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January 15, 2006
Is it I, Lord?
Raise your hand if....Here I am, Lord was played in your parish today.
Who says there's no universal character to the liturgy any more!?
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» "Here I Am, Lord" from Catholic Light
Amy Welborn's got a fun thread about that Schutte song: apparently most parishes sang it reflexively according to the Scripture reading for the day.... [Read More]
Tracked on Jan 15, 2006 11:16:54 PM
Comments
We sang it.
Posted by: ml at Jan 15, 2006 1:43:10 PM
*hand raised*
Posted by: Tope at Jan 15, 2006 1:44:03 PM
*raises hand*
Posted by: Bill H at Jan 15, 2006 1:45:21 PM
I'm afraid so...
Posted by: Lynn at Jan 15, 2006 1:46:46 PM
We were spared. *sitting on his hands*
Posted by: D. Scott Miller at Jan 15, 2006 1:47:09 PM
nope, not here either. But I went to the Tridentine Mass...
Posted by: Tim Ferguson at Jan 15, 2006 1:48:26 PM
hmm...
Posted by: Fr. Totton at Jan 15, 2006 1:48:54 PM
Alas, yes...
Oh, and the reader read the wrong 2nd reading. We got St. Paul on the variety of gifts rather than the need to avoid immorality. It wasn't last Sunday's or next Sunday's, so I'm assuming it was the wrong liturgical year.
Posted by: scotch meg at Jan 15, 2006 1:50:48 PM
I sat through "Here I Am, Lord" today at the 11 AM Mass at St. Michael's in Silver Spring, MD. Good priests, bad music. The bad music always gets me thinking, and this time wondering if God has notions of taste and recognition of excellence. I mean, there's Bach and Beethoven. There's Handel. I am convinced that there's the hand of the Lord in marble (Michelangelo), in words (Dante), in oil (Rubens). But in a world that possesses the C Minor Mass, the Icelandic Sagas, and Albrecht Durer, where does Dan Schutte, the poet of "Footprints" and Thomas Kinkade fit in? I know it's a stupid question to ask but did mediocrity exist in the Garden, or was it a consequence of the Fall of Man? Who takes the blame for Thomas Kinkade?
Oh, and the psalm reading today was from Psalm 40. And you know it's bad when you realize that U2's setting of the song is better than what's in the misselette.
Posted by: TheLeague at Jan 15, 2006 2:00:47 PM
No, and judging by the music leaflet, wasn't sung at any of the other masses at St. Matt's this weekend.
Posted by: paul at Jan 15, 2006 2:01:52 PM
Here in our country parish in the English Midlands, we ignored 'Here I am' altogether - homily was on the 'Lamb of God' and so we sang 'Crown him with many crowns'; 'At the Lamb's High Feast'; 'O Godhead Hid'; and 'Hail Redeemer King divine'. We also had Credo III for good measure (as we do each Sunday).
Posted by: Joe at Jan 15, 2006 2:05:46 PM
On behalf of our choir, I apologize for inflicting this cheese on our community.
Posted by: mio at Jan 15, 2006 2:12:15 PM
Yeah, we sang it, along with Haugen's "Gather Us In" and Haas's "We are Called". I don't remember getting all three of my "favorites" at the same Mass before.
Posted by: Chad at Jan 15, 2006 2:15:12 PM
Whoaaaa . . . i worshiped at a Methodist parish today, and . . . wait for it . . . we sang :Here I Am, Lord"!
Universal indeed . . .
[/snark]
Posted by: Jeff at Jan 15, 2006 2:32:51 PM
Yeah, we sang it, too--during Communion, no less! Or rather, I should say that we "sang" it, since, as it's essentially unsingable, hardly anyone in the church actually joined the song. Wish I'd been able to go to Joe's church.
Posted by: Charlotte Allen at Jan 15, 2006 2:32:58 PM
We did not have "Here I am," but the psalm response was, "Here I am, Lord, hear I am, I come to do your will," in a contemporary setting. I had all three Masses with music (our retired priest had the Mass sans musical accompaniment). I can't recall the opening hymn at two of the Masses, the third was "praise-style" song; our youth minister wants to try some music in that vein and I said fine, we'll see how it goes. The closing hymn was "City of God," which I don't care much for, but I can tolerate it as long as we don't sing it all the time. The preparation hymn was "The Summons," which isn't bad, except some of the language is a little odd, "if your life should attract or scare," "kiss the leper clean." At one of the Masses, we needed a second communion hymn, and the organist played the Omer Westendorf hymn, "You satisfy the hungry heart," which I think is very fine. I don't recall the main communion hymn.
My homily was about vocations, principally to the priesthood (2nd week in a row).
Posted by: Fr Martin Fox (Septimus) at Jan 15, 2006 2:38:24 PM
Nope, not at the Mass I attended.
Posted by: LC at Jan 15, 2006 2:41:45 PM
hand up
Posted by: David Nowaczewski at Jan 15, 2006 2:42:17 PM
Raises hand. (Communion Hymn)
But--all the other hymns were great old Protestant ones--The Church's One Foundation, Praises and Thanksgiving, etc.
This comes from our parish's having recently invested in the St. Michael's hymnbook. (yay!)
Posted by: little gidding at Jan 15, 2006 2:42:40 PM
Nope. We got "Gather Us In" instead. Oh-n- "They'll Know We are Christians"
Posted by: Steve Nicoloso at Jan 15, 2006 2:44:03 PM
... but we DID chant the sending... which was a first for me.
Posted by: Steve Nicoloso at Jan 15, 2006 2:45:12 PM
At the risk of sounding like Pauline Kael, I don't know anyone who likes "Here I am Lord." Does anyone?
Posted by: Patrick Rothwell at Jan 15, 2006 2:46:26 PM
yes, we sang it too, in the lutheran church. i don't dislike it particularly, even though it's from that ghastly "new" hymnal :)
Posted by: george schmauch at Jan 15, 2006 2:50:37 PM
Yep, we had it too. (I went to the Newman Center this weekend, though, so can't speak for my usual parish, which usually has EXCELLENT music - now I'm curious about what they did!) At least there was no "They Will Know We Are Christians" - that's the one that really steams me. And the homily was excellent. But oh lord, the music ...
Posted by: Sonetka at Jan 15, 2006 2:54:12 PM
We did the double: "Gather Us In" for the processional and "Here I Am for Communion." But the Offetory Hymn was an odd thing to the tune of "Ode to Joy" called "Those Who Love and Those Who Labor" which includes a quote from the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas (at which point I stopped singing it). The "praise song" was an unfamiliar one about walking along the seashore set to a traditional tune.
But the pastor gave a good sermon on the influence of spiritual mentors, encouraging us to be such guides.
Posted by: Sandra Miesel at Jan 15, 2006 2:56:49 PM
Not only didn't we sing that, but if it were even suggested that something like that should be sung, the priests and choir director would seriously contemplate the legitimacy of public humiliation. Better than being drawn and quartered, I suppose.
Posted by: KH at Jan 15, 2006 3:00:13 PM
Oh, yes. Hand up here too.
For communion, the choir sang "Jubilate Deo," which prompted my 7 year old to lean over and say, "Are they singing Moo-latte?" (as in the drink you can buy at Dairy Queen.) Sigh.
Posted by: MS at Jan 15, 2006 3:01:29 PM
Yes. But I actually like it, so I didn't mind, even though it wasn't based on the readings in any way.
Posted by: cjmr at Jan 15, 2006 3:06:58 PM
I'm curious about a song that contains a quote from the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas. Huh? What are the specific details on this -- is it possible the quote also is contained in the actual Bible and/or in the writings of an early church father, as well as in the Gospel of Thomas?
I shouldn't speak for them, but I think my parents like Here I am Lord.
I find the music discussions here interesting, because before coming to the Catholic blogosphere, I had no idea there were a lot of Catholics who didn't like the music at their churches. My extended family isn't particularly musical, but in casual discussion about church music, I've never heard any of my relations say they didn't like the music or longed for older hymns or chant. I don't have a position; just my observations on the issue.
