Give us back our music!

I'm listening to The Priests. Thanks Carina for lending your CD.

WOW! They're amazing. Heavenly!

Makes me wonder, once again: Why, oh why, have we abandoned our Catholic musical heritage - a testimony to the beauty and creativity God has blessed man with and so rich in meaning - for the bland music we are exposed to at Mass these days?

It's not as if the choirs can't handle traditional Catholic music. Singaporean churches are blessed with excellent choristers and equipment.

Yet we still insist on singing songs which, for the most part, celebrate ourselves rather than God (cf "Gather us in"). Count, for example, the number of times modern hymns use the word "we" and how few times they address "You" or "Him".

Hymns like Panis Angelicus, Pie Jesu, Abide With Me, Ave Verum, Tantum Ergo, O Salutaris and Holy God, We Praise Thy Name teach us so much about our faith, remind us of our dependence on God, His benificence and direct us to offer to Him the worship that is His due. They are truly Catholic, drawing on centuries of faith and love. They are also part of the Church's gift to culture and civilization. Why then, with all this heritage, do we need to rely on non-Catholics like Marty Haugen to provide us with the music we use at the Holy Mass, the most powerful act in the universe?

On the topic of liturgical music - the Vatican announced some months ago that using the Name of God (YHWH) was inappropriate for use in Catholic Liturgy. This makes perfect sense - the Jews didn't pronounce or write the Name, why should we? We're already losing the sense of mystery and otherness of God - too often modern music treats God as our buddy...

It was therefore quite ironic that during the very Mass that the Pastoral Council of St Ignatius' Church chose to announce its "Liturgy Month" the choir sang a song which contained God's Name.

There was also applause during the Mass.

"Whenever applause breaks out in the liturgy because of some human achievement, it is a sure sign that the essence of liturgy has totally disappeared and been replaced by a kind of religious entertainment"

- Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Spirit of the Liturgy

Let's hope Liturgy Month corrects these things!

And let's pray they bring back our great Catholic hymns.