Father Pisut has recommended this article that was posted on the New Liturgical Movement blog.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
In Defense of Non-Singing Congregations
If you think your Catholic congregation sings well, take a visit to the local Baptist congregation. The song leader announces the song. Everyone, without exception, grabs a hymnal. The intro plays and the hymn begins. A sound comes out that nearly knocks you out of your chair. You join the singing but no matter how loudly you chime in, you can't really make a dent in the sound. It is just another day for the Baptist, but for the Catholic it is mind blowing.
For many generations, people have wondered why Catholic congregations do not do this. We keep trying and trying. You will read no more vociferous rhetoric than to read the writings of music leaders in the Catholic Church and their frustrations at their own congregations.
Why aren't people obeying? It's like listening to people denounce children for failing to behave properly. They demand and demand. They even attempt to intimate people into "active participation." They choose music based on how much singing response it gets, as if this were the only real issue.
It's been going on for many decades and yet nothing changes.
But are we are missing the point completely?...
For the rest of the article click here: New Liturgical Movement