Posted by: mark at Jan 15, 2006 3:08:35 PM
Hmmmm, at the risk of being a minority here, I like the song "Here I Am, Lord," which we did sing at Mass this weekend. We also sang "The Summons," and the same psalm as Fr. Martin's parish. Also making a showing was "I Have Loved You" by Joncas.
Posted by: Maureen at Jan 15, 2006 3:13:00 PM
Nope; a couple dignified organ hymns, the settings from the Missa de angelis, and "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" at Communion.
*tries to wipe that smug look off his face*
Posted by: Augustinianus at Jan 15, 2006 3:22:32 PM
Hand up.
Also "The Summons."
Also something that began "Come follow me, down by the sea."
Also, as the so-called Song of Sending, "We Shall Overcome," sung solo by the cantor in a very showoffy style.
I've got to start waking up early enough to go to 7:30 Mass.
Posted by: Anne-Marie at Jan 15, 2006 3:25:17 PM
Yup.
Posted by: Ellen at Jan 15, 2006 3:30:38 PM
Yup.
Posted by: Ellen at Jan 15, 2006 3:31:46 PM
Sing a New Song; Here I Am, Lord; Ecce Panis, Lift High the Cross - we pretty much have to use what's in the Missalette.....
Posted by: ann at Jan 15, 2006 3:32:12 PM
Not only did we have “Here I Am” at St. William’s, Naples Florida, but as a communion hymn we had “Lord, You Have Come” by the defrocked child-molester Robert C. Trupia. He liked to write hymns with double entendres. Trupia was with the future Cardinal Mahony at St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo.
I trust that the music director at St. William’s just had musical bad taste and did not know about the origin of the hymn he chose. I couldn’t take communion. The former pastor of St, William’s, Neil Flemming, was close friend of Bishop Nevins, was removed from the priesthood after allegations of abuse.
Posted by: Lee Podles at Jan 15, 2006 3:32:38 PM
At the risk of sounding like Pauline Kael, I don't know anyone who likes "Here I am Lord." Does anyone?
Err... I do.
*hides with Maureen*
Posted by: Eileen R at Jan 15, 2006 3:36:21 PM
My hand is in the air.
Posted by: Jay Anderson at Jan 15, 2006 3:37:50 PM
We sang it in Toronto. And, like Sandra's church, the homily was on spiritual mentors. Is there North American homily prep service?
Posted by: Frank Sales at Jan 15, 2006 3:44:52 PM
In answer to Patrick's poll: Yes, I do like the song. We didn't sing it though. That's perfectly fine with me because I get tired of singing the same songs all the time.
We had a three singers, two of which played the guitar. That's fine. I normally don't mind that kind of music at all. Today, however, it grated on my nerves. I wasn't feeling well, so my mind wasn't where it was supposed to be. I was irritated that the singer didn't come to the ambo to sing the Psalm. I was irritated when she didn't sing the last verse of the Psalm. (But at least she did sing the Psalm that was in the Missal). I was irritated when the singers sang a Holy Holy Holy and a Lamb of God that no one knew and that was really difficult to sing. I was irritated that they sang a song that no one knew during Communion. I became even more irritated when I looked through the missalette, in the "Eucharist" section of the songs, and saw a song that would have fit perfectly with the theme of the readings for today. I was irritated that they waited until everyone sat down after communion and sang "El Shaddai". I was irritated when the congregation clapped at the end of mass.
But... in spite of all that irritation I was moved to tears, literally, at the homily. The homily itself was wonderful and, as our priest usually does, he ended it by bringing it all into the context of the Eucharist.
Posted by: Meggan at Jan 15, 2006 3:45:09 PM
hands up - communion song
Posted by: JennE at Jan 15, 2006 3:46:24 PM
I have to start bringing the Mass handout home with me. I'd better throw another quarter in the envelope, too.
Do you suppose I would look like a spy if I started taking notes during the sermon, er, homily?
Posted by: Ray from Minn at Jan 15, 2006 3:47:53 PM
No because I choose the hymns!
Posted by: John at Jan 15, 2006 3:48:03 PM
Communion song.
Nicole
Posted by: Nicole at Jan 15, 2006 3:51:47 PM
raising hand...
Homily by visiting priest rather good despite rather weak Scriptural underpinning.
Posted by: Mary Kay at Jan 15, 2006 3:58:57 PM
Nope!
Thank goodness for the existence of Dutch parishes (all right, it's the Cathedral) who actually sing stuff in Dutch. So the question is a bit out-of-my-domain.
Posted by: puella at Jan 15, 2006 3:59:55 PM
forgot to add that I like the song out of association with Masses that contributed to who I am today. But then again, there are very few Mass songs that I actually dislike.
Posted by: Mary Kay at Jan 15, 2006 4:01:25 PM
No - but its the single most likely song to be sung at a parish that is doing a Called & Gifted workshop - so I have sung it hundreds of times on the road - it doesn't matter what part of the country I'm in!
In my experience, there are about a dozen songs that are repeated endlessly in US parishes - and "Here I Am, Lord" is at the top of the list.
Posted by: Sherry Weddell at Jan 15, 2006 4:08:52 PM
Hand in the air. Wow, that's freaky!
Posted by: Justine at Jan 15, 2006 4:11:46 PM
I knew this was coming ... Yes, we sang it. I have two criteria for choosing (rather banning) songs -- 1) Is it theologically objectionable? and 2) Is it musically/poetically objectionable? I purposely set the bar pretty low for both of those, and this song gets through. It's a favorite of the choir, and with the first reading, I just couldn't resist. Hey, it will be three years before we have this excuse again!
Posted by: MJ at Jan 15, 2006 4:12:14 PM
You bet (sigh). Today it struck me for the first time that in Scripture Samuel only responds to Eli with "Here I am". When the Lord calls him he says, "Speak, for thy servant hears."
Julia
Posted by: JuliaA at Jan 15, 2006 4:13:50 PM
Hand up. Opened with All are Welcome, which I managed to miss through sleeping in. Rolled out of bed and scurried out the door at 10 minutes to Mass time, and got there just in time for the readings. Responsoral Psalm was Cooney's setting of Psalm 40 (what's U2's setting, where could I find it?), Offertory Here I Am, Lord. Communion got the Servant Song, closing was I am the LIght of the World. Which struck me as rather out of tone with the rest. But no one asked me.
The homily, as I remember it (I had trouble staying focused, see above, re sleepiness) had to do with serving the Lord and persevering even when things don't look that good and prayers aren't answered instantly.
Posted by: Elaine at Jan 15, 2006 4:16:31 PM
We did, because I programmed it.
I hate it, but I will not be guilty of forcibly wrenching away music that a large part of the congregation loves, the way was done to my parent's and thier friends 30 some years ago.
So I grit my teeth, and play that insipid jingle and try not to imagine how the priest would look with Mike Brady's poodle perm or Carol Brady's shag.
But I program it only rarely (it used to be used at 50% of the Masses here,) and bit by bit try to introduce better music.
I've drawn some musical lines in the sand, but that bit of doggerel is one I am not willing to go to the mat on with the pastor (he loves it as much as the PIPs.) I've got to save my energy for fighting the songs that actually espouse heresy.
Bad taste is not a mortal sin.
(Gee, think I'm defensive enough?)
On a side note, the lectors went O-for-5.
Yup, every single Mass, we were told that the body was not made for immortality.
Posted by: Red-faced at Jan 15, 2006 4:16:39 PM
Not at my church.
If you actually did a poll of people in the pew, I think the bloggerati might be surprised at how popular "Here I am Lord" and "On Eagles Wings" actually are.
The first time I heard "Here I am Lord" when I was a kid, I thought it was beautiful. Now I'm sick of it.
I never liked "Gather Us In."
Posted by: John P Sheridan at Jan 15, 2006 4:17:09 PM
Re: Gnostic hymns
There is also Sydney Carter's "hymn" called "Lord of the Dance" that comes from the Gnostic Acts of John where Jesus leads a round dance and where, like in other Gnostic literature, Jesus merely puts on a show of crucifixion and, trickster magician-like, reveals that the real Jesus didn't die on the cross, but rather a surrogate, and the real Jesus "leaped up high."
