Posted on 06/26/2006 11:48:53 AM PDT by FJ290
Vatican City, 26 June (AKI) - Pope Benedict XVI has called for traditional sacred music to be played during mass, condemning the ongoing custom of contemporary music at religious celebrations. "Updating sacred music is possible, but this cannot happen unless it follows the tradition of Gregorian chants or sacred polyphony," the pontiff said on Sunday on the sidelines of a concert in the Sistine Chapel. A skilled pianist with a predilection for Bach and Mozart, Benedict XVI spoke against a custom reportedly appreciated by his more informal predecessor John Paul II, who worked very hard throughout his papacy to make the Church more appealing to the younger generations.
In an interview published in Turin-daily La Stampa on Monday, the former Archbishop of Ravenna, veteran Cardinal Ersilio Tonini also condemned the practice saying that "Benedict XVI is right, mass is a meeting with God and to meet God sacred music is better than the turmoil of electric guitars, hand clapping and the husstle and bustle of disorderly sounds."
Tonini said that 40 years ago after the Second Vatican Council "making mass more popular and inviting could be understood." However, the cardinal added, "we exaggerated and now I believe it is legitimate to consider as over this season of breaks with tradition."
Funny.
I just changed parishes over that very issue. The director of music (it was a huge parish) loved the Glory and Praise "hymnal."
I sent her an email saying that we had 2000 years of Catholic tradition that was being ignored in her choices of music - some of which was borderline espousing the doctrines of Mormonism (OK for Mormons, bad for Catholics).
She responded that she wouldn't change - and, within weeks, began using mod-music written by HER HUSBAND(!) at Mass.
That's easy -- when they start up with it, turn your back to them, look up toward the cross, and start clapping too.
Yeah, and you know who wrote THAT hymn, don't you? Yep, mmmhmmm, Martin Luther. It's all connected, man...
I've suddenly got this image of a South Park episode with Pope Benedict and Cartman chasing the hippies out of the churches.
They're not people, they're HIPPIES!
They don't have any money, they're HIPPIES!
At least it's only garden variety stoner hippies, we've got to get rid of them before they attract the College Know-it-all hippies!
Oops! I knew that. I was inconsistent in my capitalization. Sorry, no offense intended.
Along the same vein, is "p(P)rotestent" capitlized, or only the specific denominational names? That one I'm not sure about.
That is scary...
The Bible is an ecclesial and liturgical document. As we see it, this is a statement of historical fact, not an article of faith. The Bible exists because the apostolic Church composed, collected, and preserved this Word, even to the shedding of blood by its martyrs. The Church constinues to proffer this Word as essential for making disciples of the God revelaed in iots pages and for worshipping that God, revealed finally and fully by Jesus Christ (John 20:31; 1 Thess 2:13)
The Word of God was proclaimed before it was written, heard before it was read. The site of this proclmation and hearing, since the first Easter night, has been the divine liturgy of the Church (Luke 24:13-49). The earliest Scripturews were composed to be read and interpreted in the Eucharistic assembly. And Scripture from the start has always been proclaimed and interpreted in order to anticipate a liturgical act - baptism of the Euccharist, for instance - b y which the hearer of the Word is granted entry into the salvation promised in the Scripture. There would be no Bible without the liturgy and there could be no liturgy without the Bible
*Brother, consider you might not have the entire picture of how we Chrisians thunk about Liturgy. I will post a link where you can read the entire editorial introducing this publication.
< As for Sacred Music, I'd invite you to read what the most recent Ecumenical Council taught about Sacred Music. I wil post that link also.
I do this thinking you have a duty to be informed about that which you wish to criticise.
I think it means "Kumbayah."
SACRED MUSIC
112. The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art. The main reason for this pre-eminence is that, as a combination of sacred music and words, it forms a necessary or integral part of the solemn liturgy.
Sacred scripture, indeed, has bestowed praise upon sacred song.[1] So have the Fathers of the Church and the Roman pontiffs who in more recent times, led by St. Pius X, have explained more precisely the ministerial functions exercised by sacred music in the service of the Lord.
Therefore sacred music is to be considered the more holy, the more closely connected it is with the liturgical action, whether making prayer more pleasing, promoting unity of minds, or conferring greater solemnity upon the sacred rites. The Church, indeed, approves of all forms of true art which have the requisite qualities, and admits them into divine worship.
Accordingly, the sacred Council, keeping to the norms and precepts of ecclesiastical tradition and discipline and having regard to the purpose of sacred music, which is the glory of God and the sanctification of the faithful, decrees as follows:
113. Liturgical worship is given a more noble form when the divine offices are celebrated solemnly in song with the assistance of sacred ministers and the active participation of the people.
As regards the language to be used, the provisions of Article 36 are to be observed; for the Mass, Article 54; for the sacraments, Article 63; for the divine office, Article 101.
