I was received into the Church in 2001, via EWTN. Of course I found neither the piety, reverence nor the teaching anywhere in my diocese to even begin to compare with EWTN, nor even a single effort in the diocese to accommodate the Extraordinary Form. The nearest accomodation is almost a 7 hour drive.
The parish churches are stripped now, taking on the appearance of protestant churches, along with guitars and 2nd grade level lyrics in many of the song selections. No silence to speak of, because music has prime of place. The sign of Peace is out of control, exaggerated now, into other rows and scandalously across the aisles and back, even extending cheerfully into the Lamb of God prayer.
I wretch at the fall of the Mass every single Sunday, but I would NEVER miss a Mass. I am outraged and revolted every Sunday, but I would never miss a Mass. My heart is pierced by the abuses I witness, but I would never miss a Mass.
I made a pact with God Himself to acknowledge that He is there in the Mass and He is pained also, but He is there for me, in Holy Communion, and I must be there for Him to receive Him.
All He asks is for me to endure unto the End.
He warned us in Sacred Scripture what was to come, and it is here. We did it to ourselves and we accept His warning— that but a remnant of even the faithful will be saved— that were not the days shortened even the very elect would be lost. I believe Him. He knows of the outrage, pain and disgust.
“....and you, my brothers and sisters to pray for me to the Lord our God.”
Have a blessed Christmas and a blessed New Year.
All this to see what was a simply the breaking of bread to be shared as part of a larger communal meal, turned into a precisely ordained elaborate ritual or play, in which the elements and consuming them are the focus and not the sharing the people as as body of Christ are to show in eating the bread together, as being unified with the selfless crucified Christ.
This is why Paul said that when the Corinthians came together therefore into one place to eat the Lord's supper, they really were not, (1 Corinthians 11:20)as they went ahead and eat independent of others, filling themselves while others went hungry, thus they shamed them that have not. (Vs. 21,22)
For as often as they ate this bread, and drink this cup, they were to shew, to proclaim, the Lord's death till he come. (1 Corinthians 11:26) But which they did not by ignoring others and focusing on meeting their own needs, effectively not recognizing the body of Christ as the church. Which is the focus in context.
And which meeting your own needs under the assumption a wafer and wine is the body of Christ, not taking part in communal meal which examples sharing in union with Christ, who bought the church with His own blood, is what it seems your focus is.
Beautiful.
God bless you too:)
Rita, I feel for you. Is there an EASTERN rite Catholic church near you? You will find their liturgy extremely comforting. They are in Union with the pope and have the same doctrinal beliefs as other Catholics. You will usually find excellent preaching and also a style of worship that is extremely respectful and dignified. It is a glorious treat. So if you can avoid suffering, do so. Also try various parishes if an Eastern Rite parish is not an option. There is also the Anglican Ordinate — dissaffect high church Anglicans who have come over to the Catholic church, that would also be valid and licit for you, particularly if you are stuck in a kumbaya felt-banner hell-hole.
Wow, if things are so horrible at your parish, you need to find a new one so that you don’t have to grit your teeth through the entire mass. That kind of thing doesn’t go everywhere.