Chust for Nice

Father Knows Best?

Have you ever been in one of those parishes where 'Father knows best'? It may not be a parish. It may be a diocese or an monastery. When the priest or bishop or abbot is all powerful watch out. Mark Shea writes here on the evils of clericalism, and as usual, he comes at the problem with clarity and charity. His article set me thinking about a whole angle on clericalism which I have never really heard discussed: the psychological.

What exactly is going on when the dog collar rule? What is happening when excessive clericalism takes root? What is going on when a father figure takes charge and everyone obeys meekly and dares not criticize? All sorts of weird things happen. The 'faithful' obey outwardly and submit to father, but they start to gossip and talk and criticize behind his back. They make jokes at his expense and talk about how they are going to defy him or rebel against him. Then when it comes to it they still go back and obey him and furthermore, they often make excuses for him and defend him against the criticisms of others.

What is happening is that they are not behaving as adults. People who, in every other sphere of their life, behave as responsible adults revert to childish behavior, swinging between servile subservience and attempts at rebellion. There was some sort of pop psychology book out years ago which pointed out that, in relationships, we are either 'adult' or 'child' and that grown ups should be in 'adult' to 'adult' relationships, but that we often revert to 'child' for all sorts of reasons, and when we are 'child' to an 'adult' it is invariably unhealthy because one person is dominating and the other is being dominated, and that usually both parties agree to this unhealthy relationship.

This symbiosis is  an unwritten, un discussed contract. In a parish or abbey or diocese the domineering father attracts those who wish to revert to 'child' because they find the authority figure to be re-assuring. Strong Daddy makes them feel happy and secure. This is especially likely to happen in the area of religion where people too often revert to a childish sense of unthinking dependence anyway. An immature understanding of God the Father makes it more complicated so that some immature Christians remain in a perpetual Sunday School form of their religion because it is comforting.

A dominating priestly personality will take advantage of these weaknesses and surround himself with immature Christians who are more than happy to be his meek little 'children'. Worse than that, they will actually support the whole unhealthy relationship by putting 'father' up on a pedestal, make him into their own pet plaster saint and fawn all over him whenever he appears. "Ohhh Faaather this!" and "Ohhh Faaather that!" They're not adoring him because he's adorable. They're adoring what they want a priest to be because if they believe his is that sort of priest they will feel better. The priest, in the meantime (especially if he is, himself, immature) will believe the fiction, love the adulation and the whole sick cycle gets worse and worse.

Of  course this problem is not peculiarly Catholic. Protestants do it too, and I expect other religions treat their leadership the same way. Wherever it occurs it's sick. It's immature and its dangerous. It's really like a cult, not true religion. What the 'faithful' have done is make their priest or pastor into their god, and what he has done is colluded with them. Both parties perpetrate the lie in order to escape the real challenge of growing up in God and the difficult challenge of being real.

This is the underlying problem with clericalism, and while the priests and bishops are often blamed for being clericalists, they would not get away with it without the laypeople playing the game with them. Both sides are sick, and mature priests will do everything they can to understand this cycle and break it. The problem is, the people often do not want their priests to break the deal. The expect father to be superman. They want him to maintain the fiction. They don't really want him to be human. They prefer their perfect plaster saint because he perpetuates the fiction and makes them feel comfortable.

That's why a priest who tries to get the people out of the comfort zone will often be unpopular. What's required is for both the priest and the people to be on a spiritual adventure together. Both must be looking and learning every day. Both must be challenged and challenging every day. The faithful must love and respect and honor their Father in God, but they mustn't be lickspittles, toadies and spiritually immature. The priest, for his part, but serve them as their father in a true fatherly spirit--never lording it over them, but seeking every day in true humility to be the servant of the servants of God.

The Practical Power of Personal Piety

Here is my latest piece for InsideCatholic in which I discuss feudalism, socialism, capitalism, subsidiarity and personal responsibility.

Church Music - 5

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


I came across this video on Fr Blake's blog. It fits with what I've written and there are plenty of good resources here.

Church Music - 4

Should we have hymns at Mass at all? Some liturgists argue that the propers are all that are necessary. The introit verses, offertory and communion antiphons should be sung, and some argue that they should be sung in Latin and with Gregorian chant. There's certainly a case to be made for this, but we also have to consider where most Catholic congregations are and how to meet them where they are and move them closer to the ideal.

My own thoughts on this are guided by St Paul's words, "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord." (Eph 5:19) and Colossians 3:16, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." If this is the apostolic instruction on the matter, then how might it be applied in our churches in the liturgy?

I would say that we therefore have three categories of sacred music. The first is 'psalms'. This would include not only the psalter, but all other liturgical texts taken from Scripture that are set to music. It would also include the liturgical texts like the Gloria and the Agnus Dei, the Great Amen and the Acclamation. In other words 'psalms' might mean all the liturgical texts which are set to music. 'Hymns' could apply therefore to the singing of other established songs of praise which complement the liturgy and are used in appropriate places and are chosen by appropriate criteria. Spiritual songs are the the more ephemeral, subjective, devotional kind of music that also has its place within our whole worship experience.

