Silent Masses

[Benedictus]

Can someone explain this whole deal of optional bits, hymns vs no hymns, personal preference etc.? Genuine question.

If some bits aren't Necessary then why have them at all?

In my wandering teens I went to a very early Mass which sounds like one of these silent ones. It was a really ... good experience, and I did come away with a sense of reverence and appreciation.

I also read a book, I think it was called The Meaning of the Mass, that explained the different parts of the liturgy and I think also talked about what parts are absolutely necessary for the Mass to be valid.

It's a different mindset which is why I'm interested to know what you guys know and can explain to me.

 

The prescribed words and structure of the liturgy is set. The church gives some variation options on certain prayers, so they fit the season and the occasion. These are outlined in the liturgical norms. As far as I'm aware there is no scope to go outside these norms unless there is an agreed exception somehow, such as use of a different rite. The questions of 'validity' relates to the consecration of the hosts. This event would have to be done correctly (and by a valid priest) as part of the mass, otherwise it would simply be a service of the word (which isn't the norm in Catholic parishes).

The entrance antiphon, psalams and readings change at each service. Beyond that the variations are mostly around music, degree of simplicity and style. There isn't any need for hymns or instrumental music. But priests etc can decide on something that's fitting, and this will vary from place to place.

[fides' Jack]

Dust - thanks for bringing this up!  I wish 1000 times that I was at your parish.  We don't have (as far as I know) a single parish in our diocese which offers any kind of "silent" Mass.  A week and a half ago, before Mass the choir director got on the mic and said that since so few people have volunteered to sing, part of the Mass would be a cappella, and part would be silent.  I was SOOO overjoyed to hear that.  Unfortunately, their idea of a cappella was apparently some kid on an electric guitar trying his 2nd or 3rd practice to the tune of a well-known hymn, but he started messing up and ended up ad libbing completely.  This was during Communion.  I was distracted just having to hear a solo electric guitar, but I became angry enough with the direction that it took that I didn't receive Communion.  I didn't even notice the silent part, which was only during the collection before the offertory.

 

Normally I just try to ignore all music during Mass anymore, because I'm so tired of it.  I can understand the whole idea of trying to keep people interested who would have no patience for silence or traditional chant or hymns - but I think my diocese has completely given up on those of us who are a bit more traditional leaning in our taste for reverence in music/art/architecture/etc...  And this is in 1 out of 2 dioceses (the other being Lincoln) whose bishop spoke out supporting Church morals during a fiasco in the U.S. shortly after the scandal a decade ago.  We're not a terribly liberal diocese.

 

We desparately, DESPERATELY need a solution like that.

 

Pretty sure the GIRM requires the mass parts to be sung at minimum.

So while it's ok not to have additional hymns, the mass parts should be sung, and I'd be surprised to hear of a bishop implementing anything at odds with the GIRM.

 

There is no part of the Mass that has required singing.  'Strongly encouraged' would be a more accurate term.

 

But then, so is chant, and the organ, and not using extraordinary ministers, etc...  

 

[Clare Brigid]

Dust - thanks for bringing this up!  I wish 1000 times that I was at your parish.  We don't have (as far as I know) a single parish in our diocese which offers any kind of "silent" Mass.

 

A good strategy, at least for finding a quieter Mass, is to attend the earliest Sunday morning Mass available to you.  There is usually no music and no cast of thousands.

[dUSt]

I think there is a huge need for quality control in the Church. Presentation matters. Beautiful architecture matters. Quality music matters.

 

If some of these parishes with money would not consider using amateur high school art to decorate their churches, or use a Jr High student's stained glass project to put in the windows behind the altar, why do they think it is acceptable to allow a teenager to play riffs he learned on Guitar Hero during mass?

 

Churches are built in stages--beautiful stained glass may come later in the budget. Stations of the cross sculptures may be a few years away. They don't put up temporary cardboard displays in the meantime--they simply do without until they can get something worthy to put in a church. Why not with music? 

[Nihil Obstat]

I think there is a huge need for quality control in the Church. Presentation matters. Beautiful architecture matters. Quality music matters.

 

If some of these parishes with money would not consider using amateur high school art to decorate their churches, or use a Jr High student's stained glass project to put in the windows behind the altar, why do they think it is acceptable to allow a teenager to play riffs he learned on Guitar Hero during mass?

 

Churches are built in stages--beautiful stained glass may come later in the budget. Stations of the cross sculptures may be a few years away. They don't put up temporary cardboard displays in the meantime--they simply do without until they can get something worthy to put in a church. Why not with music? 

It is because there is no recognition that there does exist an objective standard by which we evaluate our Liturgy. There is this perception that anything goes as long as it is meaningful - and who knows whose definition of meaningful we are using.

But that is a mistake because we, as Roman Catholics, do have an objective standard, and that is the Roman Rite itself, as an integrated whole. The Roman Rite is a rite of the Church, and it is characteristically Roman. It seems redundant to say it, but I do not think enough people understand what this means. As a rite, it shares certain universal characteristics with all of the liturgies of the Catholic Church. Being Roman, it has certain features that identify it as such.

