Interior Catholic

  • Why Catholics Can’t Sing

    “Sacred music… is more closely connected with the liturgical action, whether it adds delight to prayer, fosters unity of minds, or confers greater solemnity upon the sacred rites. But the Church approves of all forms of true art having the needed qualities, and admits them into divine worship.”
    —    Sacrosanctum Concilium, chapter VI section 112

    I’m a musician. I wouldn’t consider myself a singer per se, but I appreciate a good, communal hymn. Blame my Baptist roots, but music is an essential part of worship. “He who sings prays twice,” they say (whoever “they” is). So it’s a real bummer when I attend a Mass and the people aren’t singing. Most don’t even bother to take out the hymnal.

    Thomas Day tries to explain why in Why Catholics Can’t Sing. The title has a double meaning: Most Catholics can’t sing, because I’d say most people can’t carry a tune. But the larger issue is how they can’t because the music itself doesn’t allow them to. It’s too complicated or confusing.

    Day blames much of this on Vatican II and its vague instruction on liturgical music. Its documents are left open to interpretation, allowing for variations based on local customs and what “the people” feel is appropriate. In the mission field especially, pastors are encouraged to include music that speaks to the local people: “Due importance is to be attached to their music, and a suitable place is to be given to it.” (Ch VI sec 119) As a result, “local” music took precedence over more “churchy” music. Gregorian chant, the highest of liturgical music, is hardly seen in most churches. If it is, it’s probably the simplified version that emerged after Vatican II.

    The post-Vatican II church was dizzy in confusion over what to do with music. “Choirs must be diligently promoted,” Sacrosanctum Concilium says (Ch VI sec 114). Instruments other than the organ were permitted if they “can be made suitable for sacred use.” (sec 120) All of this is highly subjective. The “diligent promotion” of choirs often means amplifying like a rock concert. Other churches found the acoustic guitar to be suitable, which I have certain opinions about. Once sacred music was opened to personal interpretation, it lost its uniformity and its worship character.

    That’s the real crux of the issue—the universal Church loses its universality when it’s left up to the people. Opening music to interpretation and “local customs” has resulted in a mix of traditional and modern hymns; a plethora of instruments and musical styles; and choirs so loud that the people aren’t heard. When church resembles a concert, the people become attendees—not participants. Remove the amplification. Select hymns with simple rhythms, not complex time signatures and syncopation. Make it accessible, and maybe there’s a chance people will be inspired to take part.

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  • Almsgiving

    With each Lent I try something new to aid in spiritual growth. There have been a variety of sacrifices and devotions, from additional readings to social media self-control. There have been days for prayer, and vows to update this blog more frequently (both were partially successful). But there was always one tenant of Lent that didn’t get as much focus: almsgiving.

    Along with prayer and fasting, almsgiving is one of the three pillars that makes Lent what it is. It’s also the most visible. Prayer and fasting can be done on your own, without a pressing need to involve the outside world. But almsgiving is the outside world, the offering of yourself to others.

    I once participated in a “donation a day,” which I plan to do again this year. Each day, look around the house and find one item to donate to charity. At first, it had a dual purpose: give to others, but also clean out the closet! But the latter (more selfish) reason quickly fell by the wayside. As Lent progressed, it became more difficult to find that one item each day. It forced me to think about what we really need. That sweater I haven’t worn in three years: why do I still have it? Or do I fear getting rid of it because it was a gift?

    Almsgiving is not only donating physical things or money, but also other acts of charity. It’s seemingly simple acts like holding the door for someone, or offering to help a stranger. Reach out to them, rather than waiting to be asked. Be aware of the world around you, and be empathetic to other’s needs. We spend so much time in our own heads, especially those (like myself) who spend a lot of time alone or work from home. Smile at the cashier when going to the store, or wave to a neighbor when they drive past. Small things make a difference, too.

    I was never a big fan of “giving something up,” but on top of everything else, I’ll finally do that, too: no sweets until Easter. With Ash Wednesday falling on Valentine’s Day this year, this is a double sacrifice. Especially when you consider all those post-Valentine’s candy sales.

And they said to him, “Inquire of God, we pray thee, that we may know whether the journey on which we are setting out will succeed.”

And the priest said to them, “Go in peace. The journey on which you go is under the eye of the LORD.”

—Judges 18:5–6

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