Dear Mary Jean,

Before I answer your first question I want to clear up a little vocabulary problem:  We do not just "hear" Mass.  We celebrate it, and we pray it.

So are you unreasonable in wanting to attend Mass elsewhere?  Well if the only Masses available were celebrated so irreverently to include secular and profane music, you bet I would want to go somewhere else.

There are several liturgical documents that deal the music in the Liturgy:  I will quote three of them here.  The first is an old one, it's from 1903, but it's the best one to use for making the argument that drums are not allowed.

"The employment of the piano is forbidden in church, as is also that of noisy or frivolous instruments such as drums, cymbals, bells and the like."  (Tra le Sollecitudini, n.19)

"It is strictly forbidden to have bands play in church" (n.20)

Tra le Sollecitudini is a Motu Proprio of Pope St. Pius X.

For the 100th anniversary of Tra le Sollecitudini, Pope John Paul II wrote a centenary letter on the subject, a follow-up of sorts.  Although he didn't mention any of the "banned" and didn't "unban" any instruments by name, he did note that there are new compositions that use instruments other than the pipe organ.

"Nonetheless, it should be noted that contemporary compositions often use a diversity of musical forms that have a certain dignity of their own. To the extent that they are helpful to the prayer of the Church they can prove a precious enrichment. Care must be taken, however, to ensure that instruments are suitable for sacred use, that they are fitting for the dignity of the Church and can accompany the singing of the faithful and serve to edify them."  (n.14, the entire text of this letter can be found at http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/letters/2003/documents/hf_jp-ii_let_20031203_musica-sacra_en.html)

So how can it be determined which instruments are "suitable for sacred use"?  For the answer I turn to the post conciliar Vatican II document, "Musicam Sacram" which says:

"63. In permitting and using musical instruments, the culture and traditions of individual peoples must be taken into account. However, those instruments which are, by common opinion and use, suitable for secular music only, are to be altogether prohibited from every liturgical celebration and from popular devotions."

I really don't think that it can be argued that the guitar and drum sets are not associated with secular music......

Besides, it goes against common sense to use these instruments at Mass, since in our culture they are used for profane entertainment.  Holy Mass is NOT entertainment, rather it is a sacrifice and it is worship (among other things).  Only those things that are sacred are to be permitted for use at Mass.  Guitars and drums are not sacred.  When you go to Mass, there should never be any question in your mind where you are:  at church or at a rock concert.

Mr. Slavek.