Heavenly Hootenanny How folk music -- and the counterculture -- entered the Catholic Church

The Boston Globe ^ | October 5, 2003 | Mark Oppenheimer

[traditionalist]

Day's Why Catholics Can't Sing is a must read.

[Gerish]

Agree with you on this point 100%!!!

[rogator]

Somebody needs to write a well-documented book on that subject.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

I would be glad to provide the unsavory details I witnessed directly to any orthodox Catholic writer or bishop interested in the subject. Some are pretty darn weird.

[redhead]

"This is my exact situation with my sister-in-law. She is very open and receptive to the Catholic faith, but I know that the fastest and most thorough way to douse all interest would be to have her attend her local New Mass parish. She's too smart not to see through the obvious discrepancy between the traditional Catholic faith and what's being foisted upon people these days. She's also has too much taste to put up with the hideous aesthetic quality of the New Mass church, especially the kind of music described in this article. As much as it breaks my heart, I find that playing wait-and-see is the only alternative until some future time when she has an opportunity to observe true Catholicism in action."

When I got tired of the silly deedledeedle music at the main morning mass at our parish, I switched to the early mass, which had no music, beyond a closing hymn that Father chose (since he's very orthodox, the hymns are always traditional.) Perhaps you can find a dialogue mass nearby that will provide your sister in law with a mass more given to prayer and reflection than performance and entertainment value.

[redhead]

"I go to Holy Rosary whenever we can manage a six to seven hour round trip. Although HR does not have a scheduled Latin Mass on Sunday, it has the one of the only consistently licit and reverent Novus Ordo English Masses I have ever seen."

I don't know where you live, but if you are ever in Southcentral Minnesota on a First Saturday, come to Holy Trinity Parish in Waterville and celebrate with us. Father is very reverent. At 8 AM, we sing a High Mass, in which Father incenses the altar, the Gospel, and the People. It is beautiful. 7:30 AM Sunday Mass is a quiet dialogue Mass. We are TRULY blessed.

[rogator]

"We are TRULY blessed."

I am envious. Here on the left coast in the land of OCP such Masses are rare.