Scripture readings taken from the Jerusalem Bible, published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd

From: Matthew 4:18-22

The First Disciples Called

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[18] As He (Jesus) walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon
who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they
were fishermen. [19] And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fi-
shers of men.” [20] Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. [21] And
going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and
John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and
He called them. [22] Immediately, they left the boat and their father, and fol-
lowed Him.

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Commentary:

18-22. These four disciples had already met our Lord (John 1:35-42), and their
brief meeting with Him seems to have had a powerful effect on their souls. In
this way Christ prepared their vocation, a fully effective vocation which moved
them to leave everything behind so as to follow Him and be His disciples. Stan-
ding out above their human defects (which the Gospels never conceal), we can
see the exemplary generosity and promptness of the Apostles in answering
God’s call.

The thoughtful reader cannot fail to be struck by the delightful simplicity with
which the evangelists describe the calling of these men in the midst of their
daily work.

“God draws us from the shadows of our ignorance, our groping through history,
and, no matter what our occupation in the world, He calls us in a loud voice, as
He once called Peter and Andrew” (St. J. Escriva, “Christ Is Passing By,” 45).

“This divine and human dialogue completely changed the lives of John and An-
drew, and Peter and James and so many others. It prepared their hearts to lis-
ten to the authoritative teaching which Jesus gave them beside the Sea of Gali-
lee” (”ibid”., 108).

We should notice the words of Sacred Scripture used to describe the alacrity
with which the Apostles follow our Lord. Peter and Andrew “immediately” left
their nets and followed Him. Similarly, James and John “immediately” left the
boats and their father and followed Him. God passes by and calls us. If we do
not answer Him “immediately”, He may continue on His way and we could lose
sight of Him. When God passes by, He may do so rapidly; it would be sad if we
were to fall behind because we wanted to follow Him while still carrying many
things that are only a dead weight and a nuisance.

*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

From: Romans 10:9-18

Israel’s Infidelity (Continuation)

---

[9] If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart
that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For man believes
with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is
saved. [11] The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to
shame.” [12] For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same
Lord is Lord of all and bestows his riches upon all who call upon him. [13]
For, “every one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” [14] But
how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are
they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to
hear without a preacher? [15] And how can men preach unless they are sent?
As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!”
[16] But they have not all heeded the gospel; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has
believed what he has heard from us?” [17] So faith comes from what is heard,
and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ. [18] But I ask; have they
not heard? Indeed they have; for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth,
and their words to the ends of the world.”

******************************************************************************************
Commentary:

9. At least from the third century B.C. we have documentary evidence that,out
of respect, the Jews did not utter the name “Yahweh” but generally referred to
God instead as “Lord”. The first Christians, by giving Christ the title of “Lord”,
were making a profession of faith in the divinity of Jesus.

10. To make the act of faith, human free will must necessarily be involved as
St Thomas explains when commenting on this passage: “He very rightly says
that man believes with his heart. Because everything else to do with external
worship of God, man can do it against his will, but he cannot believe if he does
not want to believe. So, the mind of a believer is not obliged to adhere to the
truth by rational necessity, as is the case with human knowledge: it is moved
by the will” (”Commentary on Rom, ad loc.”)

However, in order to live by faith, in addition to internal assent external profes-
sion of faith is required; man is made up of body and soul and therefore he
tends by nature to express his inner convictions externally;when the honor of
God or the good of one’s neighbor requires it, one even has an obligation to
profess one’s faith externally. For example, in the case of persecution we are
obliged to profess our faith, even at the risk of life, if, on being interrogated
about our beliefs, our silence would lead people to suppose that we did not
believe or that we did not hold our faith to be the true faith and our bad exam-
ple would cause others to fall away from the faith. However, external profes-
sion is an obligation not only in extreme situations of that kind. In all situa-
tions — be they ordinary or exceptional — God will always help us to confess
our faith boldly (cf. Mt 10:32-33; Lk 12:8).

14-21. To sum up what the Apostle is saying: the Jews have no excuse for
not invoking Christ as Lord, for if they do not believe in him it is due to their
rebelliousness, for the Good News has indeed been preached to them.

14-17. The Church’s work of evangelization is aimed at eliciting faith, moving
people to conversion and reception of its sacraments, in fulfillment of the Lord’s
commandment, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole of
creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not
believe will be condemned” (Mk 16:15-16). The Acts of the Apostles give us
a great deal of information about this first period of evangelization which was
marked by many miracles worked by the Apostles through the power Jesus
gave them.

On the very day of Pentecost we can already see how vibrant was St Peter’s
preaching and the miracles which accompanied it: “The men and women who
have come to the city from all parts of the world listen with amazement [...].
These wonders, which take place before their very eyes, lead them to listen to
the preaching of the Apostles. The Holy Spirit himself, who is acting through
our Lord’s disciples, moves the hearts of their listeners and leads them to the
faith” (St. J. Escriva, “Christ Is Passing By”, 127). It is God himself who works
these miracles through the Apostles; it is he who, through the preaching of
Peter and the Eleven, is revealing the mysteries; and, finally, it is he who is
moving the hearts of the people. This triple divine action leads to the hearers’
act of faith. “Two things are required for faith”, says St Thomas. “First, the
things which are of faith have to be proposed [...]; second, the assent of the
believer to the things which are proposed to him” (”Summa Theologiae”, II-II,
q. 6, a. 1, c).

He goes on to say later that, as regards the first of these two things, faith
comes from God, who reveals truths either directly, as in the case of the Apos-
tles and the Prophets, or else indirectly through preachers of the faith sent by
Him (cf. Rom 10:15). Speaking of the second, he says that in the individual’s
assent to the truths of faith factors come into play which are external to the
person—for example,miracles, and preaching which expounds the truth of faith.
But none of these factors is sufficient: even though they witness the same mi-
racle or hear the same preaching, some believe and others do not. There must
therefore be something which moves the person interiorly; although the per-
son’s free will must play a part, it cannot account for the act of faith, because
that act is a supernatural one; therefore, it must be that God moves the will
interiorly, by means of grace (cf. “Summa Theologiae, ibid.”).

