50 Years of Effete and Infertile Liturgical Culture Is Enough

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All I had to do was look at the author’s name to know what the article is all about.

This article fairly drips with condescension. He also mentions that people stand after communion and then attributes that to people not wanting to give due reverence to the Lord. How does he know this?

If I’m not mistaken, I read an article of his where he said that if it were up to him, women should not be given the means to be financially independent of men. How he plans to see it through remains to be seen. I hope I am mistaken on this regard as this is not Catholic teaching at all.
 
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I understand what Dr. Esolen is trying to say. I think he could have been a bit more charitable, but I have been to Masses like the one he describes and they make me extremely uncomfortable and kind of sad. I am an introvert and I don’t like to be forced into being happy clappy and hand holding. I like formality and solemnity and I am a firm believer in lex orandi lex credendi.
I went to a Good Friday service once where the priest processed up to the front pew, and then sat in it while lay men and women did the whole Good Friday service. It was filled with mood music, mood lighting, mimes and bore no resemblance to a Good Friday service. I got out.
I know that the Mass is the Mass no matter how formal or not the service is, but I know how Dr. Esolen feels.
 
The author, Anthony Esolen is a professor at Thomas More University.
 
tafan2 said:
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The author quotes from Sacrosanctum Concilium in giving a negative evaluation, but simultaneously ignores Sacrosanctum Concilium where it allows what is negatively evaluated. For example use of Latin vs vernacular.
 
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Someone who thinks the sanctuary should be filled with men in lace, and whose knees go weak at the thought of birettas, buskins, and episcopal gloves is calling the OF effete? (One meaning of which is “over refined.”)
 
Speaking as a non-believer, an atheist could have written all of that Mass review. There is discussion only of aesthetics, personal preference, and, where available, quotes to bolster the case. I thought Catholics thought something spiritual was going on at Mass?
 
I would have left as well. A factual, kindly worded letter should be sent to your Diocese about this.
 
tafan2, would YOU talk about a woman this way, behind her back? (I’m referring to the horrible way the writer ripped apart the pianist.)

I don’t mean to ignore the men that he insulted, especially the good priest–the very idea of tearing into a priest because he gave his name and recognized others by their names. The Bible makes it clear that GOD places great importance on names!

But here’s what I think–for a MAN to insult a woman and use the hate-filled language about her that this author used is indicative that the author is being strongly influenced by a very wicked demon of hatred, and the author needs to pray, fast, and seek out a priest(s) who will be able to recognize the demon and send the demon back to the pit. This author’s soul is in grave danger.
 
Ok, I will not defend the authors wording and insults. You guys have convinced me it was way over board. But I will defend most of his points, and certainly his summary. That requires more time than I have now, so I will do so tomorrow.
 
I looked at his points and he seems to have a problem with that parish not conforming to his standards of aesthetics.
If he had observed egregious violations of the liturgy he would have a point.
The article is more about how offended he is that a church and the priest did not meet his own subjective aesthetic standards.

He has a right to express his views of course but we readers have every option to dismiss them.
 
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Not in the main, he makes points, such as the hidden Tabernacle, which are not subjective, but inline with what the Church actually teaches regarding the liturgy and architecture.
 
Be careful. By defending most of his points about liturgy in the OF Mass, you are also criticizing the priests and bishops who have been placed in charge of music, etc. in their “territory” by Holy Mother Church Herself.

Do you really…really now?..think that all the priests who use piano as the accompaniment, and who choose not to utilize Latin, and who greet people in the lobby and introduce themselves by name–do your REALLY think that all these priests (and their bishops)… ALL of them–are wrong, and you’re right?

Really?

Or perhaps you are willing to think about the possibility that maybe the bishops and priests know a little bit more about interpreting church documents than you do.
 
Then the author should take this up with the priest’s immediate superiors instead of writing a snarky condescending article which attacks not only the priest but the pianist and the congregation.

At least something useful gets done when the bishop is notified and the violations addressed if there are any.

What is this article supposed to accomplish?
 
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It hurts people and causes them to stumble and distrust Holy Mother Church.

Like I said, this author is under the influence of a demon who has taken advantage of his extreme interpretation of the Church documents and turned his heart into a cesspool of hatred. He has lost his way.
 
That’s a matter of conjecture isn’t it?

Still out of due diligence we should bring the matter up to proper authority and then wait for them to take appropriate action.

Writing a snarky article which demeans people who are not responsible for these alleged violations will not correct the violations.

I am familiar with this author’s works. He is quite big on submission to authority especially of wives to husbands. He should have no problem acknowledging authority above him.
 
This person has a massive case of spiritual pride! He’s so busy projecting his own personal preference onto everyone else and looking down on those that have another aesthetic that I seriously doubt he gets much out of mass. :roll_eyes:

I actually like being greeted by our priests if they are in the narthex when I arrive. And you know, I think it’s custom in some parts of the world to stand after receiving communion. 🤷‍♀️
 
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