The 10 Worst Catholic Church Songs Of All Time | The Catholic Talk Show
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- Опубликовано: 7 апр 2019
- Episode #31
In this episode of the Catholic Talk Show, the guys reluctantly listen to 10 awful songs that should be torn out of the hymnals and never be sung in a Catholic Church again.
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I’m 63 and I love the old, Latin sacred hymns.
I'm 17 and I TOTALLY agree!
62, and didn’t learn the Catholic Faith until I was 48. I make a point of going to Latin Mass.
Absolutely!
The truest test is the test of time. Those sacred Latin hymns are timeless for a reason.
Reinstated by Leo, of course, having fallen out of use. We have much to learn from both Protestants and Orthodox, but there is a certain core of our own tradition which we should probably not abandon. I'm not in any sense a 'traditionalist', and real Traditionalists would launch at me the (as they see it) demonic epithet 'modernist'. Calm, down, girls! We need to refurbish our house, but let's not sell all our old silver.
Coming from a young Catholic and hearing from other young Catholics, trust me, "happy-clappy" 70s eagles wings music during mass DOES NOT make young Catholics interested in mass. We just think it's corny. Gregorian Chant is much better.
Same. It's wayyyyyy more sensible.
I must say though, you absolutely cannot clap d as long to Eagle’s Wings. It is not happy clappy music, not in the slightest. From where did you get your music qualifications?
*clap along
@@Great1DuaneI am. I say that at least it's not Bethel, Hillsong, or Elevation. I used to play that trash for over 20 years. Now I hate it with all of my heart and soul. Plus, my mom, who recently passed away used to love singing these songs. Now I have to hate it just to make people like you happy.
I honestly hate music now. I think that I will go to the early Mass just so that there won't be any music.
Yes! On eagles wings was played for my mom's and dad funeral! Don't take it away!!!!
I love “Here I am, Lord”
Me too!
Me too.
Me too!!
Me too
Great song
You CANNOT attend Mass at ANY English speaking Parish in Canada without hearing "Here I am Lord" & "Sing a New Song" or "Gather Us In".
Idk if I can put this in my will but I would empathize when it’s my funeral mass that it’s all chant and no cringy music from Dan Shute
Also, All Are Welcome. Horrible song.
Talbot has done some great music. Maybe not for mass but I like his brother to brother album.
At Blessed Sacrament in Ottawa, you won't hear much of that - rarely, perhaps. Mostly it is Gregorian Chant and traditional hymnody.
Here I am lord we chose to be played at my dear grandmothers funeral. It's a beautiful song
St Cecilia, please pray for us sis
Amen. She needs to come down with Pope Saint Gregory Magnus and miraculously rewrite all our hymnals.
I am a convert (Methodist) and married to a cradle Catholic who is a music director at our parish. We have three young sons and we are SO thankful that our children will never...or at least very rarely....hear this tripe. He has been a music director at parishes across the country and now, we are blessed to be at a parish run by the FSSP who celebrate the Extraordinary Form -- all Latin, all chant. Their points that music and liturgy are supposed to set the Mass apart from what people hear on a daily basis is right on point. The Mass is the most Sacred and Holy thing we've been given. It is our giving thanks to God. This music....it IS just lazy and just plain bad. The sooner this music is gone from the Catholic church.....the better. Like they keep saying, this is appropriate music for retreats, missions, youth retreats, etc. It is NOT appropriate for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
Agree.
Would you like to learn what worship God finds unacceptable? Worldly celebrations not found in the bible and have pagan origins are not approved by God neither is supporting war and politics and bowing down o statues -
@Jessica Pedersen I'm not competent to reply as a theologian, but as a musician I can say that there has always been a difference between the music one expects to hear in church and what one hears on the street.
I don't think this is the forum to get very technical about it, with Pythagorean vs. Ptolemaic harmony, or 7-limit vs. 5-limit, suffice it to say that people's expectation of music in church was always different from their expectations outside.
It does not seem to me right that we should be putting our sacred mysteries to the tunes of (sub-standard) pop songs, nor (though I step outside my expertise here) that we should address our God in the same language in which we draw up our shopping-list.
@Sterling Crowne I didn't get to be a music director in a church where I don't even understand Holy Scripture of the church. My husband (the Cradle Catholic), who has 3 degrees in music, is the director. He has devoted his life to Church music. Latin is the universal language of the Church. I'm not making this up. It is lovely to see a family from Cameroon, who newly moved here and speak little English, be able to fully participate in the Mass as it is in Latin -- what they were accustomed to in Cameroon. Furthermore, I do not need to understand the Latin at our church, as the English translation is in my missal. It takes work and focus to follow along but I find that I don't zone out as much. :) If you haven't been to an Extraordinary Form Mass, I highly recommend it.
@Sterling Crowne Furthermore, how is it that many Ordinary form parishes are shrinking in size while Extraordinary form parishes are sometimes bursting at the seams and more and more are popping up all over the place? With your thinking of the laity only being edified/encouraged by understanding the language spoken in church.....shouldn't it be the reverse? Latin Mass parishes shrinking and English parishes bursting at the seams?! But it's not. Why? Because the language isn't the issue. Reverence is. Solemnity is. True doctrine being taught (and not just "Jesus is all warm fuzzies" stuff...which is what the bad music endorses) is. Where ever there is Reverence and Solemnity and True Doctrine......there will be a growing church --- Ordinary or Extraordinary Form -- English or Latin.
