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I checked in early this morning before going out and about. The arguments both ways get old, but just for all of you and this thread I stayed to watch communion at my church job. We sang early so I could have left, but...

After working in a protestant church for two years, I often wonder how many Catholics have ever been in a protestant church let alone sat through service. Service has no majesty, no reverence. I sat there this morning and thought, and they make fun of us. There was so reverence. No elevation, no mystery. Nothing. The assistant took a loaf of bread and split it. The "wine" isn't even alcoholic. No eternal presence...nothing with any kind of greatness to it.

The words of the Sanctus that they use are identical to the ones we use - which do not match the exact translation. I know that. They use a Gloria Patri, but not a Gloria in Excelsis Deo. Subtle stuff.

Of late, you all know, I've switched to a more conservative parish. My mother doesn't see where I get the desire to experience the old way. Why I don't change the words of the creed and desire to sing Latin and like a Communion Rail and why I prefer Communion from a priest or a Deacon. She actually said to me, I go you to the Catholic church because of the sacraments, I don't care who administers them.

Well, I'll say this. For a while, I couldn't tell the difference. Now I can. THAT's the difference. The truth is in the details. Change enough of the details and you change the whole. That's what a lot of people are missing. That enough details are gone and corners cut, that the whole has changed.

I have to go. I'll check in later though. Translating French today.

You make a good point. The Modernists do not dare to attack the ancient faith of the apostles frontally. They chip away at it by indirection, by suppression or by subversion. They will, for instance, suppress acknowledgment of the Real Presence by eliminating the rubrics which show respect or adoration, by shunting tabernacles off to a corner. They won't come out and attack the dogma, but they will act as if it did not exist. So too they will use subversion by subtley changing the language and structure of the liturgy so that it no longer expresses the Catholic sacrificial intention behind all traditional Masses. They do this by emphasizing those elements which express the Protestant liturgical notion that the Lord's Supper is primarily a liturgy of commemoration-- something explicitly condemned by Trent.

I think some of the people on these threads,who look at the criticisms of the New Order mass as dangerous to the Church need to read your gentle but clear description of exactly how lacking so many "services" are in holiness.Our spirits are supposed to soar,our hearts and our minds are to be focused on the heavens,the divine,the supernatural. Most often the homilies (that seem to go hand in hand with innovative masses) are lacking in substantive Catholic teaching.

I have talked to and written to pastors and priests who have abused the mass and they shrug their shoulders and turn away.

For thirty-five years I attended mass every Sunday at least.With the exception of some intermittant relief offered by some priests,who were orthodox,my weekly experience was ennervating. I finally gave it to God and said I will go to mass and honor you every Sunday because I am obedient,but I can't handle it much longer.I did allow myself the latitude of going from parish to parish. I decided that if a bishop,who was enthroned with his fingers crossed behind his back,ordained a priest.who also had their fingers crossed there was a chance that I was not receiving the Body and Blood of Christ.I knew that all of them were not like that so I would go from church to church knowing that at some I would receive.

One last observation,it is no wonder that Catholics no longer believe in the Real Presence,after twisting the Gospels to rule out miracles,after practically having us worship one another,since we seem to be all little jesuses and jesusuettas,then we say "Christ has died,Christ is risen,Christ will come again".Well,if He's not there with us after the consecration,then what am I receiving.

Now for the really good news,there has been a major change gradually creeping in over the past three years. Whereas once I could not expect to find one good Mass unless I went to ten(I tried to go to parishes within 15 minutes of my house)now nine out of ten Masses will be reverent with good sermons.So miracles do happen,I think ours was due to a wonderful,holy strong and intelligent Vocations Director.The diocese still has far too many abusers and potential abusers but it is improving quickly.Thanks Be To God.