Father was refering to the song about diversity in the above quote, not to “Washerwoman God.” The “diversity song” is in the Missalette hymnal, so it must be a contemporary song.
According to Why Catholics Can’t Sing by Thomas Day, the song might be “All I Ask of You” by Gregory Norbet (he mentions it specifically on p.72, complete with “Oooo’s”.
I myself am the bread of life
you and I are the bread of life
taken and blessed, broken and shared
by Christ
that the world may live.I myself am the bread of life
you and I are the bread of life
taken and blessed, broken and shared
by Christ
that the world may live.
Is this the one that absolutely sounds like it should have a musical accompaniment of Jamaican steel drums?
Actually that particular Alleluia (It’s actually “Halle, halle, halle”, not Alle, alle, alle…) is SUPPOSED to be done with jamaican steel drums and the like. It was originally written for a musical presentation (performed outside of Mass) which I happened to see back in the early 1990’s. It sounded wonderful in that context.
No–not the same one, though I know what one you’re talking about.
I think it would sound nice with the appropriate instrumentation. But I agree, completely absurd with pipe organ and choir. Especially the rest after each “Halle”. At the spot where the steel drums would still be playing, all you get with the choir and organ is dead silence. I can just tell that the congregation feels as stupid singing it as we do. Maybe I’ll have a little chat with the choir director the next time that one is scheduled.
Definitely start to worry if you ever hear “seventh inning stretch” music being played after Communion!
There, there, maryalene. It’s OK. We have a 12-step program for that.I have to say that this thread has completely cracked me up with all your comments. But seriously, I like most of the songs mentioned here. I suppose that is just a side effect of growing up with the *Gather *hymnal and similar songs.
**Wade in the water? the old slave song?Ok, this thread is giving me a great laugh. For one reason, some of these phrases are just hillarious. But I will confess the other reason too - I have some really fond memories of some of the songs that made the list (Wade in the Water, “Olly olly olly lu-u-ia”) Ok, I can see how this could really make you cringe, especially during mass, but oh the memories…! And I have to admit I still really like a lot of the “glory and praise” songs (at least that’s the book I learned them from), like Sing to the Mountains, Though the Mountains May Fall, Eagles Wings, and Here I am Lord. Now in fairness to all of your preferences, I will say that I enjoy the more traditional sounding hymns we sing at the Church I usually go to now. But I guess when you’re brought up in a hippie throwback Church, it’s hard not to like the music that was the (as was earlier quoted) “fabric of our lives”
If that’s the same song I’m thinking of, it was written by Fr. Richard Ho-Lung, a very holy and orthodox priest originally from Southeast Asia (I think Thailand?) who converted from the Buddhist faith to first the Baptist Faith, then to Catholicism. He started a very vibrant order of priests, The Missionaries of the Poor: missionariesofthepoor.org/ in Jamaica (of all places!) and wrote some very vibrant music for a Caribbean Mass: missionariesofthepoor.org/music___books.htm
Nan S said:
Ha! I was wondering myself why no one had yet mentioned it!
I would laugh if that wasn’t so disgusting. Of all of the things I have seen at some masses in my live, these two songs I have never heard except in the preschool class in the Social Hall accross the lot.
LOL, but I don’t have a problem.