Throughout my 30 years of priesthood, I've tried to connect people with our Catholic identity. The primary place that we experience our Catholic identity is at Mass. But when it comes to music at Mass in the last 40 years, Catholic identity has been thrown out the window with vapid songs like "Leaping the Mountains," "The Father Will Dance" and "On Eagle's Wings." I'm sorry if any of these are your favorites. We've also imported Protestant hymns into the Mass. Some of these are far better than the contemporary drivel we get from Catholic publishing houses, but still we need to be aware of the lyrics and if the theology contained in these are suitable for Catholic identity.
Often we pick hymns for Mass that have easy to sing melodies. We don't look at the words and what that teaches the congregation who sings the words.
One hymn that I actually like, because it is so singable and everyone knows it, is Amazing Grace! But watch the video and make comments on whether or not this song is suitable for our Catholic identity.
What's a pastor to do these days. Music is a sore point or a point of contention with so many people. If they like something, they are offended if you call the hymn into question or forbid it outright. Even our Catholic publishing companies give us hymn books with highly questionable lyrics to the hymns contained.
This man may not be very ecumenical but he tells the truth. I prefer the truth!
14 comments:
Well, he is certainly correct about, "the hour I first believed." That is a Baptist sentiment. No Calvinist or Lutheran believes that, either. Regarding the "wretch" idea...Calvinist and other reformed Protestants believe in Total Depravity, which is ultimately un-Biblical. This has caused real struggle in many theologically well-educated Protestants who place great emphasis upon the discontinuity between God and man. And, indeed, even Paul and Augustine do not go easy on man regarding his sin and concupiscence. However, you cannot get around the first chapter of Romans, where Paul acknowledges the faculty in man for recognizing both God the Creator and man's own sin. This is perhaps the greatest theological divide between Protestants and Catholics...Imago Dei. No, Amazing Grace has no place in a Catholic Mass.
I have often wondered why this song is sung in a Catholic Mass or any catholic venue at all. A Baptist friend of mine asked me what I thought of this song, I told him it has a nice melody, but is theologically incorrect, and as a catholic I would refrain from singing this song. He look at me like I just got off a space ship from Mars. It did open the door for me to explain the Churches teaching on grace, and that God's love for us is not dependent on our acceptance. It did cause him to stop and think, I believe I was able to strike a nerve, and put a measure of doubt in his understanding of faith and grace. True ecumenism cannot be based upon accommodation; it has to be based upon the truth, the truth that has been given to us by our Lord through his apostles. To compromise is harmful not only to the souls of Catholics, but also to Protestants as well. God cannot be compromised; truth is truth, no matter how much it sometimes hurts. When the Church in the United states, regains a true Catholic identity, Catholics will return to Church, our colleges, will teach Catholic truths, and not secular lies, and cause division in the Church. This way to instill a strong Catholic identity starts with good catechism, and proper Catholic liturgical worship. Of course Bishops with guts would be a great help also.
Full Disclosure: I'm a daily watcher of realcatholictv.com, so I've seen this before. They spent last week broadcasting from Rome and have some great reports on on things that will cheer the hearts of true Catholics, so I encourage those of you who have not seen this channel before to check it out. They post 1 5 min video a day and they are rarely disappointing.
On to the subject at hand. Music used for Sacred Liturgy should be Sacred Music. Period. That means that not only is Amazing Grace inappropriate, most of what is sung in Mass today is inappropriate. Don't take my word for it, read it for yourself from an authority on the subject, the late Monsignor Schuler:
http://www.catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/ArticleText/Index/65/SubIndex/117/ArticleIndex/32
Mackja said it perfectly!
Do what you think is right and explain why, perhaps some Catholics would appreciate some catechizing.
Some Catholics became wretches indeed and realize that is not they themselves that saved them, but rather God's grace. Yes, I'm referring to myself.
But that's a different thing than thinking all humans are depraved wretches unless saved by God grace.
Funny thing!
Just this morning I was looking up the Hymns of St. Ephram.