Following Jesus’ example, “every catechist must constantly endeavor to trans-
mit by his teaching and behavior the teaching and life of Jesus [...]. Every ca-
techist should be able to apply to himself the mysterious words of Jesus: ‘My
teaching is not mine, but his who sent me’ (Jn 7:16)” (John Paul II, “Catechesi
Tradendae”, 6).

Good example is not enough: apostolic action, through the spoken word, is
called for. We have a mission to speak in God’s name: his disciples “should
everywhere on earth bear witness and give an answer to everyone who asks a
reason for the hope of an eternal life which is theirs” (Vatican II, “Lumen Gen-
tium”, 10).

This was what the first Christians did. “Whenever we read the Acts of the
Apostles, we are moved by the audacity, the confidence in their mission and
the sacrificing joy of the disciples of Christ. They do not ask for multitudes.
Even though the multitudes come, they address themselves to each particular
soul, to each person, one by one. Philip, to the Ethiopian (cf. Acts 8:24-40);
Peter, to the centurion Cornelius (cf. Acts 10:1-48); Paul, to Sergius Paulus
(cf. Acts 13:6-12)” (St. J. Escriva, “Homily” entitled “Loyalty to the Church”)

Those who accept the Gospel message feel drawn towards it when those who
proclaim it also bear witness to it. “It is therefore primarily by her conduct and
by her life that the Church will evangelize the world [...]. This law once laid
down by the Apostle Paul maintains its full force today. Preaching, the verbal
proclamation of a message, is indeed always indispensable [...]. The word
remains ever relevant, especially when it is the bearer of the power of God (cf.
1 Cor 2:1-5)” (Paul VI, “Evangelii Nuntiandi”, 41-42).

******************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

November Devotion: The Holy Souls in Purgatory

Since the 16th century Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. As a reminder of our duty to pray for the suffering faithful in Purgatory, the Church has dedicated the month of November to the Holy Souls. The Holy Souls are those who have died in the state of grace but who are not yet free from all punishment due to their unforgiven venial sins and all other sins already forgiven for which satisfaction is still to be made. They are certain of entering Heaven, but first they must suffer in Purgatory. The Holy Souls cannot help themselves because for them the night has come, when no man can work (John 9:4). It is our great privilege of brotherhood that we can shorten their time of separation from God by our prayers, good works, and, especially, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

INVOCATION Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

FOR THE SOULS IN PURGATORY My Jesus, by the sorrows Thou didst suffer in Thine agony in the Garden, in Thy scourging and crowning with thorns, in the way to Calvary, in Thy crucifixion and death, have mercy on the souls in purgatory, and especially on those that are most forsaken; do Thou deliver them from the dire torments they endure; call them and admit them to Thy most sweet embrace in paradise. Our Father, Hail Mary, Eternal rest, etc.

FOR ALL THE DECEASED By Thy resurrection from the dead, O Christ, death no longer hath dominion over those who die in holiness. So, we beseech Thee, give rest to Thy servants in Thy sanctuary and in Abraham's bosom. Grant it to those, who from Adam until now have adored Thee with purity, to our fathers and brothers, to our kinsmen and friends, to all men who have lived by faith and passed on their road to Thee, by a thousand ways, and in all conditions, and make them worthy of the heavenly kingdom. Byzantine Liturgy

DE PROFUNDIS The psalmist is crying out here from the depression that grips him because of his sense of sin. He tells God that no man could be forgiven should strict justice be demanded; but, since God is forgiving and merciful, the psalmist (Israel) will hope for redemption from iniquities. We, who know the mercy of God far better than the g Israelites, may pray this psalm with even greater trust in God. The Church uses this psalm in the liturgy as her official prayer for the souls in Purgatory. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my, voice! Let Your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication: If You, O Lord, mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand? But with You is forgiveness, that You may be revered. I trust in the Lord; my soul trusts in His word. My soul waits for the Lord more than sentinels wait for the dawn. More than sentinels wait for the dawn, let Israel wait for the Lord, For with the Lord is kindness and with Him is plenteous redemption; And He will redeem Israel from all their iniquities. Psalm 130

THE MISERERE This psalm is a marvelous act of contrition, confession, and supplication by a repentant sinner. It was composed by David after his sin with Bethsabee. In reparation David promises to lead others back to God by telling them of the ways of divine justice. Instead of offering God an external sacrifice which he knows He will not accept, he offers instead the sacrifice of a contrite and humble heart, a sacrifice that will always be most pleasing in the eyes of God. Have mercy on me, 0 God, in Your goodness; in the greatness of Your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. For I acknowledge my offense, and my sin is before me always: "Against You only have I sinned, and done what is evil in Your sight"-- That You may be justified in Your sentence, vindicated when You condemn. Indeed, in guilt was I born, and in sin my mother conceived me; Behold, You are pleased with sincerity of heart, and in my inmost being You teach me wisdom. Cleanse me of sin with hyssop, that I may be purified; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness; the bones You have crushed shall rejoice. Turn away Your face from my sins, and blot out all my guilt. A clean heart create for me, 0 God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. Cast me not out from Your presence, and Your holy spirit take not from me. Give me back the joy of Your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me. I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall return to You. Free me from blood guilt, 0 God, my saving God; then my tongue shall revel in Your justice. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim Your praise. For You are not pleased with sacrifices; should I offer a holocaust, You would not accept it. My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, 0 God, You will not spurn. Be bountiful, O Lord, to Sion in Your kindness by rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem; Then shall You be pleased with due sacrifices, burnt offerings and holocausts; then shall they offer up bullocks on Your altar. Psalm 50

FOR THE SOULS IN PURGATORY O Lord, who art ever merciful and bounteous with Thy gifts, look down upon the suffering souls in purgatory. Remember not their offenses and negligences, but be mindful of Thy loving mercy, which is from all eternity. Cleanse them of their sins and fulfill their ardent desires that they may be made worthy to behold Thee face to face in Thy glory. May they soon be united with Thee and hear those blessed words which will call them to their heavenly home: "Come, blessed of My Father, take possession of the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954

 

 Repeat these prayers every seven days during the month of November for the Poor Souls in Purgatory

The Month of November: Thoughts on the "Last Things"
To Trace All Souls Day (Protestants vs Catholics)

November 2 -- All Souls Day
On November: All Souls and the "Permanent Things"
"From the Pastor" ALL SAINTS & ALL SOULS
Praying for the Dead [All Souls Day] (Catholic/Orthodox Caucus)
To Trace All Souls Day [Ecumenical]

All Souls Day [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
The Roots of All Souls Day
The Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed (All Souls)
During Month of Souls, Recall Mystic, St. Gertrude the Great
All Saints and All Souls

All Saints, All Souls and the Four Last Things
The Feast of All Saints - What are the origins of All Saints Day and All Souls Day?
All Saints and All Souls
All Souls Day and final destinations
Ideas for Sanctifying Halloween, All Saints Day and All Souls Day

Prayer Campaign Started to Convert Pro-Abortion Catholic Politicians to Pro-Life

[Catholic Caucus] One Million Rosaries

From an Obama bumper sticker on a car:

~ PRAYER ~

St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle
 Be our protection against the wickedness
and snares of the devil;
May God rebuke him, we  humbly pray,
 and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
 by the power of God,
 Cast into hell Satan and all evil spirits
who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls.
 Amen
+

On Praying for Priests (Thoughts from St. Thérèse of Lisieux)
The Priesthood and the Mass
Vatican Aide: Priest Vocations Up in 20 Countries (England and Wales among them)
The Experience of ‘The Call’ (Discerning a Call to the Priesthood or Religious Life)

Priesthood Sunday - October 25, 2009
Health Care Council Letter to Priests, "A Priest at the Bedside of a Sick Person Represents Christ"
A Vocation to Be a Priest?
Do You Appreciate Your Priest? (with a touch of humor)
In India, Holy Orders

A priest’s chalice
Christ for Us: The Year for Priests [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
On Mary, Mother of Priests
Bishop Olmsted on the Devil and John Vianney
Catholic Caucus: Prayer for Our Priests (Year of the Priest)

Benedict reflects on Mary and the priesthood [Catholic Caucus]
The Priesthood — A Priceless Gift
Forming Those Who Form Priests: The Gift of Purity of Heart
Spiritual Mothers of Priests: Your Questions [Year of the Priest]
Eucharistic Season in the Year of the Priesthood

Pope's Address at Audience With New Archbishops: "Carry Deeply in Your Hearts Your Priests"
No Matter What, He Always "Acts Like a Priest" [Ecumenical]
On Priestly Identity
What Can I Do For the Year of the Priest?
The Rosary for the Year of the Priest [Catholic Caucus]

Pope Notes His Goal for Year for Priests
On the Year for Priests
WHY A YEAR FOR PRIESTS?
Curé d'Ars: Model Priest [Year of the Priest]
ZENIT Launches Column on Priesthood

[Justin] Cardinal Rigali on the Year for Priests
Church Being Given Chance to Rediscover Priesthood [Year of the Priest]
Celebrating the Year of the Priesthood
St. John Vianney's Pastoral Plan
LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XVI PROCLAIMING A YEAR FOR PRIESTS [Catholic Caucus]

Year of the Priest Letter (Media immediately scrutinize its contents for controversy)
Year of the Priest [Catholic Caucus]
The Year for Priests [Catholic Caucus]
Year of the Priest Begins Friday
U.S. bishops launch website for Year for Priests

Pope on Advent: With Jesus, there is no life without meaning

Advent: Awaiting God's Justice -- Pope Benedict XVI
St. Andrew: Lighting the way for Advent
Advent Reflections for 2008
Bringing our fallen-away relations back to Church during Advent
History and Symbolism of the Advent Wreath

Rediscovering Advent in the (St.) Nick of Time
Catholic Traditions for Advent and Christmas
Mary's Gift of Self Points the Way, "The Blessed Mother and Advent", Part 1 of 4
The Perfect Faith of the Blessed Virgin "The Blessed Mother and Advent", Part 2 of 4
Theotokos sums up all that Mary is: "The Blessed Mother and Advent", Part 3 of 4

Reclaiming the Mystery of Advent, Part One: The Meaning of Advent
Renewing the Mystery of Advent, Part Two: The Witness of John the Baptist
Why “Gaudete?”, Part Three (Third Sunday of Advent)
Sunday before Nativity
Holy Mary and the Death of Sin - "The Blessed Mother and Advent", Part 4 of 4

Catholic Liturgy - Rose-Colored Vestments on Gaudete Sunday
Advent through Christmas -- 2007
Immaculate Conception Novena -- starts November 30th [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
Advent 2007 -- Day by Day
Making Advent a Reality (the seasons are out of whack)

The Advent Workshop -- lots of information and activities
Jesse Trees (genealogy of Jesus activity for families)
Advent Wreath & Candles (Prayers for the Family)
Advent Overview
Reclaiming the Mystery of Advent, Part One: The Meaning of Advent

Celebrating Christ’s Advent [Archbishop Raymond Burke]
Praying through Advent -- 2006
The Paradox of Advent
Experience the Joy of Advent
Advent: the Reason for the Season

The Advent Wreath
Advent Activity - The Jesse Tree
That incredible shrinking Advent-Christmas season (Christmas should start, not end, Dec. 25)
Advent Thoughts: Some of the Church Fathers on the Divinity of Christ
The Relationship Between Advent and the Change in the Seasons (Dom Guéranger)

St. Andrew: Lighting the way for Advent
Benedict XVI Lauds Ecumenical Progress - Greets Bartholomew I for Feast of St. Andrew
St. Andrew, the First Called
Pope calls St. Andrew a link to the Eastern Churches
Relic of St. Andrew Given to Greek Orthodox Church

Papal Message to Bartholomew I on Feast of St. Andrew
The Feast of Saint Andrew [November 30th]
St. Andrew Lighting the way for Advent
Orthodox Feast of +Andrew the First- Called Apostle, Nov. 30
St Andrew, Apostle

Alleluia Ping!

Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Alleluia Ping List.

For your reading, reflection, faith-sharing, comments, questions, discussion.

He is salvation itself; He is the gospel of God!

Indeed. Thank you for this beautiful devotion!

Compline -- Night Prayer

Thank you for the positive reply!

Singing in church is a wonderful way to "enter into His gates with thanks-giving, and His courts with praise", wouldn't you agree?

When one is needing to connect with the Lord, it's a good way to begin.
Praise & worship, whatever it's form, as long as it's genuine, is just about the very BEST place to start. It need not be limited to song, alone, of course. Or even 'song" at all. It may take many forms, and has throughout history, and still does, in many settings. The Lord knows, and so do His people, whenever & however the connection is made.

The Spirit of the Lord inhabits the praises of His people.

That said, it's easier to be "genuine", if the material one is singing (if the praise and worship be in the form of song), one can get behind with all their heart. Conversely, uninspiring music whatever it's format, sort of just get's in the way. Which I suppose is what many other posts on this thread were about...

Now this isn't quite what others had in mind, or what I have experienced in the first person, but here's another of the previous sort; Sacred Harp Singers At Liberty Church "I'm Going Home"

They do sound well practiced.

Tears came to my eyes this morning as our youth choir (all new members) sang some songs in Latin and then in English. It was so beautiful.

Our young people are showing themselves to be much more conservative than our usual music director. It was beautiful. All live music and no guitars. Real Music!

God bless them — I told the priest “That’s what a Mass is supposed to sound like.”

(Not the pre-recorded OCP junk that the older music director uses.)

PS. Ask your bishops to dump the “Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again.” junk. It was written by OCP — the other mysteries of faith are prayers to Christ.

I grew up on “Holy God we praise thy name.” The cradle Catholics like the old tunes.

I'm a cradle Catholic, and I LIKE having new music to sing, as do most of the folks who comment to me about the music that we do. THEY get bored singing the same things over and over, as we in the choir do.

Our Choir Director is a convert, and she takes great care to connect the music we sing to the Scripture readings for the Mass. This is important, because I think that by illuminating the text with music, people remember the Scripture more easily, and that's what we want to happen.

We're short on altos at the moment, one of the baritones can sing male alto and he's come down to join me, which is great because I have a tenorish sound anyway, and when we sing the English anthems originally written for male altos it sounds fabulous. Just like Mr. Purcell intended.

Hah! We must be in the same voice range! There were many years when I'd have to sing with the tenors in rehearsal, because the guys who we knew would make it to Midnight Mass, couldn't make it to rehearsal, and the ones who were there needed a little support. That was tough, cause I had to learn two different parts.

I found out this morning that six of the 8 altos in our choir won't be at Midnight Mass. I'm not sure about the 7th one, yet. So I contacted a couple of gals who have sung with us at past Midnight Masses. Also, our daughter will be coming home from college the weekend before Christmas, and she's an alto, too. But we all have strong voices, so we'll be able to hold our own with the other voices.;o)

One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

 

<< Sunday, November 29, 2009 >> First Sunday of Advent Saint of the Day   Jeremiah 33:14-16 1 Thessalonians 3:12—4:2 View Readings Psalm 25:4-5, 8-10, 14 Luke 21:25-28, 34-36   PREGNANT AGAIN   "In those days, in that time, I will raise up for David a just Shoot." —Jeremiah 33:15   Happy new year! Today we celebrate the first day of the new Church year and of Advent. Today, in a spiritual sense, we conceive new life and prepare to give birth to that life in the Christmas season. Advent is similar to pregnancy, in that we carry, protect, and nurture Christ's new life within us. We must take care not to do anything which might hurt the baby. Therefore, the Church warns us: "Be on guard lest your spirits become bloated with indulgence and drunkenness and worldly cares" (Lk 21:34). Just as a mother's smoking, drinking alcohol, or taking drugs can have bad effects on her baby, so our sinful preoccupation with "worldly cares" can damage or even abort the new life of Advent. We should begin this year and this spiritual pregnancy by going to Confession. By repenting, we remove things which stifle the growth of God's life within us. We should also simplify our lives, freeing up more time to pray, read God's word, evangelize, and share fellowship. We should be nourished and rested in our pregnancy. TV, videos, and compulsive activities could very well smother our new life in God. Advent, like pregnancy, is a wonderful time as long as we carefully protect and nourish the new life within us.   Prayer: Father, increase us and make us "overflow with love for one another" (1 Thes 3:12). Promise: "When these things begin to happen, stand erect and hold your heads high, for your deliverance is near at hand." —Lk 21:28 Praise: Praise Jesus, from Whom all good things flow! Alleluia!

(but you have to make sure that they don't put that awful random leap into the middle of "Infinite thy vast domain". Shudder.)

Ah yes, the dreaded warble!

While you may not find any of the words to be anti-Catholic, we are at Holy Mass for a reason.

Yes, we are, and one of those reasons is to PRAISE God, for the gift of His Son, and His awesome Creation. There is a lot of good music out there, and I, for one, as a choir member, love to try out the new stuff, as well as 'oldies, but goodies'.

Our Church has HORRIBLE acoustics!! It was built in the 1960’s ‘Prayer Barn’ style, and is just U-G-L-Y!

the very worst offenders are not Top 40 or jazz tunes transferred to church, but the homegrown horrors produced by Haugen, Haas, and the St. Louis Jebbies.

ROTFL!!

My hubby, SirKit has become very sensitive about songs that 'scold' about how we live today, mainly under the banner of 'Social Justice'.

