Heretical Hymns? (Sacred songs that contradict church teachings)

Catholic Education ^ | August 29, 2006 | George Weigel

[NYer]

I love hymns. I love singing them and I love listening to them. Hearing the robust Cardiff Festival Choir belt out the stirring hymns of Ralph Vaughan Williams at what my wife regards as an intolerable volume is, for me, a terrific audio experience. It was only when I got to know certain Lutherans, though, that I began to think about hymns theologically.

For classic Lutheran theology, hymns are a theological "source:" not up there with Scripture, of course, but ranking not-so-far below Luther's "Small Catechism." Hymns, in this tradition, are not liturgical filler. Hymns are distinct forms of confessing the Church's faith. Old school Lutherans take their hymns very seriously.

Most Catholics don't. Instead, we settle for hymns musically indistinguishable from "Les Mis" and hymns of saccharine textual sentimentality. Moreover, some hymn texts in today's Catholic "worship resources" are, to put it bluntly, heretical. Yet Catholics once knew how to write great hymns; and there are great hymns to be borrowed, with gratitude, from Anglican, Lutheran, and other Christian sources. There being a finite amount of material that can fit into a hymnal, however, the first thing to do is clean the stables of today's hymnals.

Thus, with tongue only half in cheek, I propose the Index Canticorum Prohibitorum, the "Index of Forbidden Hymns." Herewith, some examples.

The first hymns to go should be hymns that teach heresy. If hymns are more than liturgical filler, hymns that teach ideas contrary to Christian truth have no business in the liturgy. "Ashes" is the prime example here: "We rise again from ashes to create ourselves anew." No, we don't. Christ creates us anew. (Unless Augustine was wrong and Pelagius right). Then there's "For the Healing of the Nations," which, addressing God, deplores "Dogmas that obscure your plan." Say what? Dogma illuminates God's plan and liberates us in doing so. That, at least, is what the Catholic Church teaches. What's a text that flatly contradicts that teaching doing in hymnals published with official approval?

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The first hymns to go should be hymns that teach heresy. If hymns are more than liturgical filler, hymns that teach ideas contrary to Christian truth have no business in the liturgy.

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Next to go should be those "We are Jesus" hymns in which the congregation (for the first time in two millennia of Christian hymnology) pretends that it's Christ. "Love one another as I have loved you/Care for each other, I have cared for you/Bear each other's burdens, bind each other's wounds/and so you will know my return." Who's praying to whom here? And is the Lord's "return" to be confined to our doing of his will? St. John didn't think so. "Be Not Afraid" and "You Are Mine" fit this category, as does the ubiquitous "I Am the Bread of Life," to which I was recently subjected on, of all days, Corpus Christi — the one day in the Church year completely devoted to the fact that we are not a self-feeding community giving each other "the bread of life" but a Eucharistic people nourished by the Lord's free gift of himself. "I am the bread of life" inverts that entire imagery, indeed falsifies it.

Then there are hymns that have been flogged to death, to the point where they've lost any evocative power. For one hundred forty years, the fourth movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony sent shivers down audiences' spines; does anyone sense its power when it's morphed into the vastly over-used "Joyful, Joyful We Adore You," complete with "chanting bird and flowing fountain"? A fifty-year ban is in order here. As it is for "Gift of Finest Wheat." The late Omer Westendorf did a lot for liturgical renewal, but he was no poet (as his attempt to improve on Luther in his rewrite of "A Mighty Fortress" — "the guns and nuclear might/stand withered in his sight" — should have demonstrated). Why Mr. Westendorf was commissioned to write the official hymn for the 1976 International Eucharistic Congress in Philadelphia is one of the minor mysteries of recent years. "You satisfy the hungry heart with gift of finest wheat/Come give to us, O saving Lord, the bread of life to eat" isn't heresy. But it's awful poetry, and it can be read in ways that intensify today's confusions over the Real Presence. It, too, goes under the fifty-year ban.

Hymns are important. Catholics should start treating them seriously.

[gracebeliever]

Thanks for your reply. See my reply in 118. The same word for Seraphim is translated as "fiery serpent" in Numbers 21:5-9; and "fiery flying serpent" in Isaiah 14:29 and 30:6. There is no doubt these creatures exist to serve God, based on the passage you quoted, and seem to be associated with cleansing and salvation based on the other passages. However, nowhere are these categorized as angels in the Bible, although we tend to place them in the angelic being category. You probably stated it best by referring to the Seraphims as a "special class of heavenly attendants."

[ichabod1]

My old choirmaster used to call it "Jesus is my boyfriend" music, or "happy clappy" music. Lord I loved his taste in music, and singing with that ensemble. Unfortunately he's an atrocious human being and his church is apostate. I love my choirmaster now, but we do have to sing some less than worthwhile stuff. At least he reminds the congregation every week that Latin is our Official Language, and we do something in Latin every week.

The thing I hate the worst is the "Communion Song." Some vapid piece of, excuse me, crap that's easy to sing while the choir receives. Then we sing a nice anthem. But I hates that "communion song."

[ichabod1]

There are also the Cherubims who have wings, but are referred to as living creatures, rather than angels. In fact, Lucifer is referred to as the Cherub that covereth.

These are some of the reasons that I find it ironic that people represent cherubim with small children. They're fiery, dangerous creatures, not cute little fat babies!

[Salvation]

**At least he reminds the congregation every week that Latin is our Official Language, and we do something in Latin every week.**

I would like to see more Latin in every Church. At least the Krie Eleison and Agnus Dei; we could all handle that.

[Fury]

Thank you for posting this.

