Advent play during homily? Time-sensitive!

[bflochica5]

So a certain person involved in planning liturgies at my parish announced today that we’d be having auditions this week for an Advent play to be performed during the homily at all the masses during a certain weekend in December. The play involves dialogue between one person who plays John the Baptist and the other who plays Santa Claus. When I asked this liturgy planner for more information, I was told that this play would be presented as the entry point for the rest of the priest’s homily–as sort of an introduction. The intent is to promote–you guessed it–more active participation by the children.

I am aware of where to find documents clearly stating things such as that only the priest or deacon may say a homily, and that liturgical dance (as a related issue, I suppose) is incorrect because it confuses the sacred and the profane. I am also aware of discussions regarding such things as Christmas readings being dramatized during the readings. My question is, has anything been written regarding plays or dramatic presentations during a homily? I can draw conclusions about the answer based on the above, but based on prior experience with this person, indirect conclusions will not be enough. (You can read my previous posts on related issues for more fun adventures in liturgical abuses…)

Please help. I hope to present this person with some helpful information as soon as tomorrow (Monday, 10/20/08) night in advance of the auditions. In the meantime, please pray for my poor parish, as well as the faithful Catholics in it–several of whom I fully expect may end up with steam coming out of their ears, if not from the play taking place at all, then from Santa Claus’s appearance on the altar in the middle of Mass. Thank you ever so kindly.

 

[Joannm]

So a certain person involved in planning liturgies at my parish announced today that we’d be having auditions this week for an Advent play to be performed during the homily at all the masses during a certain weekend in December. The play involves dialogue between one person who plays John the Baptist and the other who plays Santa Claus. When I asked this liturgy planner for more information, I was told that this play would be presented as the entry point for the rest of the priest’s homily–as sort of an introduction. The intent is to promote–you guessed it–more active participation by the children.

I am aware of where to find documents clearly stating things such as that only the priest or deacon may say a homily, and that liturgical dance (as a related issue, I suppose) is incorrect because it confuses the sacred and the profane. I am also aware of discussions regarding such things as Christmas readings being dramatized during the readings. My question is, has anything been written regarding plays or dramatic presentations during a homily? I can draw conclusions about the answer based on the above, but based on prior experience with this person, indirect conclusions will not be enough. (You can read my previous posts on related issues for more fun adventures in liturgical abuses…)

Please help. I hope to present this person with some helpful information as soon as tomorrow (Monday, 10/20/08) night in advance of the auditions. In the meantime, please pray for my poor parish, as well as the faithful Catholics in it–several of whom I fully expect may end up with steam coming out of their ears, if not from the play taking place at all, then from Santa Claus’s appearance on the altar in the middle of Mass. Thank you ever so kindly.

Actually it is not allowed. I think one directive is found in the Directory for Masses with Children. We went through this same problem years ago at Christmas time when the old pastor permitted a play on Christmas Eve. I am not at work today so I can’t find the directive but I know it is NOT allowed.

 

[benedictgal]

We tackled this issue last year during the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. My parochial vicar had a fit some time back when our parish inserted the Guadalupe play in lieu of the homily (done after Redemptionis Sacramentum came out). In order to nip this thing in the bud, I decided to sit in on the planning committee for this year’s celebration. When the play came up for discussion, I brought my copy of RS and showed it to the pastor, needless to say, the discussion ended right there and the play was performed before Mass began.

Why not reserve the play for when the kids are in CCD or for some other appropriate time? The Mass should not be used as a venue for such things.

 

[bflochica5]

Thank you for your replies so far. I agree with you, it would be much more appropriate in CCD or as an evening presentation, perhaps, very separate from a Mass. After posting, I actually found the text for the play online (it’s called “Prepare” if you care to search it out). The message is fine–the notion that Advent is for preparing for the coming of Christ, not the materialism of Christmas–but there’s no logical reason I can see why 1) the priest can’t deliver that same message in his homily, by himself, 2) it needs to be presented in a play format delivered by laypeople, 3) it needs to involve someone actually dressing up like Santa Claus in the middle of Mass, and 4) such irreverence would at all help young Catholics grow in faith (as Santa refers to St. John the Baptist as “J.B.”). Argh!

Thanks for the reference to RS–that helped. But if anyone else out there has a specific reference to plays, I’ll still welcome them!

 

[benedictgal]

Here is the citation in RS regarding the homily:

[64.] The homily, which is given in the course of the celebration of Holy Mass and is a part of the Liturgy itself,142 “should ordinarily be given by the Priest celebrant himself. He may entrust it to a concelebrating Priest or occasionally, according to circumstances, to a Deacon, but never to a layperson.143 In particular cases and for a just cause, the homily may even be given by a Bishop or a Priest who is present at the celebration but cannot concelebrate”.144

[65.] It should be borne in mind that any previous norm that may have admitted non-ordained faithful to give the homily during the Eucharistic celebration is to be considered abrogated by the norm of canon 767 §1.145 This practice is reprobated, so that it cannot be permitted to attain the force of custom.