Speaking as someone who hears these songs very frequently, soooo much of these songs sound bad because of their recordings. These song can sound very good if you :1. throw out like, half of the extra instruments. 2. don't have a super fast tempo 3. don't overdue the song and stray from the lead melody. 4. don't distract from the mass, rather try to accompany it, and it all fits into place.
Be not afraid & here I am, Lord have been my go- to songs all through a mentally difficult and draining lockdown
Both are beautiful done correctly
The hidden genius of playing "on eagles wings" at funerals is that it gives the people the opportunity to offer up great suffering for their dearly departed.
Well my personal experience when I went to back to back funerals was that those were musically the most painful. I didn't want to be there to begin with, and that didn't help
I was supposed to solo On Eagles' Wings.I balked at choir practice.Mutiny!I can't abide the way this song moves.I can't stand the YOO HOO at the beginning.The choir director finally changed his mind about my solo.Thank You,Jesus!
You guys are neither theologians or musicians. I think your hang up is that you got rejected intto the priesthood. Why dont't you pick a subject you might be better at like lbgt and how it is changing society. Leave the admintration of the church to Rome. The church is still evolving with the human race to work together. Its not something to make fun of. Poetic Justice.
@@edwinthomas9910 yes let us proletarians only have good-think. truth is the only untruth in this age.
Banned from my family's funeral...we have a pact.
I'm a 75 YO Jesus follower who has experience every denominational expression, been through Cursillo years ago and more recently come to HIGHLY appreciate Catholic expression of worship mass. I prefer classical music. My favorite devotional works are from Brenden Manning and Jean-Pierre de Caussade's "Abandonment to Divine...." Your episode on "15 things...NOT in mass" was educational and I appreciated the high reverence and regard you hold for the best experience of Mass. I also found some of your "exclusive male club" banter a bit off putting, but didn't let it put me off.
However, today's experience of the "WORST songs for Mass," I can appreciate the caveat, "for Mass," but the way your "exclusive male club" banter totally denigrated the origins/authors of songs that (God forbid) Lutherans use--you come across as spiritual snobs. I could agree with you "NOT FOR MASS," but your banter was outright mean. Think again, "What would Jesus say" about these songs and how would he say it?
Thank you for your comment. I felt the same way about this comment. First of all, the cursing is offensive. Second, the insulting comments were childish and cruel. So many of these songs are ones I grew up with. I enjoy singing these pieces. Not all of us are conservatory trained musicians but that doesn’t make our expression any less reverent or heart felt. When I go to Mass at a Church with a very formal choir, I feel like I’m attending a recital, not a Mass and I miss being able to sing along. Your opinions are not right, just different.
@stephanieluce8397 Your comment is on-point and excellently worded.
I agreed that there are some songs that are not popular among the members of the church but to make fun of them the way that you guys did I found it to be very disrespectful. I honestly love your channel but please keep in mind that the people that wrote the songs were just trying to worship the Lord and bring others to Christ.
Intentions don't make crappy songs less crappy
“The road to shitty music is paved with good intentions.”
This hardly seems appropriate for a Catholic talk show.
Yes, it's really not appropriate;
Please do a show on your 10 favorite!
YES!
I listen to this episode have a good life and I definitely did that. I want to know the pics of your favorites as well.
I came back to the church after 20+ years, and while I didn't know these Haugen songs, some of these helped bring me back in
You hit every song that is regularly sung in my parish. I can’t stand them! My family has been warned if they allow any of those songs to be sung at my funeral, I will climb out of the casket and flip it.
Lol!!!
Very funny, my kind of person.
😄
I LOVE daily mass. I find more reverence without the music. I dread going to church of Sunday. All because of the music! If it was Gregorian Chant, I would love it but the hokey music really puts me off.
The absolutely WORST song to sing in church, any church, is Leonard Cohen's ALLELUIA. I almost fainted when I heard that at mass....and at a wedding. Even Leonard Cohen on a PBS broadcast said he was horrified to have heard it was being sung in churches.
People hear a couple references to Scripture and think - HEY great new song for church! WELL- if you don't know 'street talk', then you have no idea what the song is about.
I work with criminals. I know the code words, and as Cohen explained in his interview: The song is about doing drugs and having sex with a prostitute friend of his. It has nothing to do with Scripture, or God. Just sex and drugs, using street lingo.
Please, Please STOP singing it in church! It's a sacrilege!
And can people PLEASE stop pronouncing "Y-H-W-H" in songs and liturgy? It's already a directive of the Church.
You are correct. It’s disgraceful and has no place in a Holy Mass. It is the WORST! It’s almost pornographic!
Agree totally. Even outside of church I hate other peoplles version. They overplay it completely.
@@karenyates6902 I have and it's always really bothered me.
As a musician (one of Fr. Rich's!) I'll just say any song can be cringeworthy if done poorly, but likewise [almost] any of these can be done well. Be Not Afraid and On Eagle's Wings are two that have really powerful words. We (musicians) just have to remember that we're there to lead everyone in song, channeling their attention in the right way, and not simply performing for them.
Bingo. Your two song examples there I totally agree. An almost all of these can be done in a proper, powerful way. They're not always of course, but yeah.
