Silence modern music in church, says Pope

The (London) Telegraph ^ | June 27, 2006 | Malcolm Moore

[Ebenezer]

The Pope has demanded an end to electric guitars and modern music in church and a return to traditional choirs.

The Catholic Church has been experimenting with new ways of holding Mass to try to attract more people. The recital of Mass set to guitars has grown in popularity in Italy; in Spain it has been set to flamenco music; and in the United States the Electric Prunes produced a "psychedelic" album called Mass in F Minor.

However, the use of guitars and tambourines has irritated the Pope, who loves classical music. "It is possible to modernise holy music," the Pope said, at a concert conducted by Domenico Bartolucci the director of music at the Sistine Chapel. "But it should not happen outside the traditional path of Gregorian chants or sacred polyphonic choral music."

His comments prompted the newspaper La Stampa to compare him with Pope Pius X, who denounced faddish classical and baroque compositions and reinstated Gregorian chants in 1903.

The Pope's supporters argue that the music played during Mass is a vital part of the communion between worshippers and God, and that medieval church music, with the liturgy, creates the correct ambience for perceiving God's mystery.

Cardinal Ersilio Tonini, the Archbishop of Ravenna, said:"Mass is the presence of Christ and the music adds so much more when the harmony allows the mind to transcend the concrete to the divine."

But Cardinal Carlo Furno, grand master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, said it was "better to have guitars on the altar and rock and roll Masses than empty churches". The use of modern music was a "sign of the vitality of the faith".

The argument is part of a wider debate about the Latin Mass, restricted in the Vatican II reforms of the 1960s because it was seen to be putting worshippers off going to Church.

The Pope believes that if Latin Masses are reintroduced, more Catholics will learn the words to the Gregorian chants that he advocates.

[bornacatholic]

The Last Supper and the Crucifixion was not a real knee-slapper

[bornacatholic]

going to Mass is far more important than not goimg, brother. Mass is Mass. I jusr prefer Mass according to how the comptetent authorities decided it ought be.

It has been over 40 years since I was promised Msss with Gregorian Chant having pride of place.

I mean, I can be patient, but this is getting ridiculous :)

[franky]

We are at Mass to celebrate the Unbloodied Sacrifice of Jesus at Calvary. It is the reason why the Mass should be solemn with appropriate music, psalms and adoration.

Look at the many who attend, do not do anything during the Mass including not giving appropriate responses and they go to Communion and do not make appropriate thanksgiving and out the door.

Meantime, they are listening to loud choirs. At least at my Church they are upstairs, not center stage left as so many are. Strange, but many of the center stage lefts have the King's Chair sitting right in the middle of the altar.

We participate in the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

[DJ MacWoW]

I'm probably not an average worshipper though. I've attended many different denominations every time we've had to move and picked a church to attend because of the beliefs they professed and not because of denomination.

You sound content with the church you're attending and in this day and age, you're lucky to have found it. I don't believe God cares WHERE you worship, He just wants you to love Him and keep His word.

[Claud]

Everyone's is different. I hadn't gone to Mass regularly since graduating from Catholic High School over 20 years ago.

Mike:

I'm 35, and I was also away from Mass for a long while.

I hear where you're coming from about enjoying the rock Mass. At this particular time in your life, that's speaking to you and that's fine. I would respectfully submit however, that as you don't seem to have been back in the Church very long, you will find your tastes changing as you immerse yourself more deeply in the Church's most sublime mystery.

I'm a big fan of rock done right--to this day, I think the last few minutes of Genesis' sprawling 22-minute epic Supper's Ready are one of the most glorious depictions of the Last Judgment put to music in modern times. It sends chills up my spine. But I would be very much opposed to liturgizing it precisely because it is not appropriate liturgically, even though it may be beautiful in its own way. By the way--the same can be said about many great composers' Masses, which simply do not work as liturgical music.

