I loved this music just as I loved the hymns I grew up with, but I was a child then & understoodlittle about liturgy or its’ purpose. As a questioning and faithful Catholic woman, the music of the St Louis Jesuits & the Monks of theWeston Priory where my family were fortunate enough to attend Mass while vacationing, opened my heart & my mind to a deeper faith experience. I am 80 years old now & thinkingof my funeral & wishing the funeral liturgy could include some of these beautiful hymns, not only the lyrics but played to the tunes of simple instruments like guitars as well. There is a place for all kinds of music but to my mind the hymns of the St. Louis Jesuits are not meant to be sung while played by an organ. Ihavetried to find “retired”folk groups here inthePhilly Archdiocese but if truth be told, they probably weren’t particularly welcome back in the’70s. either. If anyone has an answer or a suggestion, I would love to hear from you. Seriously! I have five beautiful hymns selected & I’m ready to go!
Ed Grima - 10 years ago
I am 58 years old and still play guitar Sundays with our church choir, albeit and unfortunately not any of these songs. When in high school, I ran a guitar Mass folk group at a parish in Detroit and played most of theses songs.
Of course they bring back wonderful memories, but they also brought the youth to church, who may not have otherwise come and many still come today.
I don't understand this Fr. Z or any of the other know-it-all Catholics who can't see the good that came of this music. Of course they can't, because they can't even see that their blanket judgment of this genre of music is unfounded in Catholicism (judgment left to God); Music, whether classical, folk, praise, etc., is a gift from God and singing it is giving the gift back to Him.
I just wish these could/were still be used at Masses today. I just got a call last night regarding the Parish in Detroit where I played the guitar Masses in high school, asking to reassemble the group and come and play for a parish reunion Mass in March. Perhaps there is hope, as I certainly intend to play these songs!
fRED - 12 years ago
Yes. This is a fascinating site-an aural postcard from the past when there was such vibrancy, zeal, hope, and anticipation. Where did it go?
I remember many of these songs from the Sunday guitar mass during my adolescence, but I was too young to seek the original recordings. I am amazed at the diverse styles presented here. In some respects, I feel fortunate to have experienced the music before it was disappeared into the haze of commercialized egocentric singer-songwriter artist.
Robin Carlson - 12 years ago
These songs bring back such wonderful memories of my childhood and going to our Folk Mass on Sundays. Thank you!
I loved this music just as I loved the hymns I grew up with, but I was a child then & understoodlittle about liturgy or its’ purpose. As a questioning and faithful Catholic woman, the music of the St Louis Jesuits & the Monks of theWeston Priory where my family were fortunate enough to attend Mass while vacationing, opened my heart & my mind to a deeper faith experience. I am 80 years old now & thinkingof my funeral & wishing the funeral liturgy could include some of these beautiful hymns, not only the lyrics but played to the tunes of simple instruments like guitars as well. There is a place for all kinds of music but to my mind the hymns of the St. Louis Jesuits are not meant to be sung while played by an organ. Ihavetried to find “retired”folk groups here inthePhilly Archdiocese but if truth be told, they probably weren’t particularly welcome back in the’70s. either. If anyone has an answer or a suggestion, I would love to hear from you. Seriously! I have five beautiful hymns selected & I’m ready to go!
I am 58 years old and still play guitar Sundays with our church choir, albeit and unfortunately not any of these songs. When in high school, I ran a guitar Mass folk group at a parish in Detroit and played most of theses songs.
Of course they bring back wonderful memories, but they also brought the youth to church, who may not have otherwise come and many still come today.
I don't understand this Fr. Z or any of the other know-it-all Catholics who can't see the good that came of this music. Of course they can't, because they can't even see that their blanket judgment of this genre of music is unfounded in Catholicism (judgment left to God); Music, whether classical, folk, praise, etc., is a gift from God and singing it is giving the gift back to Him.
I just wish these could/were still be used at Masses today. I just got a call last night regarding the Parish in Detroit where I played the guitar Masses in high school, asking to reassemble the group and come and play for a parish reunion Mass in March. Perhaps there is hope, as I certainly intend to play these songs!
Yes. This is a fascinating site-an aural postcard from the past when there was such vibrancy, zeal, hope, and anticipation. Where did it go?
I remember many of these songs from the Sunday guitar mass during my adolescence, but I was too young to seek the original recordings. I am amazed at the diverse styles presented here. In some respects, I feel fortunate to have experienced the music before it was disappeared into the haze of commercialized egocentric singer-songwriter artist.
These songs bring back such wonderful memories of my childhood and going to our Folk Mass on Sundays. Thank you!