Felt banners and junk music match neither the characteristics of a Catholic rite, nor the characteristics of the Roman rites. Same goes for the countless aberrations that have arisen as a result of abuses. If they are not Roman, and if they do not match the characteristics of Catholic rites, then they do not belong in our Masses, period.

So you are completely right. A student's stained glass project is not appropriate for the windows behind the altar, a high school art class' senior projects are not appropriate to replace iconography and statuary, and the guitar riffing by the poor hippie kid who does not know any better is not an appropriate replacement for the chants which are proper to the Roman Rite.

But the biggest problem is that people do not know this, and there is a certain resistance to attempts to educate them. For most I think it is invincible ignorance. For some, willful ignorance. For a very small minority I do think there is a 'reforming' modernist mindset which is, ultimately, protestant in its ethos. But it can be difficult to sort out who is who. I do not know the most effective way to overcome that particular barrier.

[dUSt]

I think it comes down to, if you want it done right, do it yourself.

 

For example, most of us have the power to make sure there is no talking and socializing in the sanctuary before mass--simply ask the pastor if you can lead the rosary before the liturgy begins--or immediately after.

 

This is just one example of many things any one of us can do. Will we do it? Will we be the ones who get off our lazy butts and make real change?

[Nihil Obstat]

I think it comes down to, if you want it done right, do it yourself.

 

For example, most of us have the power to make sure there is no talking and socializing in the sanctuary before mass--simply ask the pastor if you can lead the rosary before the liturgy begins--or immediately after.

 

This is just one example of many things any one of us can do. Will we do it? Will we be the ones who get off our lazy butts and make real change?

To a certain extent that is true. That is a very good way to cut down on the ambient noise in the church proper. But a lot of other areas, especially music, artwork, and architecture, take much more complex solutions, and often quite a lot of money. I mean, what is a church to do when their choir is made up of older people who sing, objectively speaking, very poorly, and are perfectly happy doing what amounts to praise and worship karaoke every week? That was my old parish. What do you do when the church itself was so appallingly constructed and renovated that a halfway decent sanctuary would cost literally millions. That is my geographical parish. And most churches in my diocese.

I mean yeah, you can donate more money. But that money goes first to repairs and upkeep, and most parishes are barely scraping by with those expenses. Those parish councils and finance committees would laugh you out of the room if you suggested building a proper Catholic altar, when instead they could finally get around to repairing the roof and the furnace.

There are no insurmountable obstacles to a proper renewal of the liturgy, but unfortunately I do not see many easy fixes for some of the problems we have to deal with. Realistically, I think a true renewal will take generations.

Edited July 30, 2014 by Nihil Obstat

[fides' Jack]

A good strategy, at least for finding a quieter Mass, is to attend the earliest Sunday morning Mass available to you.  There is usually no music and no cast of thousands.

 

I used to think this was the case at our parish, too, but our earliest Mass (8:30) tends to be the 2nd most crowded (after the 10:30), and the worst for music.  Interestingly, at our parish, the anticipatory Mass is the best for music, since they try to incorporate children's Masses more often at this time - and I will listen to children singing acceptable music any day over the more "adult" stuff they do at other Masses.

 

I think there is a huge need for quality control in the Church. Presentation matters. Beautiful architecture matters. Quality music matters.

 

If some of these parishes with money would not consider using amateur high school art to decorate their churches, or use a Jr High student's stained glass project to put in the windows behind the altar, why do they think it is acceptable to allow a teenager to play riffs he learned on Guitar Hero during mass?

 

Churches are built in stages--beautiful stained glass may come later in the budget. Stations of the cross sculptures may be a few years away. They don't put up temporary cardboard displays in the meantime--they simply do without until they can get something worthy to put in a church. Why not with music? 

 

Will you please temporarily turn on additional props per post so I can prop this more???

 

I think it comes down to, if you want it done right, do it yourself.

 

For example, most of us have the power to make sure there is no talking and socializing in the sanctuary before mass--simply ask the pastor if you can lead the rosary before the liturgy begins--or immediately after.

 

This is just one example of many things any one of us can do. Will we do it? Will we be the ones who get off our lazy butts and make real change?

 

Just as soon as we stop having kids on an almost-annual frequency, and I can finally finish school.  Then sure, I'll volunteer more.

 

:)

[truthfinder]

Well I'll betray my traddy inclinations and say, if it's available and you really need a respite, try the vigil Mass.  Some are quiet, some are not - depends on the church.

[SNJM]

I am blessed enough to attend a parish that has a professional choir and an outstanding organist. The Masses that I have attended that don't have this level of music are awful. I travel often, and I don't know where this "non-Catholic" music that has crept into our Churches has come from. It's non-denominational (Christian) and usually has nothing to do with the Liturgy and cannot be considered Catholic when there is basically a sole concentration on salvation (and nothing on works). No mention of Mary (unless she is called "Momma Mary") and definitely no litanies or traditional music of any kind that come from the writings of the saints. Because of that, when I travel, I now look for the Mass "without" music, which usually is the first Mass on Sunday (or from what I have seen). I am officially in the Orange Diocese (though spend a lot of time in LA) and we have some great things happening!