Silent Masses

[dUSt]

So a few years back I think our bishop at the time, Bishop Kevin Vann (now Bishop of Orange County, CA), suggested that every parish with multiple masses in the diocese offer at least one silent mass on Sundays. A mass with no music.

 

Unfortunately, few parishes implemented this.

 

Fortunately, my parish did. 

 

I am lucky enough though that all the other masses at my parish actually do have good (not great) music, with an organ and a choir.

 

So, the parishes in my diocese that have really bad music (guitars, drums, tambourine, terrible terrible singers that do not rehearse, etc) are the ones who didn't take the bishop up on his suggestion. Which is unfortunate, as the silent mass would have given those parishioners a more reverent and less distracting option to attend mass.

 

What do you guys think about silent masses?

Next best thing to having a mass with chant and polyphony?

Mass should have music no matter how bad it is?

 

Discuss.

 

[PhuturePriest]

Mass should have chant, or at the very least music suitable to the Liturgy. If you must choose between silence and a '60s wannabe band, silence is the preferred option.

[CrossCuT]

I think they are fine. Depends on what helps a person better spiritually in mass. Some people prefer the music to help lift the spirit...some people prefer silence. 

 

My parish has a very rich musical history. During the fall and winter months they have a full orchestra and choir singing the masses by all the classical composers. It is a very beautiful experience. They also have a renaissance polyphony choir which I am a member of and we sing on the first saturday of the month. 

 

Some of their masses have only chanting as well. There are lots of different styles and i think they are all cool! :)

 

Like i mentioned in the other thread, the Hispanic masses often have lots of upbeat music with drums, guitars, and what not; even an accordion! 

Edited July 30, 2014 by CrossCuT

[Perigrina]

There are songs with words that foster heterodoxy.  Silence is obviously preferable to that.

Edited July 30, 2014 by Perigrina

[Lil Red]

So a few years back I think our bishop at the time, Bishop Kevin Vann (now Bishop of Orange County, CA), suggested that every parish with multiple masses in the diocese offer at least one silent mass on Sundays. A mass with no music.

 

Unfortunately, few parishes implemented this.

 

Fortunately, my parish did. 

 

I am lucky enough though that all the other masses at my parish actually do have good (not great) music, with an organ and a choir.

 

So, the parishes in my diocese that have really bad music (guitars, drums, tambourine, terrible terrible singers that do not rehearse, etc) are the ones who didn't take the bishop up on his suggestion. Which is unfortunate, as the silent mass would have given those parishioners a more reverent and less distracting option to attend mass.

 

What do you guys think about silent masses?

Next best thing to having a mass with chant and polyphony?

Mass should have music no matter how bad it is?

 

Discuss.

 

I think that everyone needs silence. and if they are uncomfortable with silence, it is probably a good thing. I crave silence at Mass sometimes (especially when it seems the choir/cantor and/or organist won't shut the …. up). I crave it as a mom that hears far too much yelling and screaming and fighting (it's summertime, that's all I hear). I need that silence. I wish our parish gave us more silent parts at Mass.

 

so…yeah, I think a silent Mass would be amesome.
 

Edited July 30, 2014 by Lil Red

[Not The Philosopher]

Yes please. I do appreciate a quiet and reverent Novus Ordo.

[Clare Brigid]

I have been a friend of the Madonna House Apostolate in Combermere, Ontario for the last 12 years and I've visited 10 times.

 

The community has a "quiet Mass" on Saturday mornings.  Next to the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, which they have every second Sunday, this has been my favorite Mass of the week.  

 

It is said that silence is the language of God.  Recall that after great winds, a fire and an earthquake, Elijah knew God was present in a tiny, whispering sound.

 

I have found this to be my own experience.

Edited July 30, 2014 by Clare Brigid

[CrossCuT]

I definitely appreciate the silence. 

That is what always irritated me about the teen masses or the Steubenville conferences I went to. It was all rock christian music even during adoration when people were praying. People were falling all over crying, freaking out, being these amazing Christians. But it was never the same experience if we had adoration in silence. Music can be a very great spiritual thing, but I think it cal also be detrimental in that it encourages false emotions. 

 

Thats just my experience though. I always sat during those adoration concerts waiting to feel something while everyone else was falling over crying in the spirit or something...I dunno. Maybe im a heartless heathen. 

[Benedictus]

So a few years back I think our bishop at the time, Bishop Kevin Vann (now Bishop of Orange County, CA), suggested that every parish with multiple masses in the diocese offer at least one silent mass on Sundays. A mass with no music.

 

Unfortunately, few parishes implemented this.

 

Fortunately, my parish did. 

 

I am lucky enough though that all the other masses at my parish actually do have good (not great) music, with an organ and a choir.

 

So, the parishes in my diocese that have really bad music (guitars, drums, tambourine, terrible terrible singers that do not rehearse, etc) are the ones who didn't take the bishop up on his suggestion. Which is unfortunate, as the silent mass would have given those parishioners a more reverent and less distracting option to attend mass.

 

What do you guys think about silent masses?

Next best thing to having a mass with chant and polyphony?

Mass should have music no matter how bad it is?

 

Discuss.

