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."
Thanks for the Ping. Do you suppose that His Holiness is a clandestine member of the Society for a Moratorium etc.?
I used to think it was Mary Jo Kopechne, but it turned out she was a sinker.
Actually I understand completely... I'm just bein' a smart aleck. I grew up in a pretty quiet and traditional Lutheran church, just an organist and a blue-haired choir to help keep the shy and quiet congregation on the right tune in the hymnal. I've been to a few of the rockin' and rollin' new churches with the loud music and the power point presentations and found it a bit um.... TV. But man, they sure felt saved.
I think the appeal of the Catholic Church is it's traditions. I can see the value in maintaining that, really.
What you said. I've ranted here before about my sister's "modern" church and that awful "praise music."
It IS very I-me centered. You are correct. I prefer hymns that glorify the Lord. "Praise music" distracts and annoys.
The words to the modern songs, are a different story.
~chuckling~ :~D
You go shout all you want to okay? I prefer the Sacred Music of Gregorian chant and it isn't monotone. It's quite beautiful and soul stirring.
FWIW, I'm not Catholic...
That's okay, wanna become one? We'd love to have ya!
Sacred polyphony is exemplified by the music produced in the later 1500s by composers such as Palestrina, Victoria, DesPres, Tallis, and others. For some examples, look up these composers at Amazon.com and you will be able to download snippets of their music. It is "sacred" in the sense that it was written for sacred purposes, namely as Masses and for special seasonal works such as Allegri's Miserere written for Holy Week.
When my wife and I got married we hired the local university choir to sing a mass by Hans Leo Hassler for the wedding.
I pray so!
Heck, it's not even entertaining. I wish I had the lyrics to the particularly hideous piece that we attempted to sing at my nieces' christening. ("Attempted" would be the proper verb since there was no music, and we visitors had no idea what tune we should sing.)
For sheer lyrical puerility, "Everything to God" matches it:
What kind of joy can make me dance?
What kind of love can make me sing?
What kind of grace is all I need?
Jesus is everything
I’m giving everything to God
I’m giving everything to God
I’m giving everything to God
He’s given everything to me
Everything to God
I’m giving everything to God
I’m giving everything to God
He’s given everything to me
There is so much joy
There is so much love
There is much grace
Hallelujah!
There is so much joy
There is so much love
There is much grace
Hallelujah!
In my Bible Jesus says, "if he refuses to listen to the church, treat him as a pagan or tax collector."
The old-timey Lutherans (at least the LCMS types) have a lot more in common with the Catholics than you would think.
Growing up Episcopalian, I was taught that one does not applaud in church.
Everything that occurs in church is allegedly to the glory of God, not to the singer or minister or whoever is acting. If God wants applause, He will come down and take a bow.
:-) One of my favorite Christmas songs is the little Drummer Boy, which has the sound of an older song, but was composed in 1957 or so. IIRC the Pope wasn't casting off new songs out of hand.
I think that there's value in looking at which songs are representative of parish prayer and which are less so.
Why is it that lay readers always seem to be the worst at actual reading?
I'm just too traditional. Latin masses all around!
yeah but is that because of the liturgy or because they get to sleep in ..?
Heh heh. No thanks. I'm Methodist and that's about as close as you'll get this ol' Southern boy to Catholicism. My family has a slew of Southern Baptist preachers in it and I heard about that switch for months. Heck, I'm half disowned..LOL
God bless Pope Benedict. Adios, Marty H.
I have always thought that music that works to try and fit within a particular season or focus on a particular part of the Scripture helped reveal a lot more creativity and message than someone swayng back and forth and singing simple lyrics over and over again. Music like that alwyas seemed fit for the little ones in Sunday School, but not at a moment of the service when the subject matter has been about an important message God wants us to pay attention to.
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