114. The treasury of sacred music is to be preserved and cultivated with great care. Choirs must be assiduously developed, especially in cathedral churches. Bishops and other pastors of souls must take great care to ensure that whenever the sacred action is to be accompanied by chant, the whole body of the faithful may be able to contribute that active participation which is rightly theirs, as laid down in Articles 28 and 30.
115. Great importance is to be attached to the teaching and practice of music in seminaries, in the novitiates and houses of studies of religious of both sexes, and also in other Catholic institutions and schools. To impart this instruction teachers
_______________________________________________________ 1. Cf. Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16.
are to be carefully trained and put in charge of the teaching of sacred music.
It is desirable also that higher institutes of sacred music be established whenever possible.
Composers and singers, especially boys, must also be given a genuine liturgical training.
116. The Church recognizes Gregorian chant as being specially suited to the Roman liturgy. Therefore, other things being equal, it should be given pride of place in liturgical services.
Other kinds of sacred music, especially polyphony, are by no means excluded from liturgical celebrations so long as they accord with the spirit of the liturgical action as laid down in Article 30.
117. The typical edition of the books of Gregorian chant is to be completed. In addition a more critical edition is to be prepared of those books already published since the restoration by St. Pius X.
It is desirable also that an edition be prepared containing simpler melodies for use in smaller churches.
118. Religious singing by the faithful is to be intelligently fostered so that in devotions and sacred exercises as well as in liturgical services, the voices of the faithful may be heard, in conformity with the norms and requirements of the rubrics.
119. In certain countries, especially in mission lands there are people who have their own musical tradition, and this plays a great part in their religious and social life. For this reason their music should be held in proper esteem and a suitable place is to be given to it, not only in forming their religious sense but also in adapting worship to their native genius, as indicated in Articles 39 and 40.
Therefore, in the musical training of missionaries, great care should be taken to see that they become competent in promoting the traditional music of those peoples both in the schools and in sacred services, as far as may be practicable.
120. The pipe organ is to be held in high esteem in the Latin Church, for it is the traditional musical instrument, the sound of which can add a wonderful splendour to the Church's ceremonies and powerfully lifts up men's minds to God and higher things.
But other instruments also may be admitted for use in divine worship, in the judgment and with the consent of the competent territorial authority as laid down in Articles 22: 2, 37 and 40. This may be done, however, only on condition that the instruments are suitable, or can be made suitable, for sacred use; that they accord with the dignity of the temple, and that they truly contribute to the edification of the faithful.
121. Composers, animated by the Christian spirit, should accept that it pertains to their vocation to cultivate sacred music and increase its store of treasures.
Let them produce compositions which have the qualities proper to genuine sacred music, and which can be sung not only by large choirs but also by smaller choirs, and which make possible the active participation of the whole congregation.
The texts intended to be sung must always be in conformity with Catholic doctrine. Indeed, they should be drawn chiefly from the sacred scripture and from liturgical sources.
Fine. Go to the Temple or Synagogue.
Does it make any difference to you that the Pope sees it as a major issue?
There's the rub. Music made to "attract young people" usually doesn't work. It isn't cool. Older people trying to be hip never does, it's embarrassing. Kids want authenticity, just like us. When we were kids (speaking for myself of course), the traditional didn't seem real. It was like stuff out of a museum that didn't have any relevance to our daily life. Now we see it as not museum pieces, but as timeless ways that have helped, nay enabled Man to remain civilized in the face of everything. And I *like* some of the new praise music. Just don't use it as a wedge to tear down my traditions. Enhancement is good, replacement is bad.
I am a Christian, just not of the Catholic denomination.
1) At least she has a husband (and not a 'wife').
2) If her husband were a competent composer, this would not be a problem ... Something tells me that this is not the case ...
I have no idea what you're getting at; I'm not Jewish.
Yes, that is obvious. That fact we both acknowledge. I was trying to get you to recognise you really do not have a very good idea of why we worship as we do. I was trying to provide you with some knowledge so, if you do want to criticise us, you will have a firmer base of knowledge from which to do so.
Or a Three Stooges' fan:
Moe: "Where's the music?"
Larry: "Curly's got it!
Curly: "Nyuck, nyuck! Here is it, Moe! A piece by Paganini!"
Moe: "Paganini?!! Gimme that!" [Grabs music, hits Curly] "You nimcompoop! That says 'Page Nine'!"
It shouldn't be at all difficult to get rid of the trend of pop Masses. None of us here like them, for a start. The music is banal. I attend the 7:30 am masses when at all possible -- NO music is better than bad. O Praise the Lord, I love this Pope.
Argus, I'm all with you. The ditties must GO. Before 1900 is just about right. Might be a bit too late....
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