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Bishops to Vote on Norms for Hymns at Mass
USCCB ^ | October 18, 2006

Posted on 10/19/2006 6:23:52 PM PDT by NYer

WASHINGTON (October 18, 2006) — The U.S. bishops will vote to establish norms for hymns at Mass during their annual November meeting in Baltimore, November 13-16.

The new norms, which will require a two-thirds vote by the bishops and subsequent recognitio by the Holy See, are to ensure that liturgical songs will be doctrinally correct, based in the scriptural and liturgical texts and relatively fixed.

The norms are part of a new “Directory for Music and the Liturgy for Use in the Dioceses in the United States of America.” The directory responds to a recommendation of Liturgiam authenticam, the fifth Vatican instruction on correct implementation of liturgical renewal called for by the Second Vatican Council.

Specific norms state that

  1. The approval of liturgical songs is reserved to the Diocesan Bishop in whose diocese an individual song is published. He is supported in his work by this directory and by the USCCB Secretariat on the Liturgy.

  2. The Diocesan Bishop is assisted in his review of individual texts through the formation of a committee for the review of liturgical songs consisting of theologians, liturgists, and musicians. The committee shall assure that each text is suitable for liturgical use based on the principles articulated in this directory.

  3. Within three years, the Committee on the Liturgy will formulate a Common Repertoire of Liturgical Songs for use in all places where the Roman liturgy is celebrated in the United States of America. While songs outside the core repertoire may also be used in the Liturgy, this core repertoire will be included in all worship aids used in the dioceses of the United States of America.

The directory is to serve not so much as a list of approved and unapproved songs as a process by which bishops might regulate the quality of the text of songs composed for use in the liturgy.

According to the proposed directory, theological adequacy may be judged in two ways:

The directory warns of doctrinal compromise. For example, it notes:

The document also emphasizes that care should be taken that hymns and songs should take their inspiration and vocabulary chiefly from the Scripture and Liturgy.

The document said that the large number of liturgical songs that exist in the United States have benefited the liturgy, but also said that “a certain stable core of liturgical songs might well serve as exemplary and stabilizing factor.”

More information on the November meeting can be found at www.usccb.org.


TOPICS: Catholic; Prayer; Theology; Worship
KEYWORDS: catholic; hymns; music; usccb
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To: dangus
That's Tim Curry as Cardinal Richelieu. LOL I just looked at this geocities site

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Club/8886/it2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Club/8886/tim.html&h=225&w=320&sz=7&hl=en&start=8&tbnid=lMvUsiw9S-gkjM:&tbnh=79&tbnw=113&prev=/images%3Fq%3DTim%2BCurry%2BThe%2BThree%2BMusketeers%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D

I never say Rocky Horror(It looked to Horrific to bother watching) so I didn't realize that was Tim Curry! BWAHAHAHA!
21 posted on 10/19/2006 11:07:33 PM PDT by neb52
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To: Salvation
"Also get rid of Amzing Grace. It is doctrinally in error with Catholic teaching."

Please point out where, and which doctrine, Amazing Grace is "in error with Catholic teaching" with. I've looked at the lyrics, and I don't see any such.

"Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found Was blind, but now I see."

"'Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear, And Grace my fears relieved. How precious did that Grace appear The hour I first believed."

"Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come. 'Tis Grace hath brought me safe thus far And Grace will lead me home."

"The Lord has promised good to me. His Word my hope secures. He will my shield and portion be As long as life endures."

"When we've been there ten thousand years Bright shining as the sun, We've no less days to sing God's praise Than when we'd first begun."

22 posted on 10/20/2006 3:26:54 AM PDT by Wonder Warthog (The Hog of Steel-NRA)
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To: NYer

Oh, this is helpful...NOT!

I guess i have to continue standing there silently while everyone else is singing pop songs disguised as hymns.


23 posted on 10/20/2006 3:28:06 AM PDT by BlessedBeGod (Benedict XVI = Terminator IV)
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To: NYer

And, somehow, I don't think this is what Pope Benedict had in mind.


24 posted on 10/20/2006 3:28:42 AM PDT by BlessedBeGod (Benedict XVI = Terminator IV)
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To: Wonder Warthog
Please point out where, and which doctrine, Amazing Grace is "in error with Catholic teaching" with. I've looked at the lyrics, and I don't see any such.

"Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me!

Catholicism does not teach that we are "wretches." In my youth when we would sing this we would not say this part, substituting "that saved and set me free."

"Wretch" is shorthand for Calvin's "total depravity" doctrine. Catholicism teaches that we are damaged by Original Sin, but not "totally depraved."

SD

25 posted on 10/20/2006 4:33:26 AM PDT by SoothingDave
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To: SoothingDave
"Wretch" is shorthand for Calvin's "total depravity" doctrine. Catholicism teaches that we are damaged by Original Sin, but not "totally depraved."

*************

Those wretched Calvinists. Nothing but trouble. :)

26 posted on 10/20/2006 5:32:15 AM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: Straight Vermonter

I think that is hymn #666 from the "We Worship Ourselves Hymnal."