[66.] The prohibition of the admission of laypersons to preach within the Mass applies also to seminarians, students of theological disciplines, and those who have assumed the function of those known as “pastoral assistants”; nor is there to be any exception for any other kind of layperson, or group, or community, or association.146

[67.] Particular care is to be taken so that the homily is firmly based upon the mysteries of salvation, expounding the mysteries of the Faith and the norms of Christian life from the biblical readings and liturgical texts throughout the course of the liturgical year and providing commentary on the texts of the Ordinary or the Proper of the Mass, or of some other rite of the Church.147 It is clear that all interpretations of Sacred Scripture are to be referred back to Christ Himself as the one upon whom the entire economy of salvation hinges, though this should be done in light of the specific context of the liturgical celebration. In the homily to be given, care is to be taken so that the light of Christ may shine upon life’s events. Even so, this is to be done so as not to obscure the true and unadulterated word of God: for instance, treating only of politics or profane subjects, or drawing upon notions derived from contemporary pseudo-religious currents as a source.148

[68.] The diocesan Bishop must diligently oversee the preaching of the homily,149 also publishing norms and distributing guidelines and auxiliary tools to the sacred ministers, and promoting meetings and other projects for this purpose so that they may have the opportunity to consider the nature of the homily more precisely and find help in its preparation

Just becasue the word “play” is not explicitly mentioned, that is not to say that it is not governed under this provision because the sections concerning the laity are taken up in the appropriate sections. Therefore, a play is no substitute for a homily. If my pastor can understand that and move the Guadalupe play away from the Mass, then surely your situation can have the same results.

 

[bflochica5]

Here is the citation in RS regarding the homily:

Just becasue the word “play” is not explicitly mentioned, that is not to say that it is not governed under this provision because the sections concerning the laity are taken up in the appropriate sections. Therefore, a play is no substitute for a homily. If my pastor can understand that and move the Guadalupe play away from the Mass, then surely your situation can have the same results.

You underestimate the power of a laywoman with an agenda.

 

[benedictgal]

You underestimate the power of a laywoman with an agenda.

Then, in that case, write to your bishop and ask for an intervention from your diocesan committee on divine worship. This laywoman with an agenda would be commiting a serious liturgical abuse.

 

[Joannm]

I found this citation from the introduction to the Lectionary for Masses with Children, but it applies to all masses

“#53 The Mass is not an historical reenactment of the events of salvation history and care should be taken not to give the impression that the liturgy of the word is a play…the use of costumes, etc., is more appropriate in the context of other celebrations or services. Care should be taken especially at Christmas…not to stage the various liturgies as plays.”

 

[bflochica5]

Thank you all so much! I appreciate your help tremendously!

 

[bflochica5]

Then, in that case, write to your bishop and ask for an intervention from your diocesan committee on divine worship. This laywoman with an agenda would be commiting a serious liturgical abuse.

To answer this–I very well may at some point. We just got a new pastor a few weeks ago so I’m waiting to see how he responds to her. If he gives her the same crazy leeway that our last pastor did, I think it will be letter-writing time…we’ll see. She’s the same person who wanted to replace the Easter Sprinkling Rite with a ceremonial hand-washing (basins of water, lines of people coming up Communion-line-style, washing hands). That was squashed before it happened, but not on principle–only because of practicality concerns. Apparently others weren’t so appalled by the ridiculousness of it according to liturgical norms.

 

[BSHoop96]

To answer this–I very well may at some point. We just got a new pastor a few weeks ago so I’m waiting to see how he responds to her. If he gives her the same crazy leeway that our last pastor did, I think it will be letter-writing time…we’ll see. She’s the same person who wanted to replace the Easter Sprinkling Rite with a ceremonial hand-washing (basins of water, lines of people coming up Communion-line-style, washing hands). That was squashed before it happened, but not on principle–only because of practicality concerns. Apparently others weren’t so appalled by the ridiculousness of it according to liturgical norms.

Do you have a deacon or pastoral assistant that would tend to be in agreement with you and others that are bothered by this sort of thing? I ask because as a new pastor maybe he could be given a subtle warning before this woman blindsides him.

