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.
You took the words right out of my mouth.
Pianos don't belong in church. Ever. Add that to your list.
There is no such thing as an EEM. The correct term is Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. The distinction is NOT trivial, but important.
It's not a question of worthiness or even of being in a state of grace. It's a question of being properly disposed. A person who has been provoked to anger, even involuntarily, is not properly disposed to receive.
-St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica
"Pianos don't belong in church."
Exactly. Our music director can't help but show off her talents before Mass. Hard to pray and concentrate with her fingers running all over the keys. I always feel like I'm at some lounge waiting for my drink to arrive.
I'm glad I wasn't in attendance. I don't think I could have stopped myself from laughing till I cried.
Thanks Romulus.
Why not? I'm not arguing with you. I am sincerely asking that. I've never heard that before.
Ping to post #65.
That's a good point.
That's all good and well - and I'm not saying I don't wish it was still that way - but it goes back to the whole Vatican II thing - if the Church said it's okay, it's okay!
We can't have our own personal Vatican III's and decide that Vatican II was a bad idea so we'll just practice our faith like it never happened.
So Villanova is now ELCA Lutheran...
What could the Vatican do without triggering the same crises?
You did the right thing and don't let anyone tell you differently. A satanic mass may have a valid consecration but I wouldn't attend one or receive communion at it.
I am so sick of hearing about the horrible abuses over and over again, things that should naturally cause a feeling of revulsion in the pit of a Catholic's stomach, only to have someone come along and try to defend and justify these same abuses.
I had been dealing with all the things mentioned on this thread at my former parish as well as other equally appalling things. I can't tell you how many times I gritted my teeth and put up with abomination upon abomination or how many times I received Holy Communion with tears in my eyes because of the irreverent and profane way Our Lord's Body was being treated. I would never put up with it again.
A year ago, I would have done just what you did, now not only would I not have received Communion at that mass I would have stood up and walked out. I'd rather start WWIII with my family than risk offending Our Lord by participating in something so profane.
Had I been at the Mass you describe there would have been righteous screaming far fiercer than the Banshee.
It is the Eucharist, Christ's Body, that is important. Arguing over who distributes seems beside the point, much like arguing over the role of the disposition of the priest as he celebrates Mass.
Rosemary Radford Reuther?
Just shut the University down now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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