Sharings

Dear Editor,

Just read Terry Ginther’s piece, “The Liturgy of the Hours” (ML 27:1). What we need for the laity is a prepared text for Sunday Vespers (for example). Lay people cannot afford a full set at $160. Nor do we pastors have the time to assemble a text from several sources plus fool with copyrights and the like. When, if ever, shall we see something published which is reasonably priced, and that parishes can afford?

Father Alvin L. Herber, CPPS
Cameron, Mo.

Prophetic posture

Dear Editor,

Regarding Michael Novak’s article “Taking a Stand” (ML 27:2), perhaps it is time to tell the U.S. bishops that standing is the posture of participation and respect, and that kneeling in the Mass is a hangover from the early church’s reaction to Arianism.

Joe Thomas
Manomet, Mass.

Wedding music

Ed. Note: The following response was posted on ML’s discussion board. 
Join the conversation at www.rpinet.com/wwwboard/.

When a couple comes to me to ask for help to prepare their music, I tell them that their best resource to prepare their liturgy is the Sunday Mass. That’s our model for music, for word, for action, for everything that happens at any other liturgy. If couples come to us with inappropriate ideas for their wedding, that is more a reflection of how we do Sunday Mass and liturgical catechesis and of how we treat (mistreat?) those baptized who come to us twice a year and for sacraments and of how we prepare them for these sacraments.

Second, I fully agree that secular music is not normally appropriate for liturgy, but I cannot agree with the idea that secular music can never give praise to God. The very act of creating something out of nothing is a divine act, and that gift itself gives praise to God. The thing created may not be intended for liturgical worship, but that doesn’t mean the music cannot praise God in its own way through its own medium. (Remember, I’m not advocating we use secular music for weddings. I just don’t want us labeling music as sacred or profane based on where we find it — on the radio or in the hymnal.)

ML

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—ML