Bishop stops singing of love songs in Masses
You may have heard the last of the secular love of songs in Roman Catholic Masses, particularly in the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan in Pangasinan.
In a letter to priests dated December 31, 2009, newly installed Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas discouraged the singing of secular love songs during Mass in his archdiocese, saying it does not have a place in the Divine Liturgy.
So songs like Jolina Magdangal's "Laging Tapat," Basil Valdez's "Hindi Kita Malilimutan," Josh Groban's "You Raise Me Up," Joey Albert's "Sa Iyo Lamang," Rico Puno's "May Bukas Pa," among others, may no longer be heard in Catholic churches, at least in Lingayen and Dagupan.
"Secular love songs, even if they have religious themes, do not have any place in the divine liturgy," Villegas said.
The prelate also discouraged the practice of having children or young people dance in the parish sanctuary in obedience to the instructions of Pope Benedict XVI and until the rules pertaining to dancing within the liturgy have been approved by the Episcopal Commission on Liturgy.
Aside from those mentioned, Villegas also raised to the attention of his priests other issues in their Catholic parishes and communities to help bring about a more inspiring and truly edifying liturgical worship such as the issue of cleanliness.
"Cleanliness is next to Godliness.I encourage you to maintain the cleanliness of our sacred vessels, particularly our chalices and ciboria. God deserves the best. Sacred vessels need regular metal plating to maintain their luster befitting the divine worship," he said.
"We must take special care that our Mass vestments are clean and dignified. Cleanliness and dignity need not be expensive. Dignity and cleanliness in the choice and use of liturgical vestments is not optional. It is imperative on account of the dignity of the liturgy we celebrate. Please dispose of old, tattered and faded vestments properly by burning them," added Villegas.
He said the church and its surroundings must also be kept clean from trash such as candy wrappers, soiled missalettes and even stuck chewing gums on the church flooring.
"Cleanliness is next to Godliness. The church must be the cleanest place in the community," Villegas said.
The Lingayen-Dagupan prelate also urged his priests to teach the flock again about the Catholic practice of genuflecting before the tabernacle, the observance of prayerful silence in the church, modesty in dress and the discourtesy of chewing gum or using cell phones in the church.
But he stressed to his clergy that liturgy is not just obedience to the rubrics and instructions rather good liturgy must make one more loving.
"Good liturgy cannot save. Only the power of love can bring us to heaven. As a fruit of the faithful and reverent celebration of the mysteries of Christ, we must become more caring and attentive to the needs of the least, the last and the lost. Good liturgy can sanctify only to the extent that it leads us to serve, imitating the example of Him who stooped down to wash the feet of His disciples," said Villegas.
Villegas was installed as Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan on November 4, 2009. He succeeded Archbishop Oscar Cruz.
Love songs not allowed in religion?
Originally Posted by kebotDiNaMute
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