It has always struck me as ridiculous to propose that music at the Mass using any instrument is somehow inferior to other musical instruments. I always felt this is a very narrow self-centered idea. It seems partially rooted in the personal preference of the listener that thinks the organ is the most beautiful instrument and therefore is the highest form of musical worship and so should be the only thing they ever have to hear. But that is truly personal preference. As much as insisting that since you think white marble is more beautiful than any other, all altars must be white marble, to use pink, or grey marble, or wood is to cheapen the Mass. The argument for the organ seems to always be made to oppose guitar or drums, but if it is valid it means that an orchestra with flutes, violins, harps, and timpanis would be irreverent. It means that a bell choir is to be frowned upon. The fact is that some people do find the guitar and drum to be beautiful instruments. The fact is that Gid blessed some people with different musical talents and He loves to hear all those talents put to use in His service. And let's step outside our personal cultural bias for a moment. If you view a non-organ musical Mass as inferior to your organ Mass then you are saying that the parish in the poorest part of Guatemala, or. India, or Africa that uses local instruments or more affordable, portable guitars is an inferior Mass. You are in essence saying that you and the ministers of the Mass make the Mass worthy or unworthy. You are in fact minimizing the reality that God and the Real Presence of Christ is all that makes the Mass worthy. Nothing we do is of consequence to the quality of the sacrifice of the Mass.
Along that notion is the frequent "teaching" that you will hear when people are reluctant to sing because they "have a terrible voice." We are so quick to point out, rightly, that God gave us the voice and we should be joyful to praise Him in the voice we were given. Praise Him in our own voice, in song and dance and prayer. But, while many of those same people will give this wonderful advice, they turn around and say, "But if your voice is drums or guitar, it offends me, so it is wrong."
Along that notion is the frequent "teaching" that you will hear when people are reluctant to sing because they "have a terrible voice." We are so quick to point out, rightly, that God gave us the voice and we should be joyful to praise Him in the voice we were given. Praise Him in our own voice, in song and dance and prayer. But, while many of those same people will give this wonderful advice, they turn around and say, "But if your voice is drums or guitar, it offends me, so it is wrong."
I have always had that view of music at the Mass. And I have always felt we should praise God in any way that brings us closer and that the Church should and must use things like music and environment to bring us closer to God and allow us to truly express ourselves in ways that are comfortable and allow us to engage in what is taking place. Some are not at all moved by the organ. Others find the guitar deeply moving. And my experience at NCYC truly opened my eyes to this reality. I know how "offended" some are by the concept of LifeTeen Masses or Adoration services. How they see them as irreverent or terrible.
But I wonder how many of them have truly experienced one. Not just seen video clips. Not just observed at a distance. Not just stood in the middle of one looking for things to criticize. What I wonder is how many have actually tried to turn themselves over to the Holy Spirit, or tried to see how the Holy Spirit was at work. How many have actually been truly open to what is taking place and knows what Jesus truly meant when He said we must be like children if we wish to attain salvation. Because, what I saw, what I experienced what I felt, strikes a stake in the heart of the idea that these sorts of services are irreverent or inappropriate. They lay bare the notion that our bishops are failing to properly evangelize our youth when they participate in the "frivolous" worship or condone the "abuses" that occur in this "rock n' roll" teen Masses.
Let me offer a number of very real experiences I had:
1. One of the evening sessions featured prayer and worship led by Matt Maher, playing his acoustic guitar backed by an electric guitar, bass, keyboard and a drum set. If you aren't familiar with Matt, a lot of his worship music is rock. And, to be honest, if your only experience with him is to have listened to him on CD, radio, or even a live YouTube performance video, you are missing out just about as much as if you just sit at home and watch Sunday Mass on TV. Matt doesn't just sing, the audience isn't just "rocking out". You have probably not experienced the fact that, unlike any rock concert ever, before the singing even starts there is a lot of very deep profound prayer putting everyone firmly in the presence of God. You are probably missing out on the many ways that it is so strongly communicated that those participating aren't simply rocking, they are engaged in prayer. People are singing along praising God, worshiping Him, celebrating life and the joy and promises of Heaven. They are letting go and opening themselves to the Holy Spirit. And what you have certainly not experienced is what does happen when 25,000 people have all opened themselves up to worship and praise and the working of the Holy Spirit. See what happens is this, this wonderful minister, evangelizing and bringing the Holy Spirit to this crowd that is letting go, allows the Spirit to truly unite the Body of Christ, and he can sing a song, have everyone on their feet praising God, clapping their hands in worship then suddenly stop and have the crowd instantly go silent, quietly worshiping God in their reverent silence where a split second before they were a loud, cheerful, joyfully singing crowd. A rock concert a sudden stop in the music, when everyone is singing and reveling, you will still hear people singing, clapping, whistling. But Matt and his band, were one with the Holy Spirit and the crowd with them were all united in God through the Holy Spirit's music. And when the band suddenly stopped there was immediate and powerful sacred silence. It was amazing. It was testimony to the power of the Holy Spirit to work in us when we are willing to truly unite with one another to glorify God.
