Know What You Should Do at Mass and Why [barf alert---Freep this pastor!]

We have only one son (so far) and he is six months old. So far, he has been pretty good during Mass, although I work hard at keeping him that way.

We don't have a "crying room" at our small church. If he does act up, it's out to the narthex (well, I know we're not supposed to call it that, but that's what everyone there calls it).

And, of course, you can hardly be blamed for referring to EEMs as EMs, as that's what is hammered into our heads all the time.

From #8

Look at the Body and Blood as you receive it.n No looking at the priest, or closing your eyes, and certainly not making the sign of the Cross, genuflecting, or other meaningless actions.

Once again, Fr. Quinlan misses the point. The problems he objects to relate to insufficient reverence for, or even failure to believe in, the real presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist. So what does he do? Denigrate signs of reverence! The lack of overt signs of reverence invariably leads to overt irreverance.

Wow ... this priest needs a swift "get-off-your-high-horse" kick in the arse.

...and pass him a bran muffin while your at it too.

FWIW ... I'll agree with him on the others.

Have to admit, I do to. He does have some good points, especially with the manners.

Nice pick! ;-)

One more example of the "liberal," or "modernist," or "progressive" [choose your favorite] idiocy in action.

The whole thing above is terribly confused, yet resembles a misbegotten attempt to bring some kind of an "order" by disseminating even more confusion.

I wish to point out only two [out of many] fallacies in the above "instruction."

-- Fallacy #1. The Eucharistic Sacrifice [the Mass] referred to as a meal.

The Code of Canon Law and numerous other documents of the Church present the holy Eucharist as a Sacrifice. Referring to the Holy Mass as to a meal only demonstrates the lack of faith in its union with Calvary and Christ's Redemption.

Fallacy #2. 5. When the cantor introduces the service, answer the "Good Morning" or "Good Evening". That’s the cue to stop conversation.

Firstly, "Good Morning" or "Good Evening" are not especially Christian greetings to write regulations and fuss about.

Secondly, what has ever happened to the silence in the church? Silence as a sign of respect for the presence of the Sanctissimum, and respect for our fellow parishioners who may wish to pray in church in a moment of silence?

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal says this,

SILENCE
45. [...] Even before the celebration itself, it is praiseworthy for silence to be observed in church, in the sacristy and adjacent areas, so that all may dispose themselves for the sacred rites which are to be enacted in a devout and fitting manner.

The Adoremus Bulletin has an informative article on the topic of church silence, Silence and the Sacred.

We took our son to Mass until he was about 8-9 months. He was fine most of the time. But WHAM! once he was confident of his mobility, it was impossible to keep him restrained without him hollering at the injustice of it all. And, this ALWAYS happened during the Homily. I'd go to the vestibule, or the crying room, but then I couldn't really listen to the Mass and I felt I wasn't being reverent enough, or getting anything out of Mass. We had a great lady running the child care for awhile, but then she took on other responsibilities, and it became hit and miss.

We have a large parish, and a friend of mine with four kids (five on the way) and I (three kids, with #4 on the way) have been talking about a co-op where parents agree to take one mass per month and we rotate. 9:30 and 11 are the two most crowded masses, so we thought if we found 8-10 families we could cover each one.

I just know my son is far too active to expect to sit in a pew for an hour and not make a sound or crawl under all the pews and run up to the altar.

I commend you. My husband gets very uptight if the kids make even one peep. When they were babies (and generally slept through mass or laid quietly) if they made one little squeak, he told me to take them out. My girls were much better behaved at a younger age than my son, who goes nonstop from the minute he wakes up until the minute to goes to bed. I thank God that he's a good sleeper, otherwise I would have no peace! We decided when he's three we'd start taking him into Mass.

And you're right, there are some very well-behaved children. I don't blame myself, however, because my girls were just fine in church most of the time; my son is a completely different personality.

Uh oh. Sounds like I have bad times ahead. :-)

Unfortunately, we have only one Sunday Mass, and I live 35 minutes away, so I don't have much choice, apart from changing parishes.

And one of them, to add insult to injury, had blessed herself on the way out–a meaningless, pietistic gesture.

I wouldn't exactly call such things "meaningless" nor use "pietistic" as an insult. (Piety is to be discouraged now?).

But blessing oneself on the way out of Church is not strictly necessary. On the way in, we are "cleansing" ourselves and preparing to enter into the Presence of God.

On the way out we have the Presence within, or at least have been given a blessing. (Assuming one stays for the entire Mass.)

Blessing oneself with holy water on the way out certainly does no harm, but symbolicly it is not necessary to purify oneself on the way out to the world.

SD

That figure on the cross in the background - who can tell me - Was it John?, Paul?, George?, maybe Ringo? on the cover of the "Help!" album.

I have a feeling that if I sat through this priest's mass, I'd probably need purified on the way out too...

The Terminator I, just as he arose from the wreck of the fiery tanker truck.

1. Everyone in this parish should receive a piece of the consecrated Bread, and drink from the common cup.

EVERYONE??? How about an admonishment to examine one's conscience prior to recieving? Of course that would remind people of the need for confession and penance... and most priests seen to feel the burden of showing up for 15 minutes on Sat. to be too burdensome these days.

Also, communion is valid in either form- we don't need to take both forms for it to be valid communion- thought the Mass needs both the wine and the bread. Personally, I would be much more comfortable with the cup if the eucharist was distributed like the Byzantines do- the communicant recieves the bread and wine mixed together from a spoon. A tincturn would be a good alternative too. I am happy to recieve the blood of Christ, it is what the fellow with bleeding gums left behind ten seconds ago I can do without.

2. People who enter the building, which their presence in Faith will make into a church, should reach into the Baptismal Font and bless themselves, educating their children to do the same. This applies to the innumerable latecomers. Incidentally, if you are ten minutes late (look at your watch in the parking lot), go to another Mass. Missing the three Bible readings manifests your misunderstanding of what Mass is: Word and Meal.

Agreed and agreed.

3. Do not leave early. The priest should always be the first one out of the church.

Agreed.

4. Do not bring any games, toys, Cheerios, etc., to the church building. Little children belong in the nursery, and younger children at the Liturgy of the Word. If you have uncontrollable children, consult psychiatrist listings, or arrange with your life-sharing spouse to go to separate Liturgies until control is restored in the family (which is usually the problem). There are a few exceptions–autistic children, et similia, who are more than welcome.

Cry rooms are your friends. Children should be present for as much of the word as possible though, but I agree that keeping them entertained with books and games isn't good and can be distracting to other around them.

5. When the cantor introduces the service, answer the "Good Morning" or "Good Evening". That’s the cue to stop conversation.

6. When there is a lull, it is not a signal to start chattering. However, the chattering, laughing, howling, and conversation before the cantor signals the beginning of the service is highly encouraged.

Parishioners should take their discussions outside- before, during and after Mass. Have some respect others, especially Christ who is present in the tabernacle. Many people like to pray while they are there and that isn't easy when people are chattering nearby. Chatter inside of the church should not be encouraged.

7. When it is time to sing, everyone sing. When it is time to be silent, everyone should be quiet. The Mass has ups and downs built into it. You should have ups and downs in your moods, singing, and actions.

I will sing if I want to. I will sing the prayers of the Mass. I will not sing to campy new age crud, nor will I sing the complicated lyrics of some new song that is handed to me on a sheet as I enter the church, nor will I ever participate in kum-ba-ya or We Shall Overcome or any similar nonsense. Give me a beautiful hymn that I know the words to and I will belt it out with the best of them.

8. Do not be a hostgrabber. Put both hands out for the Eucharistic minister (ordained or not) to place in your hand. Say "amen" loudly so all around you can hear. Look at the Body and Blood as you receive it.n No looking at the priest, or closing your eyes, and certainly not making the sign of the Cross, genuflecting, or other meaningless actions. You blessed yourself in the Baptismal Font at the beginning of Mass, and before the opening Prayer–that's enough.

Extraordinary Eucharistic ministers should be avoided. Father, you avoid putting them out their when they are not needed and I will not have to avoid receiving from one. You are right that crossing or genuflecting are not needed afterwards, but correct posture IS needed immeadiately beforehand ie. kneeling or a deep bow.

I have a feeling that if I sat through this priest's mass, I'd probably need purified on the way out too...

LOL. Well, you do have a point.

SD

EVERYONE??? How about an admonishment to examine one's conscience prior to receiving?

Entangled in "more important" details the good Father forgot to mention to his flock the importance of the State of Grace and the 1hr. Eucharistic fast prior to receiving Communion.

Also prevalent is chewing gum in the church. It could have been mentioned next to the Cheerios in the "instruction." ;-)

Unfortunately, we have only one Sunday Mass, and I live 35 minutes away, so I don't have much choice, apart from changing parishes.

That's a shame. I'm spoiled. Sometimes, especially if one or more of the kids is sick, I drive only 20 minutes north to attend a 5:30 evening Mass. My parish has 4 Masses on Sunday and one Saturday evening. We have a neighboring parish with 3 Masses, at different times in case we're running late. I have at least 15 Catholic Churches within a 20, 25 minute drive.

My 'beloved' Bishop, Walter Sullivan and all his 'beloved' dogs. Truth be told, he's more concerned about the welfare of his dogs and the 'feelings' of gay Catholics than he is about the Faithful. He has a great personality but he is extremely liberal, perhaps too liberal for one of the most conservative areas of the USA.