family. 😃
 
halleone said:
As a revert, I have been struggling with the changes to the Mass (yeah, it’s been that long). I really love organ music; this morning when I saw a young man come in with his guitar, I was disappointed, but figured he was offering up his talents to the Lord, so I could be kind about it. Guess what? It was beautiful! The hymns went well with his playing and he had a truly beautiful voice. I didn’t get a chance to thank him afterwards, too many other people around him, but I mentioned it to an usher, who I hope will pass on my words. I am slowly learning to appreciate this “new” Mass. 🙂
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Welcome home, I am a revert also. I love hearing organ music at mass. Every once in a while the guitar at mass is really great, too.
 
It’s kind of you to speak up and speak so highly of the young man who was serving the Lord with his music. I hope others will read your post and perhaps examine their own attitudes.

As long as the Church allows other instruments than the pipe organ in Mass, it is not our place to pronounce anathema.
 
Certain songs are wonderful with the guitar, I will admit. A few are even better with a guitar than any other instrument. A guitar well-played is a blessing, certainly. That being said, I prefer the older style: piano or organ, or chant.

I always have a surge of happiness when I hear of someone returning to the Church or coming into the Church! Salutations from “Rainyville,” IN! 😃
 
Welcome home! I’m a revert myself - 7 years ago. Lots of changes since I was a kid - I was gone 35 years. And being new back to it, I find that the smallest changes to what I’ve grown re-accustomed to can really throw me off. But I’m getting better. I hope to always have the wonderful attitude you showed toward the guitar player / playing.
Once again, welcome home!
 
I, too. am a revert, only I was away for over 50 years. I took me quite a time to accustom myself to the English language Mass, especially considering that it is not a verbatim translation of the Latin Mass that I grew up with. (I went to a Jesuit parochial school where we studied Latin starting in the 2nd grade).
Apart from the fact that the modern English Language Mass is closer to something one would find in an Episcopal Church, I find that the contemporary music at Mass is completly alien to me. For one thing, I am not used to hearing Protestant Hymns sung in a Catholic Church, and with a rich musical tradition spanning over centuries, why are contemporary hymns so banal?
Anyway, the use of an acoustic guitar during Mass is not new. When the hymn Silent Night was premiered on a Christmas Eve, it seems the church organ was out of whack, so the composer Franz Gruber accompanied the choir on his guitar.
Be that as it may, I am not used to deafening amplified guitars, drums and cymbals being used at Mass!
 
Cat said:
It’s kind of you to speak up and speak so highly of the young man who was serving the Lord with his music. I hope others will read your post and perhaps examine their own attitudes.

As long as the Church allows other instruments than the pipe organ in Mass, it is not our place to pronounce anathema.
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AMEN!

I also have a prefference for organ music and a choir at Mass, and I personally don’t like guitar music at Mass much, but that’s just a prefference thing for me. If Rome permits it, then there’s nothing wrong with it, but I also don’t think there’s anything wrong with prefering the older music. It’s just like someone who prefers one of the eastern rites over the Roman rite.

I have a friend who attended a guitar Mass a fiew months ago, but it wasn’t your typical guitar Mass. The woman who was playing the guitar and singing used quite a bit of Latin. Now that would be something worth hearing! I’ve even asked my friend to find out when that lady is coming back to that church, since she isn’t the regular music director. I wouldn’t mind going to Mass there every once in a while, because it would be a breath of fresh air sometimes to hear the old mixed with the new.
 
halleone said:
As a revert, I have been struggling with the changes to the Mass (yeah, it’s been that long). I really love organ music; this morning when I saw a young man come in with his guitar, I was disappointed, but figured he was offering up his talents to the Lord, so I could be kind about it. Guess what? It was beautiful! The hymns went well with his playing and he had a truly beautiful voice. I didn’t get a chance to thank him afterwards, too many other people around him, but I mentioned it to an usher, who I hope will pass on my words. I am slowly learning to appreciate this “new” Mass. 🙂
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LOVE!!!👍👍👍
 
I’m not a fan of guitar masses, but there is one latin song I wouldn’t mind hearing accompanied by guitar.

Per crucem, et passionem tuam
Libera nos Domine, Libera nos Domine, Libera nos Domine

This is the best recording I could find with guitar.

I heard a nicer one sung by a woman in the Liturgy of the Hours, but I can’t find a recording anywhere.
 
Tony Melendez Plays for the Pope
this classic footage of Tony, the beautiful soul, born without arms because of thalidomide taken during pregnancy, who played for Pope John Paul II in LA, 1987. Here are two songs of his, and halfway through you’ll see the actual film of John Paul II coming down to embrace Tony after he played. Be sure to read the synopsis of Tony’s amazing story in the sidebar of the video.
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missionmoment.blogspot.com/2007/07/tony-melendez-plays-for-pope.html

I was lucky enough to meet Mr Melendez 🙂
 
I really prefer traditional music in the Mass, but I’m glad that this helped you to have more peace and think charitably of the musician 🙂 when I see guitars at Mass, I struggle with that, but I try to focus on the Eucharist and avoid any uncharitable thoughts… the musicians are not intending anything bad or disrespectful and are just trying to serve in the Church 🙂 according to my research the documents of VII (and what Pope Benedict wrote) do call for Gregorian chant or music without mainly secular instruments, - but people who play guitar and drums in the liturgy still have good intentions of course so it is good not to judge their hearts 🙂
 
TrueLight said:
I’m not a fan of guitar masses, but there is one latin song I wouldn’t mind hearing accompanied by guitar.

Per crucem, et passionem tuam
Libera nos Domine, Libera nos Domine, Libera nos Domine

This is the best recording I could find with guitar.

I heard a nicer one sung by a woman in the Liturgy of the Hours, but I can’t find a recording anywhere.
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Isn’t it Melinda Kirigan-Voss who sings Per Crucem?
 
Give me some good bass, piano/keyboards, drums, guitar, sax, a solid chior, and we’re good to go. My preference.
 
To each their own.

I do draw the line at a kazoo.

Srsly, I’d prefer the modern music limited to Saturday night youth mass, and keep Sunday music more traditional. That way, everyone is happy and uplifted.
 
Guitar can be very reverent if played correctly.

Too many people playing the “If I Had a Hammer” strum strum strum style using s(name removed by moderator)le chord progressions have ruined it though.

Classical guitar can be extremely beautiful. Check out Ave Maria here. Not a strum-strum-strum to be found.

Tambourines on the other hand…

-Tim-
 
Black_Moses said:
Give me some good bass, piano/keyboards, drums, guitar, sax, a solid chior, and we’re good to go. My preference.
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I’ve not been attending mass long enough to experience anything more than an organ, keyboard and occasionally a flute… but I’d LOVE to one day play drums at the church I attend. I have very few talents that I feel I can offer God but that is definitely one of them.
 
My friend, who has grown up attending the Tridentine Rite given by the SSPX, and I often have light hearted “battles” over which Mass is right. I jokingly created my own symbol promoting the Novus Ordo, I thought it was pretty funny :).

Please don’t take this seriously. 🙂

 
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