I just want to thank everyone who shared and contributed to the conversation last week about guitars in Mass. I have had alot of time to pray on this and it seemed i gained more opportunity to play the guitar in mass last week than any other week prior to that, so maybe thats a sign that it is OK for me to proceed :). All kidding aside, i respect all sides of the issue as long as they are respectable to the musician and/or minister at Mass. With that aside, i have a new peice for discussion:
If you are not very good at playing, singing, reading or serving as a minister in the Liturgy, should you be able to participate?
When does it become a distraction to the congregation?
When does the "being all inclusive" approach expire?
Is it our place to judge the talent brought before the Lord?
Can we question what is gift and what is not?
Oh my goodness, ask something a little easier next time! ;)
ReplyDelete1) Maybe. It depends on the parish/choir/situation.
2) That's a personal judgment of the music leader and individual Mass attendees. There's no pleasing everyone.
3) When there are enough other people to form a choir of better singers or the individuals creating distraction are drowning out the better singers. And by better I don't mean Maria Callas--just able to follow the music and carry a tune.
4) Yes and no. We can never know the heart of the person offering their musical gifts to God. But a music leader is placed in the position of assisting at worship and should strive to do the best job possible with the instruments and voices available. I would think sometimes that means making judgments on what does and does not make the cut. Nicely.
5) Sure. If I say I have the supernatural gift of singing to touch someone's heart even though to you it sounds like cat warbling I hope you'll discern rightly that that isn't truly a gift--or at least not a gift needed by the parish at this time. The ability to discern rightly only comes through prayer and wisdom and takes time.
Off the cuff--hope those were coherent answers.
:)
haha, yes they were very coherent LeAnn! I gather great points from that post, thank you!
ReplyDeleteI agree with LeeAnn. If the person in charge uses their good judgement and discernment, things should be fine. Even if its hard to make those decisions sometimes. The priest at our old church used to say that if you feeled called to an area, but don't have what it takes, perhaps you're actually being called somewhere else. Lol.
ReplyDeleteRight. If it is a true calling or vocation God will equip you for the task. Maybe it's not the task you wanted but if the skills fit, do it. (Generally.)
ReplyDeleteI have been in 500-person choirs where a few nonmusical voices didn't make a difference and have watched small choirs suffer because of someone showing off their good or mediocre voice. Sometimes singers can have good voices but not understand how to sing WITH a group instead of above it.
Another important factor is music choice. The music leader should try to choose selections that are within the skill and vocal capabilities of their musicians/singers and also the congregation. Some music is better listened to than participated in.
BTW it occurs to me that that is part of why I like when you sing the Hail Mary during the Mass. It is a stylistic rendering and not really singable by the congregation--and I LIKE that. Gives the rest of us time to think as the offering is being collected--time to think about what we are offering to God. I like participatory music too--but during the middle of the Mass I think I prefer to listen and meditate and pray rather than be called to attention to find a hymnal and page number.
My two cents (again).
Thanks LeeAnn and Morgan. LeeAnn thank you for your comment on more solo type selections (liturgically correct of course) for the Offetory hymn. Father always told me that that was a time for a less sing -along ish piece of music. I agree, it is a cnahce to meditate before the Eucharistic Prayer, think about what we are offering and Jesus offered to us on the cross. We are about to enter into the most important part of the mass. I just have to constantly work on removing myself from the equation..and let the Lord use me ;). Morgan, that should be the way everyone makes those types of decisions and you make a great point in being called elsewhere. That is sometimes hard to find.
ReplyDelete