My own opinion is that within the liturgy 'psalms' have priority, hymns are permissible and preferable and spiritual songs should be used mostly outside the liturgy in praise and worship services, adoration, more informal mission settings and devotional settings. However, some suitable spiritual songs may well be sung if they are done well and do not distract, during the administration of communion.

I hasten to add that this is my opinion, weighing up the pastoral needs of the people on one hand, and the demands of a liturgical ideal. However, my opinions are supported by the teachings of the church which stipulate that sacred music must not include secular styles or secular instruments, that the organ is to be given pride of place and that Gregorian chant is to the foundational music for all the music at Mass.

The music at Mass must complement and accent the action of the Mass and the devotion of the people. Any music which distracts and draws attention to itself is to be avoided. I would therefore say that some great operatic classical music Mass may be (for some congregations) just as distracting and off putting as the awful praise and worship music we so often hear.

Of course this is not to equate Mozart with Marty Hagen, but it is to make the point that both may actually be obtrusive, and the right choice of music will not only be fine, orthodox, inspiring, singable and beautiful, but it will also be appropriate for the congregation, the church and the circumstances of the Mass. This is one of the beauties of Gregorian chant and traditional hymns. If they are done well and simply, they never draw attention to themselves and always point us beyond themselves to the action of the Mass.

The setting and circumstances of the liturgy therefore matter. A small humble and down to earth parish should not attempt a cathedral standard organist and choir, but Gregorian chant based music will be suitable for both, one being adorned with finer aspects of classical music, while the other may be adorned with more simple music.

All things should be done decently and in order and according to their proper status. Music at Mass should reflect the character and circumstances of the parish while at the same time aiming for the highest and holiest standards of beauty in worship.

Hitler's Pope--Not

More evidence is emerging about the heroic efforts Pope Pius XII took to save Jews from the holocaust. You can read about it here. The vicious attack on Pius XII started with a stupid and inaccurate play in the 1960s and continued with John Cornwell's pitiful and scandalous book ten years ago. Then the idea that Pius XII was Hitler's Pope continued in a series of breathless and journalistic smears, and it has now entered into the popular anti Catholic realm of urban myth. I hope the latest evidence will help put it to rest.

If anyone doubts that the Catholic Church and the papacy are constant targets for biased secular atheistic forces who hate the faith, let them simply do the homework on this most constant and biased attack on a noble, shrewd and holy pope. A short defense and explanation of the facts is here. When the play came out in the 1960s it was criticized by an army of scholars, and Cornwell's awful book has been corrected with Ronald Rychlak's scholarship as well as an excellent book by Jewish scholar David Dalin. With hindsight I think we forget just how delicate relations were for Catholics in a Europe dominated by the demonic forces of Nazism. It will emerge more and more that not only was Pius XII courageous and holy, but he was also very smart in handling the whole situation.

The Vicar on Holiday

Guest blogger, The Rev'd Humphrey Blytherington is Vicar of St Hilda's, Little Snoring with All Saints, Great Snoring. He is a graduate of Plymouth University. He completed his studies for the ministry at Latimer Hall, Durham. He is married to Daphne and enjoys home brewing, model railroading and is an avid member of the Great Snoring Morris Dancers.

Daphne and I are having a smashing time here on the Isle of Wight. The Revd. Giles Clutterbuck, one of my cousins, is Vicar of Bonchurch, and we usually swap vicarages with him in the summertime. Gives us a break and I have to admit taking his two services on a Sunday isn't too much of a bother. Giles and Phyllis have got a lovely rambling vicarage house overlooking the sea, so it makes for a relaxing break. For his part, Giles is a steam train enthusiast, so a week at the Vicarage in Little Snoring gives him the chance to don his overalls and volunteer at the Great Snoring and Trumpington Steam Railway.

Daph toodled off to Quarr Abbey for her service on Sunday morning. Wanted me to come, but I had to take Matins. We had a lovely time. Numbers were a bit down. Giles usually gets fifteen, but I had to do with seven. Daphne joked that they must have heard I was coming. She's always got the ready joke has our Daph. I was able to go with her to Quarr Abbey for their version of Evensong. Thought I'd support her in her new religion. I must admit it was really, rather special. Something quaint and medieval about the monks all dressed in black trooping in and singing in Gregorian chant. I thought it wouldn't be my cup of tea at all, but I found myself rather charmed by it all. Too much incense, of course, and I don't really like all the palaver with the communion bread being put into a whatchamacallit and being waved around, but if that sort of thing is what you like I don't suppose it does any harm.

