ZENIT, Daily dispatch
The World Seen From Rome
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LETTERS TO THE EDITORS
* Music's Powerful Effects
* Modern Inspiration
* Emphasis on Sacred
* Flip Side
* Protestant Origins
* The True Spiritual Music
* Pro-life Efforts at the U.N.
* Population Control, Avoiding Responsibility
MESSAGE TO READERS
* Letters to the Editor
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Letters to the Editors
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Music's Powerful Effects
I am in complete agreement with the letter of [Martin] Fernandez [Praise and Worship Music]. I have also been involved in leading music for Catholic worship for many years.
I grew up with Gregorian chant and its influences in pre-Vatican II, and while I dearly love that music, I have also seen the impact of well-written, Scripture-based contemporary music.
I am currently very active in prison ministry, specifically Kairos, and have witnessed many times the powerful effect that music can have on the prisoners. It can touch them in ways that mere words cannot.
We need to continue to encourage contemporary composers to write meaningful, scriptural, well-crafted music to enhance our worship.
Julie Glowacki
email this article:
http://www.zenit.org/article-21094?l=english
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Modern Inspiration
I am a singer, Pianist/ organist and composer of sacred(Praise & worship) music in Pretoria South-Africa.
When I read the first article on this topic, I was a bit concerned about the future of Catholic liturgical music. I, as a leader of praise and worship in my parish, witness the rewards regularly of the renewing of the Spirit in the church and also the outpouring of the Holy Spirit over the congregation.
Since the early Biblical days, God has given man the gift of union with him through the use of singing and dancing, playing tambourines, trumpets and lyres with a joyful spirit.
[...]
The Holy Spirit has given me the gift of the most beautiful Sanctus, that I now regularly share with the congregation. It is not a composition of my own making and you can physically feel the Holy Spirit's presence in that song and the presence of angels and saints singing along in heaven.
Just as [Blessed] Hildegard vom Bingen [1098-1179] had visions of the heavenly realm, and composed music of the time given to her by the Holy Spirit, so it continues today.
But we can not carry on using only Gregorian chant dating from Hildegard's days. The Holy Spirit is just as up-to-date with modern times as we are. He has to speak the music of the times to stir up the spirit of modern man.
I love chants and I love singing them, but lay people do not relate. We have to still commune in simple music of our time, to allow the Spirit to speak through us and refresh the congregation.
How can we deny that to souls?
I thank Martin for his comments and rejoice in finding a like-minded spirit elsewhere in the world!
May God bless you all.
Ilse Mazzone
Queenswood Christ the King Catholic Church
South Africa
email this article:
http://www.zenit.org/article-21095?l=english
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Emphasis on Sacred
Martin Fernandez, in his letter of Nov. 17 [Praise and Worship Music], states that there is a place for Praise and Worship music in the Church. He uses the example of "anointed, inspiring worship during prayer meetings and also other services" as justification for this genre of music.
The problem today with music in the Church is a lack of focus about what the Church is doing for and with us when she worships God.
There is a decided difference between liturgical and devotional "services." Since it seems that music is as much out of hand as every other aspect of presenting the liturgy of the Church, it is essential that the music of the sacred liturgy be brought into line first and hence receive the greatest attention. Musical support to the Liturgy of the Hours should follow and then that of devotions.
While some 'praise and worship' music is based on sacred Scripture, in my experience, it is often manipulated to subtly change its meaning or uses so-called inclusive language, which in itself blurs the meaning of the sacred text. Some of the texts contain errors, while others approach schismatic or heretical degrees. Most people in the pews or in the choir/song group do not have the knowledge to be aware of this.
Further, the tunes that this genre utilizes fall into categories that correspond to all of the current "pop" styles. This blurs the boundaries of music fit for worship, even in devotional worship, and the popular music scene. This blurring does not enhance worship, it only causes excitement, which needs to be continually fuelled or it grows cold. When the excitement dies, the "worshipper" moves on. This is documented in the Protestant and Evangelical movements where people are constantly shifting their allegiance in order to find the "worship" they like best. In other words, that excites them.
The music of the sacred liturgy, indeed all liturgies must become sacred if we are to avoid the pitfalls of the Protestant movement. The music of the "praise and worship" segment will then follow and the conversions will be deeper and, from my experience, longer lasting.
Kevin Kirkwood
email this article:
http://www.zenit.org/article-21096?l=english
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Flip Side
I understand the opinion expressed here [Praise and Worship Music], but the music at the liturgy should be distinguished from music that is synonymous with particular secular environments.
On the flip side, I would not expect Gregorian chant or solemn hymns to be played in the background at a restaurant, sporting event, party, etc.
Let us foster the understanding of what happens at the liturgy. It is the sacrifice of Christ made present for us. Too often, the liturgy has become a playground for experimenting with secular musical sensations. For instance, when I attend the opera or a classical concert, you wouldn't find music that is not characteristic of its very being (e.g., rock and roll, rap).
