[.45 Long Colt]

I will never participate in a Roman mass myself, but I can sympathize with your desire for reverence. However, when do all the rules become “commandments of men.” As I read this piece all I could think of was the first portion of Matthew 15 regarding traditions and commandments of men.

1Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2“Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” 3He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 5But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,”a 6he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the wordb of God. 7You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:

8“‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
9in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

[Bigg Red]

Since, as you say, you will never attend a Roman Mass, it seems odd that you would be concerned about our rules for such.

[defconw]

Rules are what unite us as Catholics. If everyone follows the rules then every Mass all over the world is the same and that is what it's supposed to be. However, we have all these little things that seem harmless pop up, and over time it becomes chasos.

I know God does not have a check list on who has their hands doing what. But it's important. Like placing your hand over your heart when the Flag goes by. It's tradition and it does have meaning, it's symbolic. :)