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To: Greg F
There is a common misconception about the place of music in Catholic worship. This is not just limited to Protestants; Catholics too, today, do not understand the role of music in the liturgy.

Unfortunately, in the rush to replace Latin with the vernacular in the Mass, Catholics were cut off from their musical heritage. The need of instant music in English after Vatican II led to the adoption of singing hymns at the Mass, first old Protestant tunes then newly composed ones. However, if you were to study the liturgy you would find that where we have introduced these hymns (the Entrance, Offertory, Communion) should actually be a sung Psalm with Antiphon. Additionally, the Ordinary of the Mass (Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei) should also be sung. In all these places the words take precedence over the music which leads to a different musical style than in hymns were the meter leads the music. Furthermore, none of these are an independent pieces acting as a musical interlude as do hymns is a Protestant service. Thus the creation of Gregorian chant which is proper to the Roman liturgy. Different music for different purposes.

11 posted on 11/23/2007 7:49:54 AM PST by Petrosius
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To: Petrosius

Singing Psalms is wonderful . . . if you understand the language it’s being sung in!


12 posted on 11/23/2007 7:55:09 AM PST by Greg F (Duncan Hunter is a good man.)
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