To every thing there is a season. You may enjoy aspects of the music that you are hearing at Mass now, but I'd be surprised if your musical tastes stay there for very long. The further in one goes, the more profound and deep and rich a simple chant becomes....and one begins to find rock somewhat jarring, superficial, distracting and emotional at Mass.

Meditate more deeply on what is happening *on* the altar, and you will find yourself more and more in line with our Holy Father in what is going on *around* the altar.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

"Sister Act", must have really po'd him............

[Ebenezer]

It looks like you have gotten a lot of flak for the "Youth Mass" you enjoy attending and the rock-'n'-roll music that is played there. Before I continue, let me express my sincere sympathy for the loss of your parents, and I can understand your emotions when something reminds you of that loss, whether it be a piece of music or a favorite place you would visit with them. The only (and, at the same time, most beautiful) gift you can now give them is your unceasing prayers that they now enjoy heavenly glory.

Now, I have a great deal of respect for young people who enjoy going to Mass and strive to benefit spiritually from it. That being said, you will have to understand that many of us are weary of this pop-music approach to organized worship. Do these young people go merely because of the "cool" music and the chance to socialize? Is their view of God one of "He's our pal" or "our Majestic, Almighty, King and Father of all"? Does the priest who celebrates the Mass spews out pedestrian "feel-good" homilies, or does he challenge the youth with solid Catholic teaching, especially in the areas of sexual morality and the defense of unborn life?

Many of us have seen way too much abuse of our beloved liturgy. Bland language, diminished reverence and understanding of our mysteries of faith, and weak, sophomoric homilies, not to mention ugly church architecture. Naturally, we see the transformation of majestic, richly theological sacred music to catchy folk/rock/Broadway-type tunes as a symptom of this spiritual jaundice Catholic worship is painfully experiencing, especially in the United States. Through the liturgy and music of generations past, we want to reaffirm the continuity of the Church and our connection with those who preceded us in acknowledging the Faith, and we likewise wish to see in God the transcendent, all-powerful, and (literally) otherworldly Father, Son, and Holy Spirit He truly is. The rock-'n'-roll may be okay for retreats and youth rallies, but I see the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as that special time of worship where the mundane goes on "pause".

I don't question your loyalty or love for the Church, or your spirituality. Keep the Faith, and God bless you.

[redgolum]

Love that one.

[Mrs. Don-o]

There's a significant difference between liturgical music, properly so called, and non-liturgical religious music (spiritual, devotional or celebratory music in a non-Mass setting.)

At a "Praise Service," a Festival, a Concert, a Youth Rally, a Christian Music Fellowship, a choral music gathering, a camp, a Faith & Sharing Retreat, in a stadium or at the beach, or on radio and CD's and iPods, that's where we can say YES to the electric guitars, a colloquial praise of God, the language of the street and the beat of the street. And there should be a lot more of it.

That's distinct from liturgical music, meaning the singing or chanting of sacred texts. This consists of the six fixed portions of the Eucharistic Liturgy--- Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus, Agnus Dei--- plus the "Proper," where the words vary at different Masses: the Responsory Psalm, the Alleluia and verse, etc.

Liturgical music, in this limited sense, Gregorian or Classical or whatever, should always be feel stately, reverent, heaven-sent rather than street-wise -- because together with the myriad invisible beings, the myriads of angels who join us there, we are participating in the Eternal Liturgy with all the Church and all creation.

On the other hand there should be many, MANY non-liturgical religious venues where any kind of composition, together with drums, cymbals, keyboards, electric guitars, singing, dancing, acting, charades, props, scenery, costumes, drama ---all this and more --- can find very full expression.

If there were lots of vibrant non-liturgical religious expression going on, people would learn to appreciate the distinctiveness of the Mass as the Mass.

My heart goes out Catholics under the age of 50, who don't even have the fragrance of it as an elusive and precious memory. I feel powerless to describe it further. I can't argue about it. I just want to see it before I die. I hope I shall see it after.

