Jeffrey. It's wonderful! It's all that I'd love to say to so many good people who simply have not yet "gotten it". The only problem I see can be summed up by part of "Maria" from "Sound of Music":

Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her;
Many a thing she ought to understand.
But how do you make her stay,
And listen to all you say?
How do you keep a wave upon the sand?

Yup. The priests are often the missing link. Usually the folks who are doing praise and worship stuff at Mass today (as opposed to random 70's Catholic stuff) are pretty orthodox, good people. If a priest backs the renewal, they're usually on board (at the very least intellectually), provided they have some resources to draw upon. Fortunately, liturgical formation looks strong nowadays in a lot of seminaries.

It took me a long time to appreciate that differences between Haugen etc. and P&W. Hard to say which one represents a higher quality of music, but that is not really the issue anyway, thank goodness.

I've actually heard some good "pop" arrangements of familiar hymns. It's not an unusable idiom, and it fosters a love for that repertoire. And then imagine the congregation's shock to hear their favorite "pop hymn" like Holy God We Praise Thy Name played on the organ! And Veni Emmanuel a capella! It's a decent way to segue out the guitar group, and allow them to take part in a more traditional group.

There is nothing inherently hideous about the guitar - think of Andres Segovia, etc. It's the "nun strum" that's so awful. Classical style can provide wonderful accompaniment and/or instrumentals. Unfortunately, many "liturgical guitarists" are 3-chord wonders.

I've spent lots of time listening to this music in the last two weeks. What I find striking--and I think this is why I didn't recognize how and why it is different--is that it is the same stuff that the evangelicals were doing in the late 70s and 80s. 2 chords is more like it actually. I'm really not sure there is a decisive answer as to whether it is musically improved over Haugen... Some of it is but lots of it is even less substantial. And it is the same in the sense that really matters: pop style imported to liturgy. anyway, more later...

Believe it or not, an octavo edition of Paris' "Behold the Lamb" (or whatever it's called), together with "How Beautiful" are to be found in the archived music files of our choral library. My predecessor actually had the choir sing these at Mass before I arrived. Thanks be to God the choir is now singing things like Willan's "Rejoice, O Jerusalem, Behold Thy King Cometh" for Advent III and Peter Warlock's "Bethlehem Down" on Christmas Eve. There are still some who pine away for some Joseph Martin bonbon they used to sing on Good Friday ("Come to the Cross" or some such thing), but I think they're slowly coming around to stuff that while some may debate are still not appropriate for Mass are at the least of a superior quality to the latest Christian Rock "hair band" ballad that passes for "worship music".

The thing is that much of this music is effective in doing what it is intended to do. I find it manipulative but that's from being overdosed on this stuff when I was a kid. So that others understand what this is all about, here is a sample. this is in a retreat setting but you can easily see why people who attended this would ask why we can't have this approach at Mass.

I watched all of Maher's video, and I encourage you all to do the same. I would say that it builds in intensity, but that's the wrong word. "Increasingly insistent" is more like it.

The best way to describe this is "mantra music" which has more in common with Buddhist devotional practice than Christian.

It is also clearly coming out of the whole "grunge" approach to drums-and-guitar pop music.

It's also pretty light on doctrinal content. From it, I understand that he wants to "lay it down." He rather goes on about it.

I also heard many teens say after a retreat that they cannot recreate that feeling again that they had at the retreat. This is all about feeings that cannot last long. This kind of music misguide them that the faith is all about feelings.

Precisely. That's the danger. I've seen this over and over, too.

I'm afraid my attitude toward it is that it's a bill of goods.

