Posted on 11/16/2005 4:28:26 PM PST by NYer
An "entertaining" mass is one where the priest is the center of attention and playing the crowd is his only function. Idolatry in practice, if not in spirit.
That would figure! :)
Yes ... that was my point. Growing up pre-VCII, we were taught it was not okay to attend protestant services. That message was so deeply imbedded in me that in later years, while offering comfort to a dear friend, I suggested that she return to her Church. She asked me to accompany her. I was reluctant but placed her need above mine. This was 30 years ago. I don't recall the denomination but a dancer came out and performed in the Sanctuary. My jaw dropped. I was totally scandalized and recalled, once again, the admonition from my childhood education.
25 years later, I was equally shocked when the pastor at my local RC parish invited the 'confirmandi' students to perform liturgical dance at the Christmas Eve liturgy. What was he thinking! Mercifully, I was able to stop it before it happened.
As a Protestant, I find liturgical dance to be scandalous. The Eucharist is serious. Though we don't believe it recreates Christ's sacrifice, it represents it, and I stand in fear and trembling when I hear the pastor say,
"On the night our Lord was betrayed, He took bread; and after He had blessed it, He broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, 'Take, eat; this is My body given for you. Whenever you eat this, do this in remembrance of Me.' In the same way also, He took the cup, and after He had blessed it, He gave it to His disciples, saying, 'Take, drink; this is My blood shed for you for the remission of sins. Whenever you drink this, do this in remembrance of Me."
This is the the Body and Blood of our Lord, given by His command; and you dare profane it with foolish talk, let alone dance?
I agree with Cardinal Arinze.
When my oldest niece was baptized last year, I was appalled at the casualness of the service and the churchgoers.
It was at a contemporary Baptist church, and the stress was far more on the first adjective than the second.
The service was held in the church gym, and there was a (bad) jazz-type dancy choir on stage (in jeans and sneakers, mind you), and there were two giant video screens on either side of the stage that showed the words of the hymns. Now, there were no hymnals, so there was no music line, so if you didn't know the particular hymn's tune you were out of luck.
And I can assure y'all that we did not sing "Amazing Grace," or "In the Garden," or "Abide With Me," or any of the hymns I grew up singing. They were all squishy, "O God you are so great, words cannot express your greatness" type songs, consisting of one verse and a chorus, and you sang the verse then the chorus then the chorus again then the verse then the chorus twice again. UGH.
Combine that with the WAY TOO MUCH touching and hugging and shaking of hands with total strangers, and you have one very uncomfortable traditionalist Episcopal warrior princess.
(Yes, I am aware that I get touched and hugged - and worse - every weekend at the Festival. One expects that at a drunken barn dance when one is showing inordinate amounts of skin. One does not expect it in a place of worship, in which one is attired properly according to CajunGirl's and XSMommy's and Najida's exacting standards.)
To whom ping, btw, and happy Friday, ladies! I have GOT to get my wedding pictures online!
you sure dang do! what is TAKING SO LONG!!!!
I think you and I would do well in the same church. If only I could find a good traditional Anglican one where no one wants me to hug strangers, or (worse) applaud, I would be SO there.
as to the text of your post, i am in total agreement. there are catholic churches like that and i cannot abide them. the church we attend is traditional, the priests give fire and brimstone sermons and the pastor will wither you into a charred twig with a glance should your cellphone go off during Mass. we have some latin and a gregorian choir.
If the same priest is in attendance from last weeks Saturday service I wont return. I asked one of the assistants if the usual priest would be back and he assured me he would. I really hope this is the case. I managed to find a service where there is no singing, no hand holding, no ' Live from Boston - its Saturday Night Mass!!!! '
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Liturgical Dance!
Honestly I have no idea what that looks like - I've never even heard of it!
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