Q. Polka Mass: Is it forbidden?
A. Short answer: No.
Medium answer: No, but there are plenty of reasons to think that a polka Mass is a bad idea.
Long answer: Buckle up.
A “polka Mass” is, for purposes of this article, the colloquial term for a Mass where the Mass music is performed by an accordion (and maybe a tuba and drums as well) in a style that makes the listener think of a polka. There does not have to be any literal polka dancing going on! It might be a way of trying to celebrate German or Eastern European Catholic heritage, especially relevant to the Diocese of Lincoln, where people of Czech and German descent make up a significant portion of the Catholic population.
Throughout the history of the Church, many popes and bishops have, in an effort to keep the music at Mass sounding sacred, made legislation regarding what kind of music is suitable for Mass. Some of these legislations have included bans on certain musical styles or types of instruments.
Currently, there are no specific bans on any particular instruments in effect either in the Church as a whole, or in the Diocese of Lincoln specifically. Instead, the Church gives us general principles to guide our musical choices.
Musicam Sacram, the document of the Second Vatican Council regarding sacred music, provides us with several principles. Musical instruments must be suitable or adaptable for sacred use. They must be “in keeping with the dignity of the temple, and truly contribute to the edification of the faithful.”
Finally, instruments that are commonly considered as, or used as, purely secular instruments, are not allowed. Part of the reason given for this use of general principles, rather than “banned lists” is because cultures are so different! An instrument or musical style that is used as a sacred instrument in one culture might be used as a secular instrument in another!
There are strong reasons to believe that a “polka Mass” does not contribute to the edification of the faithful, and that it uses an instrument and/or musical style which is too secular to be made sacred. A recent survey focusing on the Diocese of Lincoln asked respondents to rate various musical instruments on a scale of 1 to 5 in how the instruments affected their prayer. 1 was “very distracting” and 5 was “very helpful.” Both the accordion and the drum set had average ratings of less than 3, indicating that they are, on average, more distracting than they are edifying. Admittedly, this survey was of limited use, as only 82 people responded, and only six filled out the information for the accordion, but it is suggestive.
Far more important, however, is the name “polka Mass” itself! The very fact that we can say “polka Mass,” and people know what we are talking about, indicates that the use of accordion and maybe a polka style at Mass makes one think of the polka dance while Mass is going on. While there might not be a ban on the accordion specifically during Mass, various communications from the Vatican consistently communicate that, in Western cultures, dance is secular and therefore has no place in the liturgy.
The strong association of the “polka Mass” with the “polka dance,” would also be a strong argument that the Mass style in question incorporates purely secular elements into the Mass in a way that is not appropriate. There’s no rule that says “the polka Mass is forbidden.” But there are plenty of indications that polka Masses should not be happening here in Southern Nebraska.
Our heritage is worth celebrating! The traditions of our ancestors, including their musical styles and dances, are good things. The sacred liturgical worship of God is also a good thing. Each has its proper time and place. The word “sacred” means “set apart for the service of God.” When we take great care to keep that which is only secular distinct from that which is entirely sacred, we allow our sacred time of prayer to be entirely focused on the Lord.
This question was answered by Father Evan Winter, pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish in Minden and Holy Family in Heartwell.
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