Posted on 07/25/2005 5:37:38 AM PDT by Conservative til I die
I went to Mass at the parish I occasionally attend yesterday. The Church itself is no great shakes. Not heterodox, but very namby-pamby. So, after the Gospels were read, some women made her way up to the pulpit and to my shock, gave a homily. She was a Maryknoll missionary sister, and in addition to the Homily, was making the case for donations and service to the mission of the Maryknolls.
I can only imagine this is a rather serious form of liturgical abuse. Interestingly, the pastor in one past homily spoke briefly about Buddhism to make some point or other. He didn't talk about Buddhism as the deficient belief system that it is. Also, as we read the Creed after the Homily, he very noticeably omitted the word "men" at the part that reads "For us MEN and our salvation..."
This all concerned me very much. Does anyone know what places I can refer to that might actually act to correct such abuses? I'm in the Archdiocese of NY. Also, would be interested to know if the Maryknoll orders are considered to be liberal. The nun that spoke the homily was almost a dead ringer for Janet Reno. And that's all I will say about that.
For a woman to give the sermon is an abuse, yes. That sort of plea belongs in the bulletin or after Mass is over.
Only a priest or deacon is allowed to deliver a homily during Mass. My parish puts missions talks after Communion, as "announcements."
The Maryknoll orders are *very* liberal.
As far as I understand, it was an abuse to allow a woman to give the homily, and also, man or woman, to use it as a platform to ask for donations.
My parish also excludes all references to gender, not only in the Creed but other places it would normally occur in the Mass. I simply say "he/him" anyway. I stay because that's really the only abuse I've witnessed. One more, and I'm outta there though.
If I were you, and you don't have strong ties to that parish, I'd look for another.
I would mail an alert to the Vatican!
Not sure if you have seen this:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1449724/posts
To me, that's a display of ignorance of the multiple meanings of 'man' and 'men'. Do we imagine ourselves to be angels?
Gee whiz, even the USCCB knows changing the prayers is wrong.
Canon 846 of the Code of Canon Law states:
The liturgical books approved by the competent authority are to be faithfully observed in the celebration of the sacraments; therefore no one on personal authority may add, remove or change anything in them.
Number 22 of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy states:
Regulation of the sacred liturgy depends solely on the authority of the Church, that is, on the Apostolic See and, as laws may determine, on the bishop.
In virtue of power conceded by the law, the regulation of the liturgy within certain defined limits belongs also to various kinds of competent territorial bodies of bishops legitimately established.
Therefore, absolutely no other person, not even a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority.
Therefore, no one may change any approved and confirmed liturgical text. This includes, but is not limited to the Lectionary for Mass and the Sacramentary. A href=http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/q&a/mass/addword.shtml>Q&A
Isn't the usual procedure, first an informed and respectful talk with your pastor? You've got legitimate concerns, he should hear them. If you're not satisfied then it's off to the diocese, maybe they can direct you by email to the exact person to speak to about your concern.
Archdiocese of New York 1011 First Avenue New York NY 10022-4134 212-371-1000
e-mail: contactus@archny.org
I guess, ultimately, you could contact the curial office for Liturgy in Rome but it's the bishop's responsibility in every diocese to maintain the integrity of the liturgy. And the pastor is the representative of the bishop in the parish.
I transferred to a conservative, orthodox parish. Every year on Mission Sunday a visiting mission speaker - either priest or religious - gives an appeal, in place of the homily. They aren't speaking about the readings, or some theology, but about their work.
GIRM
General Instruction [for the] Roman Missal
Dear Conservative til I die,
Just guessing on my part, but it sounds like they met the rubrics, if by a bit of a stretch.
sitetest
Hey-it is all done in the spirit of Vatican II , the ICEL botched the translation, on purpose I might add, and it is the liberals who want the mass even more Protestant than it is already
Dear BulldogCatholic,
Please don't post to me.
Thanks.
sitetest
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.