Two thoughts come to mind:
1. Is there a difference between American Catholic and Catholic American?
2. Could the problem have anything to do with what we're asked, er, demanded to sing?
Dale, I think you and Rich have gotten a little over-excited about this comment. There are too many reasons why Catholics don't sing to pin the blame on one thing:
- poor music
- poorly done good music
- poor acoustics
- lack of faith in the pew or in the choir loft
- permission given by priest not to sing
Individualistic piety is not a big problem in my opinion: Catholics generally feel free (within bounds) to do as they please at Mass, and sometimes that includes not singing.
The solution is simple, though not easy: offer very good music led and performed by very good musicians.
I'm hardly going to argue with your diagnoses or your solution (though I suspect we have different views as to what "very good music" is).
But it wasn't me pinning the problem on a single cause, namely the old bugbear of "individualistic piety." Moreover, it's something of a staple in liturgical thought to decry the individualistic, the personal, the private, the devotional.
It's getting tired, and it doesn't take a reflex conservative to see that that mindset has impoverished Catholic life.
http://www.thetablet.co.uk/cgi-b...gi?tablet-
00792
I'm not singing. No one is going to make me sing. For some guys, singing just ain't an option.
1. My life flows on in endless song above earth's lamentation;
I catch the sweet though far-off hymn that hails a new creation.
Through all the tumult and the strife, I hear the music ringing;
It finds an echo in my soul: How can I keep from singing?
(Anonymous)
Well, I suppose that the Pope will not come to your pew and bonk you on the head if you do not sing (although if he were American, he might send an Italian nun, with a sharp elbow that would hit just below the ribs, down your aisle!), but when it has gotten so far as to say "Non serviam," I am afraid that we have missed the point. It is a privilege to join in the heavenly liturgy, the angelic song as witnessed by holy scripture: Sanctus! Sanctus! Sanctus! Do you think the angels can keep from singing?
1. When in our music God is glorified,
and adoration leaves no room for pride,
it is as though the whole creation cried Alleluia!
The organ is representative of all creation joining in with the heavenly choirs of angels. Just as the earthly choir (and the priest and deacon) have their parts to sing in the Mass, so do the faithful have ours.
4. And did not Jesus sing a psalm that night
when utmost evil strove against the Light?
Then let us sing, for whom He won the fight, Alleluia!
(F. Pratt Green)
The psalms were written to be chanted and they are an important part of our liturgy. We chant them in the company of Christ and his saints.
On the other hand, there certainly are practical ways, probably none too common in Catholic churches in our country, to encourage congregational song, and there certainly are ways to discourage it. And I agree that one way among many to discourage it is to say that You Could Be A selfish jerk just like your daddy and momma If You do not sing when I tell you to.
Why is "not singing" said to be a Catholic thing, and not an American Catholic thing? Some places in the Catholic world sing, and sing loud. I have heard a barely-populated small Catholic church in Germany sing with something like the force of a baseball stadium in World Series time.
I don't think Dale's decrying all singing, just singing at specific parts--specifically parts where personal devotion rightly figures in. E.g., while he's trying to pray after receiving the Eucharist. Could be wrong, but that's what it sounds like.
Let the people who want to sing join the choir (you remember choirs?). Everyone else shut up and pray.
I don't think Dale's decrying all singing,
Mr Papist, I may have confused the conversation. My comment was mainly in response to the previous comment by Tom C., who said, "No one is going to make me sing," which leads me to imagine that (1) singing has been effectively presented to him as an option, probably by way of poor musical practice in his parish, and (2) he thinks that the quality of his actual vocal production has something to do with taking the option.
I only wanted to point out that, in general, singing should not be perceived as an option or a burden.
In a church where congregational singing is properly supported, (1) the surrounding sound is felt as a pressure that virtually forces song up and out of the lungs (something like the reaction involved in dancing to a heavy bass beat) and (2) one cannot distinguish individual voices more than two people away anyway.
I do agree with Mr Price in that one very good way to encourage people to sing is to let them sing when they are ready (asperges, "entrance song," Pater Noster) and not force the issue when they do not (after having received Communion). Building on that, we can work toward liturgical ideals.
No serious church musician will attempt to force people to sing when they choose not to. However, people who persistently fold their arms and refuse to sing when there is nothing else going on ritually, are indeed, as Frank put it, "doing it my way."
Such individualism may have a reason behind it, but it would be a stretch to say that individuals have chosen a higher form of prayer (or sometimes any prayer at all).
I invite people to sing for the same reason I invite them to attend Mass, go on retreat, read the Bible, educate themselves about their faith and religion: because I believe the invitation isn't mine, but God's. People go their own way. Sometimes, quite often. Am I being unfair for suggesting they are individualists? Often it's quite clear they are not praying. Peeling off the main effort of worship to pray: I can understand and appreciate; I do it myself from time to time. Peeling off to hit the links, to daydream persistently, to sleep in on Sunday morning, or grumble about music? I don't buy it.
