iPadre Catholic Podcasting

I received the following eMail today:

Dear Father,

In the spirit of the new evangelization we are celebrating our 44th year in guitar music ministry. It has been a long journey from those original "guitar masses". Today's worshippers demand a musical sophistication that is liturgical, relevant, contemporary. Please enjoy this sample of our work (link removed) and if you have a need for music ministry in your parish please contact us.

I have no doubt that the person who sent me the eMail is very sincere. However, let's take a look at this.

"In the spirit of the new evangelization" And what is that? Haven't we had enough with the "Spirit of Vatican II". It just time to give up the ghost! Let's leave aside all this nonsense of the "spirit" of this and that and get to the essence and the root of something.

First, the "spirit of Vatican II" is a crock of bulloney (Yes, I purposely misspelled baloney. You get my drift). If people would only read what the documents are and stop making them up as they go along. The REAL Vatican II had noting to do with eliminating Latin, the priest facing the people, the introduction of "folk Masses" and every kind of music, except for that desired by the Most Holy Council.

And the "New Evangelization" is not a re-making of the Catholic Church and Her worship. It is a living who we are and what we have been given with zeal and fidelity. So in reality, it is not a "new" evangelization. It is a continuation of the same evangelization that began with our Lord and His Apostles 2000 years ago. The only difference is in how we present these sacred truths and institutions. There is much more that we could say about that, but let's move on.

Let's take a look at the "un-spirit" of Vatican II, or should I say, the real thing. Yes, let us see what Sacrosanctum Concilium really has to say about music in the Sacred Liturgy.

"In the Latin Church the pipe organ is to be held in high esteem, for it is the traditional musical instrument which adds a wonderful splendor to the Church's ceremonies and powerfully lifts up man's mind to God and to higher things." (Sacrosanctum Concilium 120.)

The fathers of Vatican II clearly wanted the "pipe organ" to be the ordinary instrument used in the Roman Rite of the Latin Church. Ordinary means that this is the instrument used above all others, and all other musical instruments are to be used in support of the pipe organ, not the other way around. I can foresee the use of a classical guitar to augment the pipe organ on special Feast Days, or when the organ is not functioning properly, but it may not replace the "ordinary" instrument of the Liturgy. Aacoustic, electric guitars should never be part of the Sacred Liturgy.

"But other instruments also may be admitted for use in divine worship, with the knowledge and consent of the competent territorial authority, as laid down in Art. 22, 52, 37, and 40. This may be done, however, only on condition that the instruments are suitable, or can be made suitable, for sacred use, accord with the dignity of the temple, and truly contribute to the edification of the faithful." SC 120)

Guitars, drums, tambourines, electronic keyboards and a number of other musical instruments and I would dear say, the piano, smack of the secular. These are instruments that take the mind to a rock concert or your local watering hole. The pipe organ would surely not be heard in a pub or rock concert.

The same goes for the style of music admitted to the Liturgy.

To the extent that the new sacred music is to serve the liturgical celebrations of the various churches, it can and must draw from earlier forms — especially from Gregorian chant — a higher inspiration, a uniquely sacred quality, a genuine sense of what is religious. (St. John Paul II, 1980)

So, does this mean that we are to admit contemporary "praise and worship music"? I think that would be a gross misunderstanding of the Council. The fathers of the Council were not thinking in terms of allowing a ...

Today, I share my homily from the Easter Vigil, and, we have some feedback. Happy Easter!- “Alleluia” by Amy Ayres- cast (at) iPadre (dot) net- Feedback line: (267) 31-Padre (267) 317-2373iPadre App | Android AppSubscribe to Feed | Subscribe in iTunes

In this episode, we talk with Monica Fitzgibbons, cofounder of De Montfort Music. Monica tells us about the Benedictine Nuns latest Lent CD. The Sisters have toped the music charts for two years in a row, and I have no doubt, they will do it again with this new album. See the video of the Sisters on my blog.

- “Al Glory, Laud and Honor” by Benedictine Nuns- De Montfort Music

- cast (at) iPadre (dot) net- Feedback line: (267) 31-Padre (267) 317-2373

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There is one reason that you and I were created and why we have been place on this earth, and everything else flows from that. You and I are called to become saints. In this episode, I share with you my homily from this past weekend, the7th Sunday In Ordinary Time. We also have a Mary Moment with Sarah Reinhard.

- “Let It Rain” by Laura Clapp

- cast (at) iPadre (dot) net- Feedback line: (267) 31-Padre (267) 317-2373

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Where do we Catholic get what we believe? And how is that understood? I also share with you a great new app called Mass Explained.

- “Teach Me Your Ways” by Recent Rainfall

- cast (at) iPadre (dot) net- Feedback line: (267) 31-Padre (267) 317-2373

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In this episode, I share my homily from the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time. What does it mean that we are salt? I also share some feedback.

- “Beautiful Souls” by Steven James Wylie

- cast (at) iPadre (dot) net- Feedback line: (267) 31-Padre (267) 317-2373

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Advent is almost over and the celebration of Our Lord’s birth is near at hand. In this episode, we are going to talk about the Virginity of Mary, because it’s so important to know who He is and what He is really about. We have some feedback and a Mary Moment with Sarah Reinhard.

- “Ave Verum Corpus Natum”- Walk for Life, West Coast- Juventutem events

- cast (at) iPadre (dot) net- Feedback line: (267) 31-Padre (267) 317-2373

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In this episode, we'll talk about the three comings of Christ and how they relate to us, and we have another Mary Moment.

- “Journey Home” by Chris Godber

- cast (at) iPadre (dot) net- Feedback line: (267) 31-Padre (267) 317-2373

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In today's show, Charlette Osterman, will tell us about a very beautiful project called 50 Million Names. You want to know about this and take part in it. We also have a question: "Can you go to Confession over the internet?"

- “Everything I Love” by Steven James Wylie- 50 Million Names- The Church and Internet

- cast (at) iPadre (dot) net- Feedback line: (267) 31-Padre (267) 317-2373

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No podfading here. After an 8 week hiatus, I'm back.

In this episode, I talk with Sr. Joseph Andrew of the Dominican Sisters of Mary about their beautiful new album Mater Eucharistiae. I also have some feedback about youth ministry. We take a moment to pray for the deceased and living victims of the devastating typhoon in the Philippines.

- “Durufle Requiem” public domain- Dominican Sisters of Mary - De Montfort Music- Juventutem (Boston)

- cast (at) iPadre (dot) net- Feedback line: (267) 31-Padre (267) 317-2373

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