[warsaw44]

Lets see, the last time I went to my parish there were:

- people arriving during the entire mass.
- a seven year old seated next to me who would not sit down, sit still or be disciplined by his mother, father or grandfather seated next to me as well.
- the woman conducting the ever present guitar music singing the wrong song at one point. ( everyone was lost and trying to find what she was singing )
- a well intended but very odd, academic sermon about the Protestant church and the Virgin Mary. The sermon was difficult to hear.
- me just sitting there getting angry. Tried not to be angry, prayed about it but there it is.

By the end I just sat there until just about everyone was gone. Then I left.
I've never seen an accident with the host but I could see how it could happen. When did people begin touching the host with their hands??? I never saw that where I grew up and was not taught this either. I don't dare touch the host and receive communion the old fashioned way. No priest has ever hesitated and appeared surprised.
My last parish is one I went to for many years. There was one sermon by a priest who later got into some trouble over a real estate deal if I remember. During my last visit to the church he gave some sermon which was very pro Gay and I said " thats it - cya..". Well, this being Boston I suppose I should not be surprised.

[NYer]

me just sitting there getting angry. Tried not to be angry, prayed about it but there it is.

The incident I cited above was the final straw; it drove me from that parish. This being Albany (Howard Hubbard country), there's slim pickings when it comes to orthodox teaching. Rather than toss it all away, I compiled a list of several other parishes nearby and attended each one over the next several weeks. Another freeper suggested that I include any Eastern Catholic Churches. There were 2 - Maronite and Ukrainian.

Three weeks later, the Maronite Church surfaced. Having read up on their liturgy, I went in prepared. I came away with a sense of 'Peace' unlike anything I had ever felt before. The following week I returned and once again was drawn into the reverence of their liturgy. When week 3 arrived, I tossed the list, returned to the Maronite Catholic Church and made it my parish.

May I make a recommendation? The Catholic Church is both Western and Eastern. As most of us realize, the Church began in the East. Our Lord lived and died and resurrected in the Holy Land. The Church spread from Jerusalem throughout the known world. As the Church spread, it encountered different cultures and adapted, retaining from each culture what was consistent with the Gospel. In the city of Alexandria, the Church became very Egyptian; in Antioch it remained very Jewish; in Rome it took on an Italian appearance and in the Constantinople it took on the trappings of the Roman imperial court. All the churches which developed this way were Eastern, except Rome. Most Catholics in the United States have their roots in Western Europe where the Roman rite predominated. It has been said that the Eastern Catholic Churches are "the best kept secret in the Catholic Church."

The Vatican II Council declared that "all should realize it is of supreme importance to understand, venerate, preserve, and foster the exceedingly rich liturgical and spiritual heritage of the Eastern churches, in order faithfully to preserve the fullness of Christian tradition" (Unitatis Redintegrato, 15). Pope John Paul II said that "the Catholic Church is both Eastern and Western."

Check your local community at the following link and look into attending an Eastern Catholic Liturgy (not to be confused with the Orthodox Church).

Eastern Catholic Churches in the U.S.

The Eastern Catholic Rites retain the rich heritage of our church, without the "novelties" introduced into the Novus Ordo liturgy. Incense is used throughout.

In the Maronite Catholic Church, the Consecration is in Aramaic, using the words and language of our Lord at the Last Supper. Communion is ONLY distributed by the priest. It is by intinction (the priest dips the consecrated host into the Precious Blood) and is ONLY received on the tongue. The priest administers communion with the words: "The Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ is given to you for the remission of sin and eternal salvation".

A Roman Catholic may attend the Divine Liturgy at any Eastern Catholic Church. You can learn more about the 22 different liturgies at this link:

CATHOLIC RITES AND CHURCHES

All those experiences you cited, which I once endured, are now finished. We gather silently to pray and then have refreshments afterwards to share conversation. Give it a try and let me know how it goes. Just remember, you must attend the same liturgy for 3 weeks.

[Mershon]

If you are in Boston, you are in real trouble. Seek out an Eastern-rite liturgy parish or the Traditional Latin Mass if you are serious about worshipping God in a respectful and fitting manner.

[siunevada]

When did people begin touching the host with their hands??? I never saw that where I grew up and was not taught this either.

At least since the late 60's. You must not have been to a Mass in America for quite a while. It's an indult, not a universal practice in the Church.

[ArrogantBustard]

I've never seen an accident with the host but I could see how it could happen.

I served as an Altar Boy for many years, before Communion in the hand was permitted. I witnessed several dropped Body of Christ incidents. All but one I caught with my paten ... the priest simply picked the Sacred Host up and gave it to the communicant.

Then there was "The Disaster": Father dropped the Ciborium! That, I couldn't catch ... He picked up all the Hosts, told me not to move, went to the Altar and picked up a purificator, with which he covered the spot on the floor. We went on, being careful where we stepped. I suppose after Mass, he cleaned the floor ... I had to go to class.