In email correspondence with Torkay on the subject of music in modern parishes, it became clear that this was a thread topic waiting to happen. We’ve all been there, suffered them: the popular tunes with the heretical sentiments. My all time NON favourite is the post-Communion “He comes to me, in sharing bread and wine” with the Magnificat swung to the tune “Will ye go, lassie, go” a close second. Torkay emailed the list below, to prompt discussion because it is surely important that voices raised in song during Mass and other liturgies, should not be raised in heresy.
Torkay’s list…
1. Taste and See, James E. Moore, Jr. (a Communion anthem)
“Taste and see, taste and see, the goodness of the Lord.”
2. We Are One in Christ, James Chepponis
REFRAIN: “As the bread of life is broken, the cup of love outpoured…”
V.3: “In the bread of life here given, we become what we receive. In the cup of love here offered, affirm what we believe.”
3. Ubi Caritas, Bob Hurd
V.2: “In true communion let us gather, let us rejoice in him (sic)…”
V.3: “May we who gather at this table to share the bread of life, become a sacrament of love, your healing touch, O Christ.”
4. Mass of Creation, Marty Haugen (this “Mass” is practically pagan)
Subtitle: “Song of Fire and Water”
Rite of Sprinkling
V.1: “We are fire and water, we are symbol and sign of grace, we are the mystery.”
V.2: “In the water we seek him, in the wellspring of all that lives, all who are thirsty.”
V.3: “In the fire we seek him, in the hungers and pains we bear, hope for the kingdom.”
Gospel Acclamation
V.4: “Come, O Spirit, kindle fire in the hearts of all your people.”
Memorial Acclamation
“Let us proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again.” (Torkay’s comment: oops! Wrong mystery!)
Jesus, Lamb of God (i.e. Agnus Dei)
V.2: “Jesus, Bread of Life, you take away the sins of the world.”
What about your list? Are there hymns that you can’t sing in church? Have you spoken to your priest or organist? Given the crisis in the Church, should priests make sure that the hymns in use are (excuse the pun!) sound?
It seems to me that modern hymns are not worshipping God at all. They are either making the congregation role play God (“I the Lord, of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry”) or they’re singing about themselves (“Here I am, Lord, is it I, Lord?”)
What do you think? Is there anyone out there who actually LIKES the modern songs? Or, like me, do you hanker after the beautiful hymns of praise and adoration, seldom heard in modern parishes any more?