>>For non-Catholics: it appears to be a struggle between traditional Catholism, and some that want to promote their own brand of Catholism, ie: charismatic Catholism. If you’ve never been to a charismatic “mass”, to me, it’s similar to a Baptist church - nothing wrong with that - if you’re Baptist (traditional masses are in Latin or non-Latin, are reverent and quiet with songs at certain times in the mass with NO outbursts. Charismatics “feel the love” and vocally express freely, lots of song, waving of arms etc. Nothing wrong with that, but traditionalist feel uncomfortable at a charismatic mass, and charismatics feel “stifled” in the more rigid traditional mass.<<
I appreciate that information. But isn’t there a theological difference? Is all this really form?
BTW, I lack exposure to Mass but I’ve been in many a Baptist church and there is a quite the variety but I’ve never seen a white Baptist church where the congregation vocalized out of turn freely.
My older relatives talk about the temptation to sneak out to go to charismatic tent revivals because they seemed so much more fun so if the Catholic debate is partly about form I can understand that. But I get the impression there is something deeper here and that’s what I would like to understand.
Being a lay person, I've not really discussed the differences with a priest. I do know that the Catholic church lays out rules for mass that must be abided. What I've read is that it has to do with a Pentecostal movement. Pentecost was when the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles and they "spoke in tongues". (Think Quakers and Shakers.) Pentecostalism is traditionally Protestant Christianity. Some Catholics are trying to bring Pentecostalism into the Catholic church. Traditional priests feel this is a movement away from Catholicism, from what I understand.
>> I’ve never seen a white Baptist church where the congregation vocalized out of turn freely.<<
I'm sure Baptist churches range in the way services are held. Let me clarify that - Southern Baptist. Once, a friend of ours was visiting and he was Catholic. He brought his girlfriend to our mass. During the mass she threw out a few "amens" during the Homily, or when the priest speaks along with a few "thank you Jesus!". It really carried in the otherwise quiet church - it echoed. All eyes were on us, needless to say. They were white and he later explained she's Baptist.