Comments on: On fear and the liturgy http://crowhill.net/blog/?p=564 A multi-author blog with a range of opinions on news, culture, politics, beer, art, science, education, religion and life Thu, 09 Sep 2010 10:10:19 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Confessions of a Recovering Choir Director http://crowhill.net/blog/?p=564&cpage=1#comment-3369 Confessions of a Recovering Choir Director Wed, 24 Nov 2004 18:26:36 +0000 /?p=564#comment-3369 <strong>"On fear and the liturgy"</strong> Those of you who have suffered through Catholic liturgical music understand this problem at a level that words cannot convey. For the rest of you, herewith my poor attempt. Imagine songs written by and for a pack of fearful baby... “On fear and the liturgy”
Those of you who have suffered through Catholic liturgical music understand this problem at a level that words cannot convey. For the rest of you, herewith my poor attempt. Imagine songs written by and for a pack of fearful baby…

]]> By: moronikos http://crowhill.net/blog/?p=564&cpage=1#comment-644 moronikos Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 /?p=564#comment-644 Thank you. Nice entry. Thank you. Nice entry.

]]> By: Retro Rosco III http://crowhill.net/blog/?p=564&cpage=1#comment-645 Retro Rosco III Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 /?p=564#comment-645 How much do you think this kind of music in American RCC parishes resembles the "seeker sensitive" and "contemporary worship" garbage that is widespread in Evangelical churches? As one who has attended both churches and heard the bad music on both sides, they seem pretty close in many ways to me. Maybe it's something else to blame the Boomers for:)<br /> <br /> Rosco How much do you think this kind of music in American RCC parishes resembles the "seeker sensitive" and "contemporary worship" garbage that is widespread in Evangelical churches? As one who has attended both churches and heard the bad music on both sides, they seem pretty close in many ways to me. Maybe it’s something else to blame the Boomers for:)

Rosco

]]> By: GregK http://crowhill.net/blog/?p=564&cpage=1#comment-646 GregK Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 /?p=564#comment-646 My experience of "seeker sensitive" is very different. They know that people don't want to sing drippy songs, so they don't do drippy songs. The prevailing sin among the seeker sensitive crowd is music that's way too noisy -- electric guitars, loud drums, etc. <br /> <br /> Greg My experience of "seeker sensitive" is very different. They know that people don’t want to sing drippy songs, so they don’t do drippy songs. The prevailing sin among the seeker sensitive crowd is music that’s way too noisy — electric guitars, loud drums, etc.

Greg

]]> By: Leo http://crowhill.net/blog/?p=564&cpage=1#comment-647 Leo Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 /?p=564#comment-647 Greg, write a letter to the music director at your church or go and talk with him. <br /> <br /> I accidentally attended some sort of Mass for teens at a Jesuit parish recently, and the music was awful crap about seeking justice. I went home and wrote a letter to the music director ripping into his choice of music. I've not gone back but it made me feel better. <br /> <br /> I think I'm going to become some sort of letter writing nusiance to all the local parishes. Greg, write a letter to the music director at your church or go and talk with him.

I accidentally attended some sort of Mass for teens at a Jesuit parish recently, and the music was awful crap about seeking justice. I went home and wrote a letter to the music director ripping into his choice of music. I’ve not gone back but it made me feel better.

I think I’m going to become some sort of letter writing nusiance to all the local parishes.

]]> By: Retro Rosco III http://crowhill.net/blog/?p=564&cpage=1#comment-648 Retro Rosco III Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 /?p=564#comment-648 Greg,<br /> <br /> I agree that the noisy music is a big problem with "seeker sensitive" music. In general it tries to draw people in with "fun worship" i.e. through the use of rock and pop music. Most of this, however, is pretty vacuous as far as theological content goes. Moreover, emotion and feelings are stressed and as with what you are talking about regarding contemporary Catholic music, God's judgment is rarely mentioned. Instead, Jesus is your good buddy and therapy replaces repentance. It's not all the same, but I do see a lot of connections between contemporary Catholic and Evangelical music. <br /> Also, have you tried an Eastern Catholic parish? My guess is you would get something quite different than what you have now.<br /> <br /> Rosco Greg,

I agree that the noisy music is a big problem with "seeker sensitive" music. In general it tries to draw people in with "fun worship" i.e. through the use of rock and pop music. Most of this, however, is pretty vacuous as far as theological content goes. Moreover, emotion and feelings are stressed and as with what you are talking about regarding contemporary Catholic music, God’s judgment is rarely mentioned. Instead, Jesus is your good buddy and therapy replaces repentance. It’s not all the same, but I do see a lot of connections between contemporary Catholic and Evangelical music.
Also, have you tried an Eastern Catholic parish? My guess is you would get something quite different than what you have now.