The Last Judgement

15c.

25. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26. Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

BEDE; The events which were to follow the fulfillment of the times of the Gentiles He explains in regular order, saying, There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars.

AMBROSE; All which signs are more clearly described in Matthew, Then shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven.

EUSEB. For at that time when the end of this perishing life shall be accomplished, and, as the Apostle says, The fashion of this world passes away, then shall succeed a new world in which instead of sensible light, Christ Himself shall shine as a sunbeam, and as the King of the new world, and so mighty and glorious will be His light, that the sun which now dazzles so brightly, and the moon and all the stars, shall be hidden by the coming of a far greater light.

CHRYS For as in this world the moon and the stars are soon dimmed by the rising of the sun, so at the glorious appearance of Christ shall the sun become dark, and the moon not shed her ray, and the stars shall fall from heaven, stripped of their former attire, that they may put on the robe of a better light.

EUSEB. What things shall befall the world after the darkening of the orbs of light, and whence shall arise the straitening of nations, He next explains as follows, And of the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea. Wherein He seems to teach, that the beginning of the universal change will be owing to the failing of the watery substance. For this being first absorbed or congealed, so that no longer is heard the roaring of the sea, nor do the waves reach the shore because of the exceeding drought, the other parts of the world, ceasing to obtain the usual vapor which came forth from the watery matter, shall undergo a revolution. Accordingly since the appearance of Christ must put down the prodigies which resist God, namely, those of Antichrist, the beginnings of wrath shall take their rise from droughts, such as that neither storm nor roaring of the sea be any more heard.

And this event shall be succeeded by the distress of the men who survive; as it follows, Men's hearts being dried up for fear, and looking after those things which shall come upon the whole world. But the things that shall then come upon the world He proceeds to declare, adding, For the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

THEOPHYL. Or else, When the higher world shall be changed, then also the lower elements shall suffer loss; whence it follows, And on the earth distress of nations, &c. As if He said, the sea shall roar terribly, and its shores shall be shaken with the tempest, so that of the people and nations of the earth there shall be distress, that is, a universal misery, so that they shall pine away from fear and expectation of the evils which are coming upon the world.

AUG. But you will say, your punishment compels you to confess that the end is now approaching, seeing the fulfillment of that which was foretold. For it is certain there is no country, no place in our time, which is not affected or troubled. But if those evils which mankind now suffer are sure signs that our Lord is now about to come, what means that which the Apostle says, For when they shall say peace and safety. Let us see then if it be not perhaps better to understand the words of prophecy to be not so fulfilled, but rather that they will come to pass when the tribulation of the whole world shall be such that it shall belong to the Church, which shall be troubled by the whole world, not to those who shall trouble it. For they are those who shall say, Peace and safety. But now these evils which are counted the greatest and most immoderate, we see to be common to both the kingdoms of Christ and the Devil. For the good and the evil are alike afflicted with them, and among these great evils is the yet universal resort to licentious feasts. Is not this the being dried up from fear, or rather the being burnt up from lust?

THEOPHYL. But not only shall men be tossed about when the world shall be changed, but angels even shall stand amazed at the terrible revolutions of the universe. Hence it follows, And the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

GREG. For whom does He call the powers of heaven, but the angels, dominions, principalities, and powers? which at the coming of the strict Judge shall then appear visibly to our eyes, that they may strictly exact judgment of us, seeing that now our invisible Creator patiently bears with us.

EUSEB. When also the Son of God shall come in glory, and shall crush the proud empire of the son of sin, the angels of heaven attending Him, the doors of heaven which have been shut from the foundation of the world shall be opened, that the things that are on high may be witnessed.

CHRYS. Or the heavenly powers shall be shaken, although themselves know it not. For when they see the innumerable multitudes condemned, they shall not stand there without trembling.

BEDE; Thus it is said in Job, the pillars of heaven tremble and are afraid at his reproof. What then do the boards do, when the pillars tremble? what does the shrub of the desert suffer, when the cedar of Paradise is shaken?

EUSEB. Or the powers of heaven are those which preside over the sensible parts of the universe, which indeed shall then be shaken that they may attain to a better state. For they shall be discharged from the ministry with which they serve God toward the sensible bodies in their perishing condition.

AUG. But that the Lord may not seem to have foretold as extraordinary those things concerning His second coming, which were wont to happen to this world even before His first coming, and that we may not be laughed at by those who have read more and greater events than these in the history of nations, I think what has been said may be better understood to apply to the Church. For the Church is the sun, the moon, and the stars, to whom it was said, Fair as the moon, elect as the sun. And she will then not be seen for the unbounded rage of the persecutors.

AMBROSE; While many also fall away from religion, clear faith will be obscured by the cloud of unbelief, for to me that Sun of righteousness is either diminished or increased according to my faith; and as the moon in its monthly wanings, or when it is opposite the sun by the interposition of the earth, suffers eclipse, so also the holy Church when the sins of the flesh oppose the heavenly light, cannot borrow the brightness of divine light from Christ's rays. For in persecutions, the love of this world generally shuts out the light of the divine Sun; the stars also fall, that is, men who shine in glory fall when the bitterness of persecution waxes sharp and prevails. And this must be until the multitude of the Church be gathered in, for thus are the good tried and the weak made manifest.

AUG. But in the words, And upon the earth distress of nations, He would understand by nations, not those which shall be blessed in the seed of Abraham, but those which shall stand on the left hand.

AMBROSE; So severe then will be the manifold fires of our souls, that with consciences depraved through the multitude of crimes, by reason of our fear of the coming judgment, the dew of the sacred fountain will be dried upon us. But as the Lord's coming is looked for, in order that His presence may dwell in the whole circle of mankind or the world, which now dwells in each individual who has embraced Christ with his whole heart, so the powers of heaven shall at our Lord's coming obtain an increase of grace, and shall be moved by the fullness of the Divine nature more closely infusing itself. There are also heavenly powers which proclaim the glory of God, which shall be stirred by a fuller infusion of Christ, that they may see Christ.