I have to confess that On eagles wings came from Down Under...
For Christmas my worst song is Mary Did You Know which is wrong a so many levels. sung in a Catholic Church.
No
I agree. A number of these songs have drawn me closer to God. The poor musical quality of most of the versions played is the real issue here.
On Eagles Wings has special meaning for me. My son who died at 39, six years ago, at four years old sang that at Mass with his preschool group. I want it played at my funeral. Interestingly many of your worst songs are regularly sung at my parish.
My problem with this episode is not so much with the content, but with the spirit in which it was delivered. The demeaning way in which you referred,several times, about Marty Haugen’s Lutheranism was totally uncalled for and certainly not in the spirit of Christian love. And the adjectives used to describe these songs scandalize our Catholic sensibility. I would have been embarrassed to watch this in the company of Christian friends from other denominations. Please remember that you are the face of Christ-and Catholicism-to those watching. I agree that some of the songs referenced are not best suited for corporate worship, but those same songs may speak powerfully to individuals. I find “Here I Am, Lord” difficult for congregational singing, but I might not be priest today had it not been for encountering that song in a private prayer session. Music, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.
The irony is that Mary Haugen attends and is a member of a Congregational Church in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and has been so for many years. Incidentally, Marty Haugen's surname is spelled H-a-u-g-e-n; Dan Schutte's name is spelled S-c-h-u-t-t-e. It's OK to criticize, but far more respectful to spell someone's name correctly and say specifically what could be improved. This from a cradle Lutheran who is a member of a parish that uses a lot of Bach in The Service (Mass to our fellow Swedish Lutheran brethren).
I totally agree with this comment. Thankfully, it was stated in a nicer form than I would have done, especially towards the priest and the chunky guy slamming all the artists. These song writers were inspired by the Holy Spirit in their own way. There was no need to make fun of them. Let’s hear your music mister priest and friend. Doubt they know one note from another. Mass is not for your entertainment and the priest should know better.
I feel that if Eagles Wings is done properly during a funeral, it can be beautiful.
On eagles wings is a classic example of all the miserable sad post-Vatican II music written in G major.
@@robertvanasse1521I don’t know what “G Major” is but I like the song well enough. It’s one that everyone can join in.
@@twocyclediesel1280 I’d rather hear a choir sing Schubert.
@@robertvanasse1521 I think the whole point is to get the laity to join in. Average ppl aren’t able to sing most of the material in the “10 Best Songs” video. That’s why we have what we have. I know some ppl get very serious about the music. I personally couldn’t care less. As long as it’s not AC/DC or something. It should be something simple that everyone can do.
Catchy songs, but antithetical to the sacred liturgy.
Catechism paragraph 1156 says that sacred music & words form a necessary or integral part of solemn liturgy. Solemn means serious, dignified, grave, mirthless, and somber - none of which describes any of the songs in this list.
Sadly, the generation that purged the beauty and sacredness from the churches and liturgies, also played the vampire, sucking all that was sacred from the music at mass :(
Any Michael Jackson song is also bad for the Church.
What is most antithetical to sacredness is disparaging words on another's form of devoted worship. Let's focus on the Eucharist and being one with Christ...no matter what is sung!
Our choir sings Here I am Lord beautifully with four voices. We sang it during an ordination.
I can’t believe it made the list! It’s a nice song!
We have this song, it depends on how it is done.
I actually like be not afraid with the right choir, especially after receiving the eucharist because its calm and you can pray peacefully afterward
Be Not Afraid is a great song - quite comforting at funerals.
I agree
It’s beautiful you guys!
It is a very comforting hymn.
It is a beautiful hymn especially with harmony that is done well.
I direct a parish in San Francisco. The woman before me and I myself hold Master's degree in Piano performance. We're classically trained and musically very open minded people. I am in my mid thirties, probably the youngest music director of any parish anywhere (that does not just the "teen" mass, but all English masses, 4 a week). Being in San Francisco we have an eclectic group of folks. A cellist and bass player, a violinist, a flute, 8 or so singers. And I have used "Sing a New Song," before. However. I tend to only do 1 or 2 of those, sort of, tried and true 70's era classics per EDIT month ... Schutte's "Beyond the Moon and Stars," sung with harmonies is actually quite stirring... so I would be careful about ripping Schutte... Here I am, Lord is also requested at both funerals and weddings often... Our parish has sung gregorian chant... (everyone goes "whoo, whoa, mystical, chant" believe it or not there is good and bad chant... and most Latin is butchered in chant... which is even WORSE than folksy hymns...) Hagen and Schutte are just the lazy easy choices... Blame the directors across the country for over using them... Gather Us In sounds like the theme to Gilligan's Island. Be careful... Assuming a sort of high brow cultivated connoisseur mode of seeing the world you can often become what you abhor. It was Haugen and Schutte who probably said the same thing about "Amazing Grace" and "How Great Thou Art." How about this for an old classic. "There's Not a Friend Like the Lowly Jesus."
I prefer On Eagle's Wings, Here l Am,Lord & Be Not Afraid done well to your shows theme music!
With the exception of the very first song, I LOVE EVERY SINGLE song you hate.
Boomer
@@mtusarmy1 Gen X, Thank you.
There's no accounting for taste. Give me Vidi Aquam or O Sacred Head Surrounded every time over this sort of campout music.
@@PaulsWanderingsSame, GenX, and I agree with your original comment.
This conversation is so painful to see but almost necessary to hear to revitalize the long-term needs of the church. Catholic Churches should definitely invest on conservatory-trained musicians who have the technical flexibility to render centuries of musical styles namely gregorian chant, traditional hymns, and contemporary songs. I am not familiar with sacred music academy training, but conservatory or college trained musicians would normally have the understanding of dealing with these diverse styles. An opera singer not willing to cross contemporary music, an organist not willing to play contemporary style, or bands that are not willing to sound as unit, is truly unfortunate for a 21st century musical need of the church. We have thousands of years of sacred music literature that needs to be dealt with sensitivity, reverence, and musicianship. Please hire well-trained starving artists indeed! They are out there...
"Totally ripped off of The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald." Yes! Thank you!
I always sounded ripped off but I couldn't quite place it.
I grew up with this type of music. Until I was an adult I just thought crappy hippie music was just part of Catholicism. I appreciate the faith a lot more knowing that is not the case.
As a child of the sixties, I love good hippie music but even then none of it belongs in a Mass. Please ditch these crappy songs.
I'm 27 and was more offended and turned off by your commentary than I was by these songs. Sure, they aren't the pinnacle of musical composition (or even close to it), but they are songs that I enjoy singing at Mass. When I moved to a new city, I church shopped for a parish and music was indeed my number one factor in choosing my parish. I went to two churches with more traditional repertoires and very few people sang. My current parish uses a mixture of traditional and contemporary music (but leans contemporary), and I'd much rather have my church full of actively engaged people where 90% are singing these "terrible" songs than a church where 10% or less is singing the traditional stuff.
Amen
Agree! And smaller parishes without a music director are limited on what they can sing and involve participants.
My thoughts - context is everything. I have heard some of the songs on this list done musically and beautifully, but with a different approach than the folksy place in which they were written. It sometimes requires a congregation to "relearn" them in order to sing them, but there is beauty there. If the song is in the hymnal it is our job to find the divine. Admittedly, better music makes that easier. Keep up the good work! Bravi tutti.
I echo the request for your 10 favorite hymns.
I'm part of a choir that songs these songs frequently. They can be beautiful when accompanied by a piono and sung well. I really kind of love some of these songs.
Oh, wow 😳. I didn’t listened to all of them but I love On Eagles Wings, And We Believe. Another favorite of mine is You are Mine which I requested for my Mom’s funeral. I went back to listen to others.. I like these songs! They have an emotional chord for me. You need to do a video of the songs you do like. I think I’m scarred after watching this.
Bad music at Mass is a distraction, mostly because it prevents or discourages people from participating. Some of these songs, people actually DO sing, which is a good thing! Isn't participation part of the Mass? I wish you guys had given us a few more theological reasons why these songs are 'bad' and I wish you'd been a little more respectful. I would like to see some examples of GOOD music!
We primarily participate in the Mass by our prayers and attentions, not how loudly we sing or how many hands we shake during the sign of peace.
Yes. Hymns with iffy theology need to be purged. Those hymns could be the closest thing to a theology class many people get.
Thoughts on Mary Did you now being sung in a Catholic Church during Christmas.
@@CatholicZolaso you don’t think bad music influences participation?
Half of these can be drinking songs 😂 🎶Gather us in, the lost and forsaken, gather us is, the blind and the lame 🎶 🍻
Let's drink unconsecrated wine to that!
Thanks for the laugh!!!
Yes a bunch of drunks do need God😊
We do On Eagle’s Wings during communion in the Episcopal Church and honestly, when it’s done with the organ and choir it’s quite lovely.
The Episcopal Church is way better at liturgy than we are at this point lol! Reason one is that they actually have choirs, which Catholics have largely abandoned.
Greg Marra I’m grieved you hear that. The beauty of the liturgy is a treasure that it is the church’s privilege to share with the world, and also her duty to insure continues to be shared for generations to come.
I really like a lot of the songs you guys despise in this video. 🤣 I personally like familiarity, and when people a join in and sing along. I grew up on this music, born in 1980. I appreciate your opinions, I just feel that it depends on the age of the individual to say whether or not this is what people want for music in church.
Mass is NOT a Broadway show! Do you clap at the end of Mass, too?
@@mrswilbertI’m trying to figure out how your comment makes any sense whatsoever. One can’t comment on one’s preference in hymns?
Get a life, will ya?
@@twocyclediesel1280 Mass is SACRED! Singing hymna is one thing, but turning it into a Broadway show with clapping is disrespectful. You want to do that shit? Go to a Baptist church.
@@mrswilbert I’m still trying to understand what you’re talking about. Who’s clapping?
@@mrswilbert What did the OP say that warrants your childish tirade?
I was looking for catholic songs to add to an instrumental playlist for when I put my baby to sleep. And all of these were ones I wanted!! So helpful in finding some I had missed! ;) Thanks guys.
I am from Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean and music is in our very bones, like our ancestors who came from all parts of the world. We have a hymnal called Caribbean Worship and Song and when we worship the congregation sways in unison. I must admit that some of those songs played, especially the opening one is terrible, but there are others that when done reverently can lift your soul straight to heaven. John Michael Talbot's Hosanna makes me feel like I am in the very presence of God, with angels all around. I do wish to experience the TLM as there are none in our country right now but I honestly think that you were throwing the baby out with the bathwater with some of these, as they are scriptural.
