Posted on 06/02/2005 11:17:53 AM PDT by Pyro7480
On 21 May 2005, I attended the bacculareate Mass at Villanova University in southeastern Pennsylvania. My sister was graduating from this school, which was founded by Augustinian priests in the mid-19th century.
The Mass took place in the early evening at the university's stadium, and other than a brief shower, the liturgy started well. A choir sang Palestrina's Tu es Petrus prior to the beginning of the Mass. I was delighted to hear that particular piece of music. However, I should have a heeded a warning of sorts that was right in front of my eyes. There was a table close to the stage were the Mass was going to be offered, and sitting on top of the table were glass chalices, which obviously were going to be used during the Mass.
The atmosphere of the Mass shifted quickly as the processional hymn began. The line-up of the ministers began in a normal fashion. At the very beginning of the procession was a graduate in academic garb carrying a censor. However, not far behind were other graduates carrying multi-colored banners. They were the oddest things I had ever seen processed in during a Mass. It wasn't clear at all what their point was. The colors used weren't Villanova's colors. In fact, they used bright pastel colors. But they didn't have much to do with the Mass itself, so it was a forgiveable error.
The banners, however, was just the beginning of events that could be described as the results of lapses in judgement. The music during the Mass itself belonged to typical post-1970's composing, so that wasn't exactly unexpected either. But when the time for the offertory came, my heart began to sink. The hosts that were to be consecrated were brought in to the stage where the altar was in large wicker baskets. It wasn't immediately clear at that point but inside the larger wicker baskets were smaller wicker baskets, lined with white cloths of some sort, which actually contained the hosts. The wine that was going to be consecrated were brought in large glass/crystal containers.
Both the hosts and the wine were left in their containers during the entire Eucharistic prayer. When time came for communion, baskets containing consecrated hosts were brought to each side of the field. The smaller wicker baskets containing the hosts were taken out of the larger baskets, and most of the distribution of the Blessed Sacrament was taken care of by lay people, most of whom were college students.
When one of them came with the basket, the rest of my family went for Communion, but I decided not to go. I prefer to receive Our Lord's Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, from the hands of a priest or deacon. Anyway, at that point, I was feeling rather offended by the manner Communion was being distributed. They were treating Our Lord as if He were an appetizer that was being served at a restaurant. When my dad sat back down next to me after receiving Communion, I told him what was wrong about what was taking place.
As the distribution was winding-down, I noticed that some of the students who were distributing Communion were committing more abuses. I saw one of them self-communicate. Some of them stacked the baskets on top of each other, and it was probably the case that on top of the clothes, there still rested small fragments of the consecrated hosts.
After the Mass concluded, my family went to a nice Italian restaurant nearby. I brought up the issue of the Mass. My mom seemed to understand why I was feeling offended. My sister on the other hand, said in response to my complaint (in a rather sarcastic manner), "I'm sorry my liturgy offended you." She couldn't understand why it was wrong to serve the Blessed Sacrament in that manner.
My final thought on this issue: If it is possible for papal Masses to accomodate hundreds of thousands of people during Communion, and do it properly, then an American institute of higher learning which has Catholic roots can afford to do take the proper steps to accomodate a few thousand during a bacculareate Mass.
It is incredibly humbling isn't it? My priest this week talked about accepting all of our crosses patiently, and in eternity we'll realize they weren't crosses at all, just photographs of crosses. Compared to the martyrs, mine are crayon drawings I think.
The Chalice is not distributed to the faithful at the Traditional Mass. Traditional Catholics believe that Christ is present entirely in the Host.
What does Thomas Aquinas have to do with the price of tea in China? So he said it "should" be distributed by consecrated hands. So what? The Lord presents Himself as the paschal sacrifice and you'd reject Him because you can't receive Him from someone wearing the collar?
That's tragic.
That's not tragic - that's Catholic!
Why Communion in the Hand is Forbidden
http://www.fatimacrusader.com/cr28/cr28pg34.asp
With respect, your question is irrelevant.
Send the pictures. You have an absolute, God-given right, to the Mass being offered properly. IMHO, you have duty to complain to the local Bishop (in this instance, Justin Cardinal Rigali) if that right is being trampled.
If he does nothing, it's on his soul.
If you do noting, it's on your soul.
The Parish has a Pro-life ministry. The Parish does NOT have a Justice and Peace ministry.
I was not the one who asked that question. Pyro did.
Thanks!
Fortunately, as the pre-vatican faithful know, Transubstantiation does not occur in the Novus Ordo. Therefore they can issue the wafer in the hand, pass it down the pews or mail it to the parishoners home. NO! Sacrilege occurs.
Prayers should be RESERVED for Pope Benedict XVI, that he will have the Faith & Courage to
1) demand the RETURN of the "Holy Sacrifice of the Mass" (Tridentine), so that we will again be able to receive the TRUE Body & Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
2)Publicly Consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Mother together with all the Bishops at the same hour of the same day to provide as SHE has promised, temporary peace to the world.
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