David mentions the awkwardness, one might say inappropriateness, of the singing of hymns at Mass. The best case for the practice I’ve read is the one offered last summer by Nathaniel Peters in these pages: “The Catholic Case for Protestant Hymns.”
Nathaniel makes several valuable, ecumenical points though I’m not sure I’m finally convinced. Even when the best hymns are well sung (as they were at a mass on Cape Cod Nathaniel and I both attended this summer), they do not, I think, conduce to the reverence particular to the Mass. Instead, let’s sing them at work and play, even when we pray the hours. And, as David says, if we must sing hymns at Mass let’s sing them lustily and in full.
December 26th, 2012 | 3:07 pm
As far as I can tell, Mills’ post doesn’t mention either the “awkwardness” nor the “inappropriateness” of singing hymns in the Mass. He makes the point that they’re not “integral” to the Mass.
At least currently, the practice of singing hymns in the Mass is a (as in “one”) way of participating in the Mass. And to quote David, “Before some liturgical pedant jumps in to inform us” that “participation” means something more than this in the Mass, participation does mean something more: but the required and permitted responses of the people make that participation communally concrete.
What has struck me since I was received 8 years or so ago, and only being familiar with one parish, is how non-existent is the people’s voices, and the people’s voice, is in the Mass. A majority of the people don’t say or sing anything, from what I can tell; the majority of those that do, do so “without breath” — apparently just barely mouthing the words.
We usually go to the Anglican/Episcopal “Service of Nine Lessons and Carols” (admittedly NOT the Liturgy) at a particular local Anglican parish. The usually close with “O Come, All Ye Faithful.” And it is the only time when I have sung, and heard, that song as a glorious, soaring hymn of praise.
Perhaps you could expand on your comment that hymns “do not, I think, conduce to the reverence particular to the Mass.” Because otherwise, it’s a comment that sounds more like a prejudice than a conclusion.
December 26th, 2012 | 4:48 pm
I don’t see how David’s post in any way considers hymns during Mass awkward or inappropriate.
And if it’s conducive to prayer during the hours, why not Mass? And if Gregorian chant is conducive to prayer why not hymns?
December 27th, 2012 | 6:18 am
Gregorian chant is far superior to hymns. Learning it as a child my experience taught that it is an intellectual, and emotional form of music lifting to God praise, and meditation.
December 27th, 2012 | 1:06 pm
Never mind the hymns, try singing along with the new liturgical music — tuneless and meandering it discourages involvement. Then again that’s the problem with much of what I see in the Gather. I’m always wary of those hymns whose composers are “b. 1950″ etc.
Liturgical music and hymns should bind you to the Mass not jerk you into another direction entirely. The Church Distracted strikes again. For some reason this Advent and Christmas have been worse than usual. The only Christmas carol at Mass each was O Come Emmanuel.
I find myself backsliding into Anglicanism at this time of the year. The tradition I grew up with and makes Christmas seem, well, more like Christmas. Go to YouTube to hear and see Advent Carol Services or Nine Lessons and Carols. That is music, beauty, that pulls you into the Nativity Story. In particular I recommend one broadcast on the BBC in 1954.
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