[Desdemona]

If there were lots of vibrant non-liturgical religious expression going on, people would learn to appreciate the distinctiveness of the Mass as the Mass.

There are. Lots of them. many people, though want a one stop shop. Having experienced the chant and the a cappella music in the right acoustical environment, it's difficult for some of us to truly be able to assist using Christian Rock.

The sad thing is that it really isn't all that difficult to make Mass as inspiring to Heaven as possible using music. That's what the vaulted ceilings and the chant and incense is all about. There's nothing like chant in a big, gothic church with no carpet on the floor.

[RobbyS]

What we need is good music. We don't see much classical guitar but basic stuff more appropriate to hillbilly music.

[Nihil Obstat]

agreed. Occasionally, to fill time between programs, EWTN radio plays Adoro te Devote on classical guitar. - beautiful and reverent.

[el_chupacabra]

Congratulations on returning to the Church. I, too, am a "revert". It sounds like we have followed some similar paths. When I first returned, I really "enjoyed" the "youth Mass" with its contemporary music and energetic homilies.

As I dug deeper into the Scriptures and Tradition, I began to realize that Mass is not entertainment. The highlight of the Mass is not the Homily, it is the liturgy of the Eucharist.

I realized that the Mass I attended had its priorities and emphases very confused, and it resulted in a community of very confused believers. The Pastor and the Music Director became minor celebrities and the Holy Eucharist became marginalized.

My family and I left that parish for one that might not be as entertaining, but is very solid liturgically.

I'll bet you a dollar that five years from now you'll love a more traditional Mass and cringe whenever you hear drums during Mass.

P.S. Look around. Despite the crowded church I'll bet that your Life Teen parish has not yielded many vocations. I was very surprised to learn how many more vocations come from the more traditional parishes.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

"Be not afraid...
The Pope no longer wants your goofy music.
Come follow me...
It's time to give it a rest..."

http://www.mgilleland.com/music/moratorium.htm

[mikemach5]

I'll bet you a dollar that five years from now you'll love a more traditional Mass and cringe whenever you hear drums during Mass.

Possibly. It has been less than a year since I started going regularly again.

[mikemach5]

I realized that the Mass I attended had its priorities and emphases very confused, and it resulted in a community of very confused believers.

I will grant you that, but this can go both ways. Getting back to my earlier point - are people there for Christ or are they there for the ritual (those on both sides of the debate)? I will readily admit that I go to the Mass I go to specifically because it's that Mass, specifically because I am not in an emotional state to go to the solemn Mass (maybe someday when the loss of my parents isn't such an open wound). So guilty as charged. How about those on the other side who were so quick to judge me?

I will say, though, that I can't stand the hippie-dippie folk Mass. Acoustic guitars and autoharps in Church do make me cringe. Always have.

And yeah, I know the point/climax of the Mass is the Eucharist, but it's nice to hear a truly uplifting and inspiring Homily before it as well. I can't say how many times I've nearly fallen asleep during the Homily, to actually want to pay attention is a nice change.

I also just want to point out how nice it is having the discussion this way (both you and bornacatholic), as opposed to my comments getting immediately blasted. I will probably not be participating in this thread any longer, I said what I wanted to say, so if you want to respond, send it privately.

[freedumb2003]

I will say, though, that I can't stand the hippie-dippie folk Mass.

Hey! I used to DO those hippie-dippie folk Masses. I remember my Mom asking us one time why we play all these Protestant songs at Catholic Mass ;)

[AlaninSA]

Welcome to FreeRepublic.

Are you the first of a new wave of trolls from the liberal wing of the Mother Church?

Just kidding.

We have 2000 years of tradition in the Catholic Church - and much of that is our music. Frankly, I encourage those who enjoy the rock-Mass to move onto the nearest fundie megachurch. This "new" music is not Catholic.

[AlaninSA]

39 and you have a girlfriend?

There are bigger issues in your life than your choice in liturgical music. I will bother you no more.