Daphne was chatting with one of the monks afterwards about the visit of the Pope to England. She is getting quite excited about it all, and I'm trying hard not to be a party pooper. Daphne was getting all worked up about the BBC planning to do a mock trial of the pope for his crimes in covering up the misbehavior of his clergy. I thought it a jolly good idea, but Daph is up in arms. I mean, why shouldn't the BBC put on a show that gives the other side? Everyone knows the good old BBC is a bastion of common sense, fair reporting and balance. There's nothing to fear. I suspect the RCs are worried that even more mucky stuff will turn up.  If the man has covered things up he ought to be brought to justice I say.

It's all well and good the Pope smiling and waving and riding around in his popemobile with lots of Italian bodyguards wearing sunglasses, but you don't find the dear old Archbishop of Canterbury behaving like that do you? No you don't. He stays at home at Lambeth Palace and writes essays and that sort of thing. He's a humbler sort of fellow. I think its rather endearing the way he mumbles along at General Synod with his theological way of talking and then turns up at parish bunfights--always happy to have a cup of tea and a natter with the members of the Mother's Union. You don't see him jet setting and holding services for an unseemly number of people. It's not the done thing in my book, and it simply isn't cricket.

So in the midst of all the hoopla over the Pope visiting it might be a good thing to step back and remember just who he is and what he stands for. The fact of the matter is, the Pope still regards himself as the rightful ruler not just of his church, but of all the lands that once belonged to him. He's a foreigner, pure and simple, and we mustn't be deceived. Just because he comes here with a friendly face does not mean he is friendly. Just like all Catholics he wants what they call 'the conversion of England' and this means he wants to be in charge here just like it was before Henry VIII stepped in and tidied things up. Fancy them coming over here and telling us we need to be converted! The cheek of it! Not much gets me hot under the dog collar, but that sort of thing does I'm afraid.

Must dash. Daphne has plans for a picnic at the seaside with some friends. The basket's full already. Cucumber sandwiches and fish paste on  crackers, jaffa cakes, a Victoria sponge, a nice chunk of the old mousetrap, Branston pickle, some oat cakes and rich tea biscuits with jam on. I think we may even have a peach. What a treat! It's my job to get the flask of tea ready, load the Morris Minor with a windbreak, blankets and chairs, grab my straw hat and off we go!

church Music - 3

OK. Now about the music for hymns. After analyzing the words we look at the music. The simple question is, "Is the music for this hymn accessible to the people, is it fairly easy to learn , is it singable for a congregation, is it of a suitable sacred style and does it lift the heart?

First of all, is it accessible? What I mean by this is that some music, though worthy, is too high brow, too antique or too much from an operatic or choral style to be readily accessible to a congregation. I would argue, for instance that the tune from Beethoven's Ode to Joy--to which we sing the hymn 'Joyful Joyful we Adore Thee' is not a good hymn tune because, when sung properly you need a trained choir in a choral setting to really carry it off. When sung as a hymn it is simply exhausting and congregations already reluctant to sing are scared off. Other music is inaccessible because it is based on too complicated a form of polyphony or gregorian chant. Some is inaccessible because it is archaic or overly gloomy.

The second two points go together. Is the hymn tune singable and fairly easy to learn? A good hymn tune has a reliable dum de dum de dum kind of rhythm which is recognizable, singable and easy to learn. Hymns that fail this test were often written by singer songwriters as ballads or solo pieces. They may be very worthy as solos and contribute well to worship, but they don't make good hymns. A song like Our God is an Awesome God has worshipful words which inspire, but the tune of the verse is virtually unsingable as a hymn. This is because the song was first written for a Christian pop band to sing with a soloist. That's okay, but it doesn't make a good congregational hymn. Another example of a good solo piece but a bad hymn is 'Make Me A Channel of Your Peace'. The tune is irregular and wandering in order to fit the words of St Francis' prayer. Good for a soloist with a guitar at a youth prayer and worship meeting. Not good as a hymn for a congregation. Many modern hymns fall into this category and people then wonder why no one sings. They don't sing because it's not a hymn.

The third point condemns most of the modern church music written today. The question is, "Is the hymn in a suitable sacred style?" Modern hymn writers, in an attempt to be relevant, and in ignorance of the sacred tradition write hymns in all sorts of contemporary styles. I have heard hymns sung during communion that sounded like love songs from Broadway musicals. I have heard hymns that sound like protest marching anthems, Elton John numbers, songs by Abba, sound tracks from musical comedies or just bland muzak. I've heard gospel blues harmonies, polka, country Western, jazz riffs and rhythm and blues numbers. I've heard psalms sung in a sultry nightclub style, an Ethel Merman broadway style and even some sacred songs crooned through a hand held microphone.

None of these styles evoke the sacred. They are entertainment based and are the absolute nadir of contemporary Catholic worship. The church has stated that Gregorian chant and sacred polyphony are to be given preference. This is not actually difficult for ordinary choirs to achieve. It simply means going on a course and learning your stuff and rejecting the temptation to be relevant or cool or up to date. When we go to Mass we need something different from what we usually hear, not something the same. The worst thing about mimicking the worldly style is that few parishes have the resources to do it well so what we end up with is not only a pop band or a country western group or a broadway style musical set, but a bad pop band, country western group and broadway chorus. It is this lack of attention and deliberate rejection of any sacred style of music that is worst about our church music and it is something that very few choir directors and people in the pew have ever thought about one little bit.

