Heretical Hymns? (Sacred songs that contradict church teachings)

Catholic Education ^ | August 29, 2006 | George Weigel

[Campion]

I was amused to be at a Roman Catholic mass and hear the parishioners singing the Reformation Battle Hymn, "A Mighty Fortress is our God".

There's not much wrong with that hymn, either, WRT Catholic teaching. (The "no thanks to them abideth" part is the most problematical, IMO.)

[Salvation]

** they're "reevaluating" their "contemporary" service due to lack of attendance.**

LOL! Churches (and pastors) are starting to get the message. We need to hang in there and keep praying for pastors in Perpetual Adoration.

[bonfire]

Great hymn....of course I grew up Lutheran and those Germans would shake the rafters!

[ichabod1]

I like it more for its historical nature and the change that it, the Grace, brought about in the author's life than I do particularly the song itself. But the hymn is about the Grace of God saving an individual from certain torment, who then desires to live in a virtuous way and to do works. What is wrong with that? Does it sound Calvinistic to you? Because that's not what I get from it at all.

[sitetest]

"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."

Why only 50 years? I might still be alive.

[theFIRMbss]

>I Am The Resurrection Muffin

I was standing down in Jerusalem town one day
I was standing down in Jerusalem town one day
I was standing down in Jerusalem town one day
Singing I am the way

I can walk on the water, I can raise the dead
I can walk on the water, I can raise the dead
I can walk on the water, I can raise the dead
It's easy – I am the way

Don't tell nobody I kissed Magdalene
Don't tell nobody I kissed Magdalene
Don't tell nobody I kissed Magdalene
I said, “Mary, it's OK, I am the way”

Every son of god gets a little hard luck sometime
Every son of god gets a little hard luck sometime
Every son of god gets a little hard luck sometime
Especially when he goes around saying he's the way

I am the way
I am the way
I am the way

I am the way

[Quix]

Has the staff of the Wittenberg Door been let out of their assylum?

Sigh.

[Xenalyte]

A good bagpipe version of "Amazing Grace" is a necessary accompaniment to any wake I'm at.

[ichabod1]

Oh -- that's another problem -- music directors that don't push the music along. It's a lack of leadership. The congregation WILL slow down, it's the organist and the choir's job to keep pushing it ahead. My piskie director was a jerk but he was great at keeping it going. My current one is a great guy, but he's a keyboardist not a singer, and he does like to go slow. It's not stately, it's deadly.

[bonfire]

I'm with you there. Another hymn that should be STOPPED! :)

[ichabod1]

good bagpipe

Oxymoron alert!

[bonfire]

It's the only song they know, apparently.

And I love Bagpipes.

[Quix]

WOW!

Satire seems to be alive and well.

I grow weary of some modern songs and chorus and am quite thankful our pastor includes a hymn or two Sundays.

But some of the choruses and modern stuff is full of meanng and Spiritual richness.

And, a lot of good things can be driven over the cliff of insipiddity.

Certainly "with charity for all" doesn't seem all that abroad in the hearts of many when discussing Christian music.

[Carolina]

I find it rather disturbing that a man who is generally thought of as a prominent scholar has only just realized that "words mean things", as they say.

Are you referring to Dr. Weigel? This article is a reprint from a few years ago so no, he hasn't just discovered that words mean things.

[Quix]

I love "I am the Bread of Life." To sing it is to sing Scripture. Just as a reader doesn't become Christ when s/he proclaims Scripture in the divine "first person," a cantor or a congregation is not at fault when they do the same. If the hymn proclaims Scripture in a sense that agrees with Tradition, I no longer care if it is in "the first person."
= = = =

I feel the same way.

[Quix]

I'm fairly well convinced that AMAZING GRACE will be sung throughout eternity in all the Heavenly and other realms.

[Salvation]

Maybe we all need to contact these guys and let them know we do NOT like their hymnals -- Oregon Catholic Press

Please, be my guest.

I have also written to them about the horrific art they continue to put on their misalettes and hymnals. With all the wonderful Catholic art that is available, I just don't see why we need to be subjected to it at all.

Haven't noticed the ugly art -- check this Sunday! It's atrocious.

[Salvation]

**Oxymoron alert!**

I agree. Can't stand it.

[TotusTuus]

I've always thought that the subtitle to Thomas Day's book of 10-15 years ago, "Why Catholic's Can't Sing", was a very astute statement of the problem. It reads:

"The Culture of Catholicism and the Triumph of Bad Taste"

Emphasis obviously mine. I think that for a lot of youngin's growing up at the time, this triumph occurred because none were any the wiser.

We was young.

We was ignorant and stupid.

Where the h&ll were the elders to straighten us out about the issue of what was in good/bad/poor/indifferent, and most of all, sacred taste?

[Quix]

Hmmmmmm.

I still remember sitting in the Chinese congregation at the government church the first time Amazing Grace was sung. What preciousness. Tears of joy filled my heart and face. I felt transported Heavenward.

imho, one reason some folks have antipathy for Amazing Grace is a flawed perspective on themselves and on What God's done for them through HIS AMAZING GRACE.

A Baptist PhD boss; ex Navy wing CDR refused to sing "such a worm as I" and sang instead "such a man as I." I think he missed out on some spiritual treasure and richness in that stance.