Here I am Lord is a great song! Maybe not that version, but I have heard some parishes sing that beautifully with reverence.
I agree
And I love the lyrics
The English choirs sing it with pride and dignity, sounds way better with feeling...
The version here is really milquetoast...
I agree. It’s one of the ones I don’t mind hearing over the others just because they do it well when I hear it. Not the same version these guys played.
As a Parishioner of a church barely in the black. A church that relies on a parishioner to pick up a guitar a lead music. It isn’t easy to find folks with the education needed to do Gregorian chants. Most are just looking for an easy chart to follow.
And God bless all of you who do pick up that guitar, or just stand up and lead the people for the love of the Lord. That is an act of true love.
I am a young Catholic (33) and some of my favorite songs sung in church are "Here I am Lord," "Be Not Afraid," "On Eagle's Wings," and "Though the Mountains May Fall." I don't mind "We Remember," "Gather Us In," "The King of Glory," or "The Table of Plenty." I grew up with these, so maybe I am just nostalgic, but I also do like the Latin chants played during Lent. I wish we had some soul stirring songs like the Baptists have. I love "God's Got a Blessing" by Norman Hutchins.
I am 48 and like those songs and I love Marty Haugen Gloria mass of creation!
Speaking about music in church, when I was young and went to a Catholic Grade School, we never sang hymns while everyone was walking up to receive Communion. We went to Communion and when we came back to our seats, we knelt down, bowed our heads and even covered our faces with our hands to concentrate soley on God. We talked to God for several minutes. Now, because I sit in the front row (Handicapped Row), I am the first to receive Communion so I barely get the host in my mouth, and the Communion songs are started so I pick up my hymnal and start singing.
As a few commenters have posted, some of these songs can be moving when performed well. I found issue with many audio examples selected because (of course) it would make you want to rip your ears out. Let us bear in mind a couple of things- Michael Joncas, the composer of On Eagle's Wings, never expected the song to be so wildly popular and even he admits that it's not a melodic hymn. Secondly, many of the tunes referenced, either with audio recordings or in conversation, are pulled directly from Scripture. Whether or not they're good songs should be a separate argument to whether or not they belong in church.
You forgot "Lord of the Dance". This happy, peppy little hymn offers the opportunity to sing these lyrics in a very upbeat way: "I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame,
The Holy people said it was a shame. They whipped and they stripped and they hung me high, Left me there on a cross to die." I simply refuse to sing it. And I'm a cantor.
UPTOWNGIRL2013 I’m pretty sure that song, not hymn, was based of a Hindu god
They mentioned it around 17:30. Thankfully they did not play it.
@@itsnando20 Can confirm it was in the missal. I hate that song
@@brandonbryant5924 Oh dear. I have sung this.
It was removed from the OCP books this year
Hello,
This is my first time with your show. What a great way to start listening.
I swear you have attended the same church I go to. The same music you played on your show is the very same music I hear on any typical Sunday. Thank you for great show, and adding a smile on my face. Good to know that I am not the only one who is fed up with the same music Sunday after Sunday.
Personally I like Gregorian Chants, but I know that would be to much ask for.
You guys should have been around in the middle 60s at the time these songs were introduced. It was a breath of fresh air at the time. Not like today, it brought a lot of folks back to church. It's like any generational thing. The St Louis Jesuits were pretty talented guys. Their recordings were arranged by professionals and backed up also by professional musicians. One in particular had a great singing voice, John Foley. And one thing to be said about the music they wrote in their Glory and Praise works, most of, if not all the songs were based on scripture. Whether or not you want to believe it, but maybe, just maybe the Holy Spirit was guiding these guys in the 60s as EPIC may be guided by the Holy Spirit in this generation.
So, what music have you guys written? Let’s hear it.
yes its very easy to criticize
That doesn’t mean that they are wrong. I agree that the St Louis Jesuits music is not that great…and yes we need more writers for good music.
You should definitely have a part two. I don’t agree that many of these hymns are necessarily the worst but there are a couple of not so great ones. I think you should also do an episode where you feature the best hymns at mass.
Definitely agree. Did you read my comments above yours? I actually created a bottom ten of the worst songs and “eagles wings was on it”. lol
I feel some songs mentioned here are not too bad. However in general I feel that Catholics in general do not participate I choir and to some extent in congregational singing. And does having a modern band mean songs will be inappropriate?
I have been on a choir for at least 30 years and I feel we have, and other choirs in my town, do not have enough numbers of singers, teachers, musicians and all.
Yes, waiting for part 2 that has 90 best catholic hymns.
But all in all this session had a lot of supplementary thought and opinion that I surely agree with.
Sadly, you’d have to go back 100 to 400 years
Here are most of them. Listen to this to find out the last two :)
1. Companions on a Journey
2. Sing a New Song (Schutte)
3. We Remember (Haugen)
4. Here I Am, Lord
5. Gather Us In (Haugen)
6. The King of Glory
7. Table of Plenty
8. Be Not Afraid
So in about 1998 I was camping with a christian non catholic group and Sunday morning we were having our own little church service beside a gorgeous lake and I felt to sing "I the Lord of Sea and Sky" One lone male voice started singing along. Come to find out that he was an Catholic alcoholic husband who had not wanted to come. Apparently it reached into his heart big time. So one never knows how God will work.
