tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21083542.post115571056380584100..comments2023-10-30T04:13:46.636-07:00Comments on Witness To Hope - A Young Catholic's Thoughts: The Role of Music in LiturgyHarrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17845905351822140629noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21083542.post-1170029135187606822007-01-28T16:05:00.000-08:002007-01-28T16:05:00.000-08:00Harrison, first of all, I am quite delighted to di...Harrison, first of all, I am quite delighted to discover you and your blog. I am a fellow Canadian. I was singing in traditional Catholic choirs long before you were born; as a matter of fact I started singing in the "adult" parish choir when I was around 8, when parishioners still had to stand during the singing of hymns. I am so very familiar with all the musical repertoire; I am a professional singer, composer, recording artist etc..and have lived through all this transition since the Second Vatican Council.<BR/>I hear the arguments for and against and I just want to encourage people in general to be very reserved and cautious in their zeal and opinions. Always be most sensitive to how the Lord is working for the conversion of a soul, and don't stomp on the little flowers. I would say this to anyone in the Church, regardless of their rank and clout. Peace, JanisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21083542.post-1169930160074599832007-01-27T12:36:00.000-08:002007-01-27T12:36:00.000-08:00I am a middle-aged catholic music minister who has...I am a middle-aged catholic music minister who has much to learn about the traditions of our church, what is appropriate and what is effective. As a young man I was paralysed by fear and shyness. Praising God in front of hundreds of strangers (at first) wasn't exactly easy. I practiced and believed that God would do the rest, and He has! All I know for sure is that if God wasn't helping us, we could sing nothing. <BR/>The congregations I have been with have generally forgotten the tradition of silence before mass, therefore in our case; maybe music before mass is the answer?<BR/>We have the Glory & Praise and the Gather collections, and this combination includes a great deal of powerful and appropriate music for our liturgy. If our hearts and minds are in the right place, and we are there for the right reasons, then we can be confident that at this time, and in this place, we are doing the will of God.<BR/><BR/>Al Bouchard, WinnipegAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21083542.post-1164355797816292802006-11-24T00:09:00.000-08:002006-11-24T00:09:00.000-08:00Aha! I've been meaning to blog this myself for qu...Aha! I've been meaning to blog this myself for quite some time now. <BR/><BR/>First off, I completely agree with on all counts. The naysayers have had their cake, eaten, and are now grumpy there's no cake left. Proper liturgical music is being eased back into Western Catholic liturgy, but it will take time. There are still a lot of folks who were weened to believe that any change 'back' to Gregorian chant and 'traditional' hymns will upset and drive away the faithful. For them it is much more difficult to change back, since the change forward was always sold as such a proper and progressive step. <BR/><BR/>But I should clarify: When I say 'change back', I simply mean incorporating our rich musical tradition into the Novus Ordo Mass. <BR/><BR/>Second, in respect to silence, remember that being able to sit and pray in silence is something completely alien to the lives of most Catholics and Christians. Our lives are bombarded with noise, and our liturgy often reflects that. It's unfortunate, but again it is gradually changing.Colmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16552955850927423137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21083542.post-1157823087147016332006-09-09T10:31:00.000-07:002006-09-09T10:31:00.000-07:00Hi Harrison,I found you via Amateur Catholic links...Hi Harrison,<BR/><BR/>I found you via Amateur Catholic links. I have to say, I totally agree with you about the music. When I go to Mass it is to worship and praise God, but in the past, I feel like I need to flip out the Bic lighter and sway. Mass is a sacrifice, not a rock concert.<BR/><BR/>Call me old fashioined, I don't care. What drew me to Catholicism is the tradition. That tradition is often lost with rap and rock. I listen to these types of music, but I want my time with God to be something set apart from the rest of the world. Yes, it may just be my personal preference, but I'm not at Mass to "feel good with music I can connect to" I'm at Mass because Jesus is there.<BR/><BR/>I think the "new music" crowd sometimes forgets the reason we are there. It's not a place to show off our muscial talents, we're there to glorify God.<BR/><BR/>And why is it that "new music" ppl always post anon?Tracyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13055691110317133958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21083542.post-1156657045323852502006-08-26T22:37:00.000-07:002006-08-26T22:37:00.000-07:00You might find this article interesting:The Pope a...You might find this article interesting:<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=hamilton/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=1014656316146&c=Article&cid=1156542611678" REL="nofollow">The Pope and Music</A>.