Amy Welborn is going to kill me, but I will repent in dust and ashes if she objects to this . . .
With the "Bread of Life" discourse at Mass this Sunday, what did you hear?tm
At St. Mary, in Piqua, we had "I am the Bread of Life" for the opening; "The Lord hears the cry of the poor" (Haugen or Haas setting) for the psalm; "Let all Mortal Flesh Keep Silent" (an outstanding hymn, imho) for the preparation; "Taste and See" for Communion, and "Alleluia, Sing to Jesus" for the closing. Mass of Creation settings throughout, but at least, "When we eat" as the memorial acclamation (since Christ has died, risen and will come again too many times at Mass lately).
There is no life outside of Christ.
ReplyDeleteI heartily agree with your opinion on Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent.
ReplyDeleteHow many of us are named anonymous, anyway? (Chuckle!)
ReplyDelete"I Myself Am the Bread of Life"
ReplyDeleteI myself....did not sing that song. You and I are not Jesus Christ.
(Do a syllable count and you will note my response can be sung to the insipid melody of the above potentially heretical song.)
Bro Andrew:
ReplyDeleteI think you are recalling a different song.
The one we had is based closely on Scripture; I can't recall who wrote it, but its words are familiar, as they come straight from the Gospel of John.
Here are some words I found online -- I think these are the right ones:
ReplyDeleteI am the bread of life.
You who come to me shall not hunger;
You who believe in me shall not thirst.
No one can come to me,
Unless the Father beckons.
And I will raise you up,
And I will raise you up,
And I will raise you up on the last day.
The bread that I will give
Is my flesh for the life of the world,
And if you eat of this bread,
You shall live forever,
You shall live forever.
And I will raise you up,
And I will raise you up,
And I will raise you up on the last day.
Unless you eat of the flesh of the son of Man
And drink of his blood,
And drink of his blood,
You shall not have life within you.
And I will raise you up,
And I will raise you up,
And I will raise you up on the last day.
I am the resurrection, I am the life.
If you believe in me, even though you die,
You shall live forever.
And I will raise you up,
And I will raise you up,
And I will raise you up on the last day.
I am not defending its musical quality -- but I see nothing wrong with the text. Certainly nothing heretical that I can see.
Dear Fr. Martin,
ReplyDeleteI am reporting what I heard. It was not "I Am the Bread of Life." It was "I Myself am the Bread of Life" by Rory Cooney, I think.
The refrain shares the title:
I myself am the Bread of Life.
You and I are the Bread of Life.
(I don't remember the next two lines)
That the world might live.
I at least have some appreciation for Sr. Toolan's song.
Bro Andrew:
ReplyDeleteMy apology -- I thought you were commenting on what I reported from my parish!
We had everything except the Psalm -- hmmm... And I'm in Canada, which really burns me. Why pay for the CBW and the CCCB's suggestions if we don't USE them?
ReplyDeleteWe had "I am the Bread of Life"... with TAMBOURINES.
ReplyDeleteDear Fr. Fox,
ReplyDeleteThe two songs have similar titles. The mistake is one that is easily made.
Just don't do it again.
;)
We had:
ReplyDeleteGlorious in Majesty
Psalm 47
Make Me a Channel of your Peace
I Am the Bread of Life (naturally)
and Sing of the Lord's Goodness
All ones I love to sing, despite occasional questionable theology. Well, except for the Psalm, I'm not too fond of our setting for that, and I have to lead it next week.
I love Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent, too.
I read today's posts before Mass this morning. Interesting because what hymn did we have for the preparation of the gifts? "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent." So after reading your post and your homily, I paid close attention to what we were singing. I found it lifted me into an awareness of the divine in what we are doing. Very enlightening experience.
ReplyDeleteDennis--
ReplyDeleteIn Ordinary Time, it is actually a legitimate option to substitute another psalm for what is in the lectionary.
I am not really a music person but there are three songs that I refuse to sing.
ReplyDeleteEagles Wings - I think this was the recessional at every Mass in my childhood.
Here I am Lord - It bugs me that it is totally all about me.
I am the Bread of Life - I understand it is based on scripture. However *I* am not the bread of life. I think it is kind of creepy to sing that I am.
When I was Parish shopping (yes I know I am not supposed to) singing any one of these was a yellow light... two of them and I didn't come back. Partly because I hated the songs and partly because it just generally shows a lack of imagination. It also is a sign (along with felt banners) that my fairly conservative self won't fit in very well.
Kronprinz:
ReplyDeleteWell, a very basic reason is that the musician or cantor does not know how to sing the one assigned.
One of the problems currently is that many popular hymnals do not have the proper psalm texts. Many parish musicians are only familiar with what's in the hymnals -- many of which are not suitable because they aren't proper translations.
It takes time and energy to retrain musicians and cantors, and in the meantime, substituting a proper text for a poor setting of the assigned psalm, seems a reasonable solution.
Mary Martha:
ReplyDeleteI understand. However, you should know that the three you mentioned are very popular.
Kelly M.:
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering how a parish/a priest allowed for a "private baptism" - or even two private baptisms in a row... I'm also wondering how a parish/a priest allowed for an apparently private Mass after 4:00 on a Saturday...
As a convert I am surprised at the complaints. We have Jesus in the Eucharist! I wish I had time to be at Mass every day, but that day will come soon enough. Just being there is fantastic, remember who is in the Tabernacle!
ReplyDeleteDennis:
ReplyDeleteI don't disagree.
I would have loved to have done "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" but I had no organist...it was guitar accompaniment only, so here's the lineup:
ReplyDeleteTable of Plenty
Taste And See (Moore) for the psalm
In This Place
The Supper of the Lord
Canticle of the Sun
(Mass of Creation acclamations, Celtic Alleluia. It's summer. Half the choir was missing. We did our best!)
Thanks for your response, Kelly. I presume, then, that the local diocese and parish allow for these celebrations to happen. Still, I am taken aback by the notion of a "private baptism" outside a parish church, and by "private masses" scheduled in those hours we consider the Lord's Day. Thanks for your reply.
ReplyDeleteNothing heretical about "I am the Bread of Life" but... the current version is gender neutered relative to the original composition.
ReplyDeleteOriginally it went "I will raise him up..." etc.