I had issues with the music for years until three things happened: 1. I sat near a young man who was singing his heart out at the top of his lungs and a little off key. He was clearly mentally challenged or whatever the PC term is these days. But I knew that of all the people singing in any service I had been in, it was most likely that God was listening to this young man and loving him. 2. About that time when an oldy moldy would start up like Eagles Wings I would realize that there were people in the congregation who really loved it and that it brought them closer to God. I’m pretty sure that my daughter for example is going to choose it for my funeral. 3. I have, in the last two years, become more focused on what is actually going on in the liturgy. I am pretty much overwhelmed with joy and wonder at what happens in the Mass. When that is my focus, I hardly hear the music... sometimes I’m singing along and sometimes I’m not and either way I don’t care what song it is.
One final story - several years ago Mr. Mercat’s aunt died at the age of 93. We drove down to the little (I’m talking really little) Kansas town and the little Methodist Church for her funeral. It was July and very hot. I wore my hot pink linen jacket because in the Catholic Church, a funeral especially for someone in their 90s is a celebration and we do wear bright colors. I was the only person there who was not wearing black. LOL My sister in law rode with us and said several times that she really hoped that they didn’t sing Amazing Grace... she hated that song and she repeated over and over how much she hated it. We made fun of her all the way down. And sure enough, not only was there Amazing Grace but it was a recording of it by Elvis. Mr. M and I managed to stare straight ahead and not look at his sister but inside we were cracking up. If we had made eye contact with her it would have been all over.
With respect, a Catholic funeral is to pray to God for the repose of the soul of the deceased. Since it is a sober warning that the end comes to all, black is appropriate.
Many years ago someone - I forget who - posted about taking his elderly deaf father to a church service. It was one of those churches that wanted to be ‘with it’ and there was lots of key of C guitar music and folk hymns.
Then a young woman came down the aisle and began to perform a sacred dance. At the end of the dance, everything was quiet in the church, and the elderly man said in a loud voice, “What the hell was that?”
That has not been my experience. I'm attending a Catholic funeral tomorrow and I'm betting there won't be bright colors there, either.