2. Another sesssion, again involving Matt Maher, was centered around adoration. It started with some music to bring the crowd together, then moved into some of Matt's more soothing, but still guitar and drum based music. Followed by a very inspiring talk by Mark Hart. Then Matt began singing again and one of our bishops processed the Real Presence into the room, up the aisle of a room with 5,000 silent, prayerful teens and their chaperones, incense, and guitar music. The crowd of 5,000 wasn't silent. But, it wasn't the reason you think. It was because as the Sacrament passed by you could hear kids and adults crying, holding back tears, or whispering a deep prayer of thanks as they felt Him touch them as He passed through the room. I have never felt the way I felt that day. Right as the Eucharist passed by me, three seats from the aisle, I felt this powerful, overwhelming sense of peace and joy and tears started streaming down my face as I realized what I was feeling was the unmistakable presence of Jesus TOUCHING me. And what I noticed was this, while not everyone was moved in the same way, here were 5,000 people kneeling on concrete floors, mostly teenage kids, and there was no giggling, no whispering between the kids, no fidgeting, no one looking around at one another, acting like teens so commonly act in Mass, or youth group, or school, or any other activity, no, 100% were focused on Christ's Real Presence in that room, all were feeling something they had never felt before. I asked myself why I was having this experience I had never had before and I realized the answer was partially found in the music that preceded exposition, adoration, and benediction. I allowed myself to just let go and be part of the crowd, united with 5,000 Catholics praising God. I let go of my inhibitions and embraced the Spirit's presence in the room. And so did everyone else in the room. So, when Jesus entered the room and walked past we were open to feeling and knowing Him. Sure, some people can be put in the same state in isolation with the pipe organ, but in this room the Holy Spirit spoke a in a voice we could all hear and open ourselves to.
3. The Mass with 25,000 and using guitar and drums highlighted one other thing for me about the flawed argument in favor of organ music only. So often the argument revolves around the mood we should have in regards to the Eucharist, the sacrifice, the re-presentation of Calvary that takes place at the Mass. The idea being that everything at the Mass should share that tenor. This Mass pointed out the absurdity of that idea. The bishops con-celebrating highlighted the greater truth, the structure of the Mass always points out the flaw in this thinking. The Mass is not one thing. It is a very complex service, the heart of it is certainly the sacrifice, and at that point there should be a different interior dispostion than at other points of the Mass. But the Gloria is a song of joyful praise. Every reading, every psalm, has a different mood. The Great Amen is a different expression of faith and mood than the amen at the conclusion of the Confiteor or the Profession of Faith. And, even during the Eucharistic prayer, we should feel great joy when Christ becomes present on the altar, that He enters the host and wine to be present with us is a moment of joy, quickly followed by the tragic reminder of His pain, suffering, and sacrifice necessary because of our sinfulness. The Mass isn't just one thing, it is many. And so why can't the closing hymn be an upbeat rock song that sends teens and adults trying to be like children, out into the world joyful, prepared to proclaim the good news in the smiles and attitudes and voices?
I could go on and on. But, I leave with this thought. I witnessed 25,000 kids united for Christ. I witnessed rock music starting a Mass and kids that normally sit in Mass staring at the floor, playing with the missalette, talking with friends, playing raptly focused on what was taking place, tearing up, still and silent at the moment of consecration. I saw kids that I couldn't engage during Confirmation prep suddenly open their heart and "get it". It was amazing. It was miraculous. There were 25,000 teens all truly united in the Body of Christ. They were alive, joyful, hopeful, faith filled, and they were deeply affected by the Sacraments and signs. They were more authentically Catholic than most people I have ever witnessed in my life. And I can say this with absolute certainty: You have never attended a Mass where a larger percentage of the crowd were actively participating in the Mass and truly engaged in the work God was doing. There were 25,000 people united in worshiping and reverence for the Lord, the Body of Christ was more alive than I have ever seen it in a Sunday Mass anywhere. Even the Masses I have attended at Men's conferences there are more people idly sitting expecting something to happen or expecting nothing to happen. But, this weekend, I saw 25,000 people actively connected with the Holy Spirit and with one another and I saw a Church truly alive and more real and true in their worship than I have ever experienced in my 44 years of being a Catholic.