I'm not saying that we need Gregorian chant strictly; but the occasion of the Mass compels us to sing the liturgy in a chant like manner -- even the vernacular can and should be done -- because of its very nature. Think of the atmosphere at the Last Supper or the earliest Eucharistic celebrations of the early Christian Church. Instruments are not necessarily needed; I'm not a big fan of guitars, drum sets and even the organ.
All we need is what God gave us: our voices. Let us strive to make a return to fostering liturgical spirituality that will deepen our prayer lives
Ave Maria,
David Phillips
email this article:
http://www.zenit.org/article-21097?l=english
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Protestant Origins
I have a few comments regarding Martin Fernandez's comments on "Praise and Worship" music [Praise and Worship Music].
I appreciate Fernandez's concern regarding what he has devoted much of his time and talent to.
Many "praise and worship" songs are of Protestant origin. I have come across many praise and worship songs that are not based on scripture and contain lyrics that leave me bewildered, to say the least. I think it is necessary that the text of these songs be scrutinized carefully, and modified if necessary, so that only those that express truthfully aspects of our Catholic faith are sung.
Catholics also have a different understanding of what worship is. The highest form of worship is done through Christ and with Christ, together with the whole Church in the liturgy of the Church, which is the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours. The Mass is the entire Body of Christ -- including all the Angels and Saints -- praising God and worshipping him together. The Mass is praise and worship of God.
Much of "praise and worship" music is written in the modern idiom, which unfortunately reminds many people of the highly commercialized nature of music in the mass media today.
As such, we need to take visible and concrete actions to remind the faithful that God is indeed present, and that the Mass is a sacred event. This is where the externals of the faith come in, and especially Gregorian chant.
Remember that even in the secular world, music for different purposes is written differently. A national anthem has qualities different from a children's song. Music for Mass needs to have its own qualities too. Without going into the specifics of the matter, the qualities of Gregorian chant render it most suitable for the Mass. In fact, English-language adaptations of Gregorian chant have been made in recent decades and they are easy to sing!
To conclude, I am sure that many of the Catholic faithful will continue to find "Praise and Worship" sessions useful in the practice of their faith. I certainly agree that we should work together for the glory of God. However, it is necessary for Catholics to come to an appreciation of what the Mass really is and what it does for us, and I dare say that an increased use of Gregorian chant will achieve this.
Norman Lee
email this article:
http://www.zenit.org/article-21098?l=english
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The True Spiritual Music
I was very happy about the article on sacred music that is Gregorian and also polyphonic. It is a big relief to see how the people are becoming aware of the true spiritual music.
I was reading the article of Martin FernandezPraise and Worship Music, where he speaks about the contribution of praise and worship songs. I would also like to show the readers the other side of the coin.
Many praise and worship songs are composed by Protestants and later these songs began to be used by the newly formed charismatic and praise and worship groups. All Catholics know that the protestants do not believe in many articles of faith of the Catholic church.
Almost all these modern songs have original or adapted tunes of pop, jazz, rock and other types of modern songs that has noting spiritual but is only pleasing to the senses of the people. Many youngsters like this type of music just because it is pleasing to them. One cannot put a sheep's skin on a wolf and transform the wolf into a sheep.
Even the youth who sing these songs dress and conduct themselves like they are at a party.
By Br, P. Xavier
email this article:
http://www.zenit.org/article-21099?l=english
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Pro-life Efforts at the U.N.
I am grateful that independent journalists and pro-life nongovernmental organizations -- NGOs -- still have a voice and a presence at the United Nations, and that they are still being heard through some media newsfeeds [Abortion's Sneaky Rise: Interview With Susan Yoshihara].
Not all NGOs are evil threats to mankind. But, unfortunately, and quite disturbingly, there are NGOs that seem to get into deceptive and unfair positions of power. Hooray for Susan, and I pray for more excellent reporting from her.
Marian Leahy
email this article:
http://www.zenit.org/article-21100?l=english
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Population Control, Avoiding Responsibility
The insistence from Gore and others that "an overcrowded world is inveitably a polluted one" [The Life-Sapping Human Virus], and the tendency to compare human beings to a "virus" has two disastrous consequences.
First, human beings are made self-serving automatons which can only have a parasitic relationship with the things that sustain them; stripped of personality, they become dispensable and even undesirable.
Second, the effects of our sinful nature, especially our collective mistreatment of the environment, is considered an inevitability, perhaps even part of our nature. This strips away the notion of moral responsibility for human actions and makes human beings, not human behavior, the problem and target.
This kind of thinking leads to contraception and abortion, self-hatred, and utilitarian thinking, and prevents what would really help the environment problem -- people and nations taking responsibility for the effect their actions have on the world.
Antoinette Rispoli
Catholic Student Union, Florida State University
email this article:
http://www.zenit.org/article-21101?l=english
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Message To Readers
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Letters to the Editor
NEW YORK, NOV. 24, 2007 (Zenit.org).- ZENIT has replaced the Saturday documents section with letters to the editor. If you would like to participate in the forum, please send your comments via ZENIT's Web page: www.zenit.org/form-2.
email this article:
http://www.zenit.org/article-21102?l=english
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