Y’know how the Synod of Bishops met last October and discussed the Eucharist and the liturgy? And at the end of the meeting they presented the pope with a list of 50 propositions relating to these themes, some of which proposed changes in how the liturgy is celebrated? And how the pope is expected to issue an apostolic exhortation based on these?
It appears that this summer the pope will be presented with a final report from the heads of the Synod and that his apostolic exhortation may be out by October.
Rumors are already circulating about what the pope will say (so take all this with a spoonful of salt), but the rumors are encouraging.
EXCERPT:
The Vatican source said that the exhortation would include an invitation to greater use of Latin in the daily prayer of the Church and in the Mass—with the exception of the Liturgy of the Word—as well as in large public and international Masses.
The document would also encourage a greater use of Gregorian chant and classical polyphonic music; the gradual elimination of the use of songs whose music or lyrics are secular in origin, as well as the elimination of instruments that are “inadequate for liturgical use,” such as the electric guitar or drums, although it is not likely that specific instruments will be mentioned.
Lastly, the Pope is expected to call for “more decorum and liturgical sobriety in the celebration of the Eucharist, excluding dance and, as much as possible, applause.”
Unfortunately, rumors this far in advance about what a pope may choose to do based on the feedback he is provided have about as much weight as polls indicating who will be elected president that are conducted six months before Election Day.
Is this a separate initiative from the one meant to improve upon the English liturgy translations? If not, when do we think we’ll hear anything about that? I don’t know Latin, but those who do might be able to guess where some of the changes will be made.
I only suspect some changes because of the German translations at our Masses. One particular thing that stands out is: “Lord, I am not worthy, that you come in under my roof, but say only a word, and so (thereby) my soul will be healed again.” Notice how in the English liturgy it is said, “…not worthy to receive you”, which seems to connote “receive” in the sense of “getting” the Lord, or “obtaining” a host, instead of to “receive” him as you would “receive” a guest into your home. These differences make me very curious as to what will be changed in the English liturgy and when it will happen. The changes might even subtly change perceptions of what’s happening at Mass, depending on what the changes are–that’s what makes me the most curious.
This will be very interesting to see both the final recommendations and, of course, the apostolic letter!
Almost everything rumored is terrific, though I truly hope that
We can only pray that such changes are around the corner. <><
“And what works best in that regard will vary by the audience and their cultural norms, though it must always respect and be in conformity with the Church’s purpose in celebrating each and every Mass.”
Can anyone seriously claim with a straight face that the electric guitar is in conformity with sacred worship in any audience’s cultural norms?
PVO
“Can anyone seriously claim with a straight face that the electric guitar is in conformity with sacred worship in any audience’s cultural norms?”
The Claptonians?
Ok. Claptonians was just a joke. Please don’t try to look for them on Wikipedia.
“From my perspective instruments are largely like much of technological innovation (such as the internet)- largely morally neutral, what matters is how they’re used.”
Why use instruments at all? I attend a parish that offers gregorian chant and other traditional hymns a capella and it is beautiful. When you “vary by audience and their cultural norms” in this secular society not only do you get a banal liturgy but you also tick everyone off (people who don’t listen to music with electric guitars get offended and people who do like electric guitars soon realize that the Local Parish Band cannot compete with U2).
The definition of a gentleman is said to be someone who can play the accordion but doesn’t.
I would suggest similar restraint for electric-guitar players at Mass.
And acoustic guitar players, banjo players mouth-organists etc.
people who don’t listen to music with electric guitars get offended and people who do like electric guitars soon realize that the Local Parish Band cannot compete with U2
Excellent observation, Arieh!
The problem is, if the document does just advise against instruments that are “inadequate for liturgical use,” without spelling out more precisely what those instruments are, nothing will change. All the Jerry Garcia-wannabes at the Saturday night Folk Mass will refuse to see anything inadequate about their frenzied strumming. It has to be spelled out, if we want even a small degree of compliance at the parish level.
So … seriously … what’s wrong with electric guitars, basses, and drums? I attend a parish where the above is used (in addition to other forms of music already provided for), and it is well done. Sure, at times, sometimes it can violate my tastes … but, then again, so does some of the older stuff.
I just have a hard time with the argument that certain instruments are “better” than others … or that certain forms of music are intrinsically “better” than others. I can buy the argument that certain forms of music have dreary and questionable roots … but, then again, a lot of the traditions of Christmas and Easter do, too. It’s what you do with them and why that counts.
