As you may or may not know, the Catholic Church has once more revised the Roman Missal's English translation so that it may more accurately reflect the original language of the Vulgate Bible. The changes are to be implemented during the season of Advent, 2011, and will supposedly rekindle faith and devotion for all who partake in. To begin with, I would like to express a hearty "FINALLY" in response to this decision. The "translation" done in the 70's and 80's is so paltry, ineffective, dull, and irreverent that it is truly necessary to at last have an English text that does not try to summarize the contents of the liturgy, but actually attempts to translate them accurately.
This is not to say, however, that I approve entirely of the movement, not because I disagree with the efforts of the Church to more accurately disseminate the text of the Bible to lay people, but because I believe its opinions on the movement, as well as the goal of the movement, miss the obvious reality: that the music of English-language Catholic music is unashamedly awful.
Since the 1970's, the American Church has ruthlessly suffocated the true Roman tradition of Gregorian chant, and has frowned upon music that may be "too difficult" for lay people to sing (i.e. Medieval/Renaissance polyphony). For an institution that prides itself on espousing the Roman form of Christianity, and one that gloats over its universality as a single Church with one liturgy, it is incomprehensible as to why we suddenly need to sacrifice our 1,000-year-plus prayers and rituals in the name of gaudy simplicity, so that "the common man" can sing along in church. So essentially, the Church has allowed itself to stoop to the level of Disney Sing-Along in exchange for discarding one of the most sublime musical traditions the West has ever heard.
Let me be clear. The Church never catered to lay people's musical ability until the Reformation, when suddenly it became expected that everyone needed to participate in the liturgy. But this is not the original intention of Christianity. Indeed, early Christian rites were set up in mystery cult fashion, where the catechumens were the only ones allowed to partake in the Eucharist, and everything was done very hush-hush in the interest of secrecy and solemnity. But now under the guidance of the Enlightenment, we desire to expose the Mass in every way possible, to make it entirely accessible to even the most ignorant member of the congregation. We are now spoon-fed everything. No one has to work to understand the Mysteries anymore, no one has to work in order to pray or to worship. Everything has been simplified to the point where it is frankly sickening, and the Church has shot itself in the foot by this approach. How are we to expect people to regain excitement over a religion that has nothing to hide? that doesn't challenge us to dig deeper? The whole business of religion, whether Catholic or Protestant, has become too easy. No longer does one need to read St. Augustine or St. Thomas Aquinas in order to understand Christianity; no longer must one delve into the mystical writings of St. Teresa of Avila; no one needs to be able to read music anymore or to attend rehearsal in order to sing the prayers at a high quality. No, instead we have a degraded, insulting version of a once beautiful religion, and I am frankly angry.
What happened to strong-arm Catholicism? Where are the old monastic teachers of the universities? Where is the voice of reason? Where is the usual sternness of Catholic dogma? We are flailing about over all sorts of other issues in the name of "Catholic dogma," but are afraid to defend authentic Catholic dogma and practice. Are we that enamored with Marty Haugen's Mass of Creation, or Bob Hurd's hideous Mass of Glory? Who are these people and who gave them the authority to subject us all to their mediocre, uninspired swill other than the few liturgical music publishing companies? Why are we not fighting back? I know that there is
a large group of people out there who believe in the pure, timeless beauty of things like Gregorian chant, or the wonder of old polyphony. Under the spirit of reform, we must become a much louder voice and defend this body of music, or at least hold it up as a standard to meet. Not every parish is going to be able to implement such music - I am all too aware of this unfortunate reality. But why do we not strive to do so? Why are church choral programs full only of the elderly? Why is it that no one really enjoys singing in church anymore? Why is no one learning musical technique through the church as people did since the 8th century under Pope Gregory I? We simply must address the issue of quality in contemporary worship music. These people who consider themselves "composers" are blemishes on the history of Catholic music. It is appalling and unconceivable that these people should consider themselves part of the same heritage as Josquin, or Lassus, or Palestrina. It is like comparing stray cats to lions.
I am not a hardcore orthodox Catholic - not by any means. I believe that the Catholic Church needs to seriously reevaluate its stances on abortion, homosexuality, and female ordination, but I do NOT believe that the Church should be throwing away its liturgy so carelessly. I am an ardent (and clearly feisty) lover of early music, and as an amateur musicologist, it pains me endlessly to see this once alive music become the subject for faux-new-age CD's and techno remixes. I realize that this comes across more as an impassioned rant, but I am so distressed by how long this practice of sheer mediocrity has been allowed and desired by certain members of the clergy.
The sad truth is that this music no longer moves people in any way, no longer elevates them to a different plane of thinking or contemplation. Instead it is flat and dull. No amount of bongos, electric guitars, or flutes will ever remedy this. The false exuberance of these works are only a tacky veneer over poorly designed composition and text setting. Handel, not a native English speaker, set English better than these native English composers. And why is this tolerated? So that we can maybe appeal to some of the "young people?" I am a member of the "young people," and I can tell you that none of us are impressed by this garbage. None of us have found any yearning for God from these petty songs. But I know many of my generation who have been deeply moved by things like chant, and it has inspired them in a way unbeknownst to them before.
May God move as is according to His Will.
Amen
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