This thing is still sung in some Catholic Churches.
Posted by: little gidding at Jan 15, 2006 4:20:05 PM
We went to the 7:30 am Mass Without Music, so we were spared the Brady Bunch hymn ("I have heard you calling in the night" sounds to me exactly like "who was busy with three boys of his own...."). But our parish too has invested in the St. Michael hymnal, and our new pastor insists on good music, so perhaps we will never hear that particular tune in our church again.
Posted by: Marie at Jan 15, 2006 4:20:31 PM
*raises hand*
Also, heard Mass of Destruction (er.. Creation) played faster than I would have though possible.
Posted by: Liz at Jan 15, 2006 4:21:20 PM
Hand up in (wait for it) Chateauguay, (Christ-haunted) Quebec. Communion.
Posted by: anna domini at Jan 15, 2006 4:28:34 PM
As a pastoral musician, I used 'Here I Am, Lord' for this liturgy(rarely for another liturgy during the year), to draw attention to the connection between the 1st reading and the Gospel. For a preparation hymn, 'The Summons' was chosen. These both pertain to calling. FYI, those who are well trained musically and liturgically can often feel pressure not to play anything unfamiliar from both priests and parishoners. Things are beginning to improve in many areas, though. Chins up!
Posted by: Julie at Jan 15, 2006 4:30:34 PM
Yup.
Posted by: Mark R at Jan 15, 2006 4:30:38 PM
little gidding, I just looked again at the words of Lord of the Dance. I suppose if someone was already leaning towards gnosticism, but that wasn't the way I took the verse. Just goes to show that while music can supplement and amplify worship, it's not a primary source of theology.
Posted by: Mary Kay at Jan 15, 2006 4:32:22 PM
Hmm -- going to the evening Mass, so I don't know. But, let me stick my neck out and join the minority here that likes this song. [Sticking neck quickly back in and retreating into hobbit burrow ...]
Posted by: Gashwin at Jan 15, 2006 4:33:17 PM
Totally missed it at Quaker meeting today. But I think there's a strong probability I'll be getting it at an Episcopal service later in the year, so I'm OK :-).
Posted by: Lynn Gazis-Sax at Jan 15, 2006 4:40:22 PM
"At the risk of sounding like Pauline Kael, I don't know anyone who likes "Here I am Lord." Does anyone?"
Err, I actually do, as well as the whole congregation (we sung it in Spanish). Granted, some of the lyrics are probably different, but I still like the song.
Posted by: Veronica at Jan 15, 2006 4:41:07 PM
Are you kidding?
One of the reasons (okay, it was only a minor one -- let's just call it a benefit) of defecting to the Tridentine rite is never, ever having to listen to people attempt to sing this glop again.
Wouldn't go back to that for all the cheap plastic junk in China.
Posted by: fbc at Jan 15, 2006 4:50:26 PM
As an FYI "Here I Am Lord" was recently voted one of the most popular hymns in the church. Those of you who like it and are hiding--cmon out! There are plenty of others who will stand with you.
Going to mass now (5:15PM) will see if my parish has it.
Posted by: Mike Hayes at Jan 15, 2006 4:51:44 PM
Nope... Not at my parish... but then again.... I am Byzantine so I am pretty protected from that stuff.
Also if you read "Why Catholics Can't Sing" he talks about Here I am Lord as one of those "Voice of God" songs. He also talks about the melody as part of the Brady Bunch. After I read that I couldn't sing it anymore.
There was a comment about how music is supposed to amplify worship... In the Byzantine Church our our Theology is chanted, our music is our Worship.
John
Posted by: John Gibson at Jan 15, 2006 4:55:10 PM
We had Here I am Lord, The Summons (nobody seemed to know that) then "Oh, Lord, When You Came to the Seashore and closed with Amazing Grace.
After Mass, our pastor, introduced one of our ushers who told us about his new book, "Frank McKinney's Maverick Approach to Real Estate Success: How You can Go From a $50,000 Fixer Upper to a $100 Million Mansion"
Frank who ushers at our 7 AM Mass said he had a trailer outside Church where we could buy a copy. He said $5 would go towards our gradeschool and the balance would go towards he and his wife's McKinney's Caring House Project Foundation which provides shelter for the world's most homeless.. McKinney said we might like to see the trailer which is wrapped in a giant version of the book's jacket because it had been used by the Rolling Stones. He is going on a book tour to about 20 something cities to publicize the book.
My husband and I think it is wrong to pitch a book from the altar,especially one about financial success, but McKinney has been in our parish for years and we think he is sincere in his faith,even when no one is looking...won't go into the details of that, but we believe it. I copied below what the winner of The Apprentice says about Frank.
"If Hollywood were casting the role of a maverick who started with very little and went from a $50,000 fixer-upper to a $100 million mansion, they would choose Frank McKinney. Frank McKinney's Maverick Approach to Real Estate Success represents his approach to life. He decided to apply that approach to real estate and look what happened!"
—Kendra Todd, winner of The Apprentice"
The highlight for us today was a great petition to "end the sin of abortion".
Posted by: Judy at Jan 15, 2006 4:55:41 PM
Yes, as the communion hymn. And I like it, though I also like the Latin hymns as well. At my old Methodist Church, our Lay Leader argued with the pastor that it should be sung every Sunday.
Posted by: sj at Jan 15, 2006 4:56:12 PM
*hand up*
Posted by: Peony Moss at Jan 15, 2006 5:01:07 PM
Hand raised, eyes roll! God forgive me, but I cannot stand that song!
Other songs today:
"On Eagles Wings"
"Christ be our Light" (which I like despite myself!)
And one other modern marvel which I conveniently forget - not City of God (thank God) which they do with tamborines 100% of the times it is sung.
Yesterday at a funeral Mass "Lord of the Dance" was done. :-(
Posted by: Colleen at Jan 15, 2006 5:06:48 PM
No! Thank God!!
Posted by: Donald R. McClarey at Jan 15, 2006 5:07:05 PM
Communion hymn at my parish.
Posted by: Alia at Jan 15, 2006 5:21:29 PM
Most Holy Redeemer, San Francisco.
Not one but 2 versions: the familiar Dan Schutte one and another version I had never heard (didn't keep the song sheet so don't know the name of the author). The 2nd version was actually better musically, but the DS version is a favorite at our parish that sings its heart out all the time, and we BELTED this one out.
And we ended with "We Shall Overcome" ... it was the weekend of Dr. M. L. King's birthday, you know.
Yes, I like HIAL, too.
Posted by: Jimmy Mac at Jan 15, 2006 5:30:02 PM
affirmative.
Blech.
Posted by: Ellyn at Jan 15, 2006 5:40:33 PM
Not at my church. And I've just realized that I have yet another thing to be thankful for!
Posted by: Janet at Jan 15, 2006 5:43:29 PM
Sydney Carter wrote "Lord of the Dance" inspired by Gustav Holst's musical setting of the explicitly Gnostic (and Docetic) "Acts of John," a work that was rejected by the Church early on. If you read the "Acts of John" you can clearly see why, and you can see how the "leaped up high" verse figured into the Docetic doctrine, along with the "trick" of substitution of the crucified figure. Holst himself was quite intrigued with the modern rediscovery of the occult, and was linked through family ties with Theosophists and astrologers (his lingering interest inspired his composition of "The Planets").
It is true that one could sing "Lord of the Dance" without necessarily finding heresy in it because its Docetism has been subdued somewhat through metaphor--although why would a Catholic think that the Lord Jesus *is* something as amorphous as the cosmic dance?--but that doesn't mean that it's not suffused with doctrine that was explicitly rejected by the Church. To my mind, "Lord of the Dance" is in a category by itself as far as inappropriate church music goes. Other songs discussed in this thread, while out-of-kilter in some ways or relying on sloppy sentiments, I can forgive and sometimes even find a way to enjoy, but the popularity of "Lord of the Dance" in Catholic churches just really rubs me the wrong way.
