Sonseed “Jesus Is a Friend of Mine”
Carey Landry “We Are Companions on a Journey”
Dan Schutte “Sing a New Song Unto the Lord”
Willard F. Jabusch “The King of Glory”
Marty Haugen “Gather Us In”
Dan Schutte “Here I Am, Lord”
Marty Haugen “We Remember”
Dan Schutte “Table of Plenty”
John Michael Talbot “Be Not Afraid”
Michael Joncas “On Eagle’s Wings”
Some of the hosts’ comments:
– “Bad music and bad liturgy lead people to stop going to Mass.”
– “Steven Colbert had a funny skit about CCD using ‘The King of Glory.’ ”
– The granddaddy of all terrible church music is ‘Eagles’ Wings.'”
From the Catholic Talk Show
While this story is irrelevant to us Eastern Catholics (since we sing only ancient and very time-tested songs at Divine Liturgy/Mass), I was struck that it seems no criteria, other than the opinions of these podcasters, is apparent. My Roman Catholic mother wanted On Eagle’s Wings sung at her funeral Mass and so it was. It’s based on Psalm 91 and Exodus 19:4. (The change from third person to second person in later hymnals was unfortunate and not Biblical.) Like others who post here, I have my preferences in music. But, it would’ve been helpful to have criteria for judging songs as “the worst of all time.” That’s quite a claim. (No other countries around the world over 2,000 years had any songs that were worse?) If we’re truly talking worst of all time, I can think of one that was worse than these: the 4th-century Alexandrian priest Arius wrote a song that was quite popular, “There was a time when He (the Son) was not.” I can’t be sure where it was sung, but many, including most bishops, fell into Arian heresy. So, I think the archheretic from Egypt wrote songs worse than the St. Louis Jesuits. My thoughts.
I agree that the lack of criteria weakens their article. Having played most of these in my 48 years in playing either guitar, 12 string guitar, bass guitar, violin and viola at Mass, I had to think about the criteria I would use to consign songs to outer darkness. One would be the singability factor. If the people can’t sing a song with some rehearsal before Mass , and especially after several weeks of these, I would place the song in the bad category. Haugan’s Gather Us In might be in this category, but there are worse examples in the OCP universe. One problem is that the song leader might have great skill in navigating through a song which otherwise leaves the congregation far behind. Another issue is how obsessed the song is with the singers rather than with Christ. The “all are welcome” songs read like anthems for the alphabet crowd, assuring them that God is pleased with them just as they are. Also the song “Sing a New Church” reads like the Woke National Anthem, a DEI maifesto. Well, these are some of my subjective thoughts.
“Hiraeth”, Welsh for nostalgia. One of these church songs that gives me hiraeth is “I heard Him Calling in the Night.” Why? because around the time that song was sung at some Masses, I had an urge one Friday night, that would not go away, to go to OLP shrine, though all I wanted to do was stay home and relax. To make a long story short, I went there around dusk and found myself helping a woman in a wheelchair get holy water and the picture of Jesus she bought in the giftshop for her son blessed. Fr. Warren blessed us before her son came. At that time I wore a pin blessed by Pope John Paul II from ALL. God called indeed.
Regarding my last post the actual title of the piece is “Here I am Lord”, but I always remember the part that says, “He called me in the night.” I realize that there is some controversy about the writer, but God uses us sinful people to accomplish His plans in spite of us. Hopefully the writer made his peace with God at the end of his life and rests in peace.
I must correct something about my 6:09 pm post today:: the writer of “Here I am, Lord”, is still alive. My apologies for the confusion. I must have gotten him mixed up with another composer.
Some of these are not what I would place on the “worst” list. (I heard one, not on the list, this past weekend, that almost made me laugh outloud)
Trite….yes. Childish…yes.
Can these gentlemen name more than one person who has left the Catholic Church because of a few poor songs?
“Bad music… lead(s) people to stop going to Mass,” really? If people stop going to Mass over a few bad songs, they weren’t truly evangelized and well catechized Catholics. I’ve heard even excellent hymns sung terribly by some; sometimes in keys that the congregation cannot sing and other times being led by choir members who cannot sing well.
No. Bad liturgy with bad music repels people. It is extremely unprofessional and childish– as well as irreverent. Grown-ups (all ages, young and old) who are well-catechized and serious about their Faith, wish to worship God in a professional, grown-up, reverent manner– a good liturgy is a must. Traditionnal Catholic hymns should always be prominent, played by a good, devout Catholic organist. (The church should not hire gays with lovers, pro abortion musicians, etc.)The priests also must be mature, faithful Catholics– any age–young or old. They must maturely handle the liturgical music.
