Posted on 07/09/2012 1:12:14 PM PDT by NYer
Lately, the music director at our church has been “tickling the ivories” during the Consecration. While at the piano, in the front of church (naturally), he has been playing tunes, based on hymms for sure, on the piano during the entire Consecration (with a well timed pause during the elevation). It’s not irreverent, but it does sound like “lounge music“. [As the non-liturgical instrument, the piano, nearly always does.] I find it annoying, and keep wondering when Tony Bennett comes on stage (I’m kidding, of course). [Put a brandy snifter with a dollar bill on the piano next time and see if he gets the hint.]
Is this permissible? I tried to looking this up in Canon Law on the Vatican site, but did not see any prohibition.
This is NOT permitted.
There must be no music during the consecration. This has been repeated in many documents, but Redemptionis Sacramentum made it clear again:
[53.] While the Priest proclaims the Eucharistic Prayer “there should be no other prayers or singing, and the organ or other musical instruments should be silent”, [cf. GIRM 32] ….
[53.] Dum Sacerdos celebrans Precem eucharisticam «profert aliae orationes vel cantus non habeantur, atque organum vel alia instrumenta musica sileant», ….
And the General Instruction Of The Roman Missal states:
32. The nature of the “presidential” parts requires that they be spoken in a loud and clear voice and that everyone listen to them attentively.[Cf. Sacred Congregation of Rites, Instruction, Musicam sacram, March 5, 1967, no. 14: Acta Apostolicae Sedis 59 (1967), p. 304.] Therefore, while the Priest is pronouncing them, there should be no other prayers or singing, and the organ or other musical instruments should be silent.
32. Natura partium «praesidentialium» exigit ut clara et elata voce proferantur et ab omnibus cum attentione auscultentur. Proinde dum sacerdos eas profert aliae orationes vel cantus non habeantur, atque organum vel alia instrumenta musica sileant.
Pretty clear.
The music director should be given a copy of these texts. If the problem persists, inform the parish priest. If the problem persists, notify the local bishop.
Ah, yes ... another factor that contributed to leaving my previous parish. Sadly, in our parish, the music director was following orders from the pastor who had received permission from the bishop. Now I hear the words of institution chanted in Aramaic, the language of Jesus, His Mother and the Apostles. Yesterday, we had a visiting priest. This young man was ordained only two years ago in the RC Diocese of Albany. He recently returned from a personal retreat with the Maronite Monks of Adoration in Petersham MA where his spirit was uplifted by the reverence of the Maronite liturgy. During his retreat, he memorized the Aramaic words of consecration and chanted them along with our pastor. He now plans to speak with our bishop about possibly receiving Maronite faculties. This would be a tremendous blessing for us so that, on those rare occasions, when our pastor must be away, this young priest will be able to fill in using our liturgy. God bless him! Not sure how he managed to make it through seminary in this diocese and turn out with such a profound spirituality.
Those who are so insufferable as to think that they can decide which instruments are elevated enough for God are too far above a poor sinner like me. I'll stay down here on my knees.
Our priest likes to sing the chorus to “Adeste Fideles” during the Consecration. Most of the people in the parish just go along and sing it with him. It drives me insane.
Then this post was intended for you! During the Consecration, the priest must repeat certain prayers. How is that possible, if he is singing Adeste Fideles?
There is a LOT of abuse going on in various parishes throughout the US. Some of these 'innovative' ideas utilized during the liturgy actually render the mass INVALID. In my previous parish, I fought back ... alone! It was a gut wrenching experience but, out of concern for my fellow catholics, I took on the challenge ... and won! (Freepmail me if you want more information on the nature of the abuse.)
I STRONGLY encourage you to read this article - Is Your Mass Valid? Liturgical Abuse . It became my resource in fighting back against the abuse. Unfortunately, there were other abuses and I lacked the stamina to address each and every one of them. Please do yourself a favor and visit that link.
>>This man of the cloth rejects the piano as a “non-liturgical” instrument? Does God?<<
Fr. John is talking about in the context of the Holy Catholic Mass.
Historically, a piano is NOT a liturgical instrument in Catholic Masses. It’s a Spirit of Vatican II innovation.
I love praise music. Pianos and tamborines, cool. But not in the Holy Mass.
I should clarify. He sings that song when the consecrated host and the precious blood are raised.
This very thing happened at a parish we attended two weeks ago. Very annoying and distracting and irreverent in my opinion. It did remind me of lounge music or the background music during an especially weepy soap opera scene. Egads.
The proper liturgical instruments are voice and organ, but even those certainly not during the consecration. Other instruments are permitted, quite unfortunately, at designated moments during the Mass. It is not up to the priest.
The opinion here expressed is not of Fr. John Zuhlsdorf, but rather of the Roman Curia which documents he cites.
Since the word piano does not occur in Scripture but the word organ does, twice, it would certainly appear that way.
I'll stay down here on my knees.
Atta boy, no doubt working out your salvation in fear and trembling, as St. Paul wrote to the Philippians.
BTTT!
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