Posted by: little gidding at Jan 15, 2006 5:45:52 PM
John Gibson, I love the Byzantine liturgy and music. I phrased the comment above that way because the in the Latin rite, Mass can be celebrated without music and also, I wasn't sure the phrase was entirely theologically correct, but it was as close as I could come off the top of my head.
Amy, many apologies, I know you like this to be a straight poll, but today I seem to have the compulsive Talk button stuck in the On position.
Posted by: Mary Kay at Jan 15, 2006 5:49:46 PM
Nope.
Posted by: Kevin Miller at Jan 15, 2006 5:51:00 PM
Very depressing. Are the composers of these silly songs aware of the despair that they arouse in a significant percentage of Catholics? Would the people who love this stuff be disadvantaged if the Vatican banned it altogether and mandated Gregorian Chant?
Mr. Podles, I sincerely admire your ability to stick with your parish given the circumstances there. I don't think I could have done it.
Posted by: reluctant penitent at Jan 15, 2006 5:52:44 PM
With the risk of exaggerating only slightly, I am pretty sure "Here I Am Lord" was played at each special school-wide Mass I ever went to in grammar school, and it was one of my favorites growing up probably due to familiarity (along with "City of God.") But if I were to hear it today, I would be in the "ugh" camp.
Posted by: paul at Jan 15, 2006 5:53:50 PM
We sang it today, I love this sone
Posted by: Josephine at Jan 15, 2006 5:59:27 PM
I'm amazed at the number of comments that discuss personal likes and dislikes of specific songs. Considerations of taste are distinct from considerations of quality. Music in the Church will not improve if we continue to think of it and discuss it in this way. I make it a point to tell our choir director "good job, that hymn was appropriate for mass" and she never fails to answer with some variant on how everyone likes it or it's her favorite hymn. This is a ridiculous way to select music.
These arguments are similar to the ones involving formation of conscience. Yes, you should follow your conscience, but you must take care to ensure that it is properly formed or it may lead you astray. If your understanding of good art isn't formed by being a Catholic, you will end up wanting to hear something like what you hear on the radio every day when you go to mass. The mass is meant to transport us, not to remain earth-bound. "I, me, my, we" music is self centered and earth-bound. We are there to be drawn into the life of the Trinity, not to "express" ourselves or have a nice, bonding, campfire sing-around.
I am trying to teach these (musical) princlples to my 6 year old. My 8 year old loves Bach and plays him all the time, and as a result my 6 year old doesn't enjoy it. I've explained to her that she needs to learn to appreciate this music because it is great. It is in an entirely different catagory than a 3 minute pop song or a lullaby, although we may like them all equally.
We need to encourange a serious discussion centered around what kind of music is appropriate for mass. What exactly happens at mass? What kind of music can bear the weight of what happens there?
I once heard an older priest say that you should never choose a song like "Amazing Grace" for a funeral because it can't stand up to the event. I've always liked that hymn, but I understood and agreed with his point. It is a "light" hymn.
Will all these light hymns be around in 150 years? Should we teach our children hymns that will sustain them through good and bad and help them grow in faith, or should we teach them to follow current trends?
Posted by: Troll at Jan 15, 2006 6:02:38 PM
Yep.
Posted by: Gerard E. at Jan 15, 2006 6:03:20 PM
Yes.
I love the song. And before you anathematize me, let me say that I despise Anthem and the St. Louis Jesuit music and much of Marty Haugen's music.
But what's wrong with this song?
Posted by: Lawrence King at Jan 15, 2006 6:07:02 PM
Newman Center Parish. 9 AM Mass.
Hand up.
Opening: Gather Us In (frequently used in this Mass. As we practiced ahead of time, the "new light" was "streaming" in the eastern stained glass window just above a statue of Christ--it put me in a great mood for our liturgy.)
Psalm 40: Here I am, Lord, Here I am, I come to do Your will. (There's 3 of us that sing at this Mass, and the harmonies were pretty tight--the parishioners seemed to appreciate it. I was also struck by the other references to Samuel in the text--besides "here I am", there's the part from chapter 15 on God not desiring sacrifices, but rather obedience.)
Offertory: The Servant Song (It's our Padre's absolute favorite. Plus, it fit with Samuel saying to God "Speak, for Your servant is listening.")
Communion: Behold the Lamb of God (the one with "Those who dwell..." It's one that folks know well, so that, if they wish, they can sing along while in line to and from receving the Eucharist.)
Sending: Here I Am, Lord. We do a couple neat things with the sustains at the end of the chorus, and it's pretty popular here.
So, I guess I'm with those others out there with sheepishly raised hands--like the song well enough, hadn't noticed the Brady Bunch connection before.
Posted by: St. Elizabeth of Cayce at Jan 15, 2006 6:08:27 PM
wow. You guys are HARSH! I really like this song, I wish I could live up to giving the Lord his due much better as the song leads me to sing! BTW, I know this will irritate many, but it was sung here at FUS this weekend. It's not as bad as some of the other ones. Like the "Yoo-hoo" song: "Yoo-hoo dwell in the shelter of the Lord". Or the song that NO ONE knows when to sing the next note because it is written SO terribly: Be Not Afraid.
It's not that bad of a song, we just are all sick to death of the really bad ones, 70's style.
Posted by: JenB at Jan 15, 2006 6:08:58 PM
Interesting. It seems that many of the commenters dislike this song because they heard it growing up, or they heard it mixed in with lots of other dreary music.
I never heard this tune alongside other dreary music. In fact, the first time I ever heard it was in an abortion clinic's waiting room, when I was sitting alongside one or two dozen Operation Rescue folks, singing a capella.
So for me, I will always hear this song as the author intended it: submission to the will of God, difficult as it may be.
Posted by: Lawrence King at Jan 15, 2006 6:10:30 PM
Yes - it was the processional (or "gathering" hymn, if you like that term).
The Offertory hymn was "Servant Song", which was redemptive.
Posted by: mh at Jan 15, 2006 6:10:58 PM
Not at my parish!
We sang traditional Catholic hymns and at the end of Mass while Father was vesting for the close of the Santo Nino novena and Benediction, we sang Ave Verum. All the hymns for Benediction were sung in Latin. Afterwards we all went to the parish hall for a huge feast of Filipino food.
Posted by: cecilia at Jan 15, 2006 6:11:17 PM
Hey all, please note that I didn't dis the song in my original post - I just asked who heard it!
And Troll...over the past four years on this and other blogs we have had countless discussions of liturgical music teasing out the issues of personal taste v. genuine issues of what is, according to the sense of the CHurch, appropriate and not for liturgies.
Posted by: Amy at Jan 15, 2006 6:18:47 PM
Sandra Miesel wrote:
But the Offetory Hymn was an odd thing to the tune of "Ode to Joy" called "Those Who Love and Those Who Labor" which includes a quote from the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas (at which point I stopped singing it).
Mark asked:
I'm curious about a song that contains a quote from the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas. Huh? What are the specific details on this -- is it possible the quote also is contained in the actual Bible and/or in the writings of an early church father, as well as in the Gospel of Thomas?
The full text of the song can be found at the bottom of this page, and also on this list of heretical hymns. The specific line that Sandra is referring to is this:
Raise the stone and you shall find me; Cleave the wood, and there am I.
This is from Thomas (saying # 77 in the Coptic, but # 30B in the Greek fragments from Oxyrhynchus). It is not in the canonical Scriptures, of course. [See the chart of parallels here.] Nor was it known to the Church Fathers, as far as I know, because it is listed in both A.T.Robertson's Harmony of the Gospels and in the Catholic Encyclopedia's Agrapha article as coming from Oxyrhynchus and nowhere else (these were written prior to the Nag Hammadi discoveries).
Posted by: Lawrence King at Jan 15, 2006 6:28:11 PM
Yes, although I don't consider it among the worst that OCP has to offer.
The Communion hymn was "Behold, Behold the Lamb of God", which is one out of the OCP books that I am uncharacteristically a fan of. I don't hear it too often, but I do really enjoy it for some reason.
Posted by: under the dome at Jan 15, 2006 6:31:37 PM
Heard it here!