Finally, does the hymn tune lift the heart?  This is, of course, more subjective. However it is true that hymn tunes with a certain rhythm and genius do inspire and lift the heart more than others. I will leave it to the more professional musicians to tell us why this is the case. I expect it has to do with the key the hymn tune is written in, the rhythm and the lilt of the tune. Whatever the reasons, we should discuss which hymn tunes actually lift the heart and inspire and make sure we use these along with words which communicate Catholic truth and turn the people to the proper worship of God.

Tomorrow I'll finish with the question of whether we ought to have hymns at Mass at all.

Separate Gender Education

I'm here at wonderful Camp Kahdalea and Chosatonga in the mountains of North Carolina for a few days. I come up each summer to serve as camp chaplain, unwind, do some writing and be with my own kids who are campers here. I usually spend part of each day at each camp: Kahdalea for the girls and Chosatonga for the boys.

What is so beautiful to see is how differently the boys and girls live when they are separated. The girls are relaxed and happy together and are being totally girly without being prissy or sexy or catty. They're busy swimming and riding horses and canoeing and climbing and hiking and camping. No one has to be concerned with make up and texting and boys and gossip and relationship traumas. Of course there are problems too. They can be bitchy and exclusive and stroppy. My point is that they can be girls in a much more uncomplicated way together, and through this they have their real femininity affirmed and strengthened. When I say 'real femininity' I mean a natural, wholesome, positive and strong femininity which is not dependent on the male of the species as a sounding board.

So much of modern femininity (for all the feminist rhetoric) is still determined by masculinity.  This is so in two ways: one I'll call sexy and the other I'll call tough. The female who's femininity is determined by how much she appeals to men is constantly worried about her appearance, her sexiness, her allure and her charm. This is a false femininity which only finds its meaning as it refers to the men in her life. The type which is 'tough' is a sort of hard feminist version in which the female seeks to be more independent and often sees the male as the enemy. The problem with this is that this sort of female's femininity is also determined by its reference to the male. In this case the male is the subconscious role model, and it trying to be tough and independent of the male she actually tries to imitate him and be more masculine. How dumb is that?

Instead the girls at Kahdalea (because they are separated out from the boys) are just naturally being girls. Some are  tougher others are prettier and prissy, but whatever they are, their natural personality types emerge through their femininity and they grow as whole persons in a natural and wholesome setting.

If this is true at Kahdalea with the girls, the same is true mutatis mutandi at Camp Chosatonga with the boys. The beauty of that camp is that the boys can simply be boys. They don't live in a female controlled suburban school environment. They're together with older guys and men for five weeks doing guy stuff. They're shooting rifles, hiking, climbing, swimming, fighting, rolling about like cubs, eating huge meals, making stuff, camping out, building fires, hunting snakes, getting filthy, farting, yelling and throwing each other in the lake.

Not being with the girls means they don't have to worry about pleasing some woman all the time. Mom isn't there to hug and protect and nag about making the bed and cleaning the room. Big sister isn't there to tease and push them around. Girlfriends, with all the joys and sorrows that go with them, are absent. In our modern society girls often predominate. They tend to be more achievement oriented, and the guys are too often happy to take a back seat. At camp there are no girls to compete with. The guys can just be guys, and through this their emergent masculinity is affirmed and strengthened.

Here's a dream that I need another lifetime to accomplish: a boarding school in the mountains where camp and school are combined for a complete educational experience. This is being pioneered at Wyoming Catholic College. Wouldn't it be great if there were such a place for younger kids?

Fourth of July

In the past I have had occasion to list, in no particular order, what I loved about England. On this Fourth of July allow me a list of what I love about the USA. Here goes.

