New Hymnals

[JW]

My point isn't about the musical or theological content (or lack thereof) of the listed hymns. It's more of a pastoral issue and bureaucratic issue. What do you advise our brand new missionary Parochial Administrator from a diocese in Northern Ghana to say to grieving relatives whose loved one may have left specific instructions for these hymns to be sung at their funeral? I suppose those who want a more exclusive and orthodox church would place their musical and theological taste above people's wishes - I remember about 1980 a priest banned 'Abide with Me' because of its football connotations.

As far as I see it there are 2 choices:

1) "The hymn you've asked for is now considered unsuitable for religious services and it is not in our hymnbook. Therefore we cannot have it at your loved one's funeral. It may have been in hymnbooks years ago but they shouldn't really have published them. Churches and schools who encourage these hymns aren't really sufficiently Catholic."

2) Print off copies of the words for the congregation, with or without copyright permission - most would do it without.

In case anyone is wondering this is what I've done:

Jerusalem and Old Rugged Cross: printed off the words as they aren't in copyright

Let there be love & Going home: this funeral was in a neighbouring parish which has a different hymnal so the problem didn't arise

Peace Perfect Peace: this is for a funeral this Tuesday; I've sent off a request to Kevin Mayhew asking for permssion to reproduce the words.

As far as the name of the hymnal is concerned, I want to make clear that I think its the best currently on offer. Anyone who still needs to know which hymnbook I'm talking about, please PM me.

[Nick Baty]

So what do you say to the folk who request As I kneel before you as the coffin is carried in? It's in the book you're referring to but that doesn't make it suitable.

There's also the issue of people requesting things which are not in the parish repertoire – silence will surely ensue!

[JW]

So what do you say to the folk who request As I kneel before you as the coffin is carried in? It's in the book you're referring to but that doesn't make it suitable.

There's also the issue of people requesting things which are not in the parish repertoire – silence will surely ensue!

If its not in the parish repertoire I'll lead the singing with a microphone my post at the organ in the West Gallery - or sing it solo if necessary. We do point out that a Requiem Mass is a religious service so hymns should be in the hymnbook.

Hymns to Our Lady are not requested that often - when they are, we tend to have them as the coffin is carried out of the church (it's after Mass has finished). Hail Queen of Heaven is still more popular in this part of the land - I suppose there could be a problem with this one if the deceased was known to be gay

[Nick Baty]

Hail Queen of Heaven is still more popular in this part of the land - I suppose there could be a problem with this one if the deceased was known to be gay

Why?

[JW]

Hail Queen of Heaven is still more popular in this part of the land - I suppose there could be a problem with this one if the deceased was known to be gay

Why?

Because there's only one Queen of Heaven?

[Nick Baty]

Either way, don't see how this item could be suitable at this point.

[JW]

:? Either way, don't see how this item could be suitable at this point.

I hadn't intended to cause offence - sorry. Unfortunately the time for editing seems to have expired. Could the moderators edit out any offending comments by me please?

[Nick Baty]

I'm sure you haven't caused offence, JW.

[VML]

:? Either way, don't see how this item could be suitable at this point.

It was sung at the sung requiems of both my parents. They had dedicated two houses to Our Lady, calling them Stella Maris.
It is surely preferable to 'As I kneel..."
And my father had survived some pretty nasty wartime experiences as an engineer in the Fleet Air Arm.