I am not saying that all Masses or worship should be like what takes place at NCYC. What I am saying is this: God works in many ways, and there is no single way to express our love for Him, nor is there a single way to draw others into the deep and profound connection He desires to have with every one of us. No. He gave us a diverse range of talents and interests and preferences, an infinite range of ways to express His love and for us to express ours, and an infinite number of ways for us to grow in faith and love for Him. Your way is not perfect, nor is mine. Certainly, there are certain universal truths and teachings. But, music, forms of prayer, aesthetics, and art? They are diverse and wide ranging and to claim one specific type of prayer or song is preferable is to suggest that God made a mistake in gifting people with the ability to play guitar or to play drums or to touch the hearts of others through rock, rap, country, or pop music. God knew what He was doing. Let Him work in His way, don't require that we all work in the way you prefer, because you aren't God.
But I wonder how many of them have truly experienced one. Not just seen video clips. Not just observed at a distance. Not just stood in the middle of one looking for things to criticize. What I wonder is how many have actually tried to turn themselves over to the Holy Spirit, or tried to see how the Holy Spirit was at work. How many have actually been truly open to what is taking place and knows what Jesus truly meant when He said we must be like children if we wish to attain salvation. Because, what I saw, what I experienced what I felt, strikes a stake in the heart of the idea that these sorts of services are irreverent or inappropriate. They lay bare the notion that our bishops are failing to properly evangelize our youth when they participate in the "frivolous" worship or condone the "abuses" that occur in this "rock n' roll" teen Masses.
Let me offer a number of very real experiences I had:
1. One of the evening sessions featured prayer and worship led by Matt Maher, playing his acoustic guitar backed by an electric guitar, bass, keyboard and a drum set. If you aren't familiar with Matt, a lot of his worship music is rock. And, to be honest, if your only experience with him is to have listened to him on CD, radio, or even a live YouTube performance video, you are missing out just about as much as if you just sit at home and watch Sunday Mass on TV. Matt doesn't just sing, the audience isn't just "rocking out". You have probably not experienced the fact that, unlike any rock concert ever, before the singing even starts there is a lot of very deep profound prayer putting everyone firmly in the presence of God. You are probably missing out on the many ways that it is so strongly communicated that those participating aren't simply rocking, they are engaged in prayer. People are singing along praising God, worshiping Him, celebrating life and the joy and promises of Heaven. They are letting go and opening themselves to the Holy Spirit. And what you have certainly not experienced is what does happen when 25,000 people have all opened themselves up to worship and praise and the working of the Holy Spirit. See what happens is this, this wonderful minister, evangelizing and bringing the Holy Spirit to this crowd that is letting go, allows the Spirit to truly unite the Body of Christ, and he can sing a song, have everyone on their feet praising God, clapping their hands in worship then suddenly stop and have the crowd instantly go silent, quietly worshiping God in their reverent silence where a split second before they were a loud, cheerful, joyfully singing crowd. A rock concert a sudden stop in the music, when everyone is singing and reveling, you will still hear people singing, clapping, whistling. But Matt and his band, were one with the Holy Spirit and the crowd with them were all united in God through the Holy Spirit's music. And when the band suddenly stopped there was immediate and powerful sacred silence. It was amazing. It was testimony to the power of the Holy Spirit to work in us when we are willing to truly unite with one another to glorify God.