Intrinsically, there may not be anything better or worse about an instrument. However, instruments have their own semantics. For good or for ill, our cello associations are different from our associations with a violin or a bass.
Humans like to designate, or consecrate, certain things to sacred uses. There were certain instruments that were used in the Temple and certain ones that were not. That didn’t mean the others were bad, or less powerful, or anything like that. It just meant that they weren’t specially chosen for use in the worship of God.
Tell me you don’t get more of a worship feel from an organ. Honestly, can you help feeling that, even though organs have secular uses, too? No. Because that’s what our society chose long ago to consecrate. Organs have been the instrument (other than the human voice) for Mass that long. In fact, organ music mimicks singing, and vice versa.
Electric guitars, in our society, primarily mimick the screaming human voice. Not the connotation you want.
You can fight against semantics, if you want. If you keep it up long enough and have lots of friends, you can even rewrite them. But honestly, it’s a lot easier on everyone if you don’t try it on sacred occasions. People are going to get mad if you do.
So people can perform sacred music on electric guitars; but they should do it outside of Mass — unless fighting the semantics is more important than worship. Which, of course, is the thing a lot of people still pretend is the spirit of Vatican II.
I see nothing with giving the choir a little help from an instrument such as a guitar. I used to play guitar in Mass for a while. If we didn’t show up with instruments, there was no music. That simple.
People don’t spontaneously sing, and nobody knows or cares to know anything about Gregorian chants in the church I go to.
I’ve rarely been to a mass with electric guitar but I don’t think they should be simply written off as a totally bad idea. I’ve actually heard it sound good once. It was at a Mass being celebrated at the local University. It wasn’t rock and roll, and it didn’t seem out of place or disrespectful.
Electric guitars are only instruments. Like our voices. We just have to learn how to use them better.
Tell me you don’t get more of a worship feel from an organ.
Maybe its my upbringing, but I actually don’t. I heard an organ a few times at a large parish I used to go to and I couldn’t stand it.
Of course, I recognize what this looks like coming from a guy advocating the use of a guitar in church…so I’ll stop talking now.
In the early 19th century, at a parish in Austria, a few days before Christmas, the parish organist told the priest that mice had eaten away the church organ’s bellows, and, therefore, there would be no music for the Christmas Masses. The priest wrote out a few verses and asked the organist if he could set them to music and play the song on his guitar for the Christmas Masses. The organist did so. That Christmas, at Midnight Mass, the organist did indeed play guitar and sing the song he and the priest wrote. Some of you may have heard of it; it’s called “Silent Night”.
‘Some of you may have heard of it; it’s called “Silent Night”.’
Just imagine if he’d had a Wah pedal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wah_pedal
Some of you may have heard of it; it’s called “Silent Night”.
AAARRRRGGGGHHHHHHH!!!! I HATE stories that end with that make-believe, arch, silly comment!
“You may have heard of the boy who learned to strum on a broken guitar. His name was …..Elvis Presley!”
“Maybe you’ve heard of that guy scribbling plays. He goes by the name of …….William Shakespeare!”
Etc.! OF COURSE we’ve heard of him!!! There’s NO REASON to say things like, “Maybe you’ve heard of this little ditty …. it’s the Hallelujah Chorus!”
The what now? A-lay… hall-eh? what?
bill912-
It’s like the difference between a violin and a fiddle. It’s all in how you use it. Fiddle music should have no place in the Mass, and most modern guitar shouldn’t either.
Classical guitar? Bring it on! But that is not what most people envision when you say “guitar Mass”. You know… it’s more like would-be rockers or folkies.
I am a fan of both Andres Segovia and the Allman Brothers, but one is appropriate for Mass, and one is not.
There are really a number of different, yet inter-related issues here.
Liturgy versus performance. Independent of the type of music or instruments, it is important that liturgical music not be a performance. It must support the liturgy, and direct people towards worship of God. I have been to Masses with music of widely varying styles (including a cappella) where the musicians forget this, and draw attention to themselves. This detracts from the worship of God. If you want to make it a performance then schedule a concert at some time and place other than a Mass.