Some People(I mean catholics) will be worshipping God with music they feel comfortible anyway no matter what the Church says. Even if the Church stops this guy for certain styles, there will be some others who will come out with some weird stuff. The music is so powerful, and it does preach people. It seems that the responsibility and the judgement of the individual musician became so crucial after the Second Vatican. The church musicians have to be well educated first, and work hard to promote and educate the people with sacred music that is holy and truly beautiful. I'm afraid to say that many parishes seem to hire MD who are not quaified to do this important job. I know some pianists with degrees who end up coming to the church, and get a job as a MD, and try to share their talents and music without much regard to the liturgy and what the Church says. Sadly, the pride of their talent seems to take away the humility that is required to be a church musician. The humility and the beauty that's what we share with others in our music when we worship God.
God is love, and His love is shared with His sacrifice and humility. If we don't strive for this humility we cannot experience the true love of our Lord who comes down to us in the bread form.

Yes, that is precisely it. What we have in P&W is sincerity without knowledge. In this sense, it is slightly different from the wave of music reform from the early 70s, where there really was an agenda (though it too was sincere in many ways). the major, number one thing that has to happen in response is education (music education too), and that goes for not only the players and singers but also priests. Let me quote a comment that appears here:

I'm a cantor and I sing for a Sunday night Mass at a large-ish parish in a major city. We sing praise & worship music at this Mass not because I want to or because I don't know any better but because that's what the pastor wants for this Mass. He insists on having a designated "praise & worship Mass" and really believes people want it. Honestly, I feel embarrased singing it at Mass. Most of the congregation is older, mainly baby boomers. We get a decent turnout; I attribute it to the fact that it's a "last chance" Mass. The few times teenagers show up I can see them laughing at me and I don't blame them. And it does elicit a kind of egoism that makes me uncomfortable, just as you wrote. I do get showered with compliments after Mass, adding to my discomfort (it's not about me!) I would love to do chant. I'd especially love to do it from up in the choir loft and not from the sanctuary where I sit for the entire Mass (that's a whole other topic - don't even get me started). But as long as the pastor remains hostile to anything that smacks of pre-Vatican II (Latin, chant, the extraordinary form of the Mass) I will be singing praise & worship music at this Mass. My only consolation is that there are those who really do find that it helps them worship God. However that begs the question, "How do you define worshipping God?" But I digress.

So there we have it. By the way, I'm told on very good authority--directly from someone who should know--that the reason OCP continues to publish what it does has nothing to do with with the tastes of the people who work there, the musicians who sing it, or even the people in the pews. It all comes down to the widespread view that pastors themselves are the main source of demand for this music.

To me it has become crystal clear in the last 15-20 years. This music (P&W) is all about emotion, and MY feelings about God. That may have a place in your personal prayers, or in a gathering of Christians wishing to express devotion to God. But as Steve noted, the liturgy is a RITUAL. And the ritual is completed by the priest. The people need not even be present for there to be the remittance of sin which is the primary reason why the Mass is celebrated.

----------- HEREIN ARE THE WORDS OF THE PRIEST DURING THE CANON-------

Hanc ígitur oblatiónem servitútis nostræ, sed et cunctæ famíliæ tuæ, quæsumus Dómine, ut placátus accípias, diésque nostros in tua pace dispónas, atque ab ætérna damnatióne nos éripi, et in electórum tuórum júbeas grege numerári. (Jungit manus.) Per Christum Dóminum nostrum. Amen.

Quam oblatiónem tu, Deus, in ómnibus, quæsumus,

We therefore beseech thee, O Lord, to be appeased, and to receive this offering of our bounden duty, as also of thy whole household; order our days in thy peace; grant that we be rescued from eternal damnation and counted within the fold of thine elect. (He joins his hands together.) Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Which offering do thou, O God, vouchsafe in all things.

He makes the sign of the cross three times over the offerings.

benedíctam, adscríptam, ratam, rationábilem, acceptabilémque fácere dignéris:

to bless , consecrate , approve , make reasonable and acceptable:

He makes the sign of the cross once over the host and once over the chalice.

ut nobis Corpus et Sanguis fiat dilectíssimi Fílii tui Dómini nostri Jesu Christi.

Qui prídie quam paterétur (accipit hostiam), accépit panem in sanctas ac venerábiles manus suas (elevat oculos ad cœlum), et elevátis óculis in cœlum, ad te Deum Patrem suum omnipoténtem, tibi grátias agens,

that it may become for us the Body and Blood of thy most beloved Son our Lord Jesus Christ.