AUG. Or the powers of heaven shall be stirred, because when the ungodly persecute, some of the most stout-hearted believers shall be troubled.

THEOPHYL. It follows, And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds. Both the believers and unbelievers shall see Him, for He Himself as well as His cross shall glisten brighter than the sun, and so shall be observed of all.

AUG. But the words, coming in the clouds, may be taken in two ways. Either coming in His Church as it were in a cloud, as He now ceases not to come. But then it shall be with great power and majesty, for far greater will His power and might appear to His saints, to whom He will give great virtue, that they may not be overcome in such a fearful persecution. Or in His body in which He sits at His Father's right hand He must rightly be supposed to come, and not only in His body, but also in a cloud, for He will come even as He went away, And a cloud received him out of their sight.

CHRYS. For God ever appears in a cloud, according to the Psalms, clouds and darkness are round about him. Therefore shall the Son of man come in the clouds as God, and the Lord, not secretly, but in glory worthy of God. Therefore He adds, with great power and majesty.

CYRIL; Great must be understood in like manner. For His first appearance He made in our weakness and lowliness, the second He shall celebrate in all His own power.

GREG. For in power and majesty will men see Him, whom in lowly stations they refused to hear, that so much the more acutely they may feel His power, as they are now the less willing to bow the necks of their hearts to His sufferings.

28. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws nigh.

GREG. Having in what has gone before spoken against the reprobate, He now turns His words to the consolation of the elect; for it is added, When these things begin to be, look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draws nigh; as if he says, When the buffetings of the world multiply, lift up your heads, that is, rejoice your hearts, for when the world closes whose friends you are not, the redemption is near which you seek. For in holy Scripture the head is often put for the mind, for as the members are ruled by the head, so are the thoughts regulated by the mind. To lift up our heads then, is to raise up our minds to the joys of the heavenly country.

EUSEB. Or else, To those that have passed through the body and bodily things, shall be present spiritual and heavenly bodies: that is, they will have no more to pass the kingdom of the world, and then to those that are worthy shall be given the promises of salvation. For having received the promises of God which we look for, we who before were crooked shall be made upright, and we shall lift up our heads who were before bent low; because the redemption which we hoped for is at hand; that namely for which the whole creation waits.

THEOPHYL. That is, perfect liberty of body and soul. For as the first coming of our Lord was for the restoration of our souls, so will the second be manifested to the restoration of our bodies.

EUSEB. He speaks these things to His disciples, not as to those who would continue in this life to the end of the world, but as if uniting in one body of believers in Christ both themselves and us and our posterity, even to the end of the world.

34. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
35. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36. Watch you therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

THEOPHYL. Our Lord declared above the fearful and sensible signs of the evils which should overtake sinners, against which the only remedy is watching and prayer, as it is said, And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time, &c.

BASIL; Every animal has within itself certain instincts which it has received from God, for the preservation of its own being. Wherefore Christ has also given us this warning, that what comes to them by nature, may be ours by the aid of reason and prudence: that we may flee from sin as the brute creatures shun deadly food, but that we seek after righteousness, as they wholesome herbs. Therefore said He, Take heed to yourselves, that is, that you may distinguish the noxious from the wholesome. But since there are two ways of taking heed to ourselves, the one with the bodily eyes, the other by the faculties of the soul, and the bodily eye does not reach to virtue; it remains that we speak of the operations of the soul. Take heed, that is, Look around you on all sides, keeping an ever watchful eye to the guardianship of your soul. He says not, Take heed to your own or to the things around, but to yourselves. For you are mind and spirit, your body is only of sense. Around you are riches, arts, and all the appendages of life, you must not mind these, but your soul, of which you must take especial care. The same admonition tends both to the healing of the sick, and the perfecting of those that are well, namely, such as are the guardians of the present, the providers of the future, not judging the actions of others, but strictly searching their own, not suffering the mind to be the slave of their passions but subduing the irrational part of the soul to the rational. But the reason why we should take heed He adds as follows, Lest at any time your hearts be overcharged, &c.

TIT. BOST. As if He says, Beware lest the eyes of your mind wax heavy. For the cares of this life, and surfeiting, and drunkenness, scare away prudence, shatter and make shipwreck of faith.

CLEM. ALEX. Drunkenness is an excessive use of wine; crapula is the uneasiness, and nausea attendant on drunkenness, a Greek word so called from the motion of the head. And a little below. As then we must partake of food lest we suffer hunger, so also of drink lest we thirst, but with still greater care to avoid falling into excess. For the indulgence of wine is deceitful, and the soul when free from wine will be the wisest and best, but steeped in the fumes of wine is lost as in a cloud.

BASIL; But carefulness, or the care of this life, although it seems to have nothing unlawful in it, nevertheless if it conduce not to religion, must be avoided. And the reason why He said this He shows by what comes next, And so that day come upon you unawares.

THEOPHYL. For that day will not come when men are expecting it, but unlooked for and by stealth, taking as a snare those who are unwary. For as a snare shall it come upon all them that sit upon the face of the earth. But this we may diligently keep far from us. For that day will take those that sit on the face of the earth, as the unthinking and slothful. But as many as are prompt and active in the way of good, not sitting and loitering on the ground, but rising from it, saying to themselves, Rise up, be gone, for here there is no rest for you. To such that day is not as a perilous snare, but a day of rejoicing.

EUSEB. He taught them therefore to take heed to the things we have just before mentioned, lest they fall into the indolence resulting therefrom. Hence it follows, Watch you therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all those things that shall come to pass.

THEOPHYL. Namely, hunger, pestilence, and such like, which for a time only threaten the elect and others, and those things also which are hereafter the lot of the guilty for ever. For these we can in no wise escape, save by watching and prayer.

