The Gather Hymnal.
Horrible songs/music, bad singers, piano bar style piano, and the happy organ...
I apologize, but the thought just came to mind while I was at Mass. I didn't 'entertain' it though. The thought was like a flash of light, saying, "Terry! This is it!" Every weekend it's the same hymnal, same songs, same shrill voices singing from the throat. I'm not complaining for myself, because I can normally tune it out, but this week, I think it came to mind due to the recent discussions online as to why men don't go to Mass.
Just as the happy organ began to play the recessional ... it dawned on me ...
I have no idea what hymn/song it was... but parts of it reminded me of this:
I so remember that song. I think I used to like it, but it's been too long to say for sure.
ReplyDeleteMen don't go to church for the same reason many women don't. If I wanted to attend a Protestant love fest, well - I'd do so. I want to attend a Catholic Mass, and so I do.
What if they just rename the hymnal and call it " scatter"?
ReplyDeleteWhat?
We have that awful hymnal too and I groan every time the choir director who lobbied for the awful hymnal plays a Marty Haugen tune. Gather us in the dumb and the dumber....
ReplyDeleteI really don't pay a lot of attention to that type of music - I'm able to remain recollected through it and it doesn't disturb my peace - but it really did occur to me and I thought it has to be repellent to young guys especially. I would prefer no music or simple plain chant like Carmelite nuns do, and when hymns are used they shouldn't sound like top 40 tunes from years gone by.
ReplyDeleteThe homily was from the deacon - who is always quite good - however - his emphasis was on Christ's peace, hence the sign of peace and relating to one another at Mass and feeling challenged to welcome others - it flat lined - in fact it is the main complaint traditionalists emphasize about the OF. It's all about the people not about worship or the Holy Sacrifice. I read something recently fr. Fr. Barron - who I really like a lot, but in the essay he compares the differences between Christ, Muhamed, Budha and so on - noy once does he emphasize the fact that Christ is God - all the differences were more or less related to ideology. I know he offers more than that - but that was the snippet I read. It's what other people read - it's what the deacon's homily amounted to. It's all too humanistic.
The normal man is challenged every single day by the ordinary duties of his state in life - going to Mass shouldn't be a challenge - it should be the time we lift up our hearts to God - where we meet Christ in the Eucharist. The Gospel today is about preaching repentance for the forgiveness of sins - when men go to Mass they should be greeted by the peace of Christ, not hugs and kissed and glad handed by church workers.
I should have edited the above but it should be understandable what I'm trying to say.
DeleteWell, Fr.Barron probably assumes he's preachin' to the choir, so to speak, and doesn't have to point out that Christ is God to his audience.
ReplyDeleteI dunno. For all everyone likes to take cheap shots at SF based on about half a dozen loonies who dress up like nuns on LSD, I attend an orthodox parish with a beautiful Mass and beautiful music. Of course, my husband hates singing, so we go to the earliest Mass, which has music but no singing. I think it's the suburban parishes who are giving the NO a bad name, not the old urban parishes. Of course, the old urban parishes have beautiful churces, which, I think, inspire beautiful music and liturgies.
I went to the Marist church when I was there. I think SF is fine - in fact I love it. Couldn't afford to live there though. See - your husband doesn't like singing - I don't either - most guys don't. I'd go to earlier Masses but my neighborhood church is more convenient. I also have nothing against the OF Mass - I prefer it when it is done well. I just don't sing - except when I'm alone with my cat.
DeleteOh - and you're right about Fr. barron - the piece I read was in Magnificat - so I knew what he was saying - but sometimes a homilist lift these things verbatim from Magnificat and the take it for granted Christ is God is completely missed - and really - that is the big difference between Catholics/Christians and everyone else.
DeleteNobody else lifts things from the Magnificat? You mean people at Mass might be clueless?
ReplyDeleteHaha. I don't care who lifts stuff from Magnificat but flesh it out rather than paste and copy. Bloggers are exempt as long as they give credit. Unless Heather King, Anthony Esolen and Fr. Cameron actually write homilies for some guys?
DeleteI don't know if people at Mass are clueless about why we are there, but many of the homilies I've been hearing seem to be. Of course you go to the Cathedral and wouldn't know what it's like in So. MPLS.
There's a reason I'm at the cathedral.
DeleteI know.
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