Phenomenon at Holy Mass

Music at Holy Mass has been a point of contention since the mid to late 60’s. As with everything regarding the practices at Mass or other Catholic “events”, I have always maintained 2 things – 1. If the Church has sincerely approved it (not just the local Priest or Bishop), who am I to question it or refuse to participate in it (i.e., hand shake of peace)? 2. As long as the result is what the Church intended, whether it meets my preference or not, it is a good thing.

I have attended several Mass “types” over the years, but especially in the past year since I have had the honor at different times to lead the Rosary at 5 of the 6 Masses my Parish offers. 2 are traditional, 2 are contemporary, 1 has no music at all. Some say it is the tone of the Mass that sets the tone for the people’s reverence, participation, and fulfillment. Radical and even some moderate Catholics say that the TLM is the only way to go and/or traditional music and only organs or symphony type instruments. Extreme modernists say anything goes – liturgical dancing, any “instrument”, and any music that gets people into the “spirit”.

This post would be too long to go into the specifics of the arguments on each side. Besides, those arguments are not the point and actually do not come into play, per se, with what I have witnessed. I had noticed a trend, but could not figure out exactly what I was witnessing – until tonight. It all stems from my biggest pet peeve – the free-for-all that begins the second the Priest exits (and sometimes before he is even out of the Nave) while some of us are trying to still pray to give thanks for the privilege of what and Who we just experienced.

This free-for-all happens at every “type” of Mass that I have attended. It happens no matter who the celebrant is (although, sadly, some priests and deacons actually participate in it), the instruments played, or the music sung/played. It happens in every Parish. It is carried out by the “leaders” and the “unknown”. BUT, although it happens at every “type” of Mass, it doesn’t happen at EVERY Mass.

Case in point, and what has caused me to form a theory as to why it does or does not happen, 6 p.m. Mass last Sunday vs 6 p.m. Mass this Sunday. This Mass is billed as a “contemporary” music Mass, but last week due to vacation, it was a “traditional” music Mass. This week we were back to contemporary.

To my utter amazement, last week, 95% of the people exited quietly and few (very few) stayed in the Nave to talk and even they were quietly talking and were off to the side NOT BLOCKING THE TABERNACLE. To my utter disappointment, tonight, the free-for-all was worse than ever. My first thought was maybe the music does make the difference. Maybe the contemporary does inspire a lack of reverence.

Now, before my rad-trads start saying “see” and the modernists start getting offended, I sincerely believe it was not the music that caused it. At both Masses, the music was extremely appropriate, played and sung with reverence, and neither week was it a “performance” (yes, traditionalists perform also). The difference was, last week was not the expected or normal. I think the culprit that tends to make us forget where we are and why we are there, to be inconsiderate (albeit in unintentional) to others, and to fall into the “me” mentality is FAMILIARITY!

It is often said that we are actually at our worst around family and friends. Why? Because we feel comfortable, we feel “at home”, we subconsciously don’t think we have to try because we know we are loved by them no matter what we do. To further illustrate, think of this comparison. The way we act around our boss or co-workers is totally different if they are also our friend. We have a tendency to be much more respectful if they are only a boss or co-worker.

I think it is the same thing at Mass. We go every Sunday or even daily. We are visiting our Friend, our Family, as well as our friends and family. We think of it as being at home. If something interrupts that familiarity we are not quite as lax. We are forced to consider where we are and why we are there.

Yes, we want to feel at home, we want to feel comfortable, we want to be hospitable and feel welcome, but maybe we need to recognize that, maybe, just maybe,we have gotten just a little too comfortable; Holy Mass has become too familiar. After all, God deserves to be treated like family AND God!