Hot Dogs and Sauerkraut, Elvis Presley, It's a Wonderful Life, Drive In Restaurants, The Blue Ridge Parkway, Columbo, Amish people, Manhattan, Hamburgers, Flannery O'Connor, T-Shirts, Clear Creek Monastery, equality, Cole Porter, the saxophone, Cherry Vanilla Ice Cream, Katherine Hepburn, Southern Comfort, Honda 750 Shadow Spirit, football, Shawshank Redemption, cranberry juice, generosity, Johnny Depp, shoo fly pie, North Carolina mountains, milkshakes, marching bands, T.S.Eliot, religiosity, Amusement Parks, Fiddler on the Roof, Aaron Copeland, Optimism, Indiana Jones, beauty pageants, Washington DC, Orthodontics, Frank Sinatra, Thomas Merton, Rib Eye Steaks, Charleston, Bar BQ, Tina Turner, ceiling fans, Myrtle Beach, Thanksgiving, gospel quartets, the community pool, oreos, baseball, clean toilets, Disneyland, Ray Ban sunglasses, B. B. King, Ronald Reagan, turtle track ice cream, Tennessee Williams, Entrepreneurial Spirit, Casablanca, Minnesota, pickles, Andrew Wyeth, pretzels, the Blues Brothers, Dorothy Day, patriotism, air conditioning, summer camp, Patsy Cline, speed boats, pecan pie, naivety, James Taylor, Manhattans, peanut butter, Catcher in the Rye, pizza, root beer, the pro life movement, friendliness, Dr. Pepper, conspiracy theories, peaches, front porches, EWTN, the Grand Canyon, corn on the cob, Renee Zellwegger, Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, hash browns, the open road, Empire State Building, enthusiasm, gangster movies, Buster Keaton, fresh shrimp, Knights of Columbus, Guys and Dolls, Gershwin, freedom, the Shenandoah Valley, taking risks, Ella Fitzgerald, fried chicken, Robert Frost, radio preachers, cheerfulness, interstate rest stops, Redwood forests, Robert Duvall, cook outs, Niagara Falls,

Phew! What have I left out?

Church Music 2

The first thing I look at when considering a hymn is the words. Believe it or not, there really are some objective criteria to consider when evaluating the words of a hymn. First of all we need to consider whether the words of the hymn express the Catholic faith. There are several problems here: first, many of the hymns we use are written by Protestants and therefore express (even if only subtly) a Protestant perspective or emphasis or a Protestant theology.

Hymns written by non-Catholics, however, are not necessarily in contradiction to Catholic theology. Most of the hymns by the Wesleys and most of the old Anglo Catholic hymns express perfectly fine theology. Furthermore, some of the worst of the modern Catholic hymns are written by Catholics. The worst ones are the hymns that do not mention God or praise God at all, but are all about the people of God, justice and peace issues or the loving fellowship we have together. These are not hymns. They're usually a mixture of pep rally and protest marching song. If I had to say which is worse in terms of heterodox doctrine--Protestant hymns in Catholic Churches or awful modern Catholic hymns, the modern Catholic hymns win hands down.

Another category of hymn problems to watch out for is political correctness. Many of the modern Catholic hymns consciously avoid referring to God as Father and do not refer to Jesus Christ as the Son. This is an attempt to avoid sexist language. Furthermore, the revisionists have got their hands on many of the older hymns. Many of the revisions make sense. They are trying to get rid of 'thees' and 'thous' or weeding out archaic images or turns of phrase that have changed meaning over time. These revisions are legitimate for the most part, but be aware that the feminists are also making every attempt to revise older hymns to get rid of all references to God the Father as well. This won't do.

The last point about orthodoxy in hymns is to ask not only what hymns are being selected, but what hymns (and what content) are being omitted. They often say about news reports that what is not reported is usually more important than what is reported. Ask yourself what aspects of Catholic theology are never, ever referenced in the hymns in your church. Do you ever sing Marian hymns? Do you ever sing the Latin Eucharistic hymns--even in translation? Do you ever sing hymns about and worshipping with, the saints? Do you sing hymns of praise to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit? Are there ever any references to angels, spiritual warfare, heaven or hell? In many modern Catholic parishes the more supernatural aspects of the faith are simply never mentioned in hymns.

The reason a fully orthodox theology in hymns is so important is because so many Catholics receive little or no catechesis. The only place they are likely to confront Catholic theology is in the hymns they sing at Mass. If the hymns do not express Catholic eucharistic theology, if they emphasize the purely social justice ecclesiology, if they downplay orthodox doctrine and water down the faith by ignoring the supernatural elements, then we shouldn't be surprised when Catholics turn out to be so wishy washy and ignorant of their faith.

A second category of non-hymns are the 'comfort hymns'. Again, these are hymns that do not reference God at all except as a kind of comfort blanket. Usually very sentimental and subjective, they often have syrupy tunes and are all about how "I walked on the beach one day and felt alone, and when I only saw one set of footprints I knew that was when he carried me." You can spot these hymns because they are all about me and us and how sweet it is to be loved by Jesus. They are Coca Cola hymns--sweet and fizzy but likely to rot your teeth/soul. There is nothing wrong, of course, with devotional hymns that turn our attention to God in time of need and praise him for his loving mercy. Psalm 23 and all its different versions do just that. However, if the focus is not on God, but on me, and this is the only sort of hymn that is ever chosen it becomes ridiculous.

When considering the words and content of hymns we should also ask ourselves to whom the words are being addressed. A very strange tradition has developed in modern hymns in which words of Scripture are put to music. Someone must assume that because it is Scripture it must therefore make a good hymn. Why should that be? The words of Scripture might make a good hymn if the words are words of praise to God, but just because it is Scripture doesn't make it a hymn. To make it worse, very often these words of Scripture are God's words spoken to us. We then sing them back to God as worship? I don't get it.

