www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology What's "Wrong" with "On Eagles Wings"

Alexis.
Oh my! Doesn't that sound familiar.

Ed

Wow, I didn't realize this stuff really existed. Maybe I always lucked out. It's one thing if you don't like "on eagle's wings." But it is another if the priest is teaching wrongly at the pulpit. I don't know what I would do. I'm not being hard on you, I was just stating what we were taught growing up. But we didn't have any problems like you mentioned.

I wouldn't leave a parish over the songs, although I do think the songs and the wording matter a great deal. But what goes on in many Roman Catholic churches is far more sinister than Protestant hymnody!

Alexis

I think the most extreme musical situation I have witnessed was a rock and roll mass. I was going to another mass following it and caught the tail end.

"On Eagles Wings."

Of course, I picture Gandalf and the Hobbits whenever I hear it.

To me, it is just another of the whole list of sappy, modern, feel-good, skip-to-my-lou church songs I never really liked anyway. You know, the sort of songs that go with the 1970s glued felt banners that say positive things derived, or vaguely derived, from Scripture. Or the sort of song I picture Michael Bolton standing in front of the church singing.

Ewww.

Double ewww.

;-)

Dear Pyrohy,

Excellent post! There's no place like home! Work for change from within, not without. Rather than moving to the next parish, (or the next, or the next), offer your time and talents at your home parish and ally yourself with like individuals to seek change. Speak with the priest to express your grievances, reservations, etc. Get involved.

In my parish I've only heard "On Eagle's Wings" used very infrequently. Lucky, I guess. The first time I did hear it I turned to my wife puzzled and asked, "Did Bette Midler sing this?"

Perhaps you've heard the expression, "flat as a Michael Bolton high note," used by musicians.

Just to be clear, I'm not advocating skipping out on parishes in which people can help. But, sadly, some parishes are beyond help, and worse, do not want help. Many pastors are very hostile to trying to reintroduce liturgical beauty and sanity and orthodoxy into the mix. God bless the brave souls who fight for the restoration of Catholic liturgy in these types of parishes.

Alexis

In general, this may be excellent advice. The practice, however, is often far more difficult than the theory. I can speak from personal experience. I have offered "time and talent" to the point of exhaustion. I have spoken with priests. I have been one of the most involved in my parish. But there comes a time, after a decade or so, when the weekly liturgical abuses and personal abuse just become too much and it is time to move on.

Alexis is right. There comes a time when one's spiritual health requires one to flee a bad situation. Trust me. In charity, I don't want to go into specifics, but it is undeniably true. I don't think anyone would tell a battered wife to put her life or health in jeopardy by staying in her home with an abusive husband. Likewise there comes a time when one is morally obliged to leave one's spiritual home.

I am not talking about the choice of music.

Pray for me, a sinner, that I may find a spiritual harbor.

Alexis, no one was

Annie:

I guess I love Tolkien too much to associate that (let me
repeat myself) hideous piece of music with the Eagles of
the Misty Montains.

The words indeed are scriptural but the music is defintitely
by King David and Co.

Edmac

In my experience, talking to priests and writing to bishops
about liturgical problems is a sure-fire, absolute, 100% guaranteed way of getting ignored. They are all so blandly certain that the garbage they hand out is worthy of the Catholic Faith. Mind you, I was oh so very polite.

On the other hand I have been out of the Latin Church for
twelve years. Things may be changing. I hope so.

Edmac

This was originally posted by Michael McD:

"While it is true, that if possible, it may be better to remain in a parish so as to improve it from within, if it becomes sufficiently clear that the parish won't have it (either the pastor or one or more of the various "committtees" by which the pastor chooses to let his hands be tied), there comes a point where one needs to consider what is best for one's family, and if it is possible to find something better within reach, it is not irresponsible or un-Christian to follow through."

By the time I read this thread and wrote my post I forgot Michael wrote this and I think we all agree with it.

I haven't been subjected to liturgical abuses in my home parish and I'm not sure what I'd do if things like the "Halloween Mass" were to start happening. Asking for a better mix of hymn choices is much easier than trying to turn the tide on a priest who takes license with the Mass.

Altissimi in protectione Dei caeli commorabitur Dicet Domino susceptor meus es tu et refugium meum Deus meus sperabo in eum Quoniam ipse liberabit me de laqueo venantium et a verbo aspero Scapulis suis obumbrabit te et sub pinnis eius sperabis Scuto circumdabit te veritas eius non timebis a timore nocturno A sagitta volante in die a negotio perambulante in tenebris ab incursu et daemonio meridiano Cadent a latere tuo mille et decem milia a dextris tuis ad te autem non adpropinquabit Verumtamen oculis tuis considerabis et retributionem peccatorum videbis Quoniam tu Domine spes mea Altissimum posuisti refugium tuum Non acce dent ad te mala et flagellum non adpropinquabit tabernaculo tuo Quoniam angelis suis mandabit de te ut custodiant te in omnibus viis tuis In manibus portabunt te ne forte offendas ad lapidem pedem tuum Super aspidem et basiliscum ambulabis et conculcabis leonem et draconem Quoniam in me speravit et liberabo eum protegam eum quia cognovit nomen meum Clamabit ad me et exaudiam eum cum ipso sum in tribulatione eripiam eum et clarificabo eum Longitudine dierum replebo eum et ostendam illi salutare meum.

Now put it to Znammeny Chant, and you might have something!

Alexandr

Up here in the north people are obliged to resister at the local parish but can easily ask to transfer to another while still living in the parish boundaries of the first one. Both pastors have to approve and it has to be for a legitimate cause. It seems to be merely a formality, though.

Mater Ecclesia in New Jersey has no parish boundaries and anyone in the diocese can transfer to that parish.

http://www.materecclesiae.org/