It is disturbing that so many Protestant hymns turn up in Catholic hymnals. Bishop Morlino of the Madison, WI diocese told an interesting story about another Bishop who despised "Gather Us In" (Bishop Morlino doesn't like it either), and requested that it not be sung at Confirmations at which he was presiding. One music director bucked him on this, though, and insisted that she was going to play it. "Negotiations" ensued (with the Pastor as go-between), but no headway was made. Finally, just before the Mass was scheduled to begin, the Bishop sent the Pastor upstairs with a final statement: "In one minute, I'm going to begin the Procession. As soon as that hymn starts, I'm going to stop wherever I am and puke." She changed it.FishEaters forums
I've even heard that pagan hymn "Lord of the Dance" at a Confirmation in my diocese one time.
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I remember the bishop telling that story -- I think it might have been at the Gregorian chant workshop. He's also in the past expressed a dislike for songs that focus on us as a congregation, rather than on the sacrifice of the Mass (WE remember, WE celebrate, WE believe). I had never noticed before that how many of the songs in the hymnal have a "yay for us believers" theme.
I was there when Bishop told it (yes, at the Chant workshop), and it was HILARIOUS!!! I should check around and see if that homily was recorded!
I also remember a while back when Bishop Morlino was expressing his displeasure for the song "City of God", even saying it was heretical, because we do not do the building, but Christ is the one who "builds the City [of God]".
But I digress...
May I once again reiterate that I love Bishop Morlino!
At the Cathedral here in La Crosse we have a great music director so we don't have to put up with musical shenanigans.
A book that was extremely influential on me was "Why Catholic's Can't Sing" and I recommend it to any readers out there. It deals with this exact problem.
Isn't it wonderful to have such good bishops (no sarcasm intended)?
Deo Gratias!
"Gather Us In" and "Lord of the Dance" are not permitted at Holy Family / St. Boniface either. As the Church's documents consistantly and persistantly state, the texts of music used in worship are to reflect more closely the biblical and liturgical texts for that day and should be theologically sound. The former is not theologically sound and the latter has no theology at all.
It is certainly troubling Padre that they are in our hymnals at all. There must have been some time when musical specialists had too much control over the liturgy. Thank you for protecting us against this goofiness. By the way, saw you at last weeks festivities but couldn't find you after Mass to say hello. Tried to get a good photo of you for the BC but you must have been hiding up there.
Badger: “Padre”…?
I know you didn’t mean any disrespect, but using ‘Padre’ to address a Catholic priest was always seen in England as disrespectful. It was a ploy used by Anglicans, officialdom and the military to avoid saying ‘Father’ as they don’t hold with that in Anglicanism – especially Low Church Anglicanism. It was also seen as a slap at the Catholic Church which certain Anglicans looked down upon as populated by poor, working class ‘Italians and Irish’. Of course it did serve to identify the speaker as, if someone called you ‘Padre’ you knew they were definitely either non-Catholic or lapsed…!
On the other hand in Italy they have their own way of similar avoidance. There to avoid calling you ‘Padre’, they would use ‘Reverendo’ – for Reverend…
Yes, I know we’re not in England, but old sensibilities die hard – even after almost 40 years here in Wisconsin…
GOR -- that's interesting. I've never heard of that, and I guess it's one more case of contradicting cultures. In Spanish it's the word for "Father," and, in my experience, at least, is used without a second thought.
I was thinking more in the Mexican culture sense. I don't think the baseball team the San Diego Padres was meant to be disrespectful. From wiki: The team's name, Spanish for "fathers", refers to the Spanish Franciscan friars who founded San Diego in 1769. It's a literal translation so even if the English don't like priests, it's not exactly a slam to call a Priest, Padre, Pater, Vater, Vader, or whathaveyou. So the moral of the story is I meant no disrespect of course, that is, unless the reverend does not like being a Father.
What the Bishop in the story should have done was said, "If you use this song, I will offer the Mass with my 'back to the people' and maybe even in Latin" that might have scared them straight!
Haha! I like that one Anon.
I am surprised, not at the opinions of the hymns expressed, but at the joy taken in the sharpness and arrogance of the views expressed. Maybe you're right about the songs. But the views expressed here--including the side-swipe at your Protestant brethren--was that what Jesus had in mind?
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