Pope Against Pop Music In Mass

Adnkronos International ^ | 06262006 | AKI

[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."

[CT-Freeper]

Speed-metal? Heck, the Mass at my church rarely lasts longer than half an hour anyways, and that's with some music (although they don't sing the responsorial psalm here, which they did in my old parish. I kinda liked doing that).

I can't imagine speeding it up anymore!

[PanzerKardinal]

In the word's of the great philosopher Hank Hill

Can't you see you're not making Christianity better, you're just making rock n' roll worse.

[TankerKC]

Holy Spirit in Montgomery AL. They have an awesome Life Team band.

My family is still in Alabama...I moved to Virginia for an assignment to the Pentagon.

[Suzy Quzy]

Why do you like splitting up the family for Masses?? That's like having teens eat breakfast by themselves at 11:00 and dinner at 8:00...all without the parents....makes NO sense to me.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

"Ladies and gentlemen, Marty Haugen and David Haas
have left the building..."

[Xenalyte]

Now THAT is a hymn. "This Is my Father's World" . . . "In the Garden" . . . now I'm getting mad 'cause I can't remember my old Rainbow Girls hymns.

[Aquinasfan]

That's right. Church (little c).

So, say my brother thinks that I'm a heretic, which church should we go to in order to settle our dispute? The one with thousands of contradictory doctrines?

Do you treat all Protestants as pagans or tax collectors then?

When it comes to someone who has no regard for Church authority, it's a shake the dust off your sandals thing.

[ccmay]

I hate the old south, baptist type, music.

I don't care to hear it in church, but I do like to listen to bluegrass gospel music now and again. Its lyrics of simple faith and the dangers of sin are worthy of all Christians to be heard.

-ccm

[Right Wing Assault]

Oh, man, "liturgical dance"! Thank you! Some years ago I had the pleasure of viewing a couple young, barefoot "earth mothers", dressed in long white gowns, holding ribbons, cavorting about.

I'll tell you, I hadn't chuckled quietly with so much pleasure in years. It was totally ridiculous. It seemed they were saying, "Look at us! We are praising God better than you are! Nyah, nyah!" It looked like flag corps tryouts for the high school band.

[billbears]

They aren't too mad at me. Traced back my family line and they came from French Hugenots, then Methodist. It's only been in the past 3 generations that they're Baptist. I see the denominations as a mess for the most part. If they believe and follow the basic principles of the New Testament, believe on Christ alone, and don't preach heresy (like same sex marriages, etc.) we're all good. And we'll all get there. IIRC, the Southern Baptists and Catholics had long going theological discussions about their general likenesses. A lot of the rest, not all though, is just denominational bantering about picky issues.

Have a good one

[JamesP81]

My church (not catholic) plays a bit of both.

I really don't have a lot of feeling about this one way or the other, although it's true: there seems to be a lot of me me me in some of the contemporary music. Also, some of the contemporary worship is so repetitive that it nearly puts me to sleep. The most egregious example of this is a song called 'Let it Rain.' Any pentecostals/AoG in here should know this one. That song drives me up the wall.

In my spare time, I listen to purely Christian music for entertainment, but it's generally of the hard rock variety. Not something I'd reccomend for church, but definitely good music for a good time that doesn't fill your mind with crap.

[ccmay]

IT is interesting that the Pope likes Bach and Mozart--two musicians who shattered the molds when its came to the music of their respecitve times. Both were considered extremely radical.

That's correct. If I recall right, there were riots in the streets after the premiere of one of Mozart's operas. The Altamont of its day.

-ccm

[saveliberty]

:-) Woo hoo!

[TankerKC]

Why do you like splitting up the family for Masses??

I never said that. However, if the choice is between the teen coming alone or not showing up at all...I'd rather that they come alone. Besides, if they come alone when they are 16, 17, & 18, they are setting up a good habit. They aren't going to be with mom and dad forever.

Any way, my kids prefer the Life Teen Mass, so we all go then...as a family.

[Salvation]

This is good to hear!!

Let's get back to the sacred music!!

[saveliberty]

LOL

I second that

[Alkhin]

They must have come out with some new G&P stuff...dont remember the focus on "I/me" so much from the 80s. Quite a few of the G&P I remember were direct from Scripture. Oh well... *grin*

[FJ290]

Just don't make me eat lutefisk! ( please please please )

Served in Norwegian restaurant with mashed peas, potatoes and bacon.

Now come on, doesn't that look appetizing?

I'm sorry, that was mean. Couldn't resist the opportunity to tease you, LOL!

[Xenalyte]

The first time I saw liturgical dancers, all I could think of was Harry Shearer and Martin Short on SNL in 1984, with the mockumentary sketch about men's synchronized swimming.

[JamesP81]

Much of the contemporary music is great, but a lot of it is sentimental slop. I became a Christian in college, and attended a Baptist church where the worship music was from the hymnal, and I was exposed to the compositions of Isaac Watts, Charles Wesley, and Francis Ridley Havergal. A lot of the music in the hymnal was sentimental slop too, but much of the contemporary music amounts to "Jesus is my boyfriend, I love him so...", and this makes me cringe. A worship service shouldn't make people cringe.

I've noted similar things. There are some contemporary songs that speak to me. Days of Elijah is a good example. But some of that old music speaks to. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross is a good example.

Then there's contemporary music that makes me want to hide under the pew. We could do without a lot of that stuff. Alas, my old campus ministry when I was in college is hooked on some of the worst of that breed.