I've tried so very hard to focus and indeed, concentrate during Mass when songs like 'Here I am, Lord" are sung.

I can't do it. To me, when this music is sung/played, the service transitions from an event of such great import - to music that ends up becoming a distraction - with music that does not seem (to me) to be uplifting and flowing with the rest of the Mass.

I am much more able to focus on the Mass and what it stands for when the music is more consistent with the Mass. I really try to attend Mass where this is practiced.

[Bainbridge]

As I said, the author. I guess you are trying to wow me with his PhD by calling him "Dr" Weigel.
The fact that the article is a few years old is rather irrelevant to my comment as the writer was certainly old enough to know better and a man of letters who should certainly have thought more seriously about the words he had been singing. Frankly, it just reinforces my take on the systematic nature of the worship at a Roman Catholic church.

[Carolina]

Are you always this cranky? I wasn't trying to wow you. Why would I want to do that? You are perennially unimpressed with anything Catholic. As to my using his title, is it wrong to show respect to someone? I've met him and that's how I addressed him in our conversations.

[AnAmericanMother]

Anybody got the music for "Shine, Jesus, Shine"?

. . . I would like to see it, just for morbid curiosity's sake. Nobody sings that hymn at our parish (sounds like a Good Thing.)

[Religion Moderator]

Discuss the issues all you want but do not make it personal.

[Campion]

Did that song have the word "Worship" in the title.

I'm pleased to say that I don't remember. Some things are better off forgotten. :-)

[Campion]

the systematic nature of the worship at a Roman Catholic church

You must have us confused with an organized religion.

[RobbyS]

Over used. Even the heathen sing it.

[rzeznikj at stout]

Sadly, his works seem to be a favorite of the music director at the church I go to.

It's often either that or St. Louis Jesuits...

[Rytwyng]

I am Protestant and even I can't stand "Amazing Grace". Overdone, difficult for congregations to sing, and it drones on and on.

Try using a different tune. For example, use the tune of "Peaceful Easy Feeling" by the Eagles. For the verses, sing the lyrics of Amazing Grace; for the chorus, sing:

I got a peaceful, easy feeling
My Jesus won't let me down
'Cause He's already risen
from the ground....

Even worse, the words of AG can also be adapted to the Gilligan's Island theme (ugh!) or AC/DC's Highway to Hell (with the chorus, "I'm singin' Hallelujah... Hallelujah..."

It's fun to mess with people's heads that way. But it ain't worship.

[TaxachusettsMan]

Don't forget those great traditional Catholic hymns either!

From Saint Gregory's Hymnal in honor of Saint Cecilia:

LET THE DEEP ORGAN SWELL THE LAY

And for the Feast of the Visitation:

WITHER THUS IN HOLY RAPTURE, MAIDEN MOTHER, ART THOU BENT?

And it's obvious why they changed Father Faber's original words to O COME AND MOURN WITH ME AWHILE:

Have we no tears to shed for Him
Whom soldiers scoff and Jews deride?

On the other hand, THE CLOUDS HANG THICK O'ER ISRAEL'S CAMP has these classics that maybe we SHOULD bring back:

See o'er Lepanto's waters spread
The Moslems' dark array!
A voice to Christendom went forth
And gave the word to pray!
Jesus! Mary! Names of strength
Invoked and not in vain:
They conquered in our hour of need
And conquer shall again!

The weapon that our Father gave
Each hand shall fearless wield:
Who bears Our Lady's Rosary
Need neither sword nor shield:
With dauntless faith the ranks they face
Of error and of sin
And, armed with those blest beads alone,
The victory they win.

As Pius* then to Europe spake
So Leo** speaks once more:
The Rosary our weapon still
To wield in Holy War:
Ave Maria! From each tongue
Shall rise the pleading word:
O doubt not that the prayer of faith
Shall now as then be heard.

Here's hoping! Interesting that when Saint Pius V called on Catholics to pray the Rosary, it wasn't for peace with the Muslims but for victory over them (peace would inevitably follow . . . as Rush would say! :-))

* Pope St Pius V
** Pope Leo XIII (when the hymn was written)

[norge]

Obviously, you've never heard it sung by Wintley Phipps. The song will never be the same, once you do. Just Google "Wintley Phipps Amazing Grace".

[steve8714]

Amazing Grace fits perfectly the tune of "Gilligan's Island. It has its own excellent melody, though.

[bcsco]

Here you go...

Lord, the light of your love is shining
In the midst of the darkness, shining
Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us
Set us free by the truth you now bring us Shine on me, shine on me

Shine, Jesus, shine
Fill this land with the Father's glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river, flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth your word
Lord, and let there be light

Lord, I come to your awesome presence
From the shadows into your radiance
By the blood I may enter your brightness
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness
Shine on me, shine on me

As we gaze on your kingly brightness
So our faces display your likeness
Ever changing from glory to glory
Mirrored here may our lives tell your story
Shine on me, shine on me

I'm a traditionalist Lutheran and have problems with contemporary services. When at one I usually sit silently during the singing. Much of this has to do with the fact that I don't know the songs that well, they're not usually printed in the bulletin (that would make it way too large), and I'm NOT a good singer. Also, I don't feel as fulfilled after a contemporary service. It seems more like an event than a worship service.

I prefer hymns out of the hymnal. I've known them all my life and have many favorites. I also prefer following the service(s) printed in the hymnal (rather close to the Catholic service, BTW), but have no problem when we follow a bulletin format. It's the contemporary songs that do me in.

[ArrogantBustard]

Psalm 8

 1O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

 2Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

 3When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

 4What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

 5For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

 6Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

 7All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;

 8The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

 9O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!