A couple of weeks ago, I went to Mass here, again:
I’ve written about this parish before. It tends to drift into the center whenever I write about the stupidly fraught issue of liturgy celebrated ad orientem simply because the celebration of Mass in the parish in this way is so utterly…normal. Just not a big deal..at all.
It’s a tiny, historic church in a heavily touristed area. Masses are numerous and full, and mid-morning during the summer, they run two Masses – one in the church and one in the basement. As I have said before in a post, even if some blustering bishop or pastor came in and really, really wanted to “fix” the altar situation, the space just doesn’t allow for it.
I can’t possibly judge the attitudes and dispositions of others but considering several packed liturgies every weekend, an apparently lively parish life – it doesn’t seem that The People of this parish feel alienated or excluded by Mass celebrated this way.
In fact, if they were able to observe the priest during the Liturgy of the Eucharist, they would have seen him every so often glance up at the crucifix in front and a little above his head as he prayed, and it might have struck them, as it did me, the reality of this as a moment in which this Body was all praying together, rather than being talked at.
A rather inclusive moment.
And I suspect it might have been, to any sun-crisped seekers wandering in from the beach or recovering from a margarita-heavy Saturday night, a more welcoming space: rather paradoxically surrounded, in sight and sound, signs of God’s presence as filtered through centuries of experience – but also embraced in an atmosphere free of coercion or emotional manipulation.
Really, seriously and truly: is the first experience I describe in this post obviously less inviting than this? Is it really more likely to prompt the response –
…than the second?
(If you don’t click on the video – he walks around the sanctuary and is applauded at the end.)
Related:
A few weeks ago, I attended Mass in a diocese where the bishop has not only declared war on the Traditional Latin Mass, but on Latin, period. You can’t have Latin in your Masses more than twice a month or something silly like that.
Roman Catholic Church. Latin rite. Remember?
On my travels, I left that place and arrived in a bordering diocese and attended Sunday Mass in the Cathedral parish, a Mass which was full of Latin. Novus Ordo, but every Mass part in Latin – rather creatively sung – for the Gloria, for example, congregation and choir alternating. But, yeah, Latin.
One diocese over!
A Cathedral Parish that was, judging from the makeup of the congregation, diverse in every way, and judging from the bulletin, very attuned to the duty to live out the Works of Mercy.
I then returned home to yet another Cathedral parish with a similar vibe: Latin-heavy liturgies attended by diverse congregations who participated robustly. A busy parish life, apostolates for all ages, the baby choir proudly doing its part during Mass.
I don’t often do the “open letter to bishops” thing, but here’s exception:
Stop.
“Traditional” liturgical components are just that – traditional – and therefore good. Because, you know, Catholic. Just because you, your parents or your seminary cohort forty years ago found these things “alienating” and violations of your sense of “full participation” – doesn’t mean…hear me out…that they actually are.
And if an enthusiastic priest barrels in and make changes without proper catechesis – correct that.
Policing these perfectly legitimate modes of liturgical expression is petty, ignorant, clericalist and frankly insulting to – oh what do you like to call us when it suits you – “the most highly educated laity in the history of the Church.”
I wish I could insert that Leonardo DiCaprio gif of him applauding at some award show. Instead, I will say “AMEN!”
The Gloria in Latin has such a different feel than that in English. Maybe it’s just the less familiar aspect but much of the English feels trite, repetitive, and awkward (like the phrase “men of good will”). “Domine Deus, Agnus Dei” > “Lord God, lamb of God”.
The Catholic Church’s war against its past worship is reminiscent of an injured animal gnawing on itself. There is no good faith argument for its complete extirpation, but for some reason it must be done.
Next month, our ordinary in Detroit submits his resignation, and no doubt it will be quickly accepted. And then his successor will swoop in and start the gnawing process here, needlessly condemning and hurting a lot of people because absolute power has spoken.
I’ll never understand it. The only question to be answered is whether I will want to continue associate myself with an institution thinks and acts this way.
As to your first point that is a brilliant observation: why do we have to make war against the best part of ourselves again Your Eminence?
With regard to your last question. If by the expression ‘with an institution’ you mean the Catholic Church then yes: you do.
With all due respect to the dignity of their offices a lot of our clergy at the present moment are simply con-artists and grifters who are in it for themselves and couldn’t care less about anyone’s eternal salvation, even their own. That is just the way it is and we have to deal with it.