In the last few days, I have had three different youth workers - two via E-mail and one in the flesh - asking me if there is any truth in the rumour that all hymns apart from very traditional chants are about to be banned.

Answer: No.

Here's the long answer:

A US site about liturgical chant got a little over-excited about a tweak in a new translation of the GIRM (General Instruction to the Roman Missal) which referred to chants, rather than hymns or songs or whatever, as being the only legitimate choices for Mass music. The story was quickly picked up by a bunch of other sites, and quickly rebuffed by a load more. Rather predictably, the internet is now awash with discussions about what a particular word means in the original language, and about all manner of associated Church legalism.

I am trying to move the site away from painfully long discussions about the wording of documents. I reckon that if people come to this site with a yes/ no question looking for an answer, then that's what they should get.

(Just so I don't appear to be quashing views though... if you're interested in the debates here are some places to try)

I've been asking around, trying to find an official answer. Here's what I've discovered:

The first thing to remember is that the document Celebrating the Mass is definitely still in force in England & Wales. It clarifies and explains the GIRM for us (remembering that the current discussion is about a new translation of the GIRM, and not a new document) making clear (para. 82) that chosing pieces other than chants is still allowed.

I have asked the Liturgy Office for a short response that I can publish. They are awesomely busy at the moment, and so I don't know how possible this will be, but if anything comes I'll post it right away.

Interestingly though, the original rumour pertains to the US, rather than the UK. Somebody over there made an enquiry of the USCCB Committee for Divine Worship and was told clearly that the new translation of the GIRM does not preclude the option of an 'appropriate hymn or song chosen by local liturgical planners.'

And I think that nails it.

Debates will no doubt continue about what constitutes appropriate, and many members would probably also like me to remind you that Gregorian Chant is meant to be normative for the Mass. All fair enough. I'm not knocking chant here at all. Indeed, we have always been happy to plug chant on the site. But those things aren't for this thread. Rumour control is. And the bottom line is that that other stuff's still legit.

So don't chuck your guitar away just yet!


[image: Flickr.com user amppit]