Why is "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" in Catholic Hymnal?

[lak611]

Chant versions of the Psalms in the Roman and Simple Graduals can be purchased online from several sources. I can do a little research and get those for you if you’d like. The music comes with sheet music for choirs and organists.

Can the congregation sing this? My parish does not have a choir, so it would have to work for congregational singing. My parish would not invest in extra books for the whole congregation, either. The hymnals were just purchased 3 years ago, and my pastor said he expects them to last another 7 years. He cancelled the missalettes because they were too expensive to keep getting regularly.

 

[Rose_Maniple]

But, I’ll never understand why we ignore the official texts of the Mass Propers (Entrance Chant, Offertory Chant, Communion Chant) and replace them with hymns picked by a parish liturgy committee that may or may not have any bearing on the “theme” of that day’s celebration.

Surely a hymn is appropriate at the offertory, since in the ordinary form there is no proper antiphon at this point. (And in the EF, it’s not long enough to cover everything). I’m not sure what you mean by “offertory antiphon”.

 

[muledog]

Surely a hymn is appropriate at the offertory, since in the ordinary form there is no proper antiphon at this point. (And in the EF, it’s not long enough to cover everything). I’m not sure what you mean by “offertory antiphon”.

Actually, there are proper antiphons with Psalms for the Offertory. These are found in the Roman Gradual. Seasonal Antiphons with Psalms are found in the Simple Gradual.

The Roman Missal assumes that there will be no Offertory procession, per se, without music, hence the omission of a chant in the missal at this point. Remember, the Introit and Communion Chants given in the Missal are only to be used when they are not sung.

In the Roman Gradual, they are set to more difficult arrangements, but in the Simple Gradual, they are much simpler to sing.

There are many places on the web that provide resources for these texts set to simple chants in English. Using a simple Psalm tone, one can sing almost any text for the Introit, Offertory, or Communion Chant.

You might try some of the following websites for help:

MusicaSacra (with given Propers for the major Feasts)
Chabanel Psalm Project (Responsorial Psalms)
CanticaNova Publications (All types of sheet music available for the proper chants of the Mass, especially for Lent. Inexpensive)

 

[Spirithound]

That was my thinking. I am just trying to figure out if there is any truth to what Phemie is saying

That would mean that every Mass I’ve went to over the past 23 years has been abused.

 

[Phemie]

That was my thinking. I am just trying to figure out if there is any truth to what Phemie is saying

I never meant to say that it was a liturgical abuse, I just meant that we have our priorities wrong when make a singing a recessional more important than singing the Ordinary of the Mass. I see it so often: psalm not sung, gloria not sung, EP acclamations not sung, but we MUST sing as we leave.

 

[lak611]

I never meant to say that it was a liturgical abuse, I just meant that we have our priorities wrong when make a singing a recessional more important than singing the Ordinary of the Mass. I see it so often: psalm not sung, gloria not sung, EP acclamations not sung, but we MUST sing as we leave.

In my parish, all of those are sung on Sundays and holy days. We have no singing at all during daily Mass (no organist).

 

[Rose_Maniple]

muledog, thank you for that elucidation.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

My take? Because “Ein Feste Burg Ist Unserer Gott” has a lot more going for it than “City of God”.

 

[pnewton]

The Constitution on Sacred Liturgy called for the use of more Scripture during the liturgy, and using the Propers given to us would be a perfect means to accomplish this.

And just because “traditionalists” like to sing traditional hymns at Mass doesn’t make it right, either.

Nor is it wrong. Did you know many hymns that are despised as modern are also Scripture and your point would hold for them equally?

 

[muledog]

Nor is it wrong. Did you know many hymns that are despised as modern are also Scripture and your point would hold for them equally?

I’m not speaking of the quality of one hymn over another. The point I am trying to convey is that liturgical texts officially approved for use in the liturgy (Introit, Offertory, Communion) shouldn’t be replaced on a regular basis by hymns/songs chosen by committee.

