For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. ---Ephesians 6:12


"The age of casual Catholicism is over; the age of heroic Catholicism has begun. We can no longer be Catholics by accident, but instead must be Catholics by CONVICTION." ---Fr. Terrence Henry TOR, Franciscan University of Steubenville

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Music At Mass: Sacred Vs. Secular


Can you tell the difference?? from Corpus Christi Watershed on Vimeo.

Some might say it all depends upon what floats your boat, and that's how I felt back in my non-denominational days with regards to the type of music played in church.  Back then I wasn't going to anything remotely referred to as MASS, but rather the occasionally attended, informal gathering of casually dressed Christians seeking that "spiritual feeling" that comes from... (dare I say?)  being entertained by contemporary, rock-n-roll worship music.

The Catholic Church has its own guidelines on the issue, and prefers to keep things as close to Gregorian melodic form as possible.  Cardinal Arinze puts it best:  "People don't come to Mass in order to be entertained.  They come to Mass to adore God, to thank Him, to ask pardon for sins, and to ask for other things that they need."  

Some will obviously see these guidelines as too rigid, but that's okay.  There are several Protestant denominations from which to choose...  Let the Catholic Church be Catholic, and the rest can choose to "float their boats."

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