"Be not afraid...
The Pope no longer wants your goofy music.
Come follow me...
It's time to give it a rest..."
Posted on 06/26/2006 11:48:53 AM PDT by FJ290
Vatican City, 26 June (AKI) - Pope Benedict XVI has called for traditional sacred music to be played during mass, condemning the ongoing custom of contemporary music at religious celebrations. "Updating sacred music is possible, but this cannot happen unless it follows the tradition of Gregorian chants or sacred polyphony," the pontiff said on Sunday on the sidelines of a concert in the Sistine Chapel. A skilled pianist with a predilection for Bach and Mozart, Benedict XVI spoke against a custom reportedly appreciated by his more informal predecessor John Paul II, who worked very hard throughout his papacy to make the Church more appealing to the younger generations.
In an interview published in Turin-daily La Stampa on Monday, the former Archbishop of Ravenna, veteran Cardinal Ersilio Tonini also condemned the practice saying that "Benedict XVI is right, mass is a meeting with God and to meet God sacred music is better than the turmoil of electric guitars, hand clapping and the husstle and bustle of disorderly sounds."
Tonini said that 40 years ago after the Second Vatican Council "making mass more popular and inviting could be understood." However, the cardinal added, "we exaggerated and now I believe it is legitimate to consider as over this season of breaks with tradition."
Amazing.
For the most part, I find it hard to stomach old church music.
To each his own.
No kidding! Has anyone ever been to a Teen Mass?
I went with several of our kids when they were teenagers and I thought my eardrums were going to burst from the noise.
Dagnabbit... Church is too fun these days :~D
I think people ought to be whipped on the way into church, and the pews should be really uncomfortable, maybe with sharp splinters or nails in the seats.
If you're talking about that slick pop gospel stuff, I'm with you.
But the REAL old-time music - the Sacred Harp, Southern Harmony, Kentucky Harmony, etc. - is perfectly appropriate for a Catholic Mass. It's traditionally sung a cappella, the texts are usually scripture or a paraphrase, and the music is based on classical fugue models. It had its origins in the New England Singing School composers - Billings, Justin Morgan, etc. - and that old style was sort of preserved in amber in the rural South.
We actually sang a Billings anthem on Good Friday once.
I thought this was a two-part headline, informing us that the Pope hated soft drinks, and an announcement that the next service would have music in it.
Pope Against Pop. Music In Mass
What a difference a period makes.
We concentrate and participate whole-heartedly. The fault it would seem, lies with you not the mass.
Yes it should be. I'm sorry I made a goof and didn't realize it until it was too late. I figured out why I made the error so it won't happen again. I stated in an earlier post if the Moderators want to move it to the Religion forum, that's fine by me.
Wow...that goes for far more than just the music.
Hopefully we'll soon say goodbye to the dancing girls, say goodbye to the clapping and hand-holding, say goodbye to the clowns and costumes, and say goodbye to the likes of Mahony.
Agreed. I'm 53, and I'm probably the oldest person in our church. The church has made a deliberate decision to appeal to a certain demographic (younger, hipper, upwardly-mobile), and the music reflects that. When it uplifts God, fine...when it only appeals to the soulish preferences of the 15-29 age demographic, that's when I take issue with it.
I just wish that they wouldn't make it such a rarity to sing something old. Some of them are written by composers, like Mendelsohn. We all know the words. Lastly, it's a form of prayer.
As a conservative I'm sure you understand that he's trying to get people back to basics first, and respect their traditions. There have been decades of abuses and people allowing any random thing to creep into their worship. I'm just waiting for someone in this thread to bring up liturgical dance.
If you're a faithful Catholic, then when you're at the Mass you are in the actual physical presence of Christ.
It's not that one shouldn't have fun in church (we have a wonderful time singing beautiful music) but that one should be reverent in the presence of God. And a lot of the schlock pop stuff just isn't reverent - it's noisy, and it diverts attention from the Holy Sacrifice to the performers. And as commercially-based music, it brings the values of the marketplace into church. While a lot of folks support this because it "brings in the young people," I've found it may bring them in temporarily, but they don't stay. On the other hand, they flock to the traditional Masses, and they seem to keep coming.
Benedict XVI explains it a lot better in his book, The Spirit of the Liturgy.
"Be not afraid...
The Pope no longer wants your goofy music.
Come follow me...
It's time to give it a rest..."
I'm really evil, I actually prefer the Mass with no music at all, but at this point we've all been told that's essentially forbidden.
I don't know why, but I'm reminded of this for some reason...
GOD: Arthur! Arthur, King of the Britons! Oh, don't grovel! One thing I can't stand, it's people groveling.
ARTHUR: Sorry.
GOD: And don't apologize. Every time I try to talk to someone it's 'sorry this' and 'forgive me that' and 'I'm not worthy'. What are you doing now?!
ARTHUR: I'm averting my eyes, O Lord.
GOD: Well, don't. It's like those miserable Psalms - they're so depressing. Now, knock it off!
ARTHUR: Yes, Lord.
FWIW, I'm not Catholic and besides having to learn a cornucopia of prayers, sayings, and catchphrases, this is one reason. I have enough time remembering the Apostle's Creed
As I said, whatever floats your boat
That can happen if you have a floater in your eye.
Pinch me, I must be dreaming. Is this for real?
Next up: crappy missalette "art."
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