Fr. Dwight Longenecker has an interesting critique and commentary on what passes for hymns now. I think he underlying conclusion is right on that it stems from a lack of understanding of what the Mass is in the first place.
What's a Hymn For?
previous post
6 comments
I think he underlying conclusion is right on that it stems from a lack of understanding of what the Mass is in the first place.
I think it stems from a subconcious embarrassment of what the Mass is in the first place, so they trivalize the whole with sentimental mush.
Agreed. Very difficult, at times, to meditate in thanksgiving after receiving Communion, with loud – at times, inappropriate music coming from the choir and the entire congregation.
What’s a Hymn For?
Easiest question in the book … the Liber Hymnarius, that is. A hymn is for the Liturgy of the Hours.
The single nicest change that folks can make with the music at Mass–and it’s easy–is to sing a Psalm at Communion time instead of a hymn. If you can’t manage the proper Communion antiphon with its Psalm, use the responsorial Psalm for Corpus Christi, one of the
Whoops!
…or one of the Eucharistic Sundays during the summer of Cycle B. Or even thanksgiving Psalms such as Ps. 103, with the refrain “The Lord is kind and merciful”–often used as a responsorial Psalm.
Two advantages:
1. You’re singing Scripture
2. The responsorial form is just right for the Communion procession
I’m still perplexed after attending Mass in a small town in the north woods last week end. It had been several years since I had been to this parish and had forgotten (or blocked out or, better yet, hoped they had abandoned the practice) that they sing Let There Be Peace on Earth interminably during the exchange of peace and squeeze in a brief Agnus dei as almost an afterthought. Strange.