The Pope Likes Chant!
Posted by: tony on 10/11/2006 01:40 PM
Updated by: tony on 10/11/2006 01:43 PM
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Expires: 11/11/2006 12:00 AM
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 Mike Liccione posted the link to Sandro Magister's article announcing that the Pope likes chant. Well. That's really not the whole of it. There's the whole preferential music thing, best way to worship God, transcendental liturgies, etc.
But is this news? This strikes me as a "dog bites man!" story.
For the record, I agree completely with the Pope (well, actually agree, not simply being obedient).
I love Gregorian chant and sacred polyphony. To me, incense is the smell of God, and I will always consider classical chant as "the voice of the angels". It brings God closer to me in a more (can I use this word in the context of the church?) sensual way.
But I've been through approximately 30 years of music by the St. Louis Jesuits, Haugen, Haas, Sr. Toolan, etc. Much of it is drek, especially in the Gather Comprehensive, castrated edition. In this volume, it looks like they went through with a search and replace and replaced all instances of "He" with "God". This gives you lines like "I sought the Lord and God answered me". It's like you got on the "God Phone", and said: "Can I speak to the Lord?". "This is God". Oops... wrong number!". But I digress.
Some of it is fabulous. Praying the lyrics brings tears to my eyes (no, not tears of pain). Maybe the vast majority of it is drek, but there are chrstnuts in there that are a wonderful component of any Mass.
I have been hearing all over St. Blogs about this new document released by the Pope. I can almost hear the jumping up and down and hooting of our more traditional bretheren. The thought of getting rid of all the Peter-Paul-and-Mary-esque lounge acts may be great in theory, but I don't see it happening any time soon, and as a matter of fact, I don't really see it happening in my lifetime.
You folks that know and love chant, you need to help us out. Many of us would like to learn and would find a simple Gregorian "Agnus Dei" a prayerful addition to our Mass. But don't insult our musicians, many of whom are volunteers and only know how to play a guitar. And don't dismiss all of our music. Show us which ones are reasonable, and have faithful Catholic lyrics. Teach us where to sing the songs and which ones to choose. Help us leave songs like "Sing a New Church" on the winnowing room floor by not only bringing us chant, but bringing us faithful modern music too.
You are sorely needed during this time of Liturgical renewal.
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