What, no "Mother Mary Calls to Me...?"

In the local paper, a column entitled "The Beatles and a church sermon," all about a Mass in 1967 in Wisconsin, (much more progressive than "we in Northwest Indiana [who] had not been quick to change our services to allow modern music instead of hymns."

Putting aside the fact that the writer doesn't know what he's talking about (I believe he means "pop" not "modern," as the Church has never had strictures against newly composed music, certainly not in this diocese; and that is a false dichotomy: "hymns" vs. "modern music",) using the lyrics of a song (pop or otherwise,) to illustrate a point about human existence during a homily is not at all the same thing as using said song as liturgical music.

And not to take anything away from the Beatles oeuvre, but a priest could draw useful lessons about the human condition from many a song -- Kermit the Frog singing "It's Not Easy Being Green," or Suicidio from La Gioconda -- without it indicating anything whatever about that song's suitability for use during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

(Although if the homilist really took the occasion to note the fact that he himself was "writing the words to a sermon that no one will hear," points off ....)

I don't know the dates of poor Rembert Weakland's episcopacy and his approbation of "He's Got the Archbishop in His Hands," , but by the late '60s, it seems silliness had set in.

Which reminds me, in the mostly excellent World Over dealing with the motu proprio, I think which ever guest fielded it, dropped the ball on the question from the caller (however belligerent,) who asked how his guitar playing was going to fit into the Extraordinary Rite.

There is, or should be a place for a skillfully played, actuosa participation inspiring, acoustic guitar.I think guitar lends itself nearly as well as organ (the venue being small enough,) and a great deal better than, say, brass instruments (whihc have long been admitted to the Tridentine rite,) to accompanying the chant, which after all, is the liturgical music par excellence for the TLM.