Let me give you a few examples: The popular song, "I am the Bread of Life, he who comes to me shall not hunger..." These are worthy thoughts and far be it from me to speak ill of these beautiful words by  Jesus himself, however they are not a hymn. He spoke those words to us. Does it make sense for us to sing them back to him in worship? No. You see what has happened? Because the worship has become all people centered we actually now sing God's words of comfort and instruction to ourselves. Instead of the worship being our words to God the direction of worship is reversed and we're singing God's words to us. Bizarre, but not surprising. If the worship is all about us its no surprise that the hymns express this.

Here's another example: the popular Here I am Lord. The verse goes: "I the Lord of Sea and Sky. I have heard my people's cry. I have wept for love of them. Whom shall I send?" Then the refrain is, "Here I am Lord. It is I Lord. I have heard you calling in the night." OK. The verse is God speaking to us. Shall we sing that back to him as worship? It makes no sense. If this pleasant song is to be used in liturgy at all it should be sung at communion (because it is personal and devotional) and a soloist in the choir should sing the verse (as it were God singing to us) and then we reply with the refrain. This makes logical sense and can redeem what is otherwise a pleasant, but illogical piece of congregational music.

Finally, when regarding the words in a hymn we have to consider the quality of the poetry. There really is such a thing as good poetry and bad poetry. It is not good poetry if you like the sentiment it expresses or just because 'everyone likes it'. While not going the whole way to being a liturgical or literary snob, it is necessary to reject some hymns simply because they're written so very badly. I don't have a hymnbook with me here at camp, but it wouldn't take me long to open almost any modern Catholic hymnbook and find instant examples of execrable rhymes, maudlin sentiments, trite concepts, cliches, vulgarities and downright hilariously awful poetry. Honestly, some of the stuff makes the old Evangelical hymn "I walk through the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses, and the voice I hear, whispering soft and clear, the Son of God discloses...' sound positively like Shakespeare.

To summarize then, a good hymn will address our praise and worship to God. It will consistent with Catholic doctrine, and if possible actually teach Catholic doctrine in an acceptable and beautiful way. It will do so with good, solid, serviceable poetry at least, and at best the poetry will actually be part of the beauty and permanence of the classic hymn.

Tomorrow I will try to address the music of a good hymn, and then discuss whether we ought to have hymns at Mass at all.

Scavi

When you go to Rome one of the most important places to visit is the 'Scavi' that is, the excavations under St Peter's Basilica. The problem is, it is increasingly difficult to get tickets. Happily, a virtual tour of the Scavi is now available online. It's not the same as a real visit in which everything is explained, but it's a good second best, and if you've been there it is a great reminder of the visit. Go here.

Anti Catholicism In Britain

Rocco whispers about the BBC planning a drama about 'what it would be like if the Pope were put on trial for covering up sex abuse' which will be broadcast during the Papal visit while Britain's notoriously left wing, immoral and atheistic television Channel 4 has commissioned a documentary from the country's leading homosexual activist Peter Tatchell. It seems Britain is unashamed to be in the forefront of anti Catholic bigotry and intolerance.

I had dinner with Joseph Pearce and some other friends last evening and we lamented the slide of modern Britain down the relativistic and now aggressively anti Catholic toilet. The level of sheer ignorance, ugliness and savage bigotry now on display in that once polite, well mannered and Christian country is truly shocking.

Not to be discouraged however, we went around the room asking for contributions to the 'best and loveliest sort of English eccentricities. Joseph volunteered Morris Dancers. At which point our American friends were befuddled so Joseph and I manfully stepped up to demonstrate the art. It's a pity my video camera was not turned on so I could post it for you here. My contribution to the English Eccentricity Hall of Fame was the pantomime dame while my wife Alison mentioned baked beans for breakfast. The Last Night of the Proms made the list and when our hosts were unfamiliar with the singing of Jerusalem, Christian, Joseph, Ali and myself gave them a rousing rendition. Word perfect. Both verses. To the tune by Parry. I even improvised the organ interlude. Joseph (being from the East End of London) concluded by explaining Cockney rhyming slang and giving us a classic list.

Church Music

One of the most regular grumbles I receive is about my choice of hymns for Mass. It's a minefield because I am convinced that the vast majority of people like or dislike a hymn in a purely subjective manner. I guess usually they have memories of hymns they like because of their childhood or because a particular hymn pushes a particular emotional button for them.

What people don't seem to realize is that there are actually some criteria for choosing good hymns. The fact that so many of the hymns in our Catholic hymnals are terrible musically, heterodox theologically, contain execrable poetry, maudlin sentiments and trashy pop psychology doesn't help. People need to learn that just because a hymn is published doesn't make it good. Furthermore, just because it's popular doesn't make it good.

So what are the criteria for decent hymns? I'm going to do several posts on this topic to cover the territory. I hope they help. First thing: we choose a hymn for what it contributes to the liturgy. A gospel song may be inspirational. It may be decent musically. It may be okay poetically. It may be very popular, but it may not be suitable for the liturgy. Everything in the liturgy is meant to complement and focus on the action of the Mass. The music needs to be appropriate for the particular part of the Mass in which it is used.