AUG. This is supposed to be that flight which Matthew mentions; which must not be in the winter or on the sabbath day. To the winter belong the cares of this life, which are mournful as the winter, but to the sabbath surfeiting and drunkenness, which drowns and buries the heart in carnal luxury and delight, since on that day the Jews are immersed in worldly pleasure, while they are lost to a spiritual sabbath.

THEOPHYL. And because a Christian needs not only to flee evil, but to strive to obtain glory, He adds, And to stand before the Son of man. For this is the glory of angels, to stand before the Son of man, our God, and always to behold His face.

BEDE; Now supposing a physician should bid us beware of the juice of a certain herb, lest a sudden death overtake us, we should most earnestly attend to his command; but when our Savior warns us to shun drunkenness and surfeiting, and the cares of this world, men have no fear of being wounded and destroyed by them; for the faith which they put in the caution of the physician, they disdain to give to the words of God.

Catena Aurea Luke 21

Luke
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Nova Vulgata	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Luke 21
25.	And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves;	Et erunt signa in sole et luna et stellis, et super terram pressura gentium prae confusione sonitus maris et fluctuum,	και εσται σημεια εν ηλιω και σεληνη και αστροις και επι της γης συνοχη εθνων εν απορια ηχουσης θαλασσης και σαλου
26.	Men withering away for fear, and expectation of what shall come upon the whole world. For the powers of heaven shall be moved;	arescentibus hominibus prae timore et exspectatione eorum, quae supervenient orbi, nam virtutes caelorum movebuntur.	αποψυχοντων ανθρωπων απο φοβου και προσδοκιας των επερχομενων τη οικουμενη αι γαρ δυναμεις των ουρανων σαλευθησονται
27.	And then they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud, with great power and majesty.	Et tunc videbunt Filium hominis venientem in nube cum potestate et gloria magna.	και τοτε οψονται τον υιον του ανθρωπου ερχομενον εν νεφελη μετα δυναμεως και δοξης πολλης
28.	But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand.	His autem fieri incipientibus, respicite et levate capita vestra, quoniam appropinquat redemptio vestra ”.	αρχομενων δε τουτων γινεσθαι ανακυψατε και επαρατε τας κεφαλας υμων διοτι εγγιζει η απολυτρωσις υμων
[...]
34.	And take heed to yourselves, lest perhaps your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly.	Attendite autem vobis, ne forte graventur corda vestra in crapula et ebrietate et curis huius vitae, et superveniat in vos repentina dies illa;	προσεχετε δε εαυτοις μηποτε βαρηθωσιν υμων αι καρδιαι εν κραιπαλη και μεθη και μεριμναις βιωτικαις και αιφνιδιος εφ υμας επιστη η ημερα εκεινη
35.	For as a snare shall it come upon all that sit upon the face of the whole earth.	tamquam laqueus enim superveniet in omnes, qui sedent super faciem omnis terrae.	ως παγις γαρ επελευσεται επι παντας τους καθημενους επι προσωπον πασης της γης
36.	Watch ye, therefore, praying at all times, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that are to come, and to stand before the Son of man.	Vigilate itaque omni tempore orantes, ut possitis fugere ista omnia, quae futura sunt, et stare ante Filium hominis ”.	αγρυπνειτε ουν εν παντι καιρω δεομενοι ινα καταξιωθητε εκφυγειν παντα τα μελλοντα γινεσθαι και σταθηναι εμπροσθεν του υιου του ανθρωπου

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Sacred harp music! The first I ever heard it was on the Cold Mountain soundtrack, and it is just so evocative!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Sacred harp music! The first I ever heard it was on the Mi soundtrack, and it is just so evocative!

I’m insulted when anyone has to “bring up” the congregation to respond. As if we can’t read.

You must be blessed being in a Parish of people who love to sing hymns at Mass. It has taken our new choir director over 10 years to get the folks singing on a regular basis. We use some of the old Catholic standards, but also include what many would call 'Protestant hymns', especially ones written for the Anglican Church, because they fit with the Scripture readings for the day, which is why we have music in the first place.

Just because it's considered 'Catholic' music, doesn't necessarily make it good music.

It bothers me more than I can say when people think the Word of God and gathering together to glorify and worship aren't enough and they feel they need to be "entertained" in church.

No puppets. No mimes. No secular music. No liturgical dance. None of the idiocy that passes for entertainment in place of humble worship.

I'm Roman Catholic. If the Transubstantiation isn't enough to hold your attention, I'm not sure what to tell you.

Get an organ and an organist who can lead. You don’t need a choir. We aren’t Baptists. There is something bigger than the choir going on in Holy Mass.

And now it’s 11:30 and I’m off.

The tune and the lyrics of Morning has Broken and its use as a hymn in the Catholic Church predates Cat Stevens. This author is displaying his ignorance.

No need to be so hard on him. I daresay most folks had never heard the hymn before Cat recorded "Morning Has Broken". Actually the words to the song are quite lovely, and full of praise for God's Creation.

>>My point was that the Church from old times has recognized the need for some variation in the music<<

No, they have allowed for variation.
But if one is speaking of pre-Vatican II the chant never changed in a low mass nor in a High Holy Mass. The Church recognized that Catholics thrive on repetition. Parish to Parish one heard the same music and same chant.

Vatican II allowed change in the liturgy. With it came the “Kumbaya Catholics” who thought everything should be changed to make it better when nothing was actually broken.

If we want to bring Catholics back to the Church, give them Old Time Catholic Masses. Push for one in every parish. Because I can tell you, in my area, my parish (where we kneel for communion), Assumption Grotto (who’s altar faces east) and San Francisco (that chants every mass) are packed and the other parishes with the great performers are closing and clustering.

Good for you for speaking up! I’ve been on the receiving end of some of that criticism in my time. I’m still doing penance for singing “Blowin in the Wind” and “Teach Your Children Well”, at folk Masses, when I was in college in the early 70’s ;o)

I really need to head off to bed, but-

That’s a line that Choir Directors have been using for years.