Quality. A common thread in the posted comments is complaining about poor musicianship. While I agree that we should strive to do our very best, particularly in the music that supports our liturgies, not all folks are capable of contributing in a way that anyone would think of as high-quality. For example, if I were to take a prominent role in a a gregorian chant I would undoubtedly annoy everyone (at best, with the possible exception of my wife!). So if the problem is one of poor quality musicians, then try to find people in the parish who can do better and are willing to help. And if none are there that have any reasonable ability, then perhaps best to do without until God sends help!
With that in mind, the Church wisely presents the universal truth in forms that are both sacred, and most effective in “making disciples of all men”. And sometimes that takes different types of music for different folks.
TimJ, I agree that how an instrument is used really matters. In fact, I too like both Segovia and Allman Bros. But I’m not too sure that it’s reasonable to suggest that Segovia’s music is apriori appropriate for Mass. It’s just as easy for a classical guitarist to perform a concert instead of perform liturgical music.
I think the bottom line on all of this is simple – does the particular music at a particular Mass draw people into the central mystery of the Mass, or does it drive them away? And that answer will vary for different folks, in different countries, in different periods of history.
That previous post (on liturgy vs. performance etc.) was mine – sorry for leaving off the id. My mistake!
Jimmy:
Given the consistent liturgical directives concerning the proper implimentation of the GIRM, what does the Holy Father have to do to make sure that something… actually happens if he were to make such directives, as outlined in the “rumors”?
How many times since JPII was elected have they noted of the proper use of Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers?
How many diocese have a Tridentine mass for those that would like to attend, given JPII’s Ecclesia Dei?
How many tims since the Council have authorties at the Vatican discussed proper sacred music for the liturgy?
Etc. etc. etc.
Given that most liturgical directives seem to meet a deaf ear here, should we (or rather, authorities at the Vatican) start asking themselves what, if anything, they are not doing that they could be doing to “get the point across”?
It is starting to get to the point that one, such as myself, hears that the Pope or the Congregation for Divine Worship… are going to “say something about the liturgy” and you really don’t expect anything substantial to actually happen. Perhaps that is pessimistic, but it has been 40 years now.
jn
Well along with the rumors this sounds promising.
Papal Liturgical Ceremonies Under Review
Tuesday, March 21, 2006 12:00:00 AM GMT
Pope Benedict XVI is reviewing plans for papal liturgical celebrations, the Vatican’s top liturgist has disclosed.
Archbishop Piero Marini, the master of ceremonies for papal liturgies, spoke to the Italian internet site on March 20, during a visist to Milan for the publication of his book, Liturgy and Beauty. Archbishop Marini revealed that Pope Benedict XVI has been more demanding than his predecessor in watching plans for liturgical celebrations at the Vatican.
…
The master of papal ceremonies said that he and the Pope are now carrying out a re-examination of papal liturgical celebrations.
http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=43078
Tell me you don’t get more of a worship feel from an organ.
I do when it’s played decently. At our parish we’ve got our own little Mozart in the corner, he is a fantastic organist. He starts out with an elaborate procession accompaniment befitting the magnificence of the Mass and the mood of worship. We’re fortunate to have him. I know how it can be when the organ accompaniment is too simple and feeble-sounding, though.
I just wish organists with the skills to do so, would transpose music into a lower key. I don’t understand the insistence on keys that force women to sing so high that they sound like chickens. I’ve heard a few other women besides myself, adjusting by lowering their voices an octave in certain parts.
Bob Lozano-
You brought up some very good points about performance vs. liturgy. It is absolutely true! We had a female cantor at our more traditional Mass some time ago who apparently felt that the Psalms should be belted out in high operatic style. It reminded me of Brunhilde in Wagner’s Ring cycle.
She had a decent voice, but the style and volume were just overwhelming.
So, I’ll grant that while Segovia’s music might not be automatically qualified for liturgical use, I would exclude the Allmans from the get-go.
I would say that classical guitar would be far more adaptable for appropriate liturgical use.
A good point has been made about style determining the validity of an instrument such as the electric guitar: classically trained performers such as Mark Knoepfler might in fact be able to render reverent music on such an instrument, but the salient fact is that such musicians compose about .5% of the total universe of electric guitar musicians, and an even smaller percentage of electric guitar musicians who volunteer for the musical ministry of the Catholic Church.
The electric guitar has so completely been coopted by one particular irreverent style that it is difficult to remember that the instrument itself is not necessarily profane.
PVO