2. Another sesssion, again involving Matt Maher, was centered around adoration. It started with some music to bring the crowd together, then moved into some of Matt's more soothing, but still guitar and drum based music. Followed by a very inspiring talk by Mark Hart. Then Matt began singing again and one of our bishops processed the Real Presence into the room, up the aisle of a room with 5,000 silent, prayerful teens and their chaperones, incense, and guitar music. The crowd of 5,000 wasn't silent. But, it wasn't the reason you think. It was because as the Sacrament passed by you could hear kids and adults crying, holding back tears, or whispering a deep prayer of thanks as they felt Him touch them as He passed through the room. I have never felt the way I felt that day. Right as the Eucharist passed by me, three seats from the aisle, I felt this powerful, overwhelming sense of peace and joy and tears started streaming down my face as I realized what I was feeling was the unmistakable presence of Jesus TOUCHING me. And what I noticed was this, while not everyone was moved in the same way, here were 5,000 people kneeling on concrete floors, mostly teenage kids, and there was no giggling, no whispering between the kids, no fidgeting, no one looking around at one another, acting like teens so commonly act in Mass, or youth group, or school, or any other activity, no, 100% were focused on Christ's Real Presence in that room, all were feeling something they had never felt before. I asked myself why I was having this experience I had never had before and I realized the answer was partially found in the music that preceded exposition, adoration, and benediction. I allowed myself to just let go and be part of the crowd, united with 5,000 Catholics praising God. I let go of my inhibitions and embraced the Spirit's presence in the room. And so did everyone else in the room. So, when Jesus entered the room and walked past we were open to feeling and knowing Him. Sure, some people can be put in the same state in isolation with the pipe organ, but in this room the Holy Spirit spoke a in a voice we could all hear and open ourselves to.
3. The Mass with 25,000 and using guitar and drums highlighted one other thing for me about the flawed argument in favor of organ music only. So often the argument revolves around the mood we should have in regards to the Eucharist, the sacrifice, the re-presentation of Calvary that takes place at the Mass. The idea being that everything at the Mass should share that tenor. This Mass pointed out the absurdity of that idea. The bishops con-celebrating highlighted the greater truth, the structure of the Mass always points out the flaw in this thinking. The Mass is not one thing. It is a very complex service, the heart of it is certainly the sacrifice, and at that point there should be a different interior dispostion than at other points of the Mass. But the Gloria is a song of joyful praise. Every reading, every psalm, has a different mood. The Great Amen is a different expression of faith and mood than the amen at the conclusion of the Confiteor or the Profession of Faith. And, even during the Eucharistic prayer, we should feel great joy when Christ becomes present on the altar, that He enters the host and wine to be present with us is a moment of joy, quickly followed by the tragic reminder of His pain, suffering, and sacrifice necessary because of our sinfulness. The Mass isn't just one thing, it is many. And so why can't the closing hymn be an upbeat rock song that sends teens and adults trying to be like children, out into the world joyful, prepared to proclaim the good news in the smiles and attitudes and voices?
I could go on and on. But, I leave with this thought. I witnessed 25,000 kids united for Christ. I witnessed rock music starting a Mass and kids that normally sit in Mass staring at the floor, playing with the missalette, talking with friends, playing raptly focused on what was taking place, tearing up, still and silent at the moment of consecration. I saw kids that I couldn't engage during Confirmation prep suddenly open their heart and "get it". It was amazing. It was miraculous. There were 25,000 teens all truly united in the Body of Christ. They were alive, joyful, hopeful, faith filled, and they were deeply affected by the Sacraments and signs. They were more authentically Catholic than most people I have ever witnessed in my life. And I can say this with absolute certainty: You have never attended a Mass where a larger percentage of the crowd were actively participating in the Mass and truly engaged in the work God was doing. There were 25,000 people united in worshiping and reverence for the Lord, the Body of Christ was more alive than I have ever seen it in a Sunday Mass anywhere. Even the Masses I have attended at Men's conferences there are more people idly sitting expecting something to happen or expecting nothing to happen. But, this weekend, I saw 25,000 people actively connected with the Holy Spirit and with one another and I saw a Church truly alive and more real and true in their worship than I have ever experienced in my 44 years of being a Catholic.
I am not saying that all Masses or worship should be like what takes place at NCYC. What I am saying is this: God works in many ways, and there is no single way to express our love for Him, nor is there a single way to draw others into the deep and profound connection He desires to have with every one of us. No. He gave us a diverse range of talents and interests and preferences, an infinite range of ways to express His love and for us to express ours, and an infinite number of ways for us to grow in faith and love for Him. Your way is not perfect, nor is mine. Certainly, there are certain universal truths and teachings. But, music, forms of prayer, aesthetics, and art? They are diverse and wide ranging and to claim one specific type of prayer or song is preferable is to suggest that God made a mistake in gifting people with the ability to play guitar or to play drums or to touch the hearts of others through rock, rap, country, or pop music. God knew what He was doing. Let Him work in His way, don't require that we all work in the way you prefer, because you aren't God.
