Posted on 08/02/2007 8:25:20 AM PDT by NYer
FROM GERMANY
FROM SWITZERLAND
during Mass at a Catholic Church in Switzerland.
Dude, I think that’s Jerry!
I suppose this is called the new springtime of the Church to some. Good thing Pope Benedict is closing the windows for a while to sweep out the mess from the storm.
Shoot! All I’m seeing is a bunch of red “X’s” because my work computer filters out nearly anything remotely like a picture. I can’t wait to see this at home!
There is no written rule, of course, because there is in canon law and documents like Inaestimabile Donum the expectation that things are done properly. However, I wouldn’t scruple about walking out on things like this seems to be (I’ll see the pics when I get home, since my work computer filters them out), since the whole presentation is an exercise in sacrilege-laced disobedience.
I wouldn’t just march home, however. I’d stay long enough to document the nonsense, and then I’d write a detailed letter to the pastor expressing my concerns. I’d keep a copy, too, so that, if nothing comes back from the pastor wraped in sackcloth and ashes, I’d send the same letter to the bishop. If I were *really* strong-stomached (like I used to be), I’d bring a camcorder and stay for the whole thing, using the tape as evidence to back up the letter writing. But I would NEVER, EVER go to communion in such a mess as this, on the grounds that, if the priest is willing to flout the rubrics to this extent, who can know if his intention is to do what the Church intends in confecting the Eucharist, or whether he even *has* any intention at all, defective or otherwise.
I hope Benedict is somewhat computer-savvy, and can have access to seeing stuff like this without the filtering from umpteen people running interference. This disgrace is taking place on his home turf; I’d love to hear Gottes Rottweiler give these guys an ecclesiastical chewing-out and a half!
AM-you'd better plan on sitting it out and keeping your yap shut, out of obedience to the Pope and the magisterium!
LOL!! Wait until they get their first homosexual Pope who'll want to put mauve carpeting in the Vatican and enjoy having his picture take next to Michelaglelo's David. I'll get a chuckle out of reading the defense of the Church then.
When you get the chance go to Gillibrand’s blog. The Ping Pong Mass, the Smiley Mass, words failed me. It has some of the most eye-opening pictures I have ever seen.
Mr. V wanted to go the camcorder route. As it’s practically the size of the space shuttle he would be sort of too obvious. I imagine with todays tech savvy congregations there are going to be more and more instances of pictures on the web. No more hiding behind the old “they are exaggerating” ruse.
A Mime Mass???
Well, that’s what I meant in the part about “having the stomach for it.” See, back in the day, I’d sometimes bring a smallish camera and get away with it, because I’d try to blend into the crowd and act like it was all the greatest thing since sliced bread. No one seemed to suspect anything. Maybe my method acting skills were better back then, but I can’t bring myself to do that anymore! The contrast between such travesties and the TLM I’ve been going to since 1990 would be just too much for my middle-aged grey matter to handle, and I’d spazz out for sure.
No wonder the Pope is focusing on evangelizing Europe. I can see why the SSPX is so strong in France with this happening over there.
I certainly hope you and Mr. VITW have not encountered anything this exotic at your local parish (have you?).
First off, regardless of the level of liturgical abuse, you have my total sympthy and support. When the new pastor of my former RC parish attempted to introduce liturgical dance, he asked the Confirmation students to volunteer. Thanks to an article on liturgical abuse that I had recently read - Is Your Mass Valid? - I decided to fight back. Using information in the above article, I discreetly approached the DRE and pastor, advising both that the NCCB had outlawed liturgical dance in the US. The pastor pulled me aside and suggested I think of it as 'liturgical movement'. The mental image of my Confirmation students dancing down the aisle before our Lord, present in the Tabernacle, kept me focused and on target. When I was unable to persuade the pastor to drop his plans, I wrote to the Diocesan Office for Liturgy and Divine Worship. In their initial response, they sided with the pastor. Undaunted, I wrote a 2nd time, quoting Inaestimabile Donum and Canon Law
The faithful have a right to a true Liturgy
The diocese conceded defeat and the liturgical dance never took place! Know your rights! You can use the information at the above link to learn how to deal with this and where to write when all attempts fail.
In my former parish, the abuses did not stop there. I attempted to rally some troops to join me in the effort to stamp out the other abuses. Unfortunately, the parishioners loved their pastor and feared losing him. I hung on for a while, closing my eyes through most of the Mass until one Sunday, when I saw a EMHC drop a consecrated host to the floor. Unsure of what to do, she picked it up and redeposited it in her glass communion bowl. With that, I bowed my head and asked our Lord to guide me to a holy priest, a reverent liturgy and a community where my God given abilities could be of service. That week, I compiled a list of 8 other parishes (including 2 Eastern Catholic Churches) within a certain radius of home. Each week I attended Mass at a different parish and prayed the same prayer. When I reached the Maronite Catholic Church, our Lord respond. That was nearly 4 years ago. My pastor is bi-ritual (Maronite and Latin), speaks 8 languages, is accessible 24/7 by cell phone and preaches orthodox homilies. The Maronite liturgy is rich and reverent; the Consecration is chanted in Aramaic, the language of Jesus and the Apostles. The parish was in need of assistance and they have kept me very busy ever since (I'm selling raffle tickets - 31 chances to win! - how many would you like ;-)
Entrust this situation to our Lord, and ask for His guidance. Just be prepared for the response.
Good try ... no comparison. See my post #33.
As I recall from my reading of history, these carnival masses were celebrated once a year during the Middle Ages. This is probably nothing other than a revival of an ancient custom. If there is some historical precedent for this, I don't see any great problem with it, except for the overly santimonious. That could be why these masses got started in the first place, to allow the overly ascetic to acquire a sence of humor.
Exactly ! As long as all the "right words" are whispered, magically, in the correct order it is a valid mass, even if they are making clowns out of themselves and their church.
Luther tried that route.
He pointed out the unbiblical errors and the loss of correct doctrine and the church put a death warrant out on him.
I think Alex is right ...just shut up and smile
All commonsense advice, from all three of you, for which I give thanks. Goodness, NYer, if Mr. V had witnessed anything like the mime Mass he would have had a stroke. No , we have had the over-involved ushers, the hissing when we kneel, the unusual dress and make-up of the altar girls,liturgical dance,etc. that kind of thing. Which is bad enough. But I am grateful that the winds of change are in the air. Mr. V is happy that he gets to brush up on his Latin. We are hoping this will bring more reverence.
Mass as a comedy venue. OK, call me sanctimonious, because I’m still thinking this is not OK.
Tell that to the Israelites, who were expected to perform their rituals “exactly just so,” from the time of Moses to the time of Jesus, from the Seder rituals to the actions of the High Priest on the Day of Atonement. Our rituals regarding the Sacrifice of the Mass have kept it and its theology intact lo these many years, unlike many others’ ceremonies which change with the wind, or are made up on a whim, rendering their faith highly malleable and often only vaguely connected in any manner with the faith of their own parents.
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