<BR/><BR/><>< DelAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21083542.post-1156476801309560732006-08-24T20:33:00.000-07:002006-08-24T20:33:00.000-07:00Harrison... I remember when Bishop Richard process...Harrison... <BR/><BR/>I remember when Bishop Richard processed down the asiles of the church with the blessed sacranebt... very powerful. <BR/><BR/>What exactly is the type of music now-a-days? What style is the Catholic book of worship hymnal accompanied by organ and plain old singing? What exactly is CHANT? <BR/><BR/>I know that since I"ve left St. Andrews Cathedral I sure have missed the good old CBW. It seems in other doiceses (Archdiocese of Winnipeg, Diocese of Calgary, Diocese of Antigonish in Nova Scotia) the CBW sits in the pew while piano, guitar, and some newer style of hymnal books are used. It is noticable how much less singing there is in other parishes. The Gloria is spoken and the great amen is just sinply spoken "amen". Maybe its the summer and the organ player is on vacation, or maybe St. Andrews had extraordinarily liturgy (fj singing the Eucharistic prayers)?... but I"ve noticed it.<BR/><BR/>-GeoffAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21083542.post-1156403561560903822006-08-24T00:12:00.000-07:002006-08-24T00:12:00.000-07:00Honestly, you haven't offered anything here that i...Honestly, you haven't offered anything here that is really convincing. You make a vague reference to the "constant tradition" of the west in regards to music. But, no such "constant tradition" exists. Everything from single-voice chant, to polyphonic choir, to organ, to orchestras, to you-name-it, have been used in the western liturgies.<BR/><BR/>Could you point me in the direction of where you get the idea that liturgy must necessarily lead to silence? I know that everyone is called to contemplation. But, not everyone all the time. So, I don't see why we should believe that liturgy must necissarily lead us to silence. I can think of times when it should lead us to action (i.e. the purpose of the World Youth Day gatherings).<BR/><BR/>All I see here is a personal preference of yours. I know that you don't like rock music, regardless of whether it is in a liturgy. That's okay. But, frankly, with all your references to "noise", you sound like an old man: "turn down that racket!" ;)<BR/><BR/>If a musical style causes division in the church, it shouldn't be used. But, I don't think that any particular style is intrinsically bad; so I don't see why it can't be used in a liturgy--depending on context. What is intrinsic to music that would keep it from a liturgy is the emotion that it evokes. Otherwise, I think that these questions are best left to the pastor of the parish.Siloah Swimmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14153332353988218255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21083542.post-1155933517245925452006-08-18T13:38:00.001-07:002006-08-18T13:38:00.001-07:00Oops...meant to say that this is Bethany. ;-)Oops...meant to say that this is Bethany. ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21083542.post-1155933484261566142006-08-18T13:38:00.000-07:002006-08-18T13:38:00.000-07:00I can't speak to liturgy per say, because I don't ...I can't speak to liturgy per say, because I don't go, nor care to go to, a liturgical church. For me, liturgy distracts me from God because it is to easy for me to go through the motions without feeling the meaning.<BR/><BR/>The music at my church draws me to God in a real way. It can be entertaining, but the lyrics and expression put my heart in a place where I can cry out and worship God. It is generally loud, generally rock/indie based, and far from your happy clappy praise and worshi music.<BR/><BR/>I'm glad that "traditional" music draws you closer to God and I think that choosing your congregation to get that is important. But, for every person drawn closer by that music there will be someone driven away. God created us as individuals, we worship as individuals, as many parts in the great body of Christ. I'm glad I can attend a church where the worship draws me closer to God.<BR/><BR/>Psalm 98 (King James Version)<BR/>King James Version (KJV)<BR/>Public Domain<BR/><BR/>Psalm 98<BR/> 1O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. <BR/><BR/> 2The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. <BR/><BR/> 3He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. <BR/><BR/> 4Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. <BR/><BR/> 5Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. <BR/><BR/> 6With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King. <BR/><BR/> 7Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. <BR/><BR/> 8Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together <BR/><BR/> 9Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com