Posted by: Jamie at Jan 15, 2006 6:34:16 PM
'I didn't dis the song in my original post'
I did detect some irony in the follow-up question about the 'universal character to the liturgy,' but maybe I was just projecting my own prejudices.
Posted by: reluctant penitent at Jan 15, 2006 6:34:37 PM
Ha ha ha. I didn't even think of how common it would be as I sang along this morning. I guess it's good for lots of Catholics to know songs in common but ... does it have to be this one?
Posted by: mikeg at Jan 15, 2006 6:35:30 PM
Yup. Once I saw the reading, I knew we were getting it. Also had "All are Welcome" as the processional. Then a spiritual for a communion meditation (which was beyond the ability of the cantor, unfortunately) and "Lift High the Cross" as the recessional. Interesting combination.
Posted by: lourdes at Jan 15, 2006 6:38:23 PM
I don't think it's such a bad song, and the lines "I, the lord of snow and rain/ I have borne my people's pain" and "I will break their hearts of stone/ Give them hearts for love alone" are quite lovely. The problem is that 1) it's extremely difficult for a congregation to sing, given its unusual rhythms--so even if people like it, they sure don't sing it (at least in my church); and 2) it doesn't have anything to do with the Mass, especially Communion.
Re "The Lord of the Dance": I googled the lyrics, and while they're not my cup of tea, they don't seem unorthodox. During the early Middle Ages, the "leaps of Christ" were a common motif of religious literature. Christ was supposed to have leaped onto the cross (that is, willingly embraced his death for our sins), for example, and then leaped from the grave at the resurrection and into heaven at the ascension. So while the "Lord of the Dance" may be a little hippie-dippy, it's not necessarily Gnostic (unless we know for sure that the author was writing in code).
Posted by: Charlotte Allen at Jan 15, 2006 6:40:32 PM
About a year ago I, when I was serving in Iraq (as a civilian in the CPA), I was attending Sunday Mass (held at 5:00 p.m./1700 -- inside the Palace formerly known as Republican, with a Muslim prayer area in the opposite corner) and our temporarily assigned USAF priest--who was a tremendous man--was conducting his last Mass in Iraq. Our final closing hymn was the Battle Hymn of the Republic. Normally we would sing, as in many parishes I suspect) only the first two verses of the closing hymn. On this particular occasion, we sang the first two verses, went on to the third. Voices became stronger and we went on to the fourth. It was time and we began the fifth verse, every voice raised in unison, in reaffirmation and jubilation--our singing echoing from the marble walls. It was quite possibly the most memorable hymn I have ever heard, every participated--in in any religions service.
I love to sing at Mass, as tonedeaf as I am--never do I have the opportunity to sing with so many talented persons; and outside of Mass, none of them would ever want to sing with me !
GNGBU
Posted by: Lawrence T. Peter at Jan 15, 2006 6:44:53 PM
Nope - although we did sing "Sing a New Song" --- waaaay overplayed. I knew a priest who lamponed it "Sing an Old song unto the Lord, Sing the same song everrrry Sunday...".
I have found "Here I Am..." inspiring on occasion and don't mind hearing it once in awhile.
Posted by: Al DelG at Jan 15, 2006 6:47:35 PM
No, no, hell no.
No other Haugen-Das tunes, either.
Thank you God for sparing me.
Posted by: Chris at Jan 15, 2006 6:51:27 PM
::: laughing :::: Oh yeah, we sang it!
Posted by: Lourdes at Jan 15, 2006 6:51:43 PM
Hand Raised. Entrance antiphon. St. Joseph Macon GA. I personally like the song if that really matters.
Posted by: Wodamark at Jan 15, 2006 6:54:33 PM
little gidding and Charlotte, thanks for the explanations. I'll have to do some research myself.
Posted by: Mary Kay at Jan 15, 2006 6:54:53 PM
To clarify: It's the tune that bothers me more than the words.
Posted by: Chris at Jan 15, 2006 6:55:23 PM
To those of you who like the song: I know the words really aren't bad at all, just simplistic in phrasing. It's the music! The sing-song, little ditty, nursery rhyme music!
Posted by: Janet at Jan 15, 2006 7:01:54 PM
Hand up here. I don't particularly like it at Mass because it's too schmaltzy.
Not my regular parish but had to go to Mass Saturday evening instead of today this week so went to church close to my home instead.
Oh, worse even was the "tasty" hymn -"Eat This Bread" at Communion.
Talk about immanentizing the Eschaton!
Posted by: beth v at Jan 15, 2006 7:02:21 PM
Yes, we sang it -- Offertory hymn. Mea culpa, I like it too. However, our choir directors have been doing it to death -- the Entrance at every funeral, for instance. Getting sick of it - along with Amazing Grace, the Schubert Ave Maria, and In the Garden. Perhaps they're too lazy to really research other music, I don't know, but I'm just getting really tired of having to play them all the time... They really know how to kick the stuffing out of a half-decent tune ... sigh ...
Posted by: Patricia Gonzalez at Jan 15, 2006 7:02:53 PM
Nope, all "contemporary praise songs" today from a printed sheet. Which normally might bug me, but the liturgy overall today was really good and the homily was actually about redemptive suffering. I was inspired! A lot of times, you hear the lead-up of "why do bad things happen to good people?" and expect to hear that "it's OK, you don't have to be sad, we have Jesus and he's Risen!" as if that's all that needs to be said. (At least, growing up in the types of churches I did, that what I came to expect.) It was a nice surprise to hear from our pastor that bad things happen and these burdens can help us grow spiritually.
The only song I remember from today being a little weird was during Communion, one of the praise songs had a refrain "I'm desperate for You (meaning Jesus)" which is kind of schlocky in that "Jesus is my boyfriend" sort of way. But otherwise, I was perfectly happy to "praise and worship" today.
Posted by: LeeAnn at Jan 15, 2006 7:12:20 PM
Yes!
Personally, I kind of like the song and I've found over the years that children dig it, too.
During the closing Mass at Steubenville North last summer, just prior to Communion, the keyboardist started tinkling out "Here I Am, Lord" very softly and slowly; it was supposed to be background music. Out of nowhere, one thousand-plus teenagers (mostly girls) spontaneously started singing along - in perfect pitch. It moved me to tears. And I'm not usually the sappy, sentimental type.
Posted by: midwestmom at Jan 15, 2006 7:12:57 PM
Someone wrote..."it doesn't have anything to do with the Mass, especially Communion."
Maybe not communion, but the Mass includes the readings and HIAL clearly had "something to do" with the First Reading and the Psalm. No matter what you think of the tune or the use of the First Person.
By the way, my hand is also up.
ToddV
Posted by: ToddV at Jan 15, 2006 7:15:06 PM
Ditto.
Posted by: Observer at Jan 15, 2006 7:18:25 PM
Yes, we get a daily dose of Hagen-Haas. Didn't Rome announce time off in purgatory for suffering bad songs? :-)
Posted by: Barry at Jan 15, 2006 7:31:18 PM
Well, St. Jimbob, I agree with the sentiment, but I don't know if we have to go so far as to pray for Haugen's damnation. Could we just pray that God send them to Canada?
Actually, praying for their salvation might be even more delicious - there in heaven, experiencing the heavenly liturgy, they'll be all the more aware of how schlocky their hymnody was.
(and as a side note, "Here I Am Lord" is not as bad as some of it, and has played an important part in some of the retreats that were "highlights" of my life, despite the fact that its a rip-off of the Brady Bunch song.)
Posted by: Tim Ferguson at Jan 15, 2006 7:34:02 PM
No, but we had 'really nice' classical CD music. At least it wasn't the Spanish classical guitar music this weekend. *sigh*.
I don't know what the Masses which had a choir sang. I foolishly asked our choir person if we could have We Stand For God as a recessional one day and she replied, 'Good heavens no, the people would not stay in the church for it - it is too long.!
Posted by: Sharon at Jan 15, 2006 7:36:00 PM
Yes, we sang it, too. In fact we got the trifecta, Haugen, Haas, and Schutte. (Gather Us In, You Are Mine, and Here I Am, Lord) Ugh! (Although, You Are Mine, by Haas, is tolerable. About the only one by him that I'd give that much credit.)
