Is playing music during Communion respectful?

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Ever since I was a child, this has been a question that has plagued me. Why is music played during Communion? Please don’t get me wrong; I love music, especially singing the wonderful less modern hymns I learned at my Catholic grade school.

It has never been a question for me that the persons playing the music are producing something very special, that I would have no chance to reproduce with my non-existent musical talents, but that is not in question.

It is very simply that I have on rare occasion even felt offended that someone has decided for me that during this very important time of self reflection, before I am to accept the Body of Christ, I should be terribly distracted with music. Some may decide this to be very trivial, but it is very important to me that I have a completely clear mind and be able to fully understand exactly what is taking place each and every time I accept the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

I suppose that it is my own fault for not immediately questioning my local priest in this matter, but it still disturbs me that it occurs in just about every Mass that I have been to in the United States. I cannot at this moment think of a single parish that I know of which does not play music during Communion.

I can and must say that when living in Germany and attending Mass every Sunday, it is VERY refreshing to not have to deal with the disturbance of music during Communion. Let me back up a step and clarify that I am the son of a German immigrant and often enjoy the opportunity of living abroad, as time and money permit.

This should possibly shed new light on my question, simply because I have had the chance to experience on a regular basis, a Communion without music, where I can fully concentrate on God and the gifts that I am about to receive.

I do also remember that when I visited Mexico and attended a Catholic Mass that neither did they sing during Communion. It was a rather small church and gathering of approximately 50 people, but there was indeed much singing going on, excluding during Communion.

Is this something that only occurs in the United States? Is this something that has come down from Rome as a choice for each individual parish to make, or better yet, should it come from Rome?

I seem to be getting deeper in my train of thought with this question and should probably stop here and allow others to catch up and inform me of the correct answers to the many questions I have already posed. I look forward to reading what you all have to say!

God Bless You All!

Michael

-- Michael (mikereithmeier@hotmail.com), May 13, 2002

Answers

Michael

I think you forget that the fact is Communion is for all not just for one person to reflect their worship and reference to GOD. Music simply sets the whole community into prayer to GOD in song. That is what I have always seen. It is our community that is recieving communion. Not just one individual all alone. I find the music to be soothing and relaxes me to be able to see GOD better. Have you ever served Communion to others alongside with the Priest. I have for several years in the past. It gave me many good memories and taught me many things that the ordinary lay person would never experience. The music did not ever distract me in seeing what occurs around and in front of me then. Music during Communion is simply a means of prayer. Thats all it is.

-- Fred Bishop (fcbishop@globaleyes.net), May 13, 2002.


Michael,

I understand your position, but I prefer to have music during Communion. I forget who said it, but the quote I like to think of is "To sing a song of praise is to pray twice". I actually like to continue to sing along after returning to my seat after receiving Jesus. Once the song (or singing) is complete, I then silently reflect on the Eucharist.

As far as your question about only in America, I attended Mass in England last year a couple of times. The Church I attended did play a song during Communion.

-- Glenn (glenn@excite.com), May 13, 2002.


Michael,

Song is a form of prayer and praise and Jesus gives each of us different gifts and wants us to use those gifts to glorify him - so music during communion serves several purposes - the musicians are using their gifts to glorify God and we who sing along are praising God too.

ML

-- MaryLu (ml326@juno.com), May 13, 2002.


MIchael,

An interesting question. A secular parallel might be the use of music in film. The use here is as a 'short cut to the emotions' telling us what to feel about the scene. For example spooky music to enhance a scary film, etc etc It is interesting to watch a film without the sound to see what difference it makes. The answer usually is quite a bit.

There have always been individuals and groups both within and outside the Catholic church who prefer to have less distractions in worship. Others like or even need to have the emotional boost provided by the music. I would not like to judge who has the most 'real' experience. Perhaps that is not the point.

As Christians, communion is a collective activity ('Where two or three are gathered together in My name I will be in the midst of them'). Collective activities always require us to exercise a bit (sometimes quite a lot!) of grace towards others because where two or three are gathered together they will always find something to disagree about.

Jesus taught that our unity in Him is vital to our spiritual health (St John ch17) so to unite together in Communion may require us to make a sacrifice of our personal preferences so that we can join in with others.

