U.S. Bishops To Vote In November On Revision Of Music Guidelines At Mass

USCCB ^ | October 9, 2007

[NYer]

WASHINGTON(October 9, 2007) – The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops will vote at their annual Fall General Assembly on the approval of the document Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship, a revision of the guidelines for music at Mass.

The document “represents a significant rethinking of the structure and substance of what needs to be said about this important aspect of the liturgical renewal,” said Bishop Donald Trautman, outgoing chairman of the Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy, in the documentation sent to the Bishops for their review.

The document retains and refines some of the more important elements of the original document, including the “three judgments” (liturgical, pastoral and musical appropriateness) applied in consideration of the use of music in the Liturgy. “The revised text is of significantly greater length than the original and benefits from the various new Church documents, as well as from the experience of thirty-five years since its original publication,” said Bishop Trautman.

The draft articulates more clearly a theology of the liturgical celebration and includes a reflection on Redemptionis Sacramentum, no. 116, the latest Vatican document related to the issue. It incorporates the concept of “progressive solemnity” to outline the process of choosing what to sing from among the various parts of the Mass. The text also explores the role of the composer, music in the celebration of sacraments, instrumentation, language and cultural issues, technology, copyrights and participation aids.

The original document was published in 1967, and then revised and reissued in 1972. In line with the liturgical reforms called forth by the Second Vatican Council, it sought to provide basic principles for understanding the role of music in the Liturgy while highlighting its ministerial function. The new text is twice the length of the original and came about after extensive consultation with musicians, composers and others involved in liturgy and music from throughout the United States.

Other worship-related items on the Bishops’ agenda for November include the approval of the new liturgical book, Weekday Celebrations of the Liturgy of the Word, which provides guidelines for proper use and a simpler form of the rite than the one contained in the Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest, and a revision of the present translation of the Sunday and weekday Mass readings for Lent. The revision does not change the choice of texts but rather addresses the suitability of texts for liturgical proclamation.

The bishops’ meeting will be November 12-15, at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel. Coverage of the meeting will be open to credentialed media. Reporters seeking to cover the meeting can download a credential application form from the Web (http://www.usccb.org/comm/credentialform.pdf) and submit it by November 5 via fax (202-541-3173) or mail it to:

November Meeting Media Credentials
Dept. of Communications
3211 4th St., NE
Washington, DC 20017-1194

[NYer]

Ping!

[Mercat]

I’m pretty sure that the lousy music at Mass has driven away more Catholics than any theology. Some people are aurelly sensitive and a sour note is hard to ignore. I know we’re all supposed to be perfect and focus on the Eurcharist but it is distracting to hear a really lousy hymn sung off key as you go up to Communion.

[marshmallow]

The document “represents a significant rethinking of the structure and substance of what needs to be said about this important aspect of the liturgical renewal,” said Bishop Donald Trautman, outgoing chairman of the Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy, in the documentation sent to the Bishops for their review.

Uh oh.....

Danger signals which I detected in the above statement:

1)The words "liturgical renewal".

2) The name "Bishop Donald Trautman".

[conservonator]

Danger signals which I detected in the above statement:

1)The words "liturgical renewal".

What has happened more in the last 40 years?
1) Social security has been "saved"
2) The liturgy has been "renewed"

[Salvation]

**I’m pretty sure that the lousy music at Mass has driven away more Catholics than any theology.**

I believe you are so right.

[Salvation]

We need to find out who the bishops on this committee and then start giving them our input.

Anyone have any idea about who the members are?

[Remole]

In an article on liturgical reform published in America magazine in the spring of 1990, Andrew Greeley stated, “True liturgical reform in the Unites States will only begin after the last guitar is smashed over the head of the last liturgist.”

[Mrs. Don-o]

Trautperson, to you.

Or perhaps Trautperdaughter...?

[ArrogantBustard]

I don't see anything good coming from Bishop Trautperson.

