Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: ninenot
Geez, I had to put up with 25 years of that whine from Rembert. Your pastor has that, too?

No. He just thinks it's retrograde to move from a focus on service to the entire community to the institution of the priesthood.

But, since our bishop has shown no indication of imitating Donoghue, he likely won't have to worry.

8 posted on 04/07/2004 6:53:14 PM PDT by sinkspur (Adopt a dog or a cat from an animal shelter! It will save one life, and may save two.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies ]


To: sinkspur
No. He just thinks it's retrograde to move from a focus on service to the entire community to the institution of the priesthood.

One of the most common objections I hear to my love for the Tridentine Mass and for a number of "conservative" liturgical preferences I have is that, "it's impossible to go back, and we shouldn't go back. It's not good to go backwards."

What does this mean? I don't even know. Why is it "retrograde" to have the washing of the feet reflect what the Mass of the Last Supper celebrates? (That is, the institution of the Eucharist and the institution of the priesthood.) Why is a focus on "service to the entire community" somehow "forward" and superior, when what is actually called for by the liturgical norms and by the traditions surrounding the Holy Thursday Mass is a celebration of the institution of the priesthood and the Eucharist? I'm with G.K. Chesterton--paraphrasing, "I have long since ceased to argue with those who prefer Thursday to Wednesday simply because it is Thursday."

I seriously don't think that the symbolism of the washing of the feet is as clear when you have the priest washing the feet of 12 random parishioners. I remember always just thinking, "Ah, that's nice" without finding any deeper symbolism in the act. I think that the Mass of the Last Supper should be a celebration of the ordained priesthood. Without our priests, we don't have the Eucharist. Some might call it clericalism, but Holy Thursday is and should be a very dear day to priests and bishops, and I find the best thing, as a layman, is to celebrate with them the wonderful gift that Christ has given us, through these men.

9 posted on 04/07/2004 9:43:40 PM PDT by pseudo-ignatius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson