Throw out the guitars and bring back sacred silence – a liturgical wish-list from a young Catholic

The Telegraph ^ | 11/3/2010 | James MacMillan

[markomalley]

The way the Holy Father celebrated Mass when he was here in the UK in September astonished many who have been led into accepting other approaches to the way we conduct our divine praises. Are there any lessons to be learned from the guidance of our Good Shepherd? I received this eight-point wish-list from a young Catholic student which seems as clear-headed, moderate and sensible as anything else I’ve seen recently. What is it about the young that they “get” Benedict, when all we see with some of their elders is truculent annoyance?

Liturgical Reforms wish-list

1. Instrumentation. Explicit rules about exactly what is and is not appropriate for liturgical use, with a particular promotion of a) the organ; b) the choir; and c) congregational singing. Guitars (electric or acoustic), keyboards, recorder and tambourines are, I’m afraid, throwbacks to the 1960s and ‘70s and are simply embarrassing today.

2. Rhythms. Excessive use of syncopated rhythms produces a very secularised effect since it draws attention to itself and is therefore incongruent with its purpose as an aid to prayer.

3. Plainchant. A much greater promotion of and respect for plainchant – the original musical language “of the people” in church. This is an ancient treasure that has been sorely neglected in recent years, and a tradition that should be welcomed back into the Church with open arms. In addition to its prayerful nature, it is also extremely practical: no harmony, all the congregation singing together in unison, and no organ or organist is required.

[markomalley]

He continues on with a number of other really solid recommendations.

[Celtic Cross]

Come to the Tridentine Latin Mass! He’d find all he’s looking for and more.

[Sacajaweau]

We had a wonderful organist as did most Catholic churches 50 years ago.

Catholic students made up a 40 person choir at our church and we sang Gregorian Chant on Sundays.

This "lets kiss and shake hands" serves no purpose and I do not participate. Churches are devoid of statues. Those statues were reminders of saints who did good things. We didn't worship them as some suggest.

Go back to the Reverence of yesterday and that includes Latin.

[Vaquero]

and please don't expect me to glad hand the stranger next to me who looks like he hasn't washed in 6 months.....I prefer to just lose myself in ‘meditation’ when the hand shaking is in progress.....

I also just kneel in front of the priest with my mouth open ready to receive the sacrament. my fingers are not consecrated.

[AU72]

I remember my church going from Gregorian Chants to guitars rather quickly to show that they were 'hip'.

I could go to any Protestant church basement and get folk music if I wanted to.

[Elvina]

We had to atttend the hippie college student parish in our area last month, because my daughter’s Catholic HS cross-country team was being honored there. They had a band (complete with drum set) that did all the music. I literally almost burst out laughing at one point when they started to do one of the responses in this out-of-tune rock and roll speeded-up fashion. It was just completely absurd! What an offense to our Lord.

[NewCenturions]

One of those awful guitar numbers always puts me in mind of the Elvis, “Marie’s the name (of his latest flame)” and I have to NOT giggle!

[sauropod]

I watched much of the service. It was quite inspiring, I thought (and I’m not Catholic).

However, I am uncomfortable that the Pope is being referred to as the Good Shepard. Isn’t that how Jesus referred to Himself?

[markomalley]

However, I am uncomfortable that the Pope is being referred to as the Good Shepard. Isn’t that how Jesus referred to Himself?

Take a look at the discourse between Jesus and Peter in John 21. (perhaps the term "Good Shepherd" per se is inappropriate...particularly as capitalized as MacMillan did in his article...but the term shepherd is perfectly accurate -- and one could be a "good" shepherd or a "bad" shepherd or an "incompetent" shepherd or an "evil" shepherd)

[cubreporter]

This “lets kiss and shake hands” serves no purpose and I do not participate. Churches are devoid of statues. Those statues were reminders of saints who did good things. We didn’t worship them as some suggest.

Go back to the Reverence of yesterday and that includes Latin.

