Thanks so much, Brian.

I think it was Father Guardini back in the 1960s who suggested modern man was no longer capable of the liturgical act. Our poor disintegrated post enlightenment brains struggle to think and feel simultaneously and lose the poetic and metaphorical.

If we live in the the questions and the mystery rather than false certitudes we might get somewhere, otherwise we may as well sing the catechism.

As always thanks for the music, Brian.

cheers

Geoff

Geoff

Thank you for this very meaningful consideration of “God’s voice” in hymns.

Relationship with God is the very keystone of the Christian life. From the earliest times Christians have expressed their relationship with God through poetry, symbolism, metaphor and figurative language. These forms of expression are able to connect with the inexpressible mystery of God in ways that are more open and universal.

Since the Reformation in particular, Western Christianity has become more literal and less figurative in its understanding and expression of God. A rediscovery of the contemplative tradition in the Western Church has reawakened an understanding of God as mystery, One who desires to be in intimate relationship with us. This sees us seeking to relate with God not just through beliefs and ideas, but also through deeper relationship.

Silent prayer calls us to listen to God, not only through the Church, creation and all that surrounds us, but also to find God dwelling deep within us. Awakening to God dwelling within us, and in all that surrounds us, changes our perspective on God, ourselves and how we see virtually everything.

G’Day Cyprian

I don’t know about singing in the voice of God being completely forbidden, since this hymn has been approved by the National Liturgy and Music Board in Australia and so it can’t be a blanket prohibition. However, there have certainly been suggestions over the years to avoid hymns of this nature.

If I remember correctly, the Body of Christ is present at Mass in the Priest, the proclaimed Word, the Eucharistic elements and the assembled faithful, so maybe it’s OK if it is not a solo. I also suspect some people have a lack of poetic imagination if they can’t situate the voice of a hymn – no one singing these songs think they are God.

I wonder sometimes if this suggestion to avoid hymns that had us singing in the voice of God was a cover to get rid of songs that weren’t to the taste of the organist.

I think it’s a bit like saying we should only have “we” songs on liturgy when many psalms are “I” songs, as there are parts of the mass where we do proclaim in the voice of God.

The discernment needed is as always – does the song fit the liturgy, is it culturally appropriate, does it have beauty within that context, is it scriptural or based on the words of the mass, etc. I have also discovered many songs that are very meaningful to some of the asssmbly because an association with important times in the their lives, friends and family who have died or to events in the life of that parish and there would need to be a good reason to stop singing such songs.

Whether you want to wade into local liturgy wars is up to you – I try to keep my head down these days.

cheers

Geoff

I’ve been apart of music ministry for about 12 years, i moved to a different parish due to change of employment and just found out some hymns are forbidden as it uses ‘God’s voice’. I just wanted to ask more about this please as a lot of the ‘old time favourite’ hymns use God’s voice.

Pray Blessings over you and all for the new year ahead.

Great to hear from you, Brian.

Geoff

God bless
Brian Boniwell

G’Day Ian

I still can’t find this a single sheet anywhere, so the only place I know it is available is in the AOV collections. Spectrum might know.

Geoff