27 posted on 10/20/2006 5:42:42 AM PDT by steadfastconservative
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To: PanzerKardinal

Thanks alot. It isn't bad enough that we have to hear this almost every Sunday. Now we get to listen to it at FR!


28 posted on 10/20/2006 5:44:17 AM PDT by steadfastconservative
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To: NYer
While this is a good first step, it is terribly lacking in many regards. There is much more to music than mere lyrics. I could sing the summa theologica while banging pots and pans together and still produce "music" not worthy for liturgical worship despite its sound Catholic theology.

I think its about time someone assessed the music itself. As a brilliant philosopher, I believe Benedict XVI would be quite capable at establishing some sort of objective norm.
29 posted on 10/20/2006 5:48:27 AM PDT by mike182d ("Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?")
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To: PanzerKardinal
I highly recommend the following site:

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

:-D
30 posted on 10/20/2006 5:50:35 AM PDT by mike182d ("Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?")
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To: Salvation

"idn't realize there was a doicesan/archdiocesan committee that helped to pick the approved hymns. Why do we have the ugly OCP books then?"

When our diocese gets this commitee, who do you think will be on it?
The archbishop and the diocesan liturgy director are both on OCP's board of directors right now.
I can see such a commitee simply saying "the approved hymns are those in the OCP song books".
I don't trust our archbishop to do otherwise. Look at his liberal track record.


31 posted on 10/20/2006 6:02:50 AM PDT by rogator
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To: Bigg Red

One more: how about nixing the "let's hold hands during the Lord's Prayer?" What's so Christian about holding hands with a runny-nosed kid, and no access to the washroom for another 20 minutes?


32 posted on 10/20/2006 6:06:27 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: SoothingDave
"Catholicism does not teach that we are "wretches." In my youth when we would sing this we would not say this part, substituting "that saved and set me free.""

Sure it does. What do you think "original sin" IS?? And we are also "wretched" if, after confirmation, we fall back into sin (and we ALL do) until we repent and confess. I know when "I'm" in such a state, I feel pretty "wretched" until I go to Confession. Nothing contradictory to Catholic doctrine at all.

""Wretch" is shorthand for Calvin's "total depravity" doctrine. Catholicism teaches that we are damaged by Original Sin, but not "totally depraved.""

Sorry. Bogus argument. Read the actual words in the lyrics---NOT what you imagine to be there.

33 posted on 10/20/2006 6:10:30 AM PDT by Wonder Warthog (The Hog of Steel-NRA)
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To: 1rudeboy

Our priest actually told us a couple of years back to cease holding hands. Some of the old timers refuse to listen though. It's just a silly AmChurch habit that is not in the GIRM.


34 posted on 10/20/2006 6:13:28 AM PDT by Carpe Cerevisi
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To: 1rudeboy

Just fold your hands or hold your rosary with both hands and don't put your hands out.
If anyone should say anything just answer that the gesture (holding hands) was not approved in the GIRM.


35 posted on 10/20/2006 6:14:36 AM PDT by rogator
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To: NYer

So is this forecasting the end of "Here I am Lord" and other tripe by the partnered-up Jesuit, Dan Schutte?


36 posted on 10/20/2006 6:27:36 AM PDT by vox_freedom (Matthew 5:37 But let your speech be yea, yea: no, no)
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To: Wonder Warthog
You asked a question, and I answered it. If you choose to dis-believe my answer, that is your own choice. I've outlined the objection.

SD

37 posted on 10/20/2006 6:28:15 AM PDT by SoothingDave
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To: 1rudeboy

You are not obligated to hold hands during the Lord's prayer. There is no prescribed position for the hands during the Lord's prayer. However, a priest (or other members of the Parish) would be in violation of Canon law for mandating it (it would then be an introduction of a rite by an unauthorized person).

see: http://www.ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zlitur10.htm

There are good arguments against it as well (we are not really unified as a community until AFTER communion, but holding hands implies unity before communion). I generally do not participate in hand holding, except with my wife (since we are of one flesh in te eyes of the church).


38 posted on 10/20/2006 6:30:13 AM PDT by kidd
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To: vox_freedom

"So is this forecasting the end of "Here I am Lord" and other tripe by the partnered-up Jesuit, Dan Schutte?"

Don't believe it.
Follow the money. Go to OCP website (ocp.org) and look at the number of folks including Schutte and his ilk on the OCP payroll.
You might also ask your pastor how much he pays each year for OCP materials, assuming yours is one of the 2/3rds which use their materials.


39 posted on 10/20/2006 6:35:15 AM PDT by rogator
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To: rogator
Good points, and true.
The OCP is humongous and its reach deep into the Novus Ordo. Isn't it strange that Gregorian Chant which was directed via promulgations of Vatican II to have a "pride of place" in the liturgy is ignored, or is that distained (?) by the OCP and the vast majority of parishes.
40 posted on 10/20/2006 7:09:09 AM PDT by vox_freedom (Matthew 5:37 But let your speech be yea, yea: no, no)
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