 

[Joannm]

To answer this–I very well may at some point. We just got a new pastor a few weeks ago so I’m waiting to see how he responds to her. If he gives her the same crazy leeway that our last pastor did, I think it will be letter-writing time…we’ll see. She’s the same person who wanted to replace the Easter Sprinkling Rite with a ceremonial hand-washing (basins of water, lines of people coming up Communion-line-style, washing hands). That was squashed before it happened, but not on principle–only because of practicality concerns. Apparently others weren’t so appalled by the ridiculousness of it according to liturgical norms.

This might be a good time for some catechesis on the Mass. Many times, those in charge of liturgy in parishes appointed by a pastor have only gone to a few workshops or did some reading on their own. Their hearts are in the right place but they often don’t “have a clue” as to what is allowed or not allowed and what makes for good liturgy. It is the entertainment mindset that comes with society these days. What we did when faced with this problem is hold a meeting of all interested parties and taught them why the idea of a play at Mass is not acceptable and then came up with a more appropriate time to hold the play. The thing is not to forbid the play, just to move it to another time…say a Sunday afternoon in conjunction with a brief prayer service. That worked well in our parish.

 

[bflochica5]

Do you have a deacon or pastoral assistant that would tend to be in agreement with you and others that are bothered by this sort of thing? I ask because as a new pastor maybe he could be given a subtle warning before this woman blindsides him.

Well, our DRE is a Steubenville grad , so she’s a great ally in such situations. (She once referred to this woman–not personally, but in terms of what she tries to do and why she tries to do it–as a “cancer” at our parish who really needs to be reined in.) The problem is that the pastoral assistant is as “misguided” as the other woman, and if she isn’t actually involved in the planning itself, she’s right behind her supporting these ideas. It confuses parishioners who are uninformed (figuring two against one must mean they’re right) and frustrates people who know what’s actually correct, since the two of them dig in their heels together.

 

[michelle_p]

I found this citation from the introduction to the Lectionary for Masses with Children, but it applies to all masses

“#53 The Mass is not an historical reenactment of the events of salvation history and care should be taken not to give the impression that the liturgy of the word is a play…the use of costumes, etc., is more appropriate in the context of other celebrations or services. Care should be taken especially at Christmas…not to stage the various liturgies as plays.”

I think that pretty well clears up the issue !!

 

[bflochica5]

This might be a good time for some catechesis on the Mass. Many times, those in charge of liturgy in parishes appointed by a pastor have only gone to a few workshops or did some reading on their own. Their hearts are in the right place but they often don’t “have a clue” as to what is allowed or not allowed and what makes for good liturgy. It is the entertainment mindset that comes with society these days. What we did when faced with this problem is hold a meeting of all interested parties and taught them why the idea of a play at Mass is not acceptable and then came up with a more appropriate time to hold the play. The thing is not to forbid the play, just to move it to another time…say a Sunday afternoon in conjunction with a brief prayer service. That worked well in our parish.

I think this is in fact the case…or at least I’d like to think so. The problem is that I think it’s human (sinful) nature to get so excited about a self-generated idea that you don’t want to give it up in the face of someone else pointing out why you really should. That’s pride for you, unfortunately. I hate sin. Darn Satan!

I did write her a letter attached to the packet of document snippets I provided for her perusal. In the letter I suggested exactly that–that she look for an alternate place to present the play, considering that it had a good message and was a cute idea (even if the JB reference to John the Baptist was a little irreverent). I also tried as kindly as I could to phrase it in terms of trying to help her by pulling up the documents so she wouldn’t have to go through the effort of locating them all herself by hand. The problem, I fear, is that she’ll do what she’s done to others in the same situation–she’ll either ignore them or use the documents to look for a loophole. She’s done that to someone else in the parish (a good friend and ministry leader) several times in the past.

 

[BSHoop96]

Well, our DRE is a Steubenville grad , so she’s a great ally in such situations. (She once referred to this woman–not personally, but in terms of what she tries to do and why she tries to do it–as a “cancer” at our parish who really needs to be reined in.) The problem is that the pastoral assistant is as “misguided” as the other woman, and if she isn’t actually involved in the planning itself, she’s right behind her supporting these ideas. It confuses parishioners who are uninformed (figuring two against one must mean they’re right) and frustrates people who know what’s actually correct, since the two of them dig in their heels together.

Well I would certainly think that your DRE would want to speak to the pastor and certainly should, especially as DRE. Hopefully the priest won’t be confused! Good luck!

 

[bflochica5]

Well I would certainly think that your DRE would want to speak to the pastor and certainly should, especially as DRE. Hopefully the priest won’t be confused! Good luck!

I believe that was her plan. I haven’t spoken to her recently so I don’t know if she’s done it yet or not. But yes, I do hope the priest isn’t one of the many “confused” priests in America today. It makes me so sad when I see that. And thank you–all of you!!