Music at Papal Mass, Washington DC
It would be worthwhile for Cathcon readers to express their sentiments to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops concerning the music selections for the Papal Mass in Washington, DC today.
PS from Cathcon
As of 9.00 GMT this morning, no comments published at all. Pray for the poor guy who will be deluged. The Pope has reigned now for three years and there are clearly still people who are not listening.
However, plenty of negative comments here.
PS from Cathcon
As of 9.00 GMT this morning, no comments published at all. Pray for the poor guy who will be deluged. The Pope has reigned now for three years and there are clearly still people who are not listening.
However, plenty of negative comments here.
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Comments
The Papal Mass at Nationals Park was multi-lingual/multiculturalism on display, full-force, in such an abominable array of liturgical music that there has been an explosion of negative reaction on the internet.
EWTN's Arroyo/Neuhaus team appeared aghast as the liturgy proceeded and the music went from bad to worse. During the Mass itself Neuhaus remarked pointedly that it "contradicts everything the pope has written for the last 30 years." He called it (accurately) "multicultural exhibitionism." Arroyo at one point observed --humorous inasmuch it was delivered as the soberest of understatements-- that the music has an "Amazon flavor." Apparently the negative feedback to the USCCB site was so great, bloggers say the webmeister shut the blog down before the Mass was even over, causing still further clamor.
Every point in the Mass was affected --the Alleluia, Reponsorial Psalm, the Offertory, Communion. Contemporary styles of all types --jazzy, steamy-hot Latin rhythms, Third World, Black Gospel, pop, Marty Haugen. A full array of global instruments. And, of course, full multi-cultural regalia. The Holy Father got his earful, no doubt about it. "This will certainly be cause for theological reflection," an obviously irritated Neuhaus repeated several times as the liturgical melange unfolded.
"Reflection", unfortunately, is not going to "cut much mustard" at this point. Score it as a “victory of ‘AmChurch.’” It was a culmination of 40 years of post-conciliar liturgical music, repeatedly making the statement of “inclusion” and “multi-culturalism” ostensibly under the rationale that this is what America –and the Catholic Church in America-- actually is about.
Now that production must be contrasted to the Mass Liturgy on Saturday, April 19 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York City. Here was quite a magnificent example of what a well-done liturgy can be. It was a combination of classical-orchestral and Gregorian chant. It’s execution was masterful, as was the entirety of the Mass. I’m sure Benedict XVI was greatly uplifted by it. And, likely, relieved.
But it wasn’t without it multi-cultural expression, either. It, too, was a bi-lingualized liturgy. The weirdest thing of all was splitting the the Responsorial Psalm down the middle, so it became half-English/half-Spanish: "Lord, send forth Your Spirit, y repuebla la faz de la tierra." The verses, of course, were alternated between the two languages. Once again, the forces of bi-lingualism asserted themselves as the ritualistic standard. This is the result of a number of years of “evolution.” When it first started, it seemed a passing concession. Soon after, it became politically correct. Now, it's apparently set policy: “we are a bi-lingual Church in the U.S.” Ultimately, this is not a healthy policy for the Church in the United States.
All eyes (and ears) now await the Papal Mass Sunday, April 20, at Yankee Stadium, one of John Paul II’s favorite venues.
The Papal Mass at Nationals Park was multi-lingual/multiculturalism on display, full-force, in such an abominable array of liturgical music that there has been an explosion of negative reaction on the internet.
EWTN's Arroyo/Neuhaus team appeared aghast as the liturgy proceeded and the music went from bad to worse. During the Mass itself Neuhaus remarked pointedly that it "contradicts everything the pope has written for the last 30 years." He called it (accurately) "multicultural exhibitionism." Arroyo at one point observed --humorous inasmuch it was delivered as the soberest of understatements-- that the music has an "Amazon flavor." Apparently the negative feedback to the USCCB site was so great, bloggers say the webmeister shut the blog down before the Mass was even over, causing still further clamor.
Every point in the Mass was affected --the Alleluia, Reponsorial Psalm, the Offertory, Communion. Contemporary styles of all types --jazzy, steamy-hot Latin rhythms, Third World, Black Gospel, pop, Marty Haugen. A full array of global instruments. And, of course, full multi-cultural regalia. The Holy Father got his earful, no doubt about it. "This will certainly be cause for theological reflection," an obviously irritated Neuhaus repeated several times as the liturgical melange unfolded.
"Reflection", unfortunately, is not going to "cut much mustard" at this point. Score it as a “victory of ‘AmChurch.’” It was a culmination of 40 years of post-conciliar liturgical music, repeatedly making the statement of “inclusion” and “multi-culturalism” ostensibly under the rationale that this is what America –and the Catholic Church in America-- actually is about.
Now that production must be contrasted to the Mass Liturgy on Saturday, April 19 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York City. Here was quite a magnificent example of what a well-done liturgy can be. It was a combination of classical-orchestral and Gregorian chant. It’s execution was masterful, as was the entirety of the Mass. I’m sure Benedict XVI was greatly uplifted by it. And, likely, relieved.
But it wasn’t without it multi-cultural expression, either. It, too, was a bi-lingualized liturgy. The weirdest thing of all was splitting the the Responsorial Psalm down the middle, so it became half-English/half-Spanish: "Lord, send forth Your Spirit, y repuebla la faz de la tierra." The verses, of course, were alternated between the two languages. Once again, the forces of bi-lingualism asserted themselves as the ritualistic standard. This is the result of a number of years of “evolution.” When it first started, it seemed a passing concession. Soon after, it became politically correct. Now, it's apparently set policy: “we are a bi-lingual Church in the U.S.” Ultimately, this is not a healthy policy for the Church in the United States.
All eyes (and ears) now await the Papal Mass Sunday, April 20, at Yankee Stadium, one of John Paul II’s favorite venues.
"Two hundred years later, the Church in America can rightfully praise the accomplishment of past generations in bringing together widely differing immigrant groups within the unity of the Catholic faith and in a common commitment to the spread of the Gospel. At the same time, conscious of its rich diversity, the Catholic community in this country has come to appreciate ever more fully the importance of each individual and group offering its own particular gifts to the whole. The Church in the United States is now called to look to the future, firmly grounded in the faith passed on by previous generations, and ready to meet new challenges — challenges no less demanding than those faced by your forebears — with the hope born of God's love, poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (cf. Rom 5:5)."
It seems to me that this was very much a case of "each...group offering its own particular gifts to the whole." Or as His Holiness said in his message to the US Bishops: "Many of the people to whom John Carroll and his fellow Bishops were ministering two centuries ago had traveled from distant lands. The diversity of their origins is reflected in the rich variety of ecclesial life in present-day America." Indeed.