Posted by: David B at Jan 15, 2006 7:39:43 PM
And in Halifax, Nova Scotia, another hand is raised. Sung at the offeratory, where perhaps it fits a little better than at communion. I can't remember the other hymns now, but they were decent, if not any of my big favourites.
Our pastor announced that for the next while, he is going to be giving teaching homilies rather than pastoral ones, starting with the Mass itself. He then took us through the introductory portion of the Mass, with clear explanations of why and demonstrations as necessary, starting with the Sign of the Cross with holy water as we enter, reminder of our Baptism, quite a bit on genuflecting, what to and why, and what to do if your knees or back were not in shape for genuflecting any longer, opening remarks, Kyrie, penitential rite--which he pointed out is not a substitute for Confession for serious sin--and finally the Collect (and yes, he actually called it that.) Clear, solid, thorough, and done with gentleness and humour. Next week--the Liturgy of the Word.
Posted by: Karen in Canada at Jan 15, 2006 7:40:54 PM
Tim Ferguson:
You posted while I was typing, but I agree; we should indeed pray for their salvation.
But, please, please, don't sent them to Canada! Things are bad enough here already.
Posted by: Karen in Canada at Jan 15, 2006 7:45:20 PM
Yep.
Posted by: Schonborn Site at Jan 15, 2006 7:48:28 PM
heheh - just thought it would be a fair trade-off for you folks sending us Celine Dion :)
Seriously, I do love Canada (spent two years studying canon law there) and pray for a revival of the faith and of common sense in your politicians!
Posted by: Tim Ferguson at Jan 15, 2006 7:49:38 PM
"Gather Us In" for the entrance; "Here I Am, Lord," for the offertory, and "Behold the Lmab of God" for Communion. "Lift High the Cross" for the Recessional.
I like "Here I Am, Lord," but I always mix up the words. I don't know whether I'm altering the theology or I'm just confused, but I tend to sing "It is I, Lord," instead of "Is it I, Lord," and "Where you lead me," instead of "If you lead me,"
Posted by: Naomi at Jan 15, 2006 7:54:48 PM
Yup...sang it at Mass in my parish today....
Posted by: Patrick Gannaway at Jan 15, 2006 8:06:06 PM
*hand raised* And it's one of the very few haas/haugen hymns that I enjoy. The congregation belted it out which is a nice change from the usual silence =)
Posted by: A. B. at Jan 15, 2006 8:07:41 PM
*hand raised* And it's one of the very few haas/haugen hymns that I enjoy.
Posted by: A. B. at Jan 15, 2006 8:07:59 PM
Both hands up!!
At St John The Baptist Parish in Columbia County NY...and this liturgy was a farewell to a parishioner who was moving to an assisted living facility. For over fifty years she had served in every ministry in our church. It was also the kick-off of a campaign to encourage others to serve in the various ministries.
I am puzzled by some of the carping about music and liturgies that fail to meet certain expectations. For me this hymn and its kin (we sang them all, I confess) express simple themes and melodies. It brings us closer to the worship in the house churches. I reaaly do not want to become so sophisticated that I must look down my nose at the common folk . I am trying hard to be a worthy member of the hoi poloi.
Posted by: Tom Kelty at Jan 15, 2006 8:08:40 PM
Oh, yes, even in the little hospital chapel. I'll admit to being a little conflicted about the song. I don't dislike it as a song, but it doesn't seem like a hymn or appropriate to the Mass.
At the line "I will break their hearts of stone", I always think of Msgr Robert Hugh Benson's remark that the Lord will not spurn a broken heart, "but it *must* be broken".
Posted by: Roseberry at Jan 15, 2006 8:11:32 PM
Hand up....
If only it weren't so predictable!
Posted by: Scopulus at Jan 15, 2006 8:33:09 PM
Hand up in South Bend.
Posted by: RyanL at Jan 15, 2006 8:39:05 PM
Two hands up!
We attended the 6:30 pm Mass (my husband asked me if it was a Mass of Thanksgiving for the Steelers) at St. Joseph in Pittsburgh. "Here I am" was sung twice: once in the place of the regularly scheduled Psalm 40, and once after Communion.
Posted by: ambrose at Jan 15, 2006 8:39:56 PM
Yup. Me too.
Had a thought while watching my Christmas present the other day (DVD Lord of the Rings trilogy): Why not get Howard Shore to compose the score for the Mass, in the spirit of the entry into Rivendell, or the grandeur of Minas Tirith?
I'm all for uniformity, as long as it's good.
Posted by: Philip Toman at Jan 15, 2006 8:41:23 PM
Thanks be to God, NO! My parish is way too traditional for such a song. It is indeed the theme from "The Brady Bunch" at just a slightly different timing? "...this liturgy was a farewell to a parishioner who was moving to an assisted living facility." I'm wondering what the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass has to do with a farewell to someone?
Posted by: William at Jan 15, 2006 8:47:14 PM
Western Suburbs of Chicago
Don't recall it at this morning's Mass at the local Catholic church. Later in the morning was at my wife's Episcopal church, where they did sing it. However, I must say that it was rather tastefully done. It was mentioned earlier in the service that certain changes were being made for that day's service to honor their ties with an Anglican church in Africa. Was unaware of what these changes would be. Was startled out of a daydream by ululation ( spelling ? ) from the choir at the beginning of a hymn. I thought someone was having a medical emergency.
Posted by: Ed at Jan 15, 2006 8:50:37 PM
Gather Us In; Here Am I; The Summons; and . . . In Christ There is No East or West
Good homily on the Gospel question Jesus asked Andrew and his companion about what they were looking for . . . and Andrew's progress from disciple to apostle, from curiosity to student to evangelizer, going to tell his brother Simon about Jesus--and how we are asked the same question and need to make the same progress.
Posted by: Stephanie at Jan 15, 2006 8:50:49 PM
You betcha. (Raising hand.) I wouldn't expect anything else from the parish we attended. What we didn't expect was the reading exhorting us to avoid immortality. I kid you not. She said immortality everytime it should have been immorality.
Posted by: cw at Jan 15, 2006 8:51:51 PM
Nope, just "Here am I, Lord, I come to do your will" as the responsorial Psalm.
Posted by: Janet at Jan 15, 2006 9:04:45 PM
A trifecta in Arlington: Gather Us In, Here I am (Communion) and Lift High the Cross for Recessional. I suppose I should be grateful for Lift High the Cross (which I love, and which also reminds me of the Battle Hymn of the Republic), since we usually have a whole matched set of Haugen-Haas-Schutte. But I had no idea it was so..universal. Depressing.
Posted by: C Johnson at Jan 15, 2006 9:11:11 PM
Yes, we had it. Also, "Anthem," you know: "We are called, we are chosen...." I can't stand that song either. And we were told that the body is not for immortality during the second reading. Ugh.
Posted by: Stacey at Jan 15, 2006 9:13:35 PM
I don't LIKE "Here I Am, Lord," but I don't particularly dislike it either, except that on principle I have reservations about all "voice of God" hymns. Maybe I'm more tone-deaf than I thought I was, but although I have many times heard the claim that it sounds like the Brady Bunch song, I don't hear any resemblance myself. In general, my experience with this song, "On Eagle's Wings," "Be Not Afraid," etc. is similar to that of mark above - I had no idea they were so hated so widely and so strongly until I became a St. Blog's denizen.
P.S. The parish I attended today (not my usual parish) played "Here I Am, Lord." They also played "Those Who Love and Those Who Labor." (Was there some connection between that song and the readings that I missed?) Like Sandra, I had never heard the song before and was shocked by the appearance of a blatant Gospel of Thomas quotation. I also stopped singing because of the noxious allusion.
Posted by: James Kabala at Jan 15, 2006 9:22:58 PM
I don't have a real problem with the use of phrasing from an apocryphal gospel in the liturgy (after all, we get the names of the Three Kings, the names of the Blessed Virgin's parents and other sundry items from apocyphal sources). The specific quotation, "raise the stone and you shall find me, cleave the wood and there am I," admits of a perfectly orthodox interpretation: God, and therefore Christ, is everywhere - not in some pantheistic way.