My feeling is that joining in is more important here than worrying too much about the details of the form of the communion. After all you can worship God without any distraction by yourself. (See Jesus teaching on prayer in the Sermon on the Mount).

God bless

Colin

-- Colin (cicarron@aol.com), May 13, 2002.


Wow, everyone was on top of this one bright and early!

Fred,

I wholeheartedly agree with you in the fact that “Communion is for all not just for one person to reflect their worship and reference to GOD.” I also agree when you state that “music simply sets the whole community into prayer to GOD in song.” I really have no qualms with anything that you said.

I have never had the opportunity to serve Communion along side a priest, but would jump at the chance. Since not having this opportunity, I really have no understanding of what you have experienced being on the other side of the chalice. I can imagine that you must have had to keep a very strict consciousness about yourself as to pay close attention to those receiving Communion, making sure to prevent any mistakes that might happen. (dropping the chalice, dropping the Host, etc.)

Until I can be shown something more substantial, I must stand by my guns on this one. Reiterating, I have no problem singing songs of praise to God; I rather enjoy being able to sing during Mass with so many other beautiful voices, coming together as one.

Maybe I should make myself more clear on this topic.

Have you ever watched that police show, “COPS?” Even if you have not, you must know that it is common practice for police officers to scream at individuals they wish to detain in an attempt to distract them or even mentally incapacitate them to some degree. This gives the policeman the ever so slight upper hand in being one step ahead of the individual they are pursuing. This is due to the fact that for that individual, it becomes increasingly more difficult to retain their own train of thought while the officer is screaming commands.

We are spiritual beings that must also adhere to the psychological laws that plague us as humans. Breaking ones’ concentration with any amount of distraction is pure psychology at work. It is something that none of us can ultimately escape while in this physical form as a human being.

I don’t mean to say that there are not those out there, such as yourself, Fred, who do a really great job resisting precisely those things that others such as I may find terribly distracting. I rather say that I would choose for myself to have as few distractions possible during my very intimate conversation with Jesus Christ shortly-before, during, and shortly-after receiving his Body and Blood during Communion. It is after all for me the key most important part of Mass, as well as being a true Christian, that I have uninterrupted and direct communication with Jesus Christ, rather than surround myself with distractions that could possibly challenge this.

Once the Sacrament of Holy Communion has taken place, it feels immensely wonderful to participate with great fervor and zest in praising God in All His Glory with nothing less than the most adoring songs of joy and elation. I would much rather sing ten extra songs before and ten extra songs after Communion, than to have my communication with Him be threatened by having to look down and turn the page in the Misselette or worry that I sing out of tune.

Why do we have moments of silence? When something of great significance occurs in our life, good or bad, it is very common that we have a moment of silence. By both members of the Church, as well as non members, have I always been taught, witnessed, and explained that this moment of silence should be a time to remember something; that it is in essence a moment of self-reflection. As a Christian, I believe that it is a time that we look deeply inward, within our own heart and soul in hopes of finding God’s Presence. It is a time when we must set everything else aside (including music) and concentrate on one thing, our exceedingly important communication with God.

In my humble opinion, Communion should include a dialogue with God, not necessarily a song that one could worship Him with. A dialogue consists of at least two persons, communicating back and forth with each other in one form or another. A song is not communication back and forth between at least two people, but rather words of praise set to a tune, no matter how wonderful, that travel in only one direction, from us, towards God, in praise of Him.

Fred, please feel free to tear my stuff to shreds, I do indeed wish to see the light if that be the case, and I promise to not be mad. You already know that I am very open-minded. I am this way because that is exactly what has gotten me to where I am now in regards to my faith. If I have somehow been blinded and cannot at this moment see my mistakes, then please point them out to me so that I may sooner come to a better understanding.

However, please also understand that I must have more than one’s good feelings to convince me in this or any other case.

As I find myself getting involved in more threads, I feel an increasing appetite to interact with all of you who have such great wisdom, which I will forever seek and pass on as I am able.



-- Michael (mikereithmeier@hotmail.com), May 13, 2002.



Dear Michael:
Pardon my saying so, but you are too easily distracted.