You’re tripping! I love “Here I Am, Lord” 😂😂😂 this episode had me deadddd. I laughed so hard hahahaha
Meanwhile there’s a bobble head Jesus on the table.😳
It's not Mass. Big diff.
During a very trying time in my life, BE NOT AFRAID was a great comfort to me. Also ON EAGLES WINGS is Psalm 91 (the Word of God, by the way). It also has been very meaningful to me. How can you judge that music ministers and/or the composers are lazy? They probably prayed to God for inspiration, and God probably used their gifts to touch common, everyday people (like Jesus used common fishermen--not the elite).
Some of these are my favorate songs and I would miss them. Fyi I'm in my 80's.
Same about the favorite songs and I would miss them
Those three sound like teens ~ not smart teens.
These guys remind me of my freshman year in the dorms, with people sitting around criticizing the dormitory food every night.
I remember asking my Dad why people do that. He told me that some people criticize others in an effort to look superior. I never forgot what he said.
The composers you mention actually created music that a lot of people like.
Would you share with us your compositions?
Time for the three of you to put yourselves out there and let's hear if what you've written is anywhere as good as "All Are Welcome."
Janet - I once played a C#dim7 Chord on the clarinet setting on a Casio keyboard for 3 minutes straight. It was better than All Are Welcome.
Sorry, when a person creates a work (I'll call it of "art" for the sake of argument), they put it out there for whatever encomiums and criticisms it is due. A lot of people like "Don't Worry, Be Happy" too, but that doesn't mean it should be sung at Mass. And, we PAY for this stuff. So if we don't like it, I think we have the privilege, nay the duty, to say so. It would be fair to say the critics in the video should more clearly state their objections. God bless you.
@@CatholicTalkShow I'm sure you thought so.
@@gracemorgan3246 Yes, I guess anyone is free to criticize anything. Not sure how that builds any respect for the Church, though.
To have the freedom of choice to criticise does not mean you should kill charity by expressing your opinion! I have my private list of hymns that make me cringe but I hold my tongue. The hymns do a lot of good to other people and I am not going to tell them why I hate them. This might teach them to hate the hymns too when God makes use of any hymn, however badly composed, to touch people. What astounds me in listening to this session is how song after song I like which has moved me, is brought out and shot down! I developed an urgent need to throw a bucket of cold water over Scheel’s head to make him stop!
I’m a church organist, and I agree with you all on every single one of these songs. The problem I see as a Music Director, is that church are being pushed to either OCP Publications (which is trying to sway to the more “felt banner” route) and GIA Publications which is more traditional, but still has a lot of “felt banner” songs. I prefer Source & Summit. They are a publication company that is trying to bring back traditional sacred music in the Catholic Church. The other problem I see as I’ve worked in the Catholic Church is that the parish will hire someone who does not know the history of sacred music. Most of the time now, the parish will hire someone who can play the guitar or piano because it is cheaper, than it is to pay someone who can efficiently play the organ and direct a choir with the proper liturgical and musical training. The only way to stop these terrible song being played during the consecration of the Eucharist is for parishes to 1) Stop combining the Liturgy Director with the Music Director, and 2) For the parish to hire someone who has a DEEP understanding of sacred music and the organ.
Oh, brother. You should be ashamed of yourself. The only thing I take from this post is that you need to run, not walk to a different career.
I live near Seattle. There are almost no churches that have organs.
What are the 10 best? I like all the bad ones!
All of these are spot on. Thanks guys! And I will say, sometimes there are some folk/praise & worship songs that fit the Liturgy well... but I prefer a simple chant 95% of the time. This coming from a 25 year old cradle Catholic! :D
I like some of these songs! I’m curious what your favorite songs are. I think you should do a show on that too.
My wife & I actually switched parishes due to the music. We tried hard to put God & mass first in this scenario, but we found ourselves being in an angry & put-out state when leaving mass. Not the sentiment you want from attending mass. We basically had a husband & wife Vegas act literally performing at mass. I think folksy or contemporary Christian music are for the protestants. I want to feel the quiet sacredness of the church, not a revival meeting.
I used to be an organist at a small parish. I would choose traditional old hymns and the Haugen/Shute music. I went with the needs and likes of the congregation. Remember the Church is One Foudation and Holy Holy Holy One God Almighty were once new(but Traditional for us). I grew up on this music at Mass. Some of this music depends on how the organist or "church band" plays the music. The best interpretation of "Sing Glory to God in the Highest, Sing Glory to God.." was the pianist at Wake Forest, who tore the whites off the piano..especially doing 3 against 2 per measure of music..bottom line, you have to assess the music needs of the individual congregation regarding their likes for Mass music.
Hands up everyone who went to watch Stephen Colberts 'King of Glory'. I'll never get it out of my head now...
My oldest brother used to whisper at Mass, "Think we could donate enough between us to buy the piano player a metronome?" When I was older and discovered Gregorian chant and Mozart, it was a true revelation, although it was by then too late for all my siblings, who had already left the Church. That said, Talbot does have one song I like, "Holy is His Name", except for his rewording "All generations shall call me blessed" into "And my name will be forever exalted," which is so not in keeping with the humility of the real Mary. And the one St. Louis Jesuits song I like is "Who Has Known".
Yes I love 'On Eagles Wings" . At my husband's funeral one of the songs I had was "Turn turn turn" by the Byrds.
I keep having to stop and listen to good music. My family before I fell away went to a Polish parish. When I cam back, I went to a regular local parish, and now am in the middle of Novus Ordo land, and was shocked. I keep saying "I thought these songs where myths told to scare children!"
I get what you guys are saying! I was a choir member when I was in my 20's and yes, I agree that those songs mentioned were over the top sappy. As far as really great songs go... exactly how can they be identified? "Let all Mortal Flesh Keep Silent" stands out in my memory. It took my mind and body to a significant state. It was rarely sang, maybe 3 times in a year, but when I heard it, I could feel my soul surrender to the moment. What is your take on this song?
That's such a great hymn.
@@admiralbob7797I love singing it too.
On eagles wings and be Not Afraid should always stand and be available for funerals. You are correct about it being age based and chosen by family members for that moment… funerals are for the living and those songs helps cement the emotions of that day for them.
I’ve been singing those songs a lot this year (2023), too many funerals. I sing in a woefully small choir in an agricultural community.
As long as we remember who we are singing for-the comfort of the bereaved, hope and praise to our Lord-they are meaningful and applicable to the occasion.
If it wasn't for those songs, I wouldn't have become Catholic. To this day, my soul has been molded by this era of music. They touched my heart and drew me close to Jesus. Isn't that the most important thing? I'm a 67 year old conservative Catholic in everything except liturgy. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord! 😅😂😊
I am a convert to Catholcism. And this show cracked me up. I grew up in a choir and had a wonderful music minister. We sang all types of music. My music experience with that director was like a church service itself. Every song on this list is played at the parish we attend. And my husband is always saying to me that he is sorry for how bad the music is. Music is important to me as part of worship. I do now fully embrace the mass with the beautiful liturgy and the Eucharist, I miss the beautiful music upon which I grew up.
I am also a convert to Catholicism and your comment really hit home with me...every word is true to my story as well. I am happy to be home in Mother Church but the music needs help.
So, what is good church music ? Next episode perhaps?
It's easy to hate, harder to love. I hope he learns love.
Gregorian chant, sacred polyphony, classic hymns, not 70s folk or contemporary Christian music
"Lift High the Cross." There are good hymns in the GIA (i don't know about OCP, there's probably something). But you and we don't sing those much.
(1) Adoro Te Devote, (2) Tantum Ergo, (3) Holy God We Praise Thy Name, (4) Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, (5) Panis Angelicus, (6) There's a Wideness in God's Mercy, (7) The Glory of These Forty Days [Lent] ... and these are just a random few off the top of my head.
@@AJPM802 What makes them better. I know some that annoy the heck out of me.
So funny that you picked Eagles wings as number one. That was my mom's favorite song and I told her to play it any time she's nearby. So thanks for passing along her message
Love On Eagles Wings
I loved Here I Am Lord, growing up in the Episcopal church. Add to that, my mother played for the services, so I got many extra helpings of some of these and others that sounded like them. So, I just got used to it, and learned to love it. By the way, "Companions on a Journey" had strong '90s Cursillo vibes for me.
Love "Here Am I Lord. It's beautiful. The leader of the Folk Group at our parish years ago became a priest.
I have been Catholic for 15 years but I love some of these songs.They touch my heart .Hear I Am Lord ❤
Never heard "Companions on a Journey" before.
I'll do everything within my power to never, ever hear it ever again. Ever.
ironymatt hahahhaa
Companions of journey is pretty awful.
I never heard it either. It is awful.
At one of the parishes I used to go to, they sung “Campanions on a Journey” all the time and it was awful
These songs aren’t very good when sung by their original authors, but I’ve heard beautiful renditions of most of these sung at my own parish
"Though the mountains may fall and the hills turn to dust we we still be singing this song..."
But I love We Remember... :(
Michael Joncas actually told me he cringed when he visited parishes and they sang this song! I worked with him once, when he visited our parish in Houston. He wrote this for a specific instance, to be sung by a specific person. He never intended it to be used in every Catholic church throughout the 80s and 90s.
If you grew up in the 70' s you must remember guitar masses. Even when I was 5 it made me cringe. Even at that age I loved the traditional hymns. God bless you guys. 🙏✝️
I grew up in the Latvian Lutheran Church during the 60's and 70's. I am Catholic now. In the Latvian Lutheran Church I attended we had the altar rail, Communion kneeling and in the tongue. Pastor facing ad orientum. And decent hymns, no happy clappy hippie stuff.
We had guitar Mass for awhile about 10-15 yrs ago. Glad to see it go. That’s when we had “flying Jesus”, the crucifix hanging by wires at an angle….ridiculous.
Greetings from the Philippines. Most of the songs in this episode (especially Dan Shoot) is part of our Catholic mass. I’m surprised some of them are bad. I’d think some of it is ok but not bad, depends on how it is sung.
Thank you for showing appreciation for the different cultures in our faith and for saying that they should be allowed to worship as they would traditionally.
Do different Mass parts now! Can’t beat Dan Schutte’s My Little Pony Mass!
AHAHAHAHA I LOVE IT when people realised they sound almost the same!
