An excellent point. We face an incredible heresy here, Modernism. It is rocking the West, just as Arianism was in the East many years ago. I don't think the East realizes the fiendishness of this heresy, how it draws people out of the faith. Consider most spiritual writers think of material comforts and such as completely detrimental to the devout lifestyle. That, coupled with a general malaise towards anything spiritual and invisible.
2. The Western Church has to mature. She should clear up its liturgy, above everything else. At this point, serious Catholics dread the thought of attending a Catholic service in some clown parish down the street.
I agree, although the clown mass is a bit exaggerated, as if we can hardly avoid it here... I agree wholeheartedly that the Liturgy is instrumental in teaching the faithful that inner sense of awe and worship - that is largely missing from many Catholic Churches here in the US. I cannot answer for other places, but I know in Italy, they still have it. Probably our stinkin' liturgists at work in the "spirit of vatican" misinterpreted.
Good post, Annalex.
Regards
Why? It's just a ritual according to you.