There are a few really good Protestant hymns that would fit Catholic devotional theology: "The Solid Rock," "Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross" (particularly), and "Abide with Me" come to mind. These are metrical hymns, but they have a powerful, theologically correct message. There are some other good Christological hymns, some of which are already in our hymnal. Protestant hymns generally tend toward the sentimental and individualistic, but there are some good ones.
The music at mass often is very distracting in its execution of the tune as well as content. I wonder if this is a secret that we have missed in the struggle of the Church in modern times? Music is powerful in its reach to men's minds, the subtle messages stick and affect other thought. At the risk of causing a fight, I have no use at all for the tunes of Marty Haugen that practically fill the hymnals. Sentimental and popish, they distract and affect my focus on the mass. I think the music sets the tone for the message. As the gentleman in the video says, surely after 2000 years there would be a few good tunes.
rcg
I had a Ph.D English lit friend in grad school who would not read any English or American lit after 1870 (the year Dickens died). He said it was all down hill from there with only a few exceptions. I feel the same about most Protestant and Catholic hymns. Maybe up to 1950 for some. As increased urbanization, secularization, and technology have robbed us of community and self-identity within a social and ecclesial structure, our focus has turned inward in a negative way, and our poetic and artistic expressions have become narcisistic, self-indulgent, and sentimental...in a word, nihilistic. It is the same dynamic behind why so many attractive and decent young people get tattoos and piercings...it is a sad and desperate effort at finding an identity in an anonymous and increasingly alien world.
"Abide with Me"...I am particularly fond of that song. "The Priests" rendition of it on their 1st Album in particular.
Interestingly enough I recall reading an article in a Traditionalist Newspaper about 3 years ago on the subject of music. The authors contention was that the more one embraced the traditional faith, the more likely it will be that you will come to prefer classical music to the exclusion of other types. I remember scoffing at the time, as I listened to all manner and type of music, including but not limited to, classical. But over the past few years I have discovered the author was at least in part correct. Although I still listen to all manner and type, I have come to recognize the innate superiority of Classical Music compared to most other types and although I still am fairly broad in my listening habits with each passing day I find myself less inclined to the mindless rhythms of even the best of secular music.
Perhaps one of the most nauseating songs in the history of the world was that silly thing by Peter, Paul, and Mary, "Hymn." OMG! It used to get played at Protestant and ecumenical Communion services and weddings all through the 70's. It repreents a complete turning on its head of Christ's statement, "wherever two or more of you are gathered, etc..." "The union of your spirits here has caused him to remain..." Please. Ah, the '70's. Communion in grad school classrooms at Vandy and Chicago with a loaf of French bread from down at Kroger and a jug of Gallo from Bucelli's grocery on the corner. This is back when "The Greening of America" and Hans Kung's stuff were required reading in "Contemporary Theology" classes. "Bridge Over Troubled Water" was another favorite "communion" hymn. Wait..I'm gonna' puke! Where is that dispensational Pepto-Bismol....
I'll go you a few centuries better. One of my favourite tunes is "O Filii et Filiae" by Jean Tisserrand back 15th century. they knew how to do it back then. It is so sublime the metre lends itself to lyrics of any language.
Well said, Gregorian Chant and polyphony are really the only appropriate things we should hear at Mass. And yet, we almost NEVER do. I wish Rome would do more about the issue of music. The hymns have to be minimalized and give Chant its' rightful place during Mass. It's been long enough and people buy Chant CD's all the time now. It is the time for a renewal and reminder about Chant. In an age of internet technology it has never been easier to study and learn about Chant. The Church should give it a chance. Push it, and take something modern, like the net to teach, and apply it to something ancient, the Chants. The is a useful, organic example of the Church being open to the modern world and yet preserving and fostering ancient tradtions via modern methods. That works !
Interesting point about the Internet making it easier to study about Chant Anonymous. It has also made it easier for me (and many others) to learn what I should have been taught in my Catechism classes 35 years ago but was denied.
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