Who the day before he suffered took bread (he takes the host) into his holy and venerable hands (he raises p. 467 his eyes to heaven), and with his eyes lifted up to heaven, unto thee, God, his almighty Father, giving thanks to thee,

He makes the sign of the cross over the host.

benedíxit, fregit, dedítque discípulis suis, dicens: Accípite, et manducáte ex hoc omnes.

he blessed , brake, and gave to his disciples, saying: Take and eat ye all of this,

Holding the host between the first fingers and thumbs of both hands, he says the words of consecration, silently with clearness and attention, over the host, and at the same time over all the other hosts, if several are to be consecrated.

Hoc est enim Corpus meum.

For this is my Body.

As soon as the words of consecration have been said, he kneels and adores the consecrated host. He rises, shows it to the people, puts it on the corporal, and again adores. Then, uncovering the chalice, he says:

Símili modo postquam cœnátum est,

In like manner, after he had supped,

He takes the chalice with both hands.

accípiens et hunc præclárum Cálicem in sanctas ac venerábiles manus suas, item tibi grátias agens,

taking also this excellent chalice into his holy and adorable hands; also giving thanks to thee,

Holding the chalice with his left hand, he makes the sign of the cross over it with his right.

benedíxit, dedítque discípulis suis, dicens: Accípite, et bíbite ex eo omnes:

he blessed , and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take, and drink ye all of this;

He utters the words of consecration over the chalice silently, attentively, carefully, and without pausing, holding it slightly raised.

Hic est enim Calix Sánguinis mei, novi et ætérni testaménti; mystérium fidei: qui pro vobis et pro multis effundétur in remissiónem peccatórum.

For this is the Chalice of my Blood, of the new and eternal testament; the mystery of faith: which shall be shed for you and for many unto the remission of sins.

-------------------END-------------------------

This is why the overly-stressed importance of active participation is a weak argument. The ritual is complete and is fully composed with all of its music in the official books of the church. NO ONE has anything to add to the Mass. It is perfect in itself, by itself. As a composer of sacred music, the best I can do concerning the Mass might be to compose a new setting of the ordinary in polyphonic form. Other than that, anything else seems like a vane effort. I don't believe that anyone's music and singing, including my own, have any bearing whatsoever on the efficacy of the ritual and the remission of sin. Period. I might even go so far as to say that most of the music (and the preaching) these days is no more than a tickling of the ears. We seem to write music and words that only try to convince ourselves of our great goodness and holiness in the sight of God and assure ourselves of his love for us when in truth the main thing that pleases him is our obedience to him, and in partaking in the sacraments, especially confession and the Mass.

"For there shall be a time when they will not endure sound doctrine but, according to their own desires, they will heap to themselves teachers having itching ears: And will indeed turn away their hearing from the truth, but will be turned unto fables." 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Now to contradict myself, I will also say that God is pleased that we worship him, but we should worship him as He desires, not as we think. And that, my dear friends, is where this type (P&W) of music falls short.

Gavin, babies like to eat food with their fingers. They need to eat, so moms let them. But as they grow up, should we teach them how to eat properly or let them keep eating with their fingers, because it's easy for them? Think of the mess they make and germs they get from their unclean hands.(that's what we get if we let people do things in their way) Proper way of eating is a ritual thing, too, like at a family dinner. (I guess you can do however you want to do, when you are alone.) When the kids learn to do it in a proper way, it also pleases the parents. (Once again, I'm a parent. I see our relationship with God in our relationaship with kids and parents. Kids often don't understand when parents ask them to do certain things out of love. Often times it's best for them just to learn and obey, then the wisdom and the understanding come in later.)
God discipine us for a good reason. I don't see any part of the mass that expresses a personal devotion in your own way out loud. We say the same prayers together, and the priest says the same prayers every Mass.(except for some occasions, but it's not their own prayers either. The Church has set up according to what God wants us to do. In other words, it's His action, not ours. We obey and participate.) Why only the music going into so many directions? Personal feeingful musics don't seem to match with other parts of the Mass at all. The Church gave some freedom to choose 'appropriate music' for Mass, assuming that the church musicians understand what appropriate music is after the 'supreme model of the Gregorian chant." But somehow this freedom is abused and misunderstood out of ignorance and their pride.

