The Folk Mass Revolution
Keep the Fire Burning is the forgotten and untold story of the Folk Mass. The influence of this movement is still felt today in the Catholic liturgical industry and in contemporary Christian music.
Keep the Fire Burning – the book
ocp.org/en-us/collections/dg/626/keep-the-fire-burning
This fascinating book examines the place of the Folk Mass in Church history. Was it a well-intentioned but failed attempt at updating worship? Or was it a genuine movement of the people? The book is filled with stories and reflections by such Folk Mass composers as Ray Repp ("Allelu"), Jack Miffleton ("Alle, Alle"), Sister Miriam Therese Winter ("Joy Is Like the Rain"), Carey Landry ("The Spirit Is a-Movin'"), Sebastian Temple ("Prayer of St. Francis") and many others.
Keep the Fire Burning – the podcast
Learn more about the Folk Mass revolution (mid 1960s and onward) by listening to this excellent podcast which features Ken Canedo who wrote the book "Keep the Fire Burning."
Ray Repp is considered to be the father of the Folk Mass revolution with his “Mass for Young Americans”). Here is his original recording. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzBvsbRw1ak
More songs by Ray Repp (playlist)
Article about the death and legacy of Ray Repp: https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2020/04/ray-repp-dies-wrote-allelu-hear-o-lord-i-am-the-resurrection
Download a PDF capture of above article
Is charismatic music similar to liturgical folk music?
Google AI Overview:
| Charismatic Music | Liturgical Folk Music | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Experiential and expressive, aimed at fostering a personal and emotional encounter with the Holy Spirit and encouraging active, often spontaneous, participation. | Liturgical function, intended to serve as part of a formal, ordered liturgy and to enable the "full, conscious, and active participation" of the congregation in the Mass or service. |
| Style & Instrumentation | Often uses contemporary styles like pop, rock, gospel, and jazz rhythms, frequently with a full band (guitars, drums, etc.). Songs often use simple, repetitive lyrics that allow room for emotional expression. | Typically incorporates folk-style elements (acoustic guitars, simple melodies) but is specifically composed or adapted to fit the structure and theology of the formal liturgy. |
| Context | Associated with the charismatic and Pentecostal movements, where worship is often non-liturgical, informal, and "Spirit-led" (allowing for a flexible order of service). | Primarily used within formal, structured, liturgical denominations (like the Catholic or Episcopal Church) as an alternative to more traditional music forms like chant. |
| Theology | Music embodies a theology focused on the active, transformative experience of the Spirit in the present moment. | Music is meant to align with the specific theological meaning of each part of the Mass (e.g., offertory, communion) and be "directed to God and not to Man". |
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