 

The majority of masses I attend actually are silent. I prefer it as I can do adoration and then slip into the mass in a better spirit. Most parishes here seem to only have music at the main Sunday service. I don't generally attend those that very often, but it's usually one or two hymns and or chants (with organ, piano or a choir). Some churches add in classical music or some solo musical piece instead (flute,cello, violin etc), which can work well.

I probably wouldn't attend a mass with guitars, tamourine etc if I had the choice to escape somewhere else. There was a period in the 80's and 90's when folk masses, or what was passed as such, where the thing to try and do (well some priests and youth leaders thought so, but most of us didn't). But they seem to be fading away now bit by bit


 

[chrysostom]

I love the silence of a Low Mass at my EF Sunday Mass and the silent Canon when all the angels and saints gather around and adore.

 

My favourite OF Mass is chanted but I do like the simplicity of an early morning OF Mass with no music.  There are no distractions, only Christ.

 

On the other hand, if much music is to be made I LOVE when the entire congregation chants with vigor.  There's nothing quite like it.

[franciscanheart]

So a few years back I think our bishop at the time, Bishop Kevin Vann (now Bishop of Orange County, CA), suggested that every parish with multiple masses in the diocese offer at least one silent mass on Sundays. A mass with no music.
 
Unfortunately, few parishes implemented this.
 
Fortunately, my parish did. 
 
I am lucky enough though that all the other masses at my parish actually do have good (not great) music, with an organ and a choir.
 
So, the parishes in my diocese that have really bad music (guitars, drums, tambourine, terrible terrible singers that do not rehearse, etc) are the ones who didn't take the bishop up on his suggestion. Which is unfortunate, as the silent mass would have given those parishioners a more reverent and less distracting option to attend mass.
 
What do you guys think about silent masses?
Next best thing to having a mass with chant and polyphony?
Mass should have music no matter how bad it is?
 
Discuss.

Our (silent) Mass at 5pm on Sundays is the next best thing to our 4pm (chant) Mass on Saturday (which takes only a very slight lead on our 11am (polyphonic) Mass on Sunday).

Which is to say: I love a silent Mass... even if it's usually just attended by people who want to get in and out as quickly as possible... :|

[Luigi]

My parish has a music-less (but not silent - I mean, the priest talks and the people respond) Mass every Sunday - the early one, 6, 6:30, 7 a.m. - depends on how many priests we have at the moment, the season of the year, and so forth.

 

It is commonly referred to as "the fishing Mass" - get 'em in, say Mass, let 'em get out to go fishin'.

 

 

 

I don't mind a music-less Mass, and I wouldn't say the fishing Mass is irreverent or anything, but I don't think lack of music, in and of itself, necessarily improves the spiritual quality of the congregation. Unless you're already of that bent.

[corban711]

So a few years back I think our bishop at the time, Bishop Kevin Vann (now Bishop of Orange County, CA), suggested that every parish with multiple masses in the diocese offer at least one silent mass on Sundays. A mass with no music.

 

Unfortunately, few parishes implemented this.

 

Fortunately, my parish did. 

 

I am lucky enough though that all the other masses at my parish actually do have good (not great) music, with an organ and a choir.

 

So, the parishes in my diocese that have really bad music (guitars, drums, tambourine, terrible terrible singers that do not rehearse, etc) are the ones who didn't take the bishop up on his suggestion. Which is unfortunate, as the silent mass would have given those parishioners a more reverent and less distracting option to attend mass.

 

What do you guys think about silent masses?

Next best thing to having a mass with chant and polyphony?

Mass should have music no matter how bad it is?

 

Discuss.

 

Wow.  Since he is my Bishop now I really, really hope that in time he will try to implement silent Masses here. 

 

I prefer silent Masses for weekday Mass for sure.  As for Sunday, I have never experienced one.  My first thought after "how cool is that?!" is that no music at a Sunday Mass goes somewhat against the celebratory nature of offering the Holy Sacrifice on the Lord's Day.  It is certainly not primarily a celebration, but that is a legitimate aspect of it on Sunday. 

 

Again, haven't given it much thought and I would be interested in experiencing a Mass that helped me enter more deeply into the mystery itself.  Silence would be great...especially true when rock music, or choirs so unrehearsed that they are a distraction are in place. 
 

[Ash Wednesday]

I attend a very traditionally done Novus Ordo mass and they don't have hymns or music. I love it. 

 

I LOVE gregorian chant but find I don't care for most vernacular hymns. I don't need to get started on what I consider to be contemporary praise and worship cheese, or even some somewhat older but tedious hymns that I find not particularly inspiring and feel like I'm having to patiently endure them as we get on with the mass. 

 

I'm not going to knock someone else for liking hymns. Me, personally, I'd rather have chant and music that is highly sacred, or nothing at all. But my liturgical leanings have always been for the more traditional.

Edited July 30, 2014 by Ash Wednesday

[Nihil Obstat]

The most authentic form of the Roman rite would be a full solemn pontifical Mass, chanted propers, all the ceremonials. It is the ideal inasmuch as it is the fullest expression of our liturgical patrimony. But it is neither necessary nor practical for ever parish to celebrate Mass in that manner every day. There is nothing inadequate about a low Mass with no music. It should not be the norm, I think, but preferable to banal music that compromises our Roman liturgical heritage.