In other words, we don't just choose hymns because we like to sing them. The processional hymn is a modern form of the introit. The words should lead us in praise to God as we enter into his presence. This is a first and basic principle for a hymn. It should be obvious that a hymn is a song of praise to God. It is directed from us to God. It's simple. However, an awful lot of modern hymns are not songs of praise to God at all. They're about us. Go through your contemporary Catholic hymnbook (Notice that it is called 'Gather' not 'Worship') and see how many of the hymns are not about God at all, but they are about us, our gathering together, our mission in the world, our life, our love, our fellowship. Read the words. It's amazing how many hardly mention God at all. These are not hymns. They're pep songs and when we use them we turn worship into a pep rally.

The processional should not only use words of praise to God, but the music should be suitable for a procession. It should be singable with a dependable rhythm and accessible tune. It should be positive, reverent and stately for we are entering into the court of the King. The organ should lead with a strong and firm tone as the procession enters. As it does our hearts are lifted and prepared for worship.

The offertory should be a quieter hymn of reverent offering of ourselves and our gifts to God. It too is a hymn of praise to God, and not a hymn of personal devotion or subjective emotion. This hymn voices a corporate action of worship and should not be about 'me and Jesus'. A great offertory hymn is Now Thank We All Our God.

Communion music (in my opinion) should not be sung by the congregation, but by the choir. This is the opportunity for a eucharistic hymn or anthem. Here the more devotional, personal and intimate hymns are appropriate. How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds or I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say. If contemporary chant and reverent, personal gospel songs are used, this is the place for them. However, it should be noted that an awful lot of contemporary communion hymns used in Catholic worship do not express Catholic theology. Go through your contemporary Catholic hymnbook and see how many Eucharistic hymns talk about our 'eating the bread and drinking the wine.' Uhhh. We're Catholics. It's not bread and wine. Remember? Heretical Eucharistic theology is expressed in these hymns which are often written by Protestants. Considering that the only theology most Catholics receive is through their hymns, not wonder belief in the Real Presence is fading.

I'm of the opinion that the final hymn (if there must be one at all) should be sung after communion while the ablutions are going on. Here is where some of the upbeat, strong and inspiring Eucharistic hymns like Alleluia Sing to Jesus can be used. It's also a good place for solid hymns of thanksgiving, praise and worship like Love Divine All Loves Excelling or O God Beyond All Praising.

This leave the organist to play a postlude for the recessional which leaves people in the mood to get up and go. No more fiddling about with hymnsheets and hymnbooks. Just listen to the music, watch them leave and then go out to love and serve the Lord.

Fr Longenecker goes to Camp

Each summer I try to spend some of my time as camp Chaplain at Camp Kahdalea and Chosatonga near Brevard NC. The camps are wonderful boys and girls camps run the David and Anne Trufant and their family. The Trufants are a faithful Catholic couple full of zeal and joy and enthusiasm for the historic faith. The camp is staffed by kids from Belmont, LSU, Steubenville and others. They like to say that it is not a Catholic camp. It's a camp run by Catholics.

This is an idea central to a Catholic philosophy of evangelization: that others will 'catch Christianity' not so much through overt evangelization efforts (although they are important) but through the personal example and personal contact with individuals for whom the faith is real and vital. Here are Catholics who run a camp that is driven by their love of God, their desire to help form young minds and hearts in the image of Christ and their natural enthusiasm for the life of the Spirit and all of this is expressed not so much in lots of explicit talk of religion, but simply by running a terrific camp in a professional, fun and dynamic way.

This is how the Catholic faith should change the world--but simply getting on with the job fired up and driven by the Spirit within. If we work this way in the world then Christ is being incarnated through all that we do, in the life we lead, in our families, our schools, our parishes and our community. Of course this 'embedded evangelization' needs also to become explicit at times. We need clear teaching, apologetics, advertising, public relations efforts, radio, TV etc. However, these apostolates are not real unless people also encounter Catholics living out their lives in a new and dynamic and positive way through many different vocations and callings.

Camps Chosatonga and Kahdalea are just one of so many great apostolates I come across. They inspire and encourage me because I realize that the laity like David and Anne Trufant are doing things that I as a priest cannot do. I often say to laity who think they need to be ordained to serve God: "Follow the call if it is real, but don't make the mistake of thinking that only the religious and priests really serve God. You can speak to people the way I cannot and I can speak to them the way you cannot. We work together."