On my own way to receive Holy Communion, I'm not even conscious of the communion hymn in the background. It isn't always in a volume so high I'd hear it at all. My thoughts are on Jesus and His divine presence. That's enough to drive away all distraction. As to being ''respectful'', all of us are respectful of the Blessed Sacrament, with or without music, aren't we? If it were a rock band, at a disrespectful volume, I could understand. (When that really happens, complain to the Pastor, by all means!)

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), May 13, 2002.


Michael, you're not the only one who feels this way, believe me. You may want to call around and find out if there is a "quiet" Mass in any of the local parishes. One parish I attended actually had it noted next to the Mass time in the bulletin whether it was quiet (Q), folk (F), traditional (organ music) (T) or youth (trumpets, flute, electric guitar maybe, etc.) (Y).

I think it depends a lot upon the make-up of the parish (older people tend to want quiet or traditional Masses), and how hard it is for them to get musicians (believe me, not too many people want to lead singing at 0630 Mass, lol). The earlier the Mass, the more likely it is to be quiet.

I like to sing, myself. Trouble with singing during Communion is that you either have to choose music that people will sing the refrain of (because if you use an unfamiliar piece there is the problem of what to do with the songbook when receiving Communion in the hand (not a problem years ago)) or you have someone else doing the singing and everybody else keeps quiet (which, for those of us who like to sing is rude--Mass is not a concert). Another option is just a quiet instrumental piece, or even recorded classical or Gregorian chant.

One advantage of the music is that it does drown out most of the sound of crying/misbehaving children (parents these days don't seem to care that that is a distraction as well and should they be utilizing the Parents' Chapel, if available, or taking the child outside to calm them down).

I think it would be a good idea for parishes to ask their congregations what they want at each Mass, because each Mass time develops its own personality over time.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), May 13, 2002.


Hello, Michael.

Although music (whether sung or instrumental) is not required during the distribution of Holy Communion, it is -- to answer your subject question -- "respectful" and permitted by the Church's liturgical law.

In 1967, the Sacred Congregation of Rites (with Pope Paul VI's approval), published a document called "Musicam sacram" (Sacred Music). I want to quote two paragraphs from the document. Before I do, I want to clarify some terms used.
There are references to "said Masses." I believe that these are less solemn rites in which most of the words are simply spoken, rather than sung.
There is a reference to the "ordinary" and to the "proper" of the Mass. The ordinary as that part that is more or less fixed from day to day (e.g., the exchange before the Preface, the "Lamb of God," etc.). The proper is that part that changes with the season or to commemorate a special feast. Most people know that there is a "proper" Responsorial Psalm and "proper" Prayers spoken by the priest, usually at three points in the Mass. Many people are not aware that each Mass has a proper Entrance "song" (to be used during the procession) and a proper Communion "song" (to be used after the priest receives the Lord). Although called "songs," these two are really just brief one-or-two-line verses that can either be sung or read, either by the priest, a cantor, or the whole congregation. What you are going to see, though, is that the Church authorized the substitution of hymns for these brief verses. And that is how we have come to have Entrance/Opening and Communion hymns at many Masses.

Now here are the paragraphs:

"36. There is no reason why some of the Proper or Ordinary should not be sung in said Masses. Moreover, some other song can also, on occasions, be sung at the beginning, at the Offertory, at the Communion, and at the end of Mass."

In my opinion, there are many beautiful hymns, appropriate for soft, non-distracting singing (especially by a cantor or choir) during Communion. We even used to sing such things as "Panis Angelicus," "O Sacrum Convivium," "O Lord, I Am Not Worthy," "O Sacrament, Most Holy," "Jesus, My Lord, My God, My All," "I Need Thee, Precious Jesus," etc., when I was in a boys' choir in the early 1960s (before Vatican II) -- so this is not a new thing. I'm not 100% sure, but I think that I have heard the Vatican choirs singing during Communion when papal Masses have been televised on EWTN.

But, besides silence, there is an alternative to singing a hymn during the distribution of Holy Communion, according to "Musicam sacram":

"65. In sung or said Masses, the organ, or other instrument legitimately admitted, can be used to accompany the singing of the choir and the people; it can also be played solo at the beginning before the priest reaches the altar, at the Offertory, at the Communion, and at the end of Mass."

God bless you.
John

-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), May 13, 2002.


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