ASK FATHER: Patriotic songs at Mass

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From a reader…

QUAERITUR:

Fr. Martin recently wrote an article about how patriotic songs should not be sung during mass. His argument is essentially that most national hymns address the nation rather than God. In all honesty, I think he may be right. It would seem more appropriate to me for songs like America the Beautiful [NOT the magazine] to be sung before or after mass rather than during. However, I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on the matter.

Perhaps he needs a safe space, free from these triggers and aggressions.

If Jesuit James Martin is against them, then let’s all be for them.

The other day after ordinations in the Diocese of Madison, the Extraordinary Ordinary lead us all in singing both the Salve Regina (also not directed to God), and God Bless America (not the magazine). Nobody foamed at the mouth or fainted from shock.

Let’s all sing – after Mass – the Battle Hymn of the Republic:

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:
His truth is marching on.

(Chorus)
Glory, Glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps,
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps:
His day is marching on.

(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His day is marching on.

I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel:
“As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal”;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel,
Since God is marching on.

(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Since God is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! Be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.

(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Our God is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me.
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.

(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
While God is marching on.

You can see why a song like this might make certain men nervous and uncomfortable.

Notice that the song says “As He did to make men holy…”.

For the LATIN of the Battle Hymn go HERE (good summer reading tip there, too).  And there’s this!  HERE

It’s okay to have patriotic flags in churches, though they should be placed discreetly at the sides. It is okay to have a patriotic songs on certain national holidays.

Meanwhile…