Caitlin O'Rourke Goes to Camp

I told my mom I didn't want to go but she made me go anyway because she said I was getting on her nerves and I told her I was sorry about putting wet plaster from my craft project down the garbage disposal I thought it would just wash it away and didn't know it would go hard like that so fast so when Contance Kraus asked if I would go to camp with her for a week my mom said I had to go even though I don't really like Constance and mom doesn't like her family either because they go to the Overbrook Bible Church and hate Catholics and Aunt Margaret met them one time at a piano recital and Mom said at least they were always smiling and Aunt Margaret said that wasn't a smile it was a snarl which made me laugh out loud and spit my lemonade all over Frankie which made him start crying and I got the blame for that too so anyway I went to camp with Constance and nobody told me that it was going to be a Bible camp named HeKeMeSi and everybody was either a cowboy or an Indian and Constance and I were Indians and we lived in a teepee and had to go to use an outhouse and there were mosquitos everywhere and I got sunburnt very bad and when we were playing capture the flag I stepped in a yellowjacket nest and got stung everywhere even under my shorts which hurt a lot and I didn't know you would swell up that much just from a little bit of poison ivy but all that wasn't too bad and I did have fun especially when we covered the counselor's pillow with calomine lotion and when she put her face in it she looked like Bozo the Clown and even though it was kind of fun canoeing and stuff the worst thing was that we had to have a Bible study for a whole hour every day and all the other girls had big black Bibles with zippers and the words of Jesus in red print and I forgot to bring a Bible and they all knew how to find Hezekiah and the Book of Philippines and knew all the Bible stories about Zacheus and Zipporah Sodom and Gomorrah and Lot's wife turning into a pillar of salt and when they found out I was Catholic they made fun of me and told me I was going to hell because I worshipped Mary and prayed to statues and then Constance wouldn't play with me anymore so I had to go horse riding by myself with a big fat girl named Shandy who was homesick so then I remembered that Aunt Margaret had given me a special package which she told me to open only when things were very bad and when I opened it inside was a special little statue of the Little Flower who I like very much and a candle and a holy card with the Sacred Heart of Jesus so I put St Therese and the Holy Card up by my bed in the cabin and every night I lit the candle and before bed started to kneel down and say a Hail Mary and an our Father and I started feeling better and then MaryRose who is a very nice girl in the Sasquatch cabin said she used to be a Catholic and could she say the rosary with me just using ten fingers and so during campfire when we were supposed to go forward and get saved we just went for a walk in the woods and the moonlight was beautiful and Catherine said her Grandpa told her that Our Lady was like the moon because she reflects the glory of the Son so everything worked out ok but I'm not going back next year even if Contance's mother pays for it.

Teachers Needed

We need a bright, energetic and committed Catholic to teach Middle School English at Our Lady of the Rosary school in Greenville.

We also need a kindergarten teacher.

 If you're interested contact the Principal: Mrs Marianne Tully: (864) 905 0181

Our Lady of the Rosary

Knowing how you faithful readers hang on my every word and action I thought I'd give you an update on my new post as parish priest at Our Lady of the Rosary parish here in Greenville. People have asked how I am going to manage being Chaplain to St Joseph's School, parish priest, husband and father and continue writing and speaking.

The answer is Dr Richard Ballard. Dr Ballard is a former Lutheran pastor. He is very well educated and very experienced and he happens to be a very spiritual person and a nice guy as well. Dr Ballard will serve at Our Lady of the Rosary as Pastoral Associate. This means he will help me on a day to day basis with the pastoral oversight and administration of the parish.

OLR (as it's referred to here) is the smallest parish in Greenville. With just over 400 families, it is also the second oldest parish in Greenville after Great St Mary's where my friend Fr Jay Scott Newman is pastor. The present church building was constructed as a temporary worship space in the 1950's, so we have a building project underway. What a great opportunity to do something beautiful for God! If any of you out there happen to be (or know) a Catholic billionaire who wants to build a beautiful traditional church be in touch!

We also have a fine little elementary and middle school. The school has been through a time of turbulence lately, but we've appointed an excellent new principal. Mrs Marianne Tully has taught in Catholic schools for 26 years and steps into the role full of enthusiasm, bright ideas and total professionalism. We'll be working together in the coming months to help the school bounce back so the children in the upstate can enjoy a truly traditional Catholic education that is joyful, zealous and loving.

To help us do that we need a couple of teachers. Anybody want to help out? For the upcoming semester we need a kindergarten teacher and a middle school English teacher. Here's a chance to help us build up the school, be involved in a growing, lively and orthodox parish community and live in beautiful Greenville South Carolina.

On that note, Fortune Magazine recently voted Greenville as one of the top five places in the US to retire. In the foothills of the mountains and just a few hours from the beach the climate is excellent, the town is beautiful and as you may have already guessed, it is a wonderful place to be a Catholic. The liturgy, architecture and music at St Mary's downtown is top notch. Prince of Peace is a parish where the liturgy and music are also very fine and where the Extraordinary form of the Mass is celebrated regularly, and I hope in a humbler way Our Lady of the Rosary will offer dignified and beautiful Catholic worship combined with a joyful an active family based fellowship and vital social action and pro active evangelization.

Y'all come now y'hear?