Music and Liturgical Reform

I just finished reading up on the history of the liturgical reform movement in America and I was struck by how little I knew about what happened (or what was not happening) prior to Vatican II. I assumed that music was always a part of Mass, but in my brief reading of an even briefer account of the movement suggests that there was not much singing and reforms of the liturgy not only brought us English, the priest facing the congregation, and increased lay participation, but also singing. As I mentioned before, I am a fan of the Glory and Praise Hymnal and I like music in Mass. I particularly like peppy music. I do not mind if the hymns are older. I like a good classic like "Hail Holy Queen" if sung with enthusiasm.

I am increasingly mindful of something my father said to me once. (I paraphrase) Music is fine, but it should not compete with or distract from the purpose of the Mass. Lately, I have had the feeling that it is all about the music. Singing during the Mass can be very moving and bring out a more direct and prayerful expression of faith. I, however, question why the music seems to obscure what the priest is doing, particularly after the offertory hymn. That we cannot hear the prayers the priest says during this point in the Mass seems a bit off. Why do we not participate in this, letting him silently mumble the prayers and lift the host and chalice as the music drones on? Often the hymn has ended, but the organist plays on. Because I am of an age when I can remember when the congregation said the "blessed be God forever," I know what is happening. (Or my home parish had held on to some of the old traditions. It still has an altar rail, albeit it is not in use. Is this an East-coast phenomenon? Midwestern Catholicism has a different tone it seems.) Do school-age children learn this? (Heck, off the top of my head, I cannot name this part of the Mass.) Maybe I am just reacting to the same, slow, depressing music that has the opposite effect of its purpose. I am not drawn nearer to God, nor to the purpose of the Mass. I am instead eagerly anticipating the conclusion of the song and thinking about my grocery shopping list.

I was thinking about the changes to the liturgy this morning as I listened to yet another depressing song about These Forty Days and how we are all going to get smoted if we do not shape up soon, and I began to wonder what would happen if we skipped some of this singing. Me, the Glory and Praise Hymnal enthusiast. What has happened? Am I just getting cranky or has there been a point where we have gone too far?

Lent Update

Well, nine days in and I already goofed. I completely forgot about No Meat Friday. Forgot it was Friday, or that we were not supposed to eat meat today. Not a very good start, especially since I am still meandering around what it is that I am supposed to do this year.

So, there we were in the kitchen, food on the way, and I suddenly remembered. "Oh crap, no meat Friday!" My Dearest Beloved Husband did not look pleased with my sudden realization. Now we were faced with a moral and theological (?) dilemma: to eat or not to eat the breakfast sausage. On one hand, we are supposed to make this sacrifice for...what reason again? Some reason which may help make us better Catholics and subsequently get into Heaven. So we should not eat the sausage because it would be a true sacrifice. (Particularly when it smells really good.) On the other hand, we would have to throw out the sausage, because it never re-heats properly and it would be ruined. That is a waste, and we should not waste food. People are starving in some places in the world, including, I am sure, my own backyard.

And what did we do loyal reader(s)? We risked eternal damnation and had our sausages. They were quite tasty, too. Well, we will start again.

I Like It When People Make Sense

I read a goodly amount of blogs, many of which have to do with academia, history, women, and all of the above. After the tragic events in Alabama the other week, I read a lot of things that angered, frustrated, and generally saddened me. This post from Tightly Wound was the first that actually made sense. It does not try to solve things, or find reason for things, or blame anyone. But the author makes some good points, and articulated what I had been thinking.

Lent Again

Well, it is Lent and I am not prepared. Again. I have experienced Lent for a lot of years now. When I was a kid, I did the usual giving up of sweets and things of that nature. I tried to remember to be nicer or better behaved. By the time I went to college, I wanted to take a more adult approach to Lent and I was informed by the social justice bent of my Catholic university. Yet, still, my efforts nearly always came back to giving up some food with a smattering of "doing good."

As I have moved through the world as an independent adult, I have increasingly felt a step out of tune with Catholics around me. Fortunately, my Beloved Husband and I are generally on the same page with our approach to religion. We tend to be satisfied with an efficient and straight forward Mass and we hold on to a few practices we are not supposed to do any more (i.e. kneel after communion instead of the new fashion standing.) We tend to find dramatic expressions of devotion off-putting. (How is whether or not someone gives the reading with dramatic pauses more authentic?) When I look around at the people in the pews I think, what am I doing wrong? They all seem to be rather earnest and dedicated. Many of them have their own copy of the missal. They all eagerly hold hands during the "Our Father" and gesture with their hands during the Mass. They seem to pay attention to the sermon, when I am making mental lists about what I have to do this week. We seem to make every effort to duck any kind of service to the parish, including bringing the gifts up.

Maybe it is Lent, but I have not been the most enthusiastic of Catholics. We have been on a downward spiral of doom and gloom for weeks. Now that we are official in Lent, the music has taken a definite depressing turn (If we sing one more song about "These Forty Days" I may get up and leave). Even when we are not in Lent, the music tends to be a beat too slow, as if we all cannot keep up, and rather dour. I am generally a fan of the Glory and Praise hymnal (fond memories from grammar school), but I have had it up to my eyeballs with "Eagles' Wings ," I" am the Bread of Life," and "Be Not Afraid." Today, the assistant pastor recycled with a little editing the same sermon he used last year about this time. Sure, he might have been trying to perfect his message, but somehow, I doubt it. Either way, I was still left with a feeling of uncertainty as to what I am supposed to do. The general message is: be nice to everyone, give money to the Church, and God loves us. Hm... How nice.

What is the solution? I will not leave Catholicism. It is not the problem. Prayer? Read spiritual literature? When should I do that? Maybe I will just keep on trying. If I keep going back, maybe something will come from it. But, what to do for Lent? I guess I will give up some food again.

Organization Time; or How I Made a Bigger Mess than When I Started

One of the best things about our house is that my Beloved Husband and I both have a designated workspace. Granted, we share that space, but it is big enough for the two of us. I am grateful that I have this space, particularly since I used to have to work in a tiny little corner of our over-crowded living room in our townhouse. Now we have the space to each have a desk and I have taken full advantage of "my side" of the office. See, I am an "independent historian" and an adjunct. Consequently, I do not have a designated office space. Well, at least one in which I either feel comfortable leaving behind work, or have the room to leave work behind. And, since I primarily work from home now, EVERYTHING is here.

I am in the process of writing drafts of chapters and I have spread my files and notes all over the floor next to me. When I finish one section, I need to refile those notes in their respective file boxes and pull out the next selection. Currently, I am in the midst of utter chaos. Files and more files, piled on top of each other. This afternoon, I attempted to organize, clean up, and generally "put right what once when wrong." (Pardon me for stealing that line from Quantum Leap. I could not help myself.) Unfortunately, I seem to have made more of a mess. This happens with some regularity. I attempt to clean, only to find myself with more piles than when I started. I would like to say that I know where everything is. No, that is not the case. I am only comforted by the thought that I have not thrown anything away and consequently have not lost anything.

As I glance over my shoulder at my Beloved Husband's desk/workspace, I am cheered by the sight of his own clutter. Granted, his is not as bad as mine at the moment, but he also has an office in which he can deposit some of his work. We are not neat-as-pin people. We do our best, but often fail in keeping our house in order, or clean. I often wonder if that is because we are academics or if we are drawn to this life because we tend to be slightly messy. Either way, I do not think things will radically change anytime soon.

For now, however, I need to get organized because the clutter is getting in the way of my productivity. Tomorrow brings a new day and I hope by the end of it, I will be satisfied with the amount of work/writing I have done.