It’s not what the Council asked for, and it doesn’t make for good liturgy. Even the USCCB’s Committee on the Liturgy in 1993 decried the repeated use of “option 4” over that of the other three options listed in the GIRM.

We should move away from using “other songs” at Mass to actually singing the Mass, using the texts the Church has given us.

 

[lak611]

I’m not speaking of the quality of one hymn over another. The point I am trying to convey is that liturgical texts officially approved for use in the liturgy (Introit, Offertory, Communion) shouldn’t be replaced on a regular basis by hymns/songs chosen by committee.

It’s not what the Council asked for, and it doesn’t make for good liturgy. Even the USCCB’s Committee on the Liturgy in 1993 decried the repeated use of “option 4” over that of the other three options listed in the GIRM.

We should move away from using “other songs” at Mass to actually singing the Mass, using the texts the Church has given us.

This would only work if a parish has a choir. The congregation cannot sing these things, especially if they are not printed anywhere for the congregation to see them.

 

[muledog]

This would only work if a parish has a choir. The congregation cannot sing these things, especially if they are not printed anywhere for the congregation to see them.

Although having a parish choir would be nice (and extremely useful), it’s not required.

Most parishes sing the Responsorial Psalms with Antiphon just fine. That’s the same as singing the proper Introit, Offertory and Communion Chants. And you can do the same thing with a Cantor that a choir would do.

I think people assume that it would be difficult, when in reality it is not.

 

[lak611]

Although having a parish choir would be nice (and extremely useful), it’s not required.

Most parishes sing the Responsorial Psalms with Antiphon just fine. That’s the same as singing the proper Introit, Offertory and Communion Chants. And you can do the same thing with a Cantor that a choir would do.

I think people assume that it would be difficult, when in reality it is not.

It is hard enough to get people to sing when the words and music are printed. They aren’t going to sing if they have to follow a cantor, especially if she is a soprano, and most of the congregation are not.

 

[pnewton]

I think people assume that it would be difficult, when in reality it is not.

I have to agree with lak611 on this one, at least in my parish. Not only would it be unpopular, it would also be a train wreck. The result would be a Mass with no musical participation. But then I admit that my parish is on the low end musically. There are less than five people who are even willing to sit in the choir section and lend support. None read music.

 

[mdgspencer]

“A Mighty Fortress is Our God” was written by Martin Luther and was the battle hymn of the Protestant revolt against Catholicism. Singing it during the mass is like singing a Communist song during an American flag raising ceremony.
All in all, though, I consider this relatively harmless, because Catholics are generally unaware of this song’s history or even that it was written by Martin Luther. However, all the same, I think that it is an example of how the sources of Catholic music can be poitically correct rather than entirely faitlhful to Catholic beliefs and traditions.

 

[Lynn_Suer]

At the beginning of Lauds for the feast of one or more martyrs, the Book of Christian Prayer: Liturgy of the Hours (New York, 1976) recommends the use of “A mighty fortress is our God” by Martin Luther. This hymn has been called “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” for the Reformation. Tomorrow is the memorial of St. Irenaeus, who spent a lot of time combatting heresies. Should Catholics sing Luther’s hymn at St. Irenaeus’s feast?

 

[wanner47]

A mighty Fortress is our God,
A Bulwark never failing;
Our Helper He amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great,
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth His Name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim,
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo! his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers,
No thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through Him who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill:
God’s truth abideth still,
His Kingdom is forever.

I see nothing in the lyrics contrary to Catholic teaching, so I see no reason why the hymn should not be included in Catholic hymnals.

 

[SeekerJen]

I see nothing in the lyrics contrary to Catholic teaching, so I see no reason why the hymn should not be included in Catholic hymnals.

I say we reclaim it for Holy Mother Church.

 

[wanner47]

I say we reclaim it for Holy Mother Church.

We’re taking it back!

 

[Lynn_Suer]

Everything beautiful belongs to the Catholic Church. Thanks for clarifying the issue for me. I’ll reclaim this hymn tomorrow morning at Lauds just before Mass!