Protestant Hymns And Worship Songs

[Gal. 5:22,23]

[quote name='FutureSoror' date='Mar 28 2005, 01:44 PM'] I think that the problems with these songs are small enough that we can surely enjoy them at home without any harm, but that it makes sense we should use Catholic music in the Sacred Liturgy. Amazing Grace is a beautiful song, but do we need to use it in the Mass? I don't think so. There are plenty of other beautiful Catholic hymns we can use. [/quote]
Great post. Rather than picking apart some really beautiful and worshipful songs, the suggestion to enjoy them at home is wonderful. I used to participate on another forum where a Catholic man just ripped Handel's "Messiah" to shreds. Huh? The "Hallelujah Chorus" just about brings me to my knees every time I hear it. The only thing I could figure that he didn't like about it was that Handel wasn't Catholic.

Obviously, what is sung during Mass should be decided carefully. But if we're going to rip "Amazing Grace," then shouldn't we first turn our attention to Eminem, Marilyn Manson, etc.?

[CarpeDiem88]

Would they mind just singing the hymns in Latin in the Catholic church? One they're pretty and two, I guarantee you no Protestant has ever used them. With the exception of Gloria, in Excelsis Deo.

And Brian, thank you for the support. You have now lost the title of Radical. I cleaned your car by the way. It was absolutely disgusting.

Edited March 30, 2005 by CarpeDiem88

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='CarpeDiem88' date='Mar 29 2005, 11:09 PM'] And Brian, thank you for the support. You have now lost the title of Radical. I cleaned your car by the way. It was absolutely disgusting. [/quote]
:rotfl:

[Gal. 5:22,23]

[quote name='CarpeDiem88' date='Mar 29 2005, 11:09 PM'] Would they mind just singing the hymns in Latin in the Catholic church? One they're pretty and two, I guarantee you no Protestant has ever used them. With the exception of Gloria, in Excelsis Deo.

[/quote]
I'm Protestant and I can sing Adeste Fideles - does that count?

[sweetpea316]

So can I! Good stuff...

And it sure should count for something. At least some extra cool points.

[Aloysius]

lol! thanx, I just got home I'll have to check it out.

man, I was just getting used to it too

[img]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-9/837215/radical.JPG[/img]

[CarpeDiem88]

[shewillcrushyourheadalleluia]

i heard a version of Oh bread of heaven that changed the whole thing to talk about "The Word" cos its not acceptable to non catholics to talk about the Eucharist..... apparently!

[Q the Ninja]

On the lines of Amazing Grace,

Have I already been saved? Yes, I know about Predestination, but isn't that because of my Fiat? my yes, as did Mary? I acknowledge the grace that we receive from Christ, and that's definately necessary, but the song seems very close to Lutheranism.

Also, true ecumenism isn't a compromise on doctrine.


Now for me, I prefer Gregorian Chant the most, I think, because as our schola Priest says, the tunes are like those of a little child...whenever I sing the chants, I now remember how we too should be like little children. Also, the words are wonderful. There's no peace flowing like a river, but they are true petitions, and many ways deeper than anything that can be found in most modern music sung at Mass.

Also, I sing polyphony. I'm in a choir at my school which only sings at Masses (and Communion Services). Everytime I sing one of the more modern songs I feel my voice going. This is just a complaint, but I can't really sing them and the choir very well, because I'm a bass and it just doesn't work out.

Plus, how many of you have heard a good polyphonic choir or a good schola (chant group)? I have. I personally find it much more pleasing than just about anything else. This doesn't mean I don't like having songs to sing, for instance I love [i]All Creatures of Our God and King[/i] and such, but I think that listening to wonderful music that is sung well is very much more pleasing. If you don't believe me, go to a Requiem Mass where they sing the Fauré Requiem, or go to a Mass where Shubert's Mass in G Major is sung. Talk about a huge difference between that and the Mass of Creation. My dad sings in the choir at our parish, and after attending the Requiem Mass that my school's choir sang at last year, he came out saying he felt like he had gone to Mass for the first time in a long time.

Also, sometime hear a polyphonic choir sing [i]God So lovd the World[/i], a special song written for our choir. To sing that in the Cathedrals of the United States and Europe, and to hear "shall never DIE" hang in the air for minutes, such as happened at St. Peter's during the chanting/polyphony of the Vigil, is incredible and one of the best feelings.

This is just a personal argument for those two.

For further reading, read Cardinal Ratzinger on the music of the Liturgy, best understood after reading Plato.

/End hijacking of thread.

I'm sad to find out that so many songs are Protestant.

[shewillcrushyourheadalleluia]

hmm... about losing your voice over modern songs. It happens to me too, usually i cant play/sing any of those charismatic knee knocking tunes! But then, im an extreme case of soprano, and addicted to Taize chants

Alleluia

[Wolfie]

OK, this is a topic I'm a little hot about. I'm a music director for a parish... I do both a Mass with a Choir and LifeTeen.

I know all of our songs should fit in with our Catholic Theology.
SIMPLE SINGABLE SCRIPTURAL.

While I agree that there are many songs that are fluff, or VERY horizontal, I think we need to be careful about our analyzing some other songs...

The reference to "I am the Bread of Life" by TOOLAN
(double check the song here before replying please...there are a few different ones with the same name)

This song is WORD for WORD scripture. The fact that we are singing in Christ's perspective rather than the people's perspective is irrelevant. Not one person in the church is "confused" by the wording. NO ONE thinks we are saying that they themselves will "raise people up on the last day." We are quoting scripture. Just as the lector, psalmist, and clergy do when reads the Word. Yes, even the lay lector who reads the acts and other new testament readings will quote Jesus' words.


Other more PRAISE/WORSHIP type songs, that are used a lot in LifeTeen: Of course, we must be VERY careful about the theology, but many times one simple word change will take care of a minor problem. Lets use it for good.

Breathe " This is my daily bread, your very body broken for me"

Your Love is Extravagant "...spread wide in the arms of Christ is the love that WASHES sin " (instead of covers)

Anyone choosing music for Church needs to know their teachings.

[cmotherofpirl]

I am really tired of the simple part. Some of the stuff in our hymnal [oregon press] is fit for a 7 year old. I feel like I am back in grade school.

[shewillcrushyourheadalleluia]

i do feel a bit like that sometimes..... its all like "thankyou Jesus, we love you so much, you're my bestest friend......" followed by the obligatory "boy band" style key change.... One time i even wondered if the ppl leading were going to stand up at this point to be just like a boy band. And when you think that those types of pop acts are aimed at girls aged 7-10 you have your answer.......

[Q the Ninja]

[quote name='Wolfie' date='Apr 4 2005, 04:13 PM'] This song [I am the Bread of Life] is WORD for WORD scripture. The fact that we are singing in Christ's perspective rather than the people's perspective is irrelevant. Not one person in the church is "confused" by the wording. NO ONE thinks we are saying that they themselves will "raise people up on the last day." We are quoting scripture. Just as the lector, psalmist, and clergy do when reads the Word. Yes, even the lay lector who reads the acts and other new testament readings will quote Jesus' words. [/quote]
I only make mention of the fact that the Holy Father said something about this not being good sometime recently..

[PedroX]

People are confused, perhaps intentionally, by songs that place us in the perspective of the Redeemer. The song "Ashes" comes to mind, as does "I am the bread of life."

I am with Cmom (as I usually am) in that I am good and tired of the simple. If I wanted simple, I could have stayed a Protestant where we continually watered down theology until it was meaningless. So was our music. So is most of the OCP music out today.

Whew. End of rant. must finish paper on the Eucharist.

peace...