Rosco

]]> By: Jack Whitehead http://crowhill.net/blog/?p=564&cpage=1#comment-649 Jack Whitehead Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 /?p=564#comment-649 Well, Greg, that's the price of converting to Catholism. You asked for it. Shut up and quit griping. At least you're in the true apostolic church, which is what you were wanting to find. What more do you want? Overlook the negatives. Being part of the true church should silence your gripes.<br /> <br /> :)<br /> <br /> Jack Well, Greg, that’s the price of converting to Catholism. You asked for it. Shut up and quit griping. At least you’re in the true apostolic church, which is what you were wanting to find. What more do you want? Overlook the negatives. Being part of the true church should silence your gripes.

:)

Jack

]]> By: Jack http://crowhill.net/blog/?p=564&cpage=1#comment-650 Jack Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 /?p=564#comment-650 Being part of the true church should silence your gripes? Just wonderful. That's the sort of sentiment that has landed the church in the place it is, and that's the sort of inane logic that gave so much tinder to the Reformation. As Frank Sheed said, the reason God is blessing the Protestant churches is because so many find it impossible to find Him in the Catholic Church. A sorry state of affairs. Being part of the true church should silence your gripes? Just wonderful. That’s the sort of sentiment that has landed the church in the place it is, and that’s the sort of inane logic that gave so much tinder to the Reformation. As Frank Sheed said, the reason God is blessing the Protestant churches is because so many find it impossible to find Him in the Catholic Church. A sorry state of affairs.

]]> By: wayne http://crowhill.net/blog/?p=564&cpage=1#comment-651 wayne Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 /?p=564#comment-651 Sorry for beating a dead horse but, trying to imagine the thought processes that go into this sort of thing I can only conclude that (bad) ecumenism is at the bottom of it. Sorry for beating a dead horse but, trying to imagine the thought processes that go into this sort of thing I can only conclude that (bad) ecumenism is at the bottom of it.

]]> By: GregK http://crowhill.net/blog/?p=564&cpage=1#comment-652 GregK Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 /?p=564#comment-652 Wayne -- I'm not sure the motive is ecumenism. I think some liturgy directors actually prefer these songs, or believe that the parish prefers them. <br /> <br /> (And BTW, the portion of bunny lullabies at my parish has been steadily diminishing over the last several months!) <br /> <br /> Greg Wayne — I’m not sure the motive is ecumenism. I think some liturgy directors actually prefer these songs, or believe that the parish prefers them.

(And BTW, the portion of bunny lullabies at my parish has been steadily diminishing over the last several months!)

Greg

]]> By: wayne http://crowhill.net/blog/?p=564&cpage=1#comment-653 wayne Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 /?p=564#comment-653 Well, on an individual basis that could be even worse. :)<br /> <br /> I guess they have a lot of discretion at the parish level on what can be used in worship. Fortunately, we don't have to deal with that issue because we don't have hymnals, and nothing can be sung in the services that is not in the service books. Those go back a long way. Otherwise I'm sure some choir director somewhere would try to add his own thing. Well, on an individual basis that could be even worse. :)

I guess they have a lot of discretion at the parish level on what can be used in worship. Fortunately, we don’t have to deal with that issue because we don’t have hymnals, and nothing can be sung in the services that is not in the service books. Those go back a long way. Otherwise I’m sure some choir director somewhere would try to add his own thing.

]]> By: dennisb1 http://crowhill.net/blog/?p=564&cpage=1#comment-654 dennisb1 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 /?p=564#comment-654 greg, <br /> <br /> greg, <br /> <br /> 1st off: Froh Geburtstag zu dir, froh Geburtstag zu dir. Froh Geburtstag liebe Greg, Froh Geburtstag zu dir!. (my apologies if my German is rusty).<br /> <br /> 2nd: It appears we have a pastor who's not afraid to address current issues. Maybe a <br /> letter to him presenting this as an issue might help push the trend along. <br /> <br /> dennis greg,

greg,

1st off: Froh Geburtstag zu dir, froh Geburtstag zu dir. Froh Geburtstag liebe Greg, Froh Geburtstag zu dir!. (my apologies if my German is rusty).

2nd: It appears we have a pastor who’s not afraid to address current issues. Maybe a
letter to him presenting this as an issue might help push the trend along.

dennis

]]> By: Jim Cork http://crowhill.net/blog/?p=564&cpage=1#comment-655 Jim Cork Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 /?p=564#comment-655 Greg wrote: "I think some liturgy directors actually prefer these songs, or believe that the parish prefers them."<br /> <br /> Scary but true. I personally know people who love the stuff. They also like Yanni and Peter, Paul & Mary. Greg wrote: "I think some liturgy directors actually prefer these songs, or believe that the parish prefers them."

Scary but true. I personally know people who love the stuff. They also like Yanni and Peter, Paul & Mary.

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