Posted on 03/10/2015 8:13:57 AM PDT by Salvation
I often remind my extremely superior older children, “You were three, once, too,” or “You wore diapers!”
We should all have the humility to recognize that none of us has the “right” to a life in which other people never intrude on our unique awesomeness.
This gets back to the philosophical basis of the article, because if you see yourself as an ambulatory bundle of “rights,” there’s much less chance that you’re even going to try being considerate of others, or allowing them to impose or impinge. If your mindset is, “I have a duty to bear wrongs (and irritations) patiently,” then you’ll probably succeed at least some of the time.
Exactly. I don’t know where I learned mine, but I did.
The Gospels and the Epistles teach it. Maybe Flannery O’Connor, too ... she’s not a writer that I could ever get through anything she wrote. Not that I’ve tried, lately; maybe after “War and Peace.”
Prayer is what is most needed.
But do not be surprised that more Americans have “armed up” as well.
“But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you.”
1 Peter 3:15 NRSVCE
I enjoy reading your posts.
Thank you.
There’s certainly nothing wrong with knowing more Scripture although I think the modern calendar of readings is inferior. It virtually omits St Paul and instead sticks in mystifying snippets of the OT, which the priest is permitted to abridge at will so they truly make no sense. He is also permitted to abridge the Gospel readings (there’s a “short version” for most of them) so that half the time they make no sense either.
At my church in NYC, we did have the Gospel and Epistle read in English after they were read in Latin. Also, I agree that changing most of the mass to English was not bad, especially using the nice English version that was already translated in our missals (and everybody in my parish used a missal, including the old ladies who “said the Rosary”).
The real problem came with the Novus Ordo, which is a very different form that keeps only a few elements of the pre-Vatican II low mass. Aside from things like the versus populum position of the priest (which I think seriously diminishes the religious focus and makes us focus on Father instead, which is one of the things that makes him think he’s got to entertain us and tell jokes during the Mass), the whole form is very lateral, focused on the people around one and not on God,, which certainly diminishes piety.
But worst of all, I think it also has so clearly rejected our tradition, our past, and the centuries of worship that went before 1970 that it broke the link that is our love and respect for our forebears that one refers to as piety.
I think an old lady saying the Rosary during Mass is more pious than the congregation doing the “grip and grin” at the handshake of peace...
Yes, good point.
Ping!
I believe you’re correct...but I’m not really sure. It may well be that in some way, the experience of WWII and the aftermath laid the predicate for this loss.
Then again, it might well be that the true beginning , the planting of the seed, may have been in the after math of WWI and the onset of the Great Depression. WWII was really just a continuation of WWI. And WWI really ushered in the beginnings of a “New World Order” with the collapse in Europe of the Monarchies, the German and Austro-Hungarian, and Russian Empires. What with the great loss of life and manpower, it truly upset the entire fabric of social society and order.
Great question...I’ll have to give this greater thought.
Ha, ha. yea...well...you’re speaking to the choir about the rosary. My favorite devotion and method of meditating, and worship. Without it, I am less than “whole”.
**Yes, this self-esteem based education is not a good thing.**
Wasn’t this a Bernardin thing? Everyone feel good about him/herself?
Dear livius,
Thanks for your courteous reply. Being new here I was wondering how my thoughts would be received.
Maybe I’m lucky, because in the roster of priests who have served in my parish over these many years, none have told jokes during Mass. As for abridging the readings at Mass-—that hasn’t happened. They have been read just as they are in my personal missal.
I understand somewhat about the “sign of peace”. It can be overdone. At my parish it has been suggested that the better gesture is to offer a courteous (and pleasant) nod to each other. It is a moment of recognition to our brothers and sisters in the Mystical Body of Christ-—the Christ we will soon receive in Holy Communion and in which we all become one in Him.
I think I understand what you are saying; I am only trying to explain that—with all due respect to “’old ladies saying the rosary” during Mass, that, to me, it’s undeniably important to focus on the presence of Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist. I truly do see that happening at the Masses I attend; there is discernible attention and stillness during the elevation of the Host and the reception of Holy Communion.
Occasionally I think about 2 priests I greatly admire—(as I do Bishop Sheen)—Fr. Walter Ciszek and Fr. (chaplain) Emil Kapaun. These 2 priests offered Mass in secret to fellow prisoners in Communist captivity. They offered in secrecy and with what they were able save of bread. But it was Mass offered and it was the Bread of Life. The cause for both priests is advancing well.
I am grateful for Mass, grateful that I can still go every day, grateful that there is a priest there to offer Mass for us.
I do understand the desire for a reverent Mass. That’s very important to me also.
“When did this loss of piety start happening?”
1517.
You are the WINNER!!
I believe you are correct.
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