A converting Episcopalian grieves: “…miasmal excrescences of Marty Haugen and David Haas…”

What Does the Prayer Really Say? ^ | September 30, 2007 | Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

[Frank Sheed]

30 September 2007

A converting Episcopalian grieves: “…miasmal excrescences of Marty Haugen and David Haas…”

CATEGORY: SESSIUNCULUM — Fr. John Zuhlsdorf @ 10:47 am

I tip my biretta to the always engaging Diogenes for the links to what follows. 

Another Episcopalian has decided he can no longer endure the self-destruct mode that Church is vigorously wrapped up in.  So, he is swimming the Tiber.  Here is what he thinks about that.

So it’s off to Rome for me. I do not labor under the illusion all is milk and honey on the other side of the Tiber. It is not, the Roman Catholic Church, especially in the United States, is beset with woes, lousy liturgy and music being among the less egregious. But the Holy Catholic Church possesses something the Episcopal Church does not: sound doctrine, along with a Pope (especially the present one) and magisterium to ensure that it remains so. Sound doctrine will make it possible for me (I pray) to tolerate Masses where the priest sits in the Captain Kirk chair while the miasmal excrescences of Marty Haugen and David Haas [ROFL!] waft into the nave. And while my heartbreak over what happened to the Episcopal Church will remain with me to the end of my days (as I suspect it will for Fr. Kimel), at the same time I look forward with great joy to embracing the full Catholic Faith. I ask your prayers.

 

You’ve got em, and those of many of my readers.

[Frank Sheed]

Wonderful imagery, eh?

[Frank Sheed]

PING!

[livius]

I particularly liked the “Captain Kirk chair.” That is what I have always thought, too, when I see those idiotic “presider’s chairs” that the modernists stuck in the middle of the sanctuary. And I won’t even say what I think of the goofy looking being who into usually plopped into said chair...

[AnAmericanMother]

Wandered over and gave them my two cents' worth . . .

. . . don't despair because of the music. It CAN be fixed, and with a minimum of fuss. It's fixing bad theology that is much, much more difficult!

[jacero10]

Still, he is coming home to the Catholic Church. Yes, we have our problems with the liturgy. But, we are moving in the right direction. As someone said, TEC and the CC are passing each other as they move in opposite directions. People seems to forget that we will soon have a new translation of the sacramentary. The liturgy is moving in the direction of greater dignity.

BTW, went to a Ukrainian Catholic liturgy today. Beautiful as always.

[Mike Fieschko]

I particularly liked the “Captain Kirk chair.”

Another one: the 'Julia Child Mass'.



Hey, maybe that's why women attempt ordination!

[RobbyS]

Well, in the ancient Church, the bihop/priest andother clergy did sit in chairs by the altar. The liturgical reformers did take some elements from the early liturgies, which however, took place in house-churches where the altar was the same once used to worship the family gods/ancestors. Of course, those in the catacombs were different. IAC, these forms were incidental to the occasion. Once the Church moved into Bacilicas, the liturgy was changed. To resort to these old form is antiquanianism, a bit like the Philadelphia Eagles using old, old uniforms. in a game. Haugen and Haas are a different matter; their music is like going down memory lane to the early sixties, except that Joan and others actually sang decent songs.

[Cookie123]

Pope Benedict would probably reel in horror at my saying this, but if you’ve always been a “low church” Episcopalian, then you’re probably going to feel pretty comfortable with present-day Catholic liturgies. The liturgies are incredibly informal, and the music – well, I won’t even go there! Suffice it to say, I still have all my Anglican choral CDs and play them often.

However, the real comfort in Catholicism lies much, much deeper than these liturgical and aesthetic externals. Go to STAND FIRM or Google Video and look at the interview with Bp. Jeffrey Steenson. He is the Episcopal bishop who just last week announced that he is renouncing his bishopric and converting to Rome. He talked about how Rome has “a billion people.” That’s the thing about the Catholic Church. It’s not just for educated white folks with WASP-y ancestors who wallow in their Anglicanism out of some sort of vague fog of tribal memory that has to do with All Things English.

There’s just no way to convey how “freeing” this realization is. You begin to see yourself within the context of the ancient church, and the whole church – not just this one little clubby, elitest segment of it. In fact, most of us need to clear our head of all these WASPy notions and move on out into the larger church - the “visible” church Steenson talks about in the interview.