We never participated in that nonsense anyway. I do not shake hands and hug strangers in my church or not. It’s downright silly and standing in the aisle so that we can connect with those on the other side...well...nonsensical.

The statues were beautiful. Today all we see our banners with felt designs on them which mean nothing to me. THe church went to guitars etc to bring in the young people when it was their parents who should have been doing that. This nonsense in the church has been going on since Vatican II. Never liked it then and it began pushing us out of the church which was fine with us. They didn’t get our money anymore either.
We give to charities where we can see what is being done. So, we have our faith and as far as the church building is concerned...I don’t need it. Perhaps when the church comes back around for the PEOPLE and not politics we will return to worship. Until then ... we will not participate in all the gyrations going on. Silly and shameful.

[cubreporter]

That’s what we used to do as well. We went to the PRIEST for our Communion not some neighbor. During those “happy shaking hands times” we too knelt and put our heads down and our hands folded in prayer. They got the message.

[ExGeeEye]

As a Baptist, I have many of the same feelings (liturgical differences aside). I have never liked “praise” music which, when stripped of its lyrics, is stylistically indistinguishable from pop or dance music.

(On that last note —pun intended— I am soooooo glad that “liturgical dance” has not AFAIK put in an appearance in Baptist congregations.)

Such music may have its place— children’s summer camp, perhaps— but finding it in the formal Sunday service is as jarring as finding a ripped-open bag of Doritos on the table at The Four Seasons.

[ocean]

Praise him with the tambourine and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. -Psalm 150:4

David was known to be quite an irreverent embarrassment himself.

That said, I love the powerful silence of His presence. The whole spectrum is good.

[surroundedbyblue]

Thank goodness someone else feels the way I do about the music! If I wanted a rock band, I’d go to a protestant “fellowship” worship. I prefer the reverence & solemnity of the Mass.

[Elvina]

The church went to guitars etc to bring in the young people when it was their parents who should have been doing that

To me it is condescending to young people to think they would prefer this watered-down pap to the Truth and Majesty of the Presence of Our Lord. At the rock and roll Mass I mentioned above, this aging baby boomer gave a speech (during the Mass) to my daughter's team about how she hoped they enjoyed the service there and hoped they saw that the congregation was there because it wanted to be, etc. etc. etc. It was a ridiculous speech where she was basically saying that she knew they were so much cooler than the other churches.

What she didn't seem to realize is that she was talking to a bunch of kids from traditional families who attend and enjoy traditional Masses and make great sacrificies to send their kids to Catholic High School. If they wanted entertainment they can turn on MTV. It is like the whole concept of Worship is absent. This woman apparently thinks that you attend or don't attend Mass based on whether you enjoy it and are entertained. The kids just stared at her with blank, confused faces.

[oh8eleven]

Throw out the guitars and bring back sacred silence
In 1969, after three years in the Marine Corps, I came home and the first Mass I attended turned out to be a "folk Mass."
To say I was aghast is an understatement. Throw in the Vatican II changes and the "lapsing" soon began.

[PrincessB]

Thanks for this article, it’s spot on. My pastor has made it a point to have two moments of silent reflection and prayer during the mass: after the homily and after communion. I was amazed at how much I valued it after I went to another parish.

I attended mass at a church that used plainchant in the mass not long ago (even though they had a full choir and band). For churches that have some music but no choir, this is perfect for prayers like the Gloria.

I agree about the “poetry.” There was a song picked a few months ago that was so self-serving and insipid I was shocked.

[NewCenturions]

"As a Baptist, I have many of the same feelings"

We are in 'ecumenical music' agreement! (I attended a liberal Catholic highschool AND a Southern Baptist University!)

[xjcsa]

Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,

praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe,

praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.

Praise the LORD.

-Psalm 150

[Dudoight]

Tridentine is the only Mass for me. Only I live over 100 miles from the nearest. I love the Latin...and no guitars or kiss of peace for me.