Can you answer my question, can you name more than one person who has left the Catholic Church because of a few poor songs?
The liturgical abuses of Vatcan II Masses have repelled a great may Catholics, and have emptied churches, too. The liturgy is very important. I recall once, in 1971, when visiting a friend, meeting a lovely, devout group of Asian Catholic girls, college students, who would gather on Sunday mornings to pray the Rosary and read the Bible together. They sadly told me that the local campus ministry was “too wild and disrespectful” for them. I went and found out that it was true. They had a “hippie priest” and wild, disrespectful Masses. Made me sick! I signed a petition to the local bishop to stop these evils. A few months later, I heard that the bishop closed the campus ministry, and sent the “hippie priest” away from his Diocese. Later, I heard that the campus ministry was completely remodeled, and a good, conservative, faithful Catholic priest was the new rector. The lovely group of Asian Catholic girls were happy to return to Mass there. They had not gone to Mass for three years!
Why would a “devout group of Asian Catholic girls” stop going to Mass for three years” because of irreverent Masses at a campus ministry?
Why didn’t they go to Mass somewhere else, especially if they were devout?
And, it seems they left due to an errant priest and “disrespectful Masses,” which I’m not excusing. But, there’s no indication they left because of a poor song or two. That’s my point.
I’ve been at reverent Masses with traditional music done very badly, almost painfully. But, I’ve never seen anyone stop going to Mass entirely over that.
You fail to understand. These were foreign students. Their local campus ministry was a horrible failure. They did not know where else to go. They were young Asian students, not Anglo Americans. This country was unfamiliar to them. You obviously have no standards to live by. They did.
You have never seen Catholics stop going to Mass because of liturgical abuses, including terrible music? You may be too young to understand the problem.
Wow! Since I “obviously have no standards to live by,” you’re claiming some supernatural knowledge about me. Since you’ve already judged me, no point in trying to have a rational conversation. Enjoy your superiority.
Tu Hiyaki, you don’t know the problem. Stop condemning Catholics with good standards who refuse to attend Masses with horribly poor liturgies and many liturgical abuses. At this particular campus ministry, the Masses were held outdoors in the grass nearby, many kids were using dope before Mass, playing guitars, and the priest was a hippie-type who did not believe in Church teachings on marriage. He thought the kids should experiment because it is “all about freedom and love.” He did not use proper bread and wine for the Mass. He used a grocery store loaf of French bread, and the kids tore off pieces of it at Communion. He did not use a proper Eucharistic Prayer; he sang and made up his own Eucharistic Prayer each time– thus the bread and wine were not consecrated, and the Mass was invalid. He didn’t care, he viewed the Mass as a love-in. He used a crude cup from the kitchen instead of a proper wine chalice. He passed it to each kid, who took s sip. He played a recording of “Jesus Chrust Superstar” instead of conducting the Good Friday liturgy and had all the kids sing along. So the bishop got rid of this priest and closed the campus ministry. The priest left his Franciscan Order and joined a radical ecumenical group somewhere in California.
Tu Hiyaki’s error is in believing that only “a few good songs” drive people away from Mass. Rather, the generally abysmal quality of music at almost every parish every Sunday all over the country is what drives people away. Yes, that has happened. I know I’d rather have a Mass with no music than the music I have to put up with every weekend. Why can’t parishes just do away with the songs? I bet they’d get more people attending Mass. Mass would be shorter too.
I totally agree with you.
I think the use of the word “songs” at Mass instead of the sacred word “hymns” explains a lot.
A very insightful comment, Kathleen.
I agree Kathleen. There are Catholic and Protestant hymns, and there are songs and gospels. and much more. None of those mentioned above would qualify as hymns. Hymns are much more complicated.
Focusing on singing songs at Mass misses the point. We’re supposed to be singing the texts of the Mass: the greeting, the dialogues, the ordinary, the presidential prayers, and the antiphons. The dominant paradigm of singing contemporary songs at Mass is neither liturgical nor correct, yet nearly every parish does it at the encouragement of the music publishers and composers who make money selling their new copyrighted music to ignorant but well-meaning parish music directors.
We should be singing the proper chants: the entrance, offertory and Communion antiphons as well as singing the parts of the Mass that are almost everywhere always spoken. How many parishes chant the Creed? It can and should be done.
Stop singing songs at Mass. Move away from that bad paradigm. Move away from OCP and GIA contemporary music. The blame lies with diocesan bishops and liturgy offices for not educating people and not promoting what the Roman Rite actually calls for in its sung liturgy.