Gavin, that is precisely what I tried to do in my post. So I'm not sure what you mean by the "slurs" at NLM.

The other thing that needs to be honestly admitted--and the P&Ws need to be realistic and know this and deal with this instead of us denying it--is that many people are gravely offended by the presence of anything resembling rock music at Mass. It angers their sense of faith. It sickens and offends and embarrasses them. This is a fact. This reality should also be considered when they imagine that their music is evangelizing people. For some people, it drives them away. Any P&W Mass might include one person who has come back to the faith for the first time in 40 years. It might include someone who is seeking answers and their view of Catholicism is informed by the general impression that chant is part of our liturgical structure. What will THIS person think about seeing people perform as if it is a liturgical American Idol? This is the danger that comes from exalting preference and taste above what the Church asks of us. Every attempt to cater to one taste ends up alienating someone else.

Evangelize with feeings. I guess 'end' justifies the 'means' here.
I know contemporary group people in my parish very well, and they are the nicest people I know (and with the best intentions) But when it comes to the Liturgy, they don't have a slightest idea. All they know is bring many people to Mass and sing happy songs to Jesus, because Jesus loves us. There are lot more than that in our Liturgy. They are my dear friends and I love them, but I cannot love the ignorance.
I think it's better that the church (priests,cathechists, MDs) help them to learn more about the liturgy, than pointing out that their music is in a wrong direction.

Mia writes, "I know contemporary group people in my parish very well, and they are the nicest people I know (and with the best intentions) But when it comes to the Liturgy, they don't have a slightest idea. All they know is bring many people to Mass and sing happy songs to Jesus, because Jesus loves us. There are lot more than that in our Liturgy. They are my dear friends and I love them, but I cannot love the ignorance."

I know you didn't mean to, but there are elements above, Mia, that at once sound like they sprang from Glenda of Oz and the Wicked Witch as well.
You share your appreciation for that class of folk, their heart and intent, and then dis them in the next breath with the " sing happy songs to Jesus, because Jesus loves us" characterization. Yes, there is so much more for them to know and infuse into their portion of responsibility for sung worship and the Divine Liturgy itself; but despite what others may say, my experience is that their lack of progressive knowledge and practice is due to a lack of liturgical leadership by whatever priests and pastors have occupied their rectories and chanceries. Loving them doesn't mean hating their ignorance necessarily. Loving them means engaging them in the truths about our Church's traditions and canons. We, unfortunately, cannot simply say "Your sins and singalong ditties are forgiven, go and sin/sing no more."
That is precisely what I'm called to do at my place with those cantors and directors (as well as clerics) who don't show the zeal or inclination to move progressively towards solemnity.
I'll tell you this, though- one of my leaders who does dialogue with me at least once weekly, and only knows what we'd term "sacro-pop" had the latest of one of those epiphanies last Sunday. We began Perpetual Adoration after the last evening Sunday Mass that night and his group was called upon to sing Pange Lingua/Tantum ergo for the procession and transfer of the Blessed Sacrament to the chapel of adoration. He had to learn the St. Thomas version. The next day he was all agog over "how cool that was...we should be providing more of this for the kids.....they gotta know about this stuff!"
"Welcome to my job" I said to my friend. What do you think I've been doing here for 15 years, for 4 in the school, etc. All said with a smile, of course. It's a big liturgical universe for most RC's. So, I'm reminded of another movie quote, this time from Carl Sagan's "CONTACT"- "Small moves, Ellie, small moves."

Yuppers. And your summary works for me. We're on the same page.
I'm just the fly in the ointment that buzzes when diverse repertoires are lumped into a pot and called menudo.