If some people were serious about not singing and making a point of it, the least they could do is open the book and pray the words silently, or even close their eyes, kneel down, and reflect. I suspect most non-singers see a song as an opportunity to disengage. What would happen if they did that at the office or on softball, bowling, or bridge night?
“(1) singing has been effectively presented to him as an option, probably by way of poor musical practice in his parish, and (2) he thinks that the quality of his actual vocal production has something to do with taking the option.”
The music is actually quite good at my parish. No Haugen or Haas nonsense. No one has suggested to me that singing is only an option, nor has anyone told me it was mandatory. I get far more out of Mass by forgetting about myself and becoming absorbed in what is going on. If I were to try to sing, I’d be far more distracted. The choir does fine by itself, thanks.
A Mass accompanied with Palestrina or William Byrd with no one but the choir singing is far more moving than a Haugen/Haas Mass with everyone joining in.
I’m not singing. I don’t dance either.
"I do agree with Mr Price in that one very good way to encourage people to sing is to let them sing when they are ready (asperges, "entrance song," Pater Noster)"
Not to be too picky, but if they did the Asperges before Mass, I don't think you are supposed to sing the Pater, at least not until "...Sed Libera Nos A Malos."
Or is there an Asperges for the Novus Ordo? I was under the impression it went the way of "Introibo ad altare Dei..."
Not to be too picky, but if they did the Asperges before Mass, I don't think you are supposed to sing the Pater, at least not until "...Sed Libera Nos A Malo."
I was wondering whether anyone would notice my liturgical mish-mash. You are quite, erm, "rite."
Or is there an Asperges for the Novus Ordo?
Oh, sure, the Rite of Blessing and Sprinkling Holy Water is after the introit and signum crucis, but is optional for any Sunday in place of the Penitential Rite (no Asperges and Kyrie together), and so usually only seen during Easter if at all. In which case the traditional chant would be the beautiful "Vidi aquam." But if it is used only occasionally, there will paradoxically never be that many voices behind the quilisma in "ooo - o o om-nes" as the water washes the assembly.
By the way, this is quite definitely congregational music and there are these additional ICEL antiphons:
Outside Easter
(adapted from Asperges):
Cleanse us, Lord, from all our sins;
wash us, and we shall be whiter than snow.
Easter:
Lord Jesus,
from your wounded side
flowed streams of living water:
the world was washed of all its sin,
all life made new again,
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Now now... I like singing [insert conservative to traditional qualifiers about the types of hymns I like here], but I choose to sing just loud enough so that only God hears me. He gave me this voice so He can deal with it, but nobody else should have that kind of punishment inflicted upon them.
Yeah, but apparently I fat-fingered "malo". Thanks for deleting my "s".
Who, except dieters, really wants to be delivered from those puffy bits of sugary goodness (mallows)?
I'm confused (or maybe I'm stupid). I thought Dale's point was not about singing per sa, but he was speaking on a moment of silence after Holy Communion for reflection, which I think is outlined in the new liturgical norms, rather than jumping right to the recessional... as though we just had a snack. Did I get the wrong impression?
Todd in particular:
If the invitation is not your's to make, please don't make it. Address your enthusiasm to the God Who generates it, and allow others to do the same, whether or not they wish to warble the insipid hymn du jour.
In general:
It's pretty obvious that Dale was referring to a specific moment after Holy Communion -- one more instance of the unctuous boobies of the congregation barging in on an individual's offering of prayer to God. That this even happens during the Mass -- regardless of the particular moment -- is shameful, stupid, and extremely lacking in charity, to say nothing of rudimentary courtesy. People who find it necessary to display their piety in the most ostentatious way possible usually have something else going on, much like the pharisee of Luke 18.
The Mass is not an exercise in congregationalist fatuousness, however much the ministers of Amchurch might wish to make it so.
On the question of what happens when people "opt out" of the group singing activity during the Mass:
Many things happen, not just one.
(1) People may pray.
(2) People may start to pray, but end up thinking about the football game.
(3) They may be distracted by the individualistic pieties of their children.
(4) They may be distracted by the blunderbusso profundo of the big lady next to them, the same one that attaches herself like a baby "Alien" during the handshake/hug/turn-that-frown-upside-down of peace.
(5) So how does any of this make it anyone's business but theirs?
"Todd in particular:
If the invitation is not your's to make, please don't make it."
Actually, Ralph, it's my job and ministry to make it. If you have a problem, take it up with my pastor.
But seriously, I wouldn't be too bothered by the notion of an invitation to sing. First, if you're really bad, think of it as getting even. And second, invitations, be they from God or a brother, can always be politely declined.
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