Unless there's a complete ban on OCP dreck, and members of NPM are FORBIDDEN any official or unofficial job in Catholic parishes, we'll be subjected to bad guitar playing, tambourine banging, and banal songs with heretical lyrics.

[ArrogantBustard]

Andrew Greeley said that?!?!?!?!?!

Wow. I actually agree with him about something ...

[Salvation]

From your lips to God’s ears — and let the bishops hear too!

[Antoninus]

If Trautperson is involved in a meaningful way, it can’t be good news.

[maryz]

2) The name "Bishop Donald Trautman".

LOL! That was my first thought -- How good can it be if Trautman likes it? (I go to the 8:00 a.m. Mass on Sunday, which almost never has music!)

[Salvation]

Is everyone missing a phrase in that sentence?

**said Bishop Donald Trautman, outgoing chairman of the Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy, in the documentation sent to the Bishops for their review.**

It appears to me that Trautman is not on the committee any more. Am I mistaken here? He may have influenced it in the past, but is his influence gone?

[Miles the Slasher]

Oh great. Now the bishops will give official blessing to tamborines, drum sets, wind chimes, and kazoos. Just what I needed to hear to make my day.

If I hear “Lord of the Dance” once more...I will puke.

[maryz]

No, unfortunately it doesn't mean Trautman was tarred and feathered and run out of town on a rail. Officers (committee assignments?) change in November. Serratelli is the new chairman of Liturgy. He actually sounds promising -- see this piece on his column on the loss of the sense of the sacred.

[Salvation]

It's time to contact our own bishops!

Another thread about this meeting: Bishops To Meet November 12-15 In Baltimore; Agenda Includes Election Of Officers, Faithful Citizenship Paper, Music At Mass

Bishops To Meet November 12-15 In Baltimore; Agenda Includes Election Of Officers, Faithful Citizenship Paper, Music At Mass

WASHINGTON (October 2, 2007)—The annual Fall General Assembly of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will be November 12-15, at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel.

At the assembly the bishops will elect USCCB president, vice-president and committee chairs, and vote on Faithful Citizenship, a statement which the USCCB issues every four years; and Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship, a revision of the guidelines for music at Mass.

The bishops also will vote on doctrinal elements for a curriculum for high school catechetical materials, weekday celebrations of the Liturgy of the Word, and revision to USCCB bylaws as well as other items.

The bishops also will hear an update on research for the Causes and Context Study of the clergy sexual abuse of minors by John Jay School of Criminal Justice, and reports on U.S. participation in World Youth Day ‘08 in Sydney, Australia, and the USCCB’s National Pastoral Initiative on Marriage.

Coverage of the meeting will be open to credentialed media. Reporters seeking to cover the meeting can download a credential application form from the Web at
(http://www.usccb.org/comm/credentialform.pdf) and submit it by November 5 by fax (202-541-3173) or mail to:

November Meeting Media Credentials
Dept. of Communications
3211 4th St., NE
Washington, DC 20017-1194

[ElPatriota]

...Catholic Bishops?...

Hurry, hide the children! :)

Does this bunch of idiots bishops really think this si IMPORTANT? LOL.

.. a Woman from Africa was very impressed with a nuns Catholic church in my area. She is not catholic but she was in love the kid's 'manners' she saw. But then, she confided in us... she wanted to ask the Nun if there 'were priest around the school,' because she was worried about them but she did not dare to ask for fear of having her kid rejected - admision is tough. Any way, I thought to myself... incredible that it had come to this!... I myself still like and respect the Nuns work MORE THAN EVER... and at the same feel opposite feelings for the priests who participated directly in the scandals and for the others who did nothing to help the churh from these degenerates.

You know, perhaps the future of the CC is in the hands of Women after all! :).... something to think about

[Salvation]

That does sound promising! I think we all need to contact our own bishops, then! The more who get our message, the better.

And the sooner the better chance that they may actually get a message on the diocesan level. Thanks, everyone!

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