Posted by: Tim Ferguson at Jan 15, 2006 9:34:23 PM
All are Welcome!
Hear I Am!
The Summons........
Posted by: Jerry at Jan 15, 2006 9:34:51 PM
We had "Here I Am, Lord" (which I like) for Communion. They introduced some new song for the recessional, and I thought of you, it's all about how great we are and how we can change the world. (*glorp*)
The homily was wonderful. Father Rudolpho started with a little chat about "ordinary time" and about the lamb of God, and about being in love, and about vocations, and about our former assistant who's just left for language school... and then he tied it all up by asking if we were in love with God and willing to follow God 24/7. I thought he was just rambling till the last sentence, but we were all listening. This is St. Philomene's in Sacramento.
Posted by: Jan Yarnot at Jan 15, 2006 9:35:45 PM
Given the general dislike of the Haugen-Haas-Schutte triumvirate in church music (or should we say triumph of bad taste) I wanted to share this gem I found at the First Things Blog - it is a paraphrase of the Dies Irae and addresses the general disgust with blase worship music.
Enjoy!
Day of wrath, O Day of mourning!
Earth to ashes now returning!
Gather, by the millions, burning!
Cleansed at last by cataclysm
Butchered rhyme and battered rhythm,
Neopagan narcissism!
On that day, Lord, when thou comest,
And our dreadful hymnals thumbest,
Smite the ugliest and dumbest.
Smite them, Lord, yet of thy pity
Take their songsters to thy city:
Even Haugen, Haas, and Schutte.
Spare them on the stern condition
That they feel a true contrition
for the Worship III edition.
Doom them not to loss and ruin
While the darker storm is brewing!
They knew not what they were doing.
On that day when Palestrina
Dare not touch a celestina,
What will Sister Ballerina?
With thine eyes that pierce like lances
Still her heathen silly dances
And her flirting with Saint Francis.
Purge us of the prim and prissy,
Ditties fit for Meg or Missy,
Not for Francis, but a sissy.
Cantors who thought nothing grander
Than a sheaf of propaganda
Writ like office memoranda,
Raise them to thy room to bide in
Where their hearts and ears may widen
To the strains of Bach and Haydn.
Let their hearts within them falter,
Hearing, as they near thine altar,
Seraphs sing the Scottish Psalter.
Seize those devils set to pen a
Hymnal neutered of its men–ah,
Fling ‘em all to black Gehenna!
Fling them one and all to mangle
Their pronominals, and wrangle
Lest a participle dangle!
Who held manhood in derision,
Preaching double circumcision,
Suffer now their own revision.
Though the songs of Hell are naughty,
None by Handel or Scarlatti,
At the least they’ll have castrati.
Pitch, O Lord, the bald and raucous
Slogans of a leftist caucus
Down to Sheol, or Secaucus!
Save their singers, though: restore ‘em
To a silent sweet decorum,
Saecula per saeculorem.
Various are the throngs of heaven:
Some were lump, and some were leaven,
Some as lame as six or seven.
When the demons hear thy curses,
And this world’s dense fog disperses,
Heal the hobbled–not their verses.
Hush me too, Lord, when I grumble:
In thy mercy make me humble,
Lest On Turkey’s Wings I stumble.
Though Haugen sing “Hosea” evermore,
Save me, I pray–but keep me near the door. Amen.
Posted by: Fr. Totton at Jan 15, 2006 9:36:35 PM
Love the tune and the lyrics. And it is a song suited for most voices. One of the favorites in Philly. Go Steelers!!!
Posted by: Realist at Jan 15, 2006 9:41:29 PM
Well, we did Gather Us In, Here I Am, Lord, and Behold the Lamb of God. I was directing two of the Masses, standing in for the director, as well as playing the organ at another. She apologized for giving me those choices, but she made up with Lift High the Cross for the recessional. On the preceding three, yeah, I think they're kind of cheesy and "all about me/us." At the same time, the congregation knows them and sings them. And since most of my life I have been completely unwilling to go anywhere God wants to send me, perhaps he's making me sing that song until I actually follow him.
Posted by: Mary Jane at Jan 15, 2006 9:41:33 PM
Funny we did Here I am Lord and Lift High the Cross as well, bleeeaaakk. I have heard that Here I am Lord is some kind of Gay Anthem, is that true?
Posted by: Fr. John Pecoraro at Jan 15, 2006 9:48:49 PM
hand up
Posted by: kate at Jan 15, 2006 9:48:52 PM
Sorry, nothing but Byzantine and various forms of glorious Slavic music with traditional texts at Holy Cross Orthodox today -- www.holycrossonline.org. Although we did an interesting Alaskan tone for a Communion hymn. Orthodox tonality and traditional words, but with an interesting kind of folk sound. Alaska meets Russia.
Posted by: tmatt at Jan 15, 2006 9:52:19 PM
By the way, I can't believe that a comment above is the first I've heard of something that should have been greatly publicized - the horrible truth about the hymn "Lord, You Have Come," a.ka. "Pescador de Hombres." Fortunately, this hymn was never one of my favorites.
A Google search reveals that Trupia was not "merely" an epebophile with one or two semi-consensual partners (which would be monstrous enough, of course), but a pedophile monster of the worst kind, on a level with the late John Geoghean, and a blackmailer to boot.
The original Spanish hymn was written by one Cesario Gabarain (an unobjectionable person, as far as I know) and Trupia wrote the English translation. There is another, less common translation out there by Willard Jabusch called "Lord, When You Came." (Jabusch is a writer of mediocre hymns like "The King of Glory" and "Whatsoever You Do," but, like Gabarain, not an immoral person as far as I know). I suppose this means that admirers of the hymn could salvage it for continued use by availing themselves of the Jabusch translation, but if you ask me, the hymn is so contaminated that it should be forgotten forever, starting immediately.
Posted by: James Kabala at Jan 15, 2006 9:53:06 PM
Yes.
Posted by: Chris G at Jan 15, 2006 9:54:28 PM
Yes, we get some pious ideas from the apocryphal Gospels and that can be harmless (the names of Our Lady's parents, for instance) but the Gospel of Thomas is a Gnostic document, which is a whole 'nother thing. I didn't expect to see it in a modern hymn.
There's a Neo-Pagan version of "Lord of the Dance" which requires only a few changes of lyrics from the Carter original. The music is, of course, adapted from the Shaker tune "Simple Gifts".
But "Amazing Grace" a "light" hymn?? It was the fruit of a slave dealer's conversion and has already lasted over 150 years. The first time I heard it was at a performance by the great folk singer John Jacob Niles. I had no idea of what it was, although I assumed it was a hymn. The young people at the concert were greatly moved. Would be nice to see such a reaction at Mass sometime.
Posted by: Sandra Miesel at Jan 15, 2006 9:56:51 PM
Fortunately, we went to the noon Mass at our parish and "Here I am" was not sung! But, the poor folks at 9am had to sing it. And, although there were several beautiful chant pieces sung by the choir, the recessional was a Haugen piece(blech).
Posted by: hyoung at Jan 15, 2006 9:59:58 PM
No, not for me. Not anymore. I've gone Orthodox. There are some things I miss about Roman Catholic mass, but the music is definitely not one of them.
Posted by: Palaschek at Jan 15, 2006 10:02:55 PM
Our homily in Madrid was the need to pray for priests, but not just numbers, but for holy, well formed priests to answer the call. The sermon also talked about the need for all of us to answer God's call.
The message was also that this shouldn't be one of despair, as there are positive signs of growth, and even though the Church is under attack, it will not fail, but overcome these satanic attacks.
It was a good homily.
Posted by: Robert Duncan at Jan 15, 2006 10:03:03 PM
yes, hand up!
Posted by: kelleyb at Jan 15, 2006 10:05:33 PM
Hubby attended first Mass this morning while I stayed home with sick kiddo...when he got home, he was talking about the homily...how the priest related that Samuel woudn't have known that God was calling him unless Eli had told him...and how it related to someone who suggested the priesthood to him...and how God sometimes uses other people to do His calling. Then I said, "So, did you sing 'Here I am Lord'?" He looked at me with surprise on his face and said, "Why yes we did!" And he's the cradle Catholic in our family...scary!
