Day 3 - Pope Benedict XVI Says Mass at Nationals Stadium [Papal Visit Live Thread]

EWTN ^ | April 17, 2008

[NYer]

FELLOW FREEPER CHOSEN TO SING FOR THE PONTIFF!!!

For full coverage, live feed and all related text documents, click on the following link.

[ELS]

The two highlights, IMHO, worth watching are the Holy Father’s sermon/homily and the Panis Angelicus sung by Placido Domingo. Fast forward past the rest of the nightmare.

[NYer]

I was so psyched up yesterday and now I'm embarrassed for all Catholics who hope the Holy Father's visit would be the beginning of the end of this nonsense!

Was it that bad? I was only able to watch a small portion at the very beginning but had to turn it off because I'm at work. Was it worse than the Mass celebrated in Austria? FWIU, the Australian Catholic Church is also big on liturgical novelties. Thought this priest was wrong to putting on a show. In fact, Reuters gladly snapped the photo.

A priest acting as a baseball player greets the crowd after he pretended to bat before the mass led by Pope Benedict XVI at the Nationals Park Stadium in Washington April 17, 2008. REUTERS/Max Rossi (UNITED STATES)

[netmilsmom]

When I submitted mine, this is what I got..

No Responses to “Mass at Nationals Park”
on April 17, 2008 at 11:38 am1
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[netmilsmom]

Bet ours don’t make it!!!!!!

[Boagenes]

Is there no dignity or respect for the office, with some Priests? Is there no dignity or respect for the tradition of the mass? If I can say this, not even being a Catholic, myself...

[Jaded]

Maybe he’ll sick Leveda on them. He can still put the smack-down on it.

[GOPmember]

Now the UCCB comments section for the Mass is nothing but a blank page.

Unreal.

[steve86]

Still, how're they gonna distribute the Eucharist to 48,000 or so...must be a lot of priests and "assistants" there, huh?

Just a rough guess -- of that number maybe 480 are in the proper state of grace to receive the Sacrament -- plenty priests and bishops for that number. I'm not a very good reader of souls, though -- might be overestimating the number.

[ELS]

If they don’t want comments, they should just turn off the comment box. A priest commented on the NLM that his comment was deleted from the USCCB site! Shame on them. On the bright side, someone there is seeing a LOT of complaints about the Mass.

[mountainfolk]

PERFECTO. I have watched the Pope coverage since yesterday and I am so impressed at how well this visit has been organized and carried out. This mornings mass at Nationals stadium was what it needed to be given the location and the, yes diversity, of the attendees and participants. This celebration of the mass is not what I would want on a regular basis in my own small corner of the world. It was however, appropriate for the occasion and magnificent at that. I am a cradle catholic, raised in a very catholic atmosphere and am still partial to the church prior to the pre Vatican 2 upheaval. However, I see no need not to appreciate the absolutely happy religious gathering that Pope Benedict presided over today. I watched the major part of the service on ETWN and the only annoyance I felt was with Fr. Neuhause and his personal need to inject uncalled for editing of Raymond Arryolo's comments as well as a general sour approach to his observation of unfolding proceedings. I know Pope Benedict better now and he has become my all time favorite Pope. He is the genuine article and just what the Catholic Church needs for the world of today. God bless him.

[steve86]

No, it's a problem with the Bishops sans spines who at the very least signed off on this, despite the ample writings of the Holy Father on his feelings about music that's appropriate for the Liturgy. Rob

After this display of American Bishop-inspired vulgarity, I would completely understand it if the Pope headed out to Andrews and set a course for Rome, RIGHT NOW.

[Biggirl]

I had to do an errand so I did not get to see the Mass from DC, just the streaming of the pre-Mass music and then I got turned off by the talking. So in other words I did not miss a thing.

[Biggirl]

Well the Pope got to see what is happening with the Church in this country.

[Biggirl]

I hope so because my parish priest will be going down with a small group representing my parish.

[Deo volente]

The bad music choices for this Mass were actually passive-aggressive, in that they spoke volumes that it was “all about us,” never mind the Holy Father’s preferences, or beauty to glorify God and reverence Christ in the Blessed Sacrament!

You hit the nail on the head. Precisely!

[vox_freedom]

Fr. Neuhaus is not impressed with the “multiculturalistic” tone of the Mass. Mishmash is what he’s calling it. Neither are many of the faithful.

Ditto's to what Fr. Neuhuas said. "Mishmash" is correct and nothing to do with the proper celebration of the Sacred Sacrifice of the Mass.

[ShihanRob]

Did anyone see if the Pelosi, Kerry, Kennedy and the like received communion? I mean, did anyone see them receive during the broadcast?

Rob

[Mfkmmof4]

My husband and I are parishoners of St. Mary of the Mills in Laurel, Maryland. Today, my husband was a member of one of the choirs that sang during the mass.

I am very proud of my husband because he kept up with the rehearsals all while undergoing radiation treatment for prostate cancer.

I have spoken to him since the mass ended and he is quite pumped and happy.

[La Enchiladita]

I like Fr. Neuhaus all the better after his spot-on comments re this mass. I would not presume why this mass appealed to you, perhaps you are quite young. I have met cradle Catholics who have become bored with the traditional mass. But, as a new Catholic, I was absolutely appalled by the self-congratulating spectacle. Pope Benedict XVI is a meek and mild man, and the mass should have been a quiet and dignified rite to honor and showcase him, and more importantly, the faith. Of course, that is only my opinion.

[steve86]

I see no need not to appreciate the absolutely happy religious gathering that Pope Benedict presided over today.

I do. Because the undignified presentation dilutes the Mass and makes it less Catholic.