OH NO! Now I can't unhear that! LOLOLOL!
Super fun topic guys!!! I have admit....I grew up on most of these songs and they bring back great memories. I like them out of the nostalgic sense if nothing else. Keep up the great content!!
I feel sad to hear some of this music panned... On Eagles' Wings was played at my father's funeral and it gave me comfort to imagine him "lifted up... and borne on the breath of dawn". I feel a sense of comfort today when I hear or sing that song.
I really love some of these songs.
Me too! I am not a fan of guitar mass.
We will pray for your salvation sisters
It’s fine to listen to in free time I suppose but not in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
I'm 35 and these are what I grew up on! I love them too and have a Pandora channel for these.
Amen to many of these songs they are beautiful and biblical and they are bieng bashed as if they are too common for common people like me
Young adult here. These songs are nice, but in my opinion, they don't belong in the Mass where God literally makes himself present flesh and blood. We need music that reflects how transcendent and awe-inspiring the moment of transubstantiation is. Regardless of whether you personally like these songs or not, they don't achieve that.
Some of the songs mentioned I grew up with and I beg to differ with you. I feel a beautiful closeness to Jesus when I sing some of these songs. There are some that are not my favorites but not all are bad. My humble opinion
I agree with you, Lissa!!!
I was a teenager in the 70s. That music is a crime against all that is not damned to Hell. They even did the Coke commercial song ("I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmoneeeeeeee!")
I'd say more, but I just went to Confession already.
"makes Josh Groban sound like Lemmy from Motorhead"
I'm HOLLERING
We attended a Mass wherein our Parish Priest chastised the the Opening Hymn of the Choir. After a 30 seconds of tepid singing, Father Jerry told everyone to stop. When he noticed the congregation was not participating because we were not familiar with the song . He chastised the choir for lack of preparation. When they began again with a more familiar song, he chastised the Congregation to sing wholeheartedly and louder because he felt the Entrance song should be welcoming worthy of worship and praise. That Father Jerry loved the Mass and treats the mass with dignity and reverence..and fevor with hymns.
That presider sounds like a grump and a scold. I would have walked out with my family after such a totally inappropriate interruption. "Loves the Mass," my foot.
@@nycsongs I agree. The choir practices hard, at least ours does. We practice twice a week and some of us work a full day and then go to practice. We do some songs in Latin and this is hard for some of us. People give of their time in choir to glorify God. It’s not about the priest or even the congregation for that matter.
There is no such thing as “worst Catholic Church songs.” If the songs are dedicated to God and if it helps in uplifting the spirit of the Catholic faithful, then it’s all good. I do agree that some upbeat songs may not be conducive to the liturgy. But, It’s a shame for people to be very opinionated, judgmental and making mockery of other people’s expressions of one’s faith through songs. Songs are relative to one’s faith, culture, tradition and spirituality.
I thought I had heard good Catholic Church music until I went to a Traditional Latin Mass during All Souls' Day and Christmas Eve. They had Mozart's last requiem and I think Handel's Messiah on blast. And then there is the regular Gregorian like chanting during regular days. I don't know what music they'll have for Easter, but I expect amazing.
I'd be interested in knowing what songs you guys like. I gotta be honest, I liked most of these songs.
37:45
I would kill to do most of these songs, instead of the contemporary praise songs we do at the parish I go to. You just can't do a song with a rock progression during communion. So, so bad.
So you wouldn't do Gregorian chant? No hate. I'm genuinely curious. Most of the songs in the video were fucking terrible
I loved EVERY song, with the exception of the first.
I know there are many others saying the same, I am a 24 year old life-time catholic and I grew up with these songs and only these songs in church BUT I am completely in favour of throwing away all of these songs and replacing them with divine music that has been sung for ages (BRING DIVINITY BACK TO THE LITURGY, HUMANITY NEEDS IT NOW)
Unfair to slam "On Eagle's Wings" so harshly IMO. It was meant to literally be sung once at a funeral by a soloist - it was never meant to be something included in a hymnal and sung during the liturgy on a regular basis. But the song took on a life of its own thru no fault of the composer Michael Joncas. It's since touched thousands if not million's of peoples lives, brought them comfort in difficult times, and even went viral worldwide last year. Honestly it's not even that bad of a tune when sung by a good soloist and can sound pretty good with a small orchestra. In general of all the modern composers, Michael Joncas is easily the least offensive, and actually wrote some incredibly beautiful tunes (eg "Take and Eat").
I'd be interested to hear you guys' take on songs whose lyrics are "in persona Christi" - that is where we sing the words of Christ in the first person. "I am the Bread of Life" and so on. I fall into a more trad side of things and have heard this practice decried a fair amount among trad-minded commentators.
Chris Lewis I have the same complaint about “Here I am Lord”. The verses are sung from the perspective of the Lord, and the chorus is for everyone. Instead everyone sings every part-drives me crazy!
Even as a kid hearing all these songs I appreciated the little churches up north who would play the old hymns.
You gentlemen have panned most of my favorite hymns and three that I have chosen for my funeral, but I have not studied music.
Would like to hear your take on the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. I grew up singing in the choir at the pre-Vatican II Latin Masses where the music never failed to usher me into the presence of God. Today, I experience the same via the praise and worship music connected with the charismatic Masses.