Posted on 08/25/2025 6:41:46 PM PDT by scouter
“May your demeanor, your silence, the dignity of your service, the beauty of the liturgy, the order and majesty of the gestures, draw the faithful into the sacred grandeur of the Mystery.”
(Excerpt) Read more at dianemontagna.substack.com ...
Much more really good stuff in the rest of the address. Read the whole thing.
Ping
There is one sure proof that Jesus loves us and saves us: He gave His life for us by offering it on the Cross. Indeed, there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for those one loves (cf. Jn 15:13). And here lies the most marvelous reality of our Catholic faith, something no one could ever have imagined or even hoped for: God, the Creator of heaven and earth, chose to suffer and to die for us, His creatures. God loved us unto death! To bring this about, He came down from Heaven, He humbled Himself by becoming man, and He offered Himself on the Cross as a sacrifice—the most important event in the history of the world. What have we to fear from such a God who has loved us to this extent? What more could we possibly hope for? What are we waiting for to love Him in return as He deserves? Gloriously risen, Jesus lives at the Father’s side; He now cares for us and communicates to us His imperishable life.
Good! Now, get rid of the altar girls.
Funny.
Maximillian Kolbe....close, but no cigar. You only loved.
Still funny.
To the pit with “protocol”! We need to do better on this forum ...
Prompted by your comment (for which I thank you) I went and read it as well. The many years since I last served at the Altar melted away as I read it ... I would send that message to my teenage self, if I could. Even at this late date, it speaks strongly to me. I need to do better ...
"The answer is perfectly clear and has resounded throughout history for two thousand years: Jesus alone comes to save us, and no one else—for He alone has the power, since He is God almighty Himself, and because He loves us. Saint Peter declared it with force: “There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Never forget this word, dear friends; engrave it upon your heart; and place Jesus at the center of your life."
The whole address is beautiful, from beginning to end.
I haven't seen "altar girls" in my diocese for years. And there is no shortage of boys applying for the honor. In my home parish, there are typically at least a dozen at 11:00 am Mass. And our altar servers are sharp--well trained, immaculately outfitted, and all business. They are a joy to see. This is what happens when you get rid of the altar girls--in a healthy parish the boys will flock to it.
The only time I see "altar girls" now is when I'm forced to drive over to California for family business. When I go to Mass there, it's now jarring to see girls up there, usually to the exclusion of boys.
In his remarks, he addressed the attendees as "boys" and made it a point to connect their altar service as an opportunity to think about the priesthood, so I doubt there were any girls there.
bkmk
I am envious of your parish situation.
We have altar girls and tons of Extraordinary Ministers, male and female, even though they are not needed, based on the number of parishioners.
Yes, I noticed Pope Leo used the term “boys.” Did my heart good. I was referring, though, to the general policy of having girls in that role.
No less a personage than renowned painter Pablo Picasso has said......
there was no image on canvas as compelling as Christ on the cross.
Picasso’s famous work, “Crucifixion,” is a 1930 Surrealist painting that depicts Picasso’s vaunted style....a distorted and symbolic version of the biblical event, featuring a central Christ figure with paddle-like hands alongside other distorted figures representing figures like the Virgin Mary and soldiers.
The work, which uses varying figure scales and focuses on themes of suffering and paradox, is considered a key piece connecting Picasso’s earlier Surrealist work to his later masterpiece, Guernica.
Paragraph 5 of the letter.
Thanks for the quotation.
I know, and I agree. Both are situation that's unnecessary and never should have been allowed to happen in the first place. Not only that, but it's counterproductive--most boys at that age are not attracted to activities in which girls are allowed. It destroys the specialness and the camaraderie. And altar serving has always been a magnet for vocations to the priesthood. We need more priests, not less.
Our former pastor solved the EM problem by installing altar rails (Our church was originally built without them). Now only the priest and deacons distribute Holy Communion. Our parish is huge and it takes a little longer, but it is more orderly, reverent, and no EM's--female or otherwise (the only exception, if there is no deacon, is that a layperson that is designated to bring Holy Communion to the homebound after Mass, might bring it to the frail or disabled in the pews).
Agree on all points.
You are blessed with your pastor, for sure.
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