Staleness is NOT a "line". It is a massive pitfall. Part of the musician's mission, as outlined by numerous popes, bishops, etc., is to INSPIRE the congregation. That means everyone, including the lukewarm and those who are back for the first time in 30 years. When you sing or play the same stuff over and over again, and you get bored with it, or you think you know it better then you do, you don't pay as much attention and it gets sloppy. From first hand experience, I can say outright it is true.

Before every Mass, our choir says a prayer: "Open my mouth, O,Lord, in praise of thy holy name. Cleanse my heart and inflame my will that I may worthily sing this divine service. As we gather to sing your praise, may we but touch one soul and lead it to thee. May the gift of music we share foreshadow the beauty we shall share forever in your kingdom. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen."

How can we possibly inspire anything with staleness. Even the Mass which we all know by heart, gets tired if the priest saying it isn't filled with passion for Christ. Do we hear the same readings and sermons every week? No. Then why should we have the same music?

The reality is that so little emphasis has been put on music in the church and in Catholic schools that we never really learned to sing. And when we do sing, it's what we like. Well, among the congregation. Right now, there's so much chaff in the hymnals it's hard to find the wheat.

So, please understand, it is NOT easy to keep music fresh and sounding good when you're bored with it. And if musicians are there to help inspire, you just can't be bored. Like I said, it's a give and take.

Good night! We'll conduct an Inquisition on Bad Hymns some other day.

I need to hit the hay myself. Drove 14 hours today. . . . eek!

Our choir sings only at High Mass at 11:30 - the rest of the time it's organ and sometimes a cantor (up in the choir loft, not waving his arms around up front).

Anyhow, there's so much GOOD music to choose from that changing out the hymns is in my opinion a good idea. That's why so many of them were written in the first place. And yes, we sing "Holy God We Praise Thy Name" as well as many of the other old hymns regularly (that's how I found about the habit of 'swooping' on the line 'infinite thy vast domain'.) We have the St. Gregory and Adoremus Hymnals in the choir loft, plenty of good old Catholic music there.

We don't change the ordinary every Sunday. That wasn't my point.

My point was that the Church from old times has recognized the need for some variation in the music (as opposed to the text, which does not change). That's because the folks compiling the Liber were musicians and understood what music and musicians require in order to do their best.

We do have three Mass settings - one for the Latin Mass and two for the Ordinary Form. The congregation doesn't seem to mind (although they are struggling with the Latin).

>>I used to attend a church (Episcopal) where the original pastor had the bright idea of not having a choir.<<

In our Catholic Church we have two Holy Masses on Saturday and six on Sunday. We have a chant choir at the TLM and another group of adults at the 7:30 Sunday morning. The Slovak Mass has a Cantor.

With an organ, NOT a piano, one doesn’t need a choir at all. Our Holy Mass at 6:30pm never has a choir. We sing.

It's not Catholic, true, it was written by an Anglo-Catholic lady though, which is just One Step From Rome.

Why is it not appropriate for a processional? It mentions the opening of the day (appropriate to begin the Mass) as well as praising God for the Creation.

Not holding a brief for that particular hymn, it's not one of my favorites (3/4 time is a bit problematic for hymns generally), nor is Farjeon one of my favorite writers (a little too precious, as you can see if you read her Martin Pippin in the Apple Orchard). My only point was that the criticism of it was not accurate. Now, if the author had said that it wasn't a Catholic hymn, he would have had a point, at least.

But there's so much truly bad stuff to get rid of before we start attacking hymns for mere associations. And I would get rid of the theologically destructive words and hideous trash tunes in the Haugen-Haas-OCP-St. Louis unholy quadrivium, before I started in on merely non-Catholic stuff with tunes I personally don't like.

We have some serious, heavy-duty work to do to renovate Catholic music, and we're going to have to set some priorities if we expect to make any progress.

>>Why do you think the Liber Usualis has different chant settings for every day of the liturgical year? <<

And why do you think we only use the common chants at Holy Mass? Just because they are written doesn’t mean they are used, eventhough they are allowed.

Our chants don’t change for our Latin Vernacular nor our Traditional Latin Mass.
They don’t change in our vernacular Holy Mass both English and Slovak.

Perhaps choir directors like liturgical committees perpetuate their jobs by innovations.

You know, it just might be possible that choir directors use that "line" because it's true.

I used to attend a church (Episcopal) where the original pastor had the bright idea of not having a choir. Congregational hymn singing and full participation would be the order of the day. Only they weren't. By the time we joined that parish, the church had wound up having to make some major physical alterations to squeeze in the choir they thought they didn't need.

Repetition of music is different from repetition of words. Why do you think the Liber Usualis has different chant settings for every day of the liturgical year? And that goes back as far as chant goes back, so it's no modern or pop innovation.

It’s not a perfectly good hymn in the liturgy because it is not a Catholic hymn. It has nothing to do with the liturgy. It’s not a Processional Hymn, it’s not about the Offertory, it’s not about the Eucharist and it’s not Recessional. It’s not about Mary, nor Christ the King, nor the Trinity.

YOU may think it’s great, but it’s not Catholic.
I grew up on “Holy God we praise thy name.” The cradle Catholics like the old tunes.

Do you want the congregation to participate?

Then before throwing out a perfectly good hymn because of the arrangement, set a new one. If the accompaniment doesn't sound 'pop', that will remove the association with the execrable Mr. Stevens (he murders the tune, anyhow.)

Well, some of us just don't like it no matter where it came from.

We have an awful lot of dead wood and trash - truly rotten music - to get rid of before we start throwing out music because of mere passing associations. Then we can start weaning the congregation back onto the old Catholic stuff (but you have to make sure that they don't put that awful random leap into the middle of "Infinite thy vast domain". Shudder.)

Actually, since we all do it the same way, it can't be that random. It's the way we all learned it before we could read music.

Bad music to ditch...where to start...hmmm.

Well, not tonight. Still getting over the head cold that we've been passing among the choir members. I'm the most recent victim. 'Night.