Are you kidding me? If I started singing the texts of the Mass people would walk out of the Mass right away.
The worst was not on your list.
I MYSELF AM THE BREAD OF LIFE was often sung at communion. Thankfully, I have not heard it in years.
A disaster! The lyrics should have been respectfully re-written and corrected. “I AM”– No, Sister Suzanne Toolan. You are not Jesus Christ, rhe “Bread of Life!”
The song was composed by Rory Cooney not Sr. Suzanne Toolan.
Ha ha ha. Here I am Lord is so bad that I refuse to sing it. I think I heard that melody on the Brady Bunch. Just awful.
It is unfortunate to focus on the negative. Your article sadly does not recognize that the Holy Spirit may (without our permission) work outside our little God boxes. What you judge as bad Catholic music may deeply move a soul closer to God and the Church. Catholic music offers praise, worship and prayer to God. As there are countless colors and types of flowers so is music. What you may judge to be a weed may be, elsewhere, to others a flower of beauty.
Not all music is worthy of praise, my dear Harry, and that includes liturgical music. If Mass music is inane and insipid to the discerning listener, then something is amiss. I equate it to the dumbing-down of the educational system. Certainly, many kids might percolate away in sub-standard academics, happy as clams. However, high achievement goals and excellence in all areas of life should be the standards by which we all aspire.
Are you saying that “Kill Your Dog for Satan” is an appropriate song for Mass?
“What you judge as bad Catholic music may deeply move a soul closer to God and the Church. ” My thoughts exactly.
Hey, maybe gay sex leads someone closer to God and the church. Who am I to judge, right? Just let people do whatever they want.
If raping women brings someone closer to God and the Church, Who am I to judge?
This Glory to God is being featured prominently and highly promoted this week at the national convention of NPM (National Association of Pastoral Musicians), which considers itself to be the most important and influential association for Catholic liturgical musicians in America. They’re trying to sell this to parishes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvfBsvyPaFE
The state of Catholic music for Mass is deplorable.
“Hey, maybe gay sex leads someone closer to God and the church. Who am I to judge, right? Just let people do whatever they want.” Where in the world does this comment come from? Harry Martin registered a point that I have witnessed in my many years of playing at Mass. If you are going to make a point, make it seriously with careful thought, please, just as Harry did.
Just came across this today. After 70+ years without missing Sunday Mass except forillness, I have heard an incredible number of hymns and, indeed, sung or accompanied many on the guitar as a member of various choirs and visitor to many different parishes.
While I was brought up on traditional hymns, as a college student I was enamored of the folk style hymns enduring after Vatican II. For decades. I had no problem with the hymns that were current.
Indeed, I like some of “the worst” on this list.
BUT, a few key moments have made rethink my poorly formed liturbgical taste of yore:
1) On vacation, attending a Mass where there was a harpist. She played exquisitely; the problem for me was the distraction of this novel instrument. I could barelyp ay attention to the Mass.
2) Being moved to tears by a men’s choir meditatively singing “O Sacred Head Surrounded” during a Good Friday service. (I’m embarrassed to admit that as Catholic elementary school students, we used to imitate our elderly music teacher singing this hymn in a quavery soprano. This performance changed my view forever.)
3) As a choir member I can remember sitting down in silence during “I am the bread of life”. No, “I myself am NOT the bread of life! That must be heresy!”
4) Another time our former choir director began playing a hymn by one of the prolific modern songwriters whose name escapes me. The jazzy piano intro lasted long enough for me to whisper to my seat mate, “from the Broadway musical Pocahontas!”
5) leaving choir rehearsal after first hearing the exquisite “Ave Verum.” I could not stop singing it.
6) Getting a new pastor and hymnal which includes so many beautiful, reverent hymns that put the focus on Jesus, not us. Father got a lot of pushback but also a lot of.thanks.
7) Attending New Years Eve Mass in a local parish where the very talented music director played an exquisite but wildly inappropriate ”Auld Lang Syne” — AT COMMUNION!!!!
So, I thank anyone who indulged me by reading my thoughts . Not to criticize anyone, but I believe we
need to remember the sacredness of the Mass. It is not to be an entertainment by providing relatable
catchy tunes. As Pope Benedict warned, we can never compete in the field of entertainment, and that is not our purpose: it is to lift the mind and heart to God, to worship Him, not (my words) to worship ourselves, a ”new church,” etc.
Give me “Panis Angelicus,” “ Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence,” or “”Be Thou My Vision” any Sunday.
I