Next thing you know you are actually focusing on The Gospel, and on things like The Beatitudes, and how can I live out the Beatitudes. The whole thing suddenly becomes about following Our Lord, and not about the Current Unpleasantness, the New Thing, or whatever you want to call it.

[Salvation]

A parishioner and his family who converted last Easter told me today (as our mod choir sang “City of God”, that he previously left the Catholic Church because of that song and turns off any religious station he might be listening to when it comes on.

He is so disappointed in this music. Pray for him and his family.

[Salvation]

BTW, what music book shall I get a perusal copy of to give to our Pastoral Council?

I know I have talked about it for a long time, but I am ready to take action after talking with the poor fellow this morning.

We both fiddled around putting our coats on, etc. at they sang the inane words this morning.

Help please, The seed needs to be planted NOW! (This guy is on the Pastoral Council!) Fertile soil!!

[AnAmericanMother]

Are you talking about a congregational hymnal?

If so, the best from a traditional standpoint are the Adoremus Hymnal and (if you're really hard core) the St. Gregory Hymnal 1941 edition which has been reprinted.

NOT "Gather", NOT "Glory and Praise". No, never . . . not even hardly ever.

[AnAmericanMother]

I have also heard good things about the Collegeville Hymnal and the St. Michael Hymnal, as well as an English one called Liturgical Songs Old and New, published by Kevin Mayhew.

[DogwoodSouth]

There are LOTS of things to consider RE: music books. If you’re thinking of suggesting some particular hymnals for regular use, you might start with the Adoremus Hymnal (http://www.adoremus.org/Hymnal1.html) or the Collegeville Hymnal (http://www.litpress.org/Detail.aspx?ISBN=0814615694). Also, some good web resources for inspiration and information on “the reform of the reform” in Catholic liturgy include: The Adoremus Bulletin (http://www.adoremus.org/1007TOC.html), Cantica Nova(http://www.canticanova.com/index.html), the Church Music Association of America (http://www.musicasacra.com/), and The New Liturgical Movement (http://thenewliturgicalmovement.blogspot.com/).

I am the music director of my parish (a college town in the Deep South). I’m in my 20s and am a convert to the Church. To loosen the death grip of OCP, GIA et al, we need to educate others from my generation so that they come to expect better than the pedestrian offerings of Haugen, and his minions.

Hope that helps!

[Salvation]

**I’m in my 20s and am a convert to the Church. To loosen the death grip of OCP, GIA et al, we need to educate others from my generation so that they come to expect better than the pedestrian offerings of Haugen, and his minions.**

Yes, I have a lot of hope in your generation. (I am probably your grandmother’s age and this man today could be your older brother — 36-38— is my guess.)

[AnAmericanMother]

Read somewhere that the Liverpool Cathedral (Catholic) adopted the English Hymnal (Anglican) as the best hymnal available.

You could do worse than the 1982 Hymnal (ECUSA) . . . it only says "Episcopal Church" once, on the title page, in very small print . . . . < g >

I'm only half kidding. There's some pretty sappy modern stuff in it, but compared to Haugen and Haas it sounds like Bach.

[Salvation]

Because our parish is so entrenched in the OCP crap, shall I get both the Collegeville and the Adoremus?

Which would be the first logical step up from Hurd, Schutte, Haugen, et al?

And the second? I think I will present it to this young man in that way.

BTW, remember I was on a campaign to change the ugly covers from OCP a couple years ago?

The new huymnal has a three tone abstract design on it! And the missal has a (low art — my opinion — nothing breath-taking) cover on it. A picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary on it! Wow! The old ugly and sacreligious woodblock prints are gone!

Thank you, God forever and forever!

[Salvation]

Perhaps we need to contact OCP and thank them for the new covers. LOL!

http://www.ocp.org/help/contact

[dighton]

... miasmal excrescences ...

Two Words for the Day at one low low price.

[AnAmericanMother]

All right! Welcome to the fray!

(where did you convert from? We were Episcopalian until the whole church went stark raving mad. They have a really good hymnal, which I miss. I really think the 1982 is better musically than the 1941.)

[AnAmericanMother]

“Miasmal excrescences” = “Warts in the Mist”.