continue and sign the petition at YankehomeAs you might know, many have attended the Youth 2000 retreats since they began here in Madison in 2009. Thank you for all of the work that you have put into these retreats.
We're all smiles after someone smashes your guitar
But as you also may know, one of the frustrations that many have stems from the music used during the weekend. It seems quite clear that the church consistently asks us for something higher, something more reverent than rock music during the Holy Mass (rock music is being used in a more general sense, for the sake of this discussion).
Of course, this is not a new problem. For example, in 1905, Pope Pius X covered nearly the same issue:
“[2.] It must be holy, and therefore avoid everything that is secular, both in itself and in the way in which it is performed. It must really be an art, since in no other way can it have on the mind of those who hear it that effect which the Church desires in using in her liturgy the art of sound.
“But it must also be universal in this sense, namely, that although each country may use in its ecclesiastical music whatever special forms may belong to its own national style, these forms must be subject to the proper nature of sacred music, so that it may never produce a bad impression on the mind of any stranger who may hear it.”
—Tra Le Sollecitudini, 1905
HT BY
12 comments:
haha nice picture caption:)
Buncha troublemaking kids who don't know what "turns them on to Jesus", eh?
/sarcasm
They should probably just call up the OEC and talk to whoever's organizing the retreat or call up the bishop's office. Not that a petition isn't great -- it'll help show that there are a lot of youth who would like this -- but it'd be more direct and quick to start up the conversation first.
There are plenty of groups hereabouts that might be able to provide the music. (In fact, the best might be to get the St. Ambrose schola or St. Paul's Evangelicum, so it's composed of young adults.) The retreat's coming up, though, so do it quickly so things can be arranged. Scholas don't form overnight. Or, at the very least, they shouldn't then perform the next day.
Kat, if that were only the case. I go to a school that shares campus ministries with another, larger state school.
The music in the parish and on the campus is atrocious, and it's BECAUSE the campus minister and ministerette are washouts from the 1970s, complete with acoustic guitar and screechy cat voices.
The state of music in all of Novus Ordo Catholicism is atrocious, sadly.
@Kat
I'm already in communication with the OEC about the possibility of bringing in a group. :)
Andrew, just because some campus ministries are filled with 70s holdouts, doesn't mean all of them are. There are good and growing campus ministries all around the country.
Not sure the reason for your 'if that were only the case' comment since what Kat mentioned is the truth, as she noted, in these parts (being Madison). St. Ambrose (representing the high school youth) and St. Paul's (the college youth) are both excellent examples of quality, sacred music.
And let's keep the hyperbolic statements to a minimum. Go to a Mass at St. Paul's and you'll see how Novus Ordo can be done, and done beautifully, reverently and prayerfully.
Actually... when I was at UW (I graduated in 2005 so it's been a while and the priest has since changed) I stopped attending St. Paul's (the UW campus Catholic church) and switched to Holy Redeemer. The tipping point at St. Paul's was when a woman, in some sort of robe, assisted the priest during the whole Mass and even read his homily. The ONLY time the priest did anything was for the consecration. And for those who are wondering, the priest was in perfectly good physical health. The Sunday sermons did not do much to inspire either; considering UW's reputation for sex, drugs and alcohol, something more hard-hitting than "Try to be a good person and remember that God loves you" would have at least challenged church-goers.
Virginia, things do change. I think you'd be pleasantly surprised by a visit back to St. Paul's -- and this is coming from a 2004 grad from UW (we could no doubt swap stories). The building may be the same concrete slab, but a new springtime brings hope for everything.
Ben: glad to hear it. I hope something positive comes from the dialogue!
Kat, agreed, definitely. My intent was to provide perspective of the not-too-distant past, and why some have cynicism toward "campus ministry". I have heard only positive things about Father Eric Neilsen and his work at St. Paul's.
Well, then, Virginia, now you'll hear about the good things Fr. Eric Sternberg brings to Madistan, including his regular celebration of the EF Mass at Holy Redeemer--for which he had to self-study Latin and Chant.
Psst... Holy Family Homeschoolers has some amazing Masses too. They are in the ordinary form, offered ad orientem with many of the kids singing the chants of Mass. They are truly amazing, liturgically speaking, and musically speaking.
Where else can you find something like this?
BC, we need a new poll up... "Was the Mass Virginia attended in college valid?"
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