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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
New Music in the Mass	Maureen	Sunday, November 27, 2011
Question: Dear Brother, Since the new translation in the Church started being implemented with permission from our bishop a few weeks ago, our priest and our musical director have been helping the congretion get used to the new words. This has been fine and I have appreciated the explaination of the reasons behind the changes. However, our music director has changed the "beat's" to all the music. The Gloria, The amen, the Holy,Holy, Holy,...just about every part of the music has been changed to an upbeat hip sound. People are starting to raise their hands in prayer, the electric guitar sometimes is made to sound like a drum beat. This church used to be very traditional compared to the neighboring churches. It was not perfect, nor do I expect that, but I always felt the Pastor was trying to keep our congregation as close to the correct formula of the church and I have always appreciated his effort. I just wanted clarification, I thought the changes were meant to get us closer the orginal Latin. I also thought the Pope had said, that there should not be a break with the sacredness of the mass which contemporary music may do (those were not the pope's exact words, but I thought that is what he meant). Did these changes mean the beat to the music were to change? Is this happening in other churches too? I'm confused. I love my Catholic faith and will not leave, but this has saddened me. Thank you in advance.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), L.Th., D.D. Dear Maureen: The only music allowed in the Mass is Sacred Music and instruments that lend themselves to Sacred Music. The new Missal gives specific guidelines on music that removes any discretion of the music director to do want he wants. The New Missal makes it clear that the music of the Mass is the chanted propers of the Mass. The options available also require the normative chant. To make up some random text, setting it to music. Songs are out, chants are in. Read more detail about this on The Chant Café, a group of Catholic musicians. Given the clear instructions, I do not understand why your music director is doing this, unless it is some passive-aggressive or subconscious rebellion against the greater solemnity of the new translation. Since I have not heard the music myself, check to be sure it violates the New Missal. I would express your concerns with your pastor and ask about it. If he is not responsive, then contact your bishop. Be sure to present yourself in a business-like and professional manner when talking or writing letters to your pastor or bishop. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary P.S. Fr. Robert Barron has an excellent talk on the New Missal. Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

New Music in the Mass

Maureen

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Question:

Dear Brother,

Since the new translation in the Church started being implemented with permission from our bishop a few weeks ago, our priest and our musical director have been helping the congretion get used to the new words. This has been fine and I have appreciated the explaination of the reasons behind the changes. However, our music director has changed the "beat's" to all the music. The Gloria, The amen, the Holy,Holy, Holy,...just about every part of the music has been changed to an upbeat hip sound. People are starting to raise their hands in prayer, the electric guitar sometimes is made to sound like a drum beat.

This church used to be very traditional compared to the neighboring churches. It was not perfect, nor do I expect that, but I always felt the Pastor was trying to keep our congregation as close to the correct formula of the church and I have always appreciated his effort.

I just wanted clarification, I thought the changes were meant to get us closer the orginal Latin. I also thought the Pope had said, that there should not be a break with the sacredness of the mass which contemporary music may do (those were not the pope's exact words, but I thought that is what he meant).

Did these changes mean the beat to the music were to change? Is this happening in other churches too? I'm confused. I love my Catholic faith and will not leave, but this has saddened me. Thank you in advance.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), L.Th., D.D.

Dear Maureen:

The only music allowed in the Mass is Sacred Music and instruments that lend themselves to Sacred Music.

The new Missal gives specific guidelines on music that removes any discretion of the music director to do want he wants. The New Missal makes it clear that the music of the Mass is the chanted propers of the Mass. The options available also require the normative chant. To make up some random text, setting it to music. Songs are out, chants are in. Read more detail about this on The Chant Café, a group of Catholic musicians.

Given the clear instructions, I do not understand why your music director is doing this, unless it is some passive-aggressive or subconscious rebellion against the greater solemnity of the new translation.

Since I have not heard the music myself, check to be sure it violates the New Missal.

I would express your concerns with your pastor and ask about it. If he is not responsive, then contact your bishop. Be sure to present yourself in a business-like and professional manner when talking or writing letters to your pastor or bishop.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

P.S. Fr. Robert Barron has an excellent talk on the New Missal.

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum