MASS MATTER
This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. (Isaiah, 29:13)
"The well-educated Catholic knows that the Mass is not a religious service, a family meal, or a community feast. It is an event in which heaven and earth come together, as mundane time and sacred time are united. In it the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, a Divine Person, is made really present - not reenacted or remembered, but made actually present as a means of sacrifice by which our sins and those of mankind generally are atoned. The Messiah whose voluntary death opened the gates of Heaven is presented to us as the priest speaks the words of consecration." Michael Ryan
The Mass Isn't Entertainment Says Cardinal Arinze
“Even before the celebration itself, it is commendable that silence to be observed in the church, in the sacristy, in the vesting room, and in adjacent areas, so that all may dispose themselves to carry out the sacred action in a devout and fitting manner.” from USCCB
Calling the Mass celebration and the priest celebrant and then issuing an invitation to silence and reverence is just double talk.
By definition “celebration” is
1. The act of observing a day or an event with ceremonies
2. The act of showing joyful satisfaction in an event
3. A big, exuberant party
4. A large or important social gathering
5. An expression of warm approval
Now how any of that supposed to be conducive for silence and reverence?
There is no reverence. Mystery, godliness, and devotion are not with us. The greeters are chatting away with the people coming in. There is conversation and laughter in the pews. I tried; it is not possible to pray the rosary. The “liturgical celebration” is irreverent and unworthy. Priests teach what the people want to hear. The homily is cheapened with jokes and props; holy things are treated as if they were ordinary. Upbeat innovations are implemented to make the liturgy more exciting. Our parish priest tells us to pray for snow, because he wants to hit the slopes. Funnyyy. He introduces visitors at every opportunity, invites them to stand up and the congregation has to clap. The “resident priest” at the Cathedral told us the other day to eat Eggs Benedict to commemorate the Pope’s birthday. He repeated it twice before the dismissal; it was THAT important. The music ministry is placed on stage bellowing one Protestant tune after another, (preferably to percussion instruments). It’s a bloody performance and the congregation knows it. So they clap. The Mass is a sacrifice, yes… but who would know?
A courageous bishop's article titled The Loss of the Sacred - We need more of these shepherds, Bishop Arthur Joseph Serratelli is my kind of guy! Sigh.
Eucharistic reverence: 'How our actions reflect our belief'
Reverence at Mass
Can reverence at Mass make a comeback?
Catholic Cartoon Blog
"The well-educated Catholic knows that the Mass is not a religious service, a family meal, or a community feast. It is an event in which heaven and earth come together, as mundane time and sacred time are united. In it the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, a Divine Person, is made really present - not reenacted or remembered, but made actually present as a means of sacrifice by which our sins and those of mankind generally are atoned. The Messiah whose voluntary death opened the gates of Heaven is presented to us as the priest speaks the words of consecration." Michael Ryan
The Mass Isn't Entertainment Says Cardinal Arinze
“Even before the celebration itself, it is commendable that silence to be observed in the church, in the sacristy, in the vesting room, and in adjacent areas, so that all may dispose themselves to carry out the sacred action in a devout and fitting manner.” from USCCB
Calling the Mass celebration and the priest celebrant and then issuing an invitation to silence and reverence is just double talk.
By definition “celebration” is
1. The act of observing a day or an event with ceremonies
2. The act of showing joyful satisfaction in an event
3. A big, exuberant party
4. A large or important social gathering
5. An expression of warm approval
Now how any of that supposed to be conducive for silence and reverence?
There is no reverence. Mystery, godliness, and devotion are not with us. The greeters are chatting away with the people coming in. There is conversation and laughter in the pews. I tried; it is not possible to pray the rosary. The “liturgical celebration” is irreverent and unworthy. Priests teach what the people want to hear. The homily is cheapened with jokes and props; holy things are treated as if they were ordinary. Upbeat innovations are implemented to make the liturgy more exciting. Our parish priest tells us to pray for snow, because he wants to hit the slopes. Funnyyy. He introduces visitors at every opportunity, invites them to stand up and the congregation has to clap. The “resident priest” at the Cathedral told us the other day to eat Eggs Benedict to commemorate the Pope’s birthday. He repeated it twice before the dismissal; it was THAT important. The music ministry is placed on stage bellowing one Protestant tune after another, (preferably to percussion instruments). It’s a bloody performance and the congregation knows it. So they clap. The Mass is a sacrifice, yes… but who would know?
A courageous bishop's article titled The Loss of the Sacred - We need more of these shepherds, Bishop Arthur Joseph Serratelli is my kind of guy! Sigh.
Eucharistic reverence: 'How our actions reflect our belief'
Reverence at Mass
Can reverence at Mass make a comeback?
Catholic Cartoon Blog