I like the song because it was my father-in-law's favorite to sing/play on the guitar, and he was a truly holy man...we've missed him these past 5 years...
Posted by: Lori at Jan 15, 2006 10:13:13 PM
No singing at the 7:30PM mass at St. Mary Mother of God. I am in my forties but I was definetely in the older crowd in the this church packed with mostly young folks. Lines for confession were very long. There were a lot of men at the mass - mostly in 20's and 30's.
This is one of the last masses in the city. It's bare bones but the homilies are great and on point (not long). Everything is reverent but no frills. Who would have guessed that there are folks that do not need to be entertained..Jesus takes center stage and He is enough!!!
Posted by: Therese at Jan 15, 2006 10:15:20 PM
"Love the tune and the lyrics. And it is a song suited for most voices. One of the favorites in Philly. Go Steelers!!!"
Not when you go to Mass AFTER screaming your head off from 1-4:30 today. Old Man River would have been better suited to me.
Posted by: ambrose at Jan 15, 2006 10:17:48 PM
*raises hand*
Posted by: Cindy at Jan 15, 2006 10:20:06 PM
No, we didn't have ``Here I am, Lord.'' We had something worse: ``Whatsoever You Do,'' the opening line of which gets twisted into ``whatsoever you do to the least of my PEOPLE'' because someone, somewhere might be offended by the word ``brothers.''
The local Ukies have an English-language liturgy at 11:30 am on Sundays. Time I went back there.
Posted by: Annalucia at Jan 15, 2006 10:20:13 PM
PS..I actually don't mind "Here I am Lord."
"Gather us In" on the other makes me want to "Gather me Out"
There are some lame oldies running around too...the 19th and 18th century organish ones. Some are good..but some are nails on chalkboard!
Posted by: Therese at Jan 15, 2006 10:22:05 PM
PS..I actually don't mind "Here I am Lord."
"Gather us In" on the other makes me want to "Gather me Out"
There are some lame oldies running around too...the 19th and 18th century organish ones. Some are good..but some are nails on chalkboard!
Posted by: Therese at Jan 15, 2006 10:22:28 PM
*raises hand*
We also had the Galilee Song "So I leave my boats behind..."
Posted by: Credo at Jan 15, 2006 10:22:52 PM
As a lector, I find the occasional slips amusing, but hearing how many mispronounced immorality today, I wonder if it's some sort of Freudian slip?
Posted by: Mary Kay at Jan 15, 2006 10:23:18 PM
FWIW, I actually do like "Here I Am, Lord," have somehow gotten through life without yet hearing "On Eagle's Wings" (I think), am sort of neutral about "They'll Know We Are Christians" (it's not great music, but nothing about the words rubs me the wrong way), and used to like "Lord of the Dance," but can no longer bring myself to sing it (I like the "Gift to Be Simple" lyrics to that tune, which are often sung at Quaker meetings, but have problems with the "Lord of the Dance" lyrics).
Oh, wow, Googling to find "Lord of the Dance" lyrics so I could explain what I didn't like about them, I see that my old college roommate has written a parody of the song: http://www.songworm.com/lyrics/songworm-parody/PerilsofLordoftheDance.html. Hopefully "Lord of the Dance" fans won't hate me for giving the URL; the parody isn't especially mean.
Posted by: Lynn Gazis-Sax at Jan 15, 2006 10:30:57 PM
hand down, ha!
Posted by: Todd at Jan 15, 2006 10:33:05 PM
We sang it as the "gathering song" at a church I was visiting in suburban Westchester Cty., NY. With the mandatory strummed acousic guitar accompaniment. I resisted the reflex to groan. Imagine my surprise later when the whole congregation chanted the Agnus Dei in Latin, and everyone seemed to know it.
Posted by: PMC at Jan 15, 2006 10:34:56 PM
Hand down here, too. Went not to my own parish but to the cathedral, mainly because of scheduling problems. Whew! Barely escaped!
Posted by: RP Burke at Jan 15, 2006 10:36:22 PM
*Raises hand*
And I am sorry to say that when it began, I started laughing.
Posted by: Adolfo Rodriguez at Jan 15, 2006 10:41:03 PM
Yes, we heard it, and yes, I'm one who likes it. It is a song that gets more people singing than many others do. I too wonder why if "everyone" on blogs hates this song so much, it is played so often--and have come to the conclusion that internet Catholics aren't (for better or worse) normal. http://rannthisthat.blogspot.com/2005/12/are-internet-catholics-normal.html#links
Posted by: Ruth at Jan 15, 2006 10:44:05 PM
One more thing...I should also go on record as saying that the homily was wonderfully orthodox and moving.
Posted by: Adolfo Rodriguez at Jan 15, 2006 10:44:07 PM
Suburban philadelphia hand raised. offertory. Communion was "Lord, When You Came To The Seashore," which, from my limited college-class exposure, appears to have worked much better as a Spanish hymn, and lost alot in the translation.
Posted by: Matt & Susan at Jan 15, 2006 10:46:51 PM
Yep. And it was certainly preferable to our entrance hymn with the refrain, "All are welcome in this place." And the closing hymn, "Take the Word of God With You as You Go."
Posted by: Carolyn at Jan 15, 2006 10:59:10 PM
Dorchester Lower Mills Ma. Parish.
10:30 AM Mass.
Hand up.
Gather Us In
Here I am Lord
Lift High the Cross
All songs were great. My daughter is the cantor who has a beautiful voice, so my view is a little shaded.
Posted by: rad at Jan 15, 2006 10:59:27 PM
We don't sing that one very often..Used to a number of years ago. We didn't sing it today and haven't for some time. This is Cardinal Mahoney's diocese, too. I prefer Gregorian Chant but (don't laugh) we'd probably get Tupac before that.
Bill
Posted by: Bill at Jan 15, 2006 11:09:07 PM
Actually, "Here I Am, Lord" isn't by Marty Haugen but by Dan Schutte. One of the St. Louis Jesuits, I believe (the guys who are no longer in St. Louis and no longer Jesuits--or even priests). I know this because the name "Dan Schutte" is a standing joke for my husband due to our many years in a former parish where copies of "Songs of the St. Louis Jesuits" were tucked into every pew. Every time he sees the name "Dan Schutte" above a hymn we are order to sing, he nudges me and rolls his eyes. Thanks, St. Louis Jesuits. First you saddle us all with your songbook, and then you leave the Jesuits.
Posted by: Charlotte Allen at Jan 15, 2006 11:11:44 PM
Sandra Miesel said:
We did the double: "Gather Us In" for the processional and "Here I Am for Communion."
Whew. I just realized that this was a typo. At first I thought someone had written a song called "Here I Am for Communion".
Posted by: Scrappy at Jan 15, 2006 11:14:07 PM
Not in my parish, though we do sing it on occasion.
I must say I find the "voice of God" criticism of hymns/songs something of a red herring. We pray voice of God psalms all the time. And the Good Friday Reproaches are certainly voice of God (as long as one has an orthodox Christology).
Posted by: F. C. Bauerschmidt at Jan 15, 2006 11:22:21 PM
hand up in AZ
Posted by: Paul Pfaffenberger at Jan 15, 2006 11:22:23 PM
Actually Charlotte - John Foley, Roc O'Connor and Bob Dufford are still priests and still Jesuits. From pictures of them posted on the internet, it seems that they still favor denim, though I didn't see any love beads or dashikis.
Posted by: Tim Ferguson at Jan 15, 2006 11:33:28 PM
Well, I have heard this sung once on a recording and this song is quite beautiful IF it is sung this way.
The choir should tell the congregation to only sing the chorus "Here I am Lord"
The verses should be sung by a strong solo male singer.
Posted by: Hartmeister at Jan 15, 2006 11:38:06 PM
We didn't get it. We did get Gather Us In and City of God. We also got some new hymn I never heard before and hope t