Another strange thing at Mass on Sunday

  • Thread starter Thread starter StrawberryJam
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
StrawberryJam said:
Thank you for helping me to feel like I should keep going, and keep asking if I have questions.
Click to expand...
And keep on asking until you find answers that make sense. 🙂

Someone very wise once said, “There are no Catholics on this earth. What there are, are 1.5 billion persons on this earth who are at varying stages in their journey towards becoming Catholics. Some of them, including some members of the clergy, may appear at times to be moving backwards in that journey. This should not deter us from proceeding forward in our own journeys, however.”
 
snowlake said:
bwdiaz;6804110:
… and I had bowed my head but then when I looked up, I realized all the congregation had raised their hands like they were joining in the blessing.

This happens in my parish all the time. I really don’t understand it either, Does anyone know why this is going on, and if there are any guidelines about it? I interiorly join in the prayer, but do not extend my hand - after all, I’m not a priest! I thought this type of blessing was reserved for ordained priests.Even though this might be an attempt to highlight the priesthood of the faithful, that is not the same thing. Why would the faithful need to “extend the hand” in blessing? I think it’s just another weird thing that has come about
that has its origins in fringe theology. And goofy liturgists.
Click to expand...
I hope that my observations don’t offend anyone here, but I have seen this type of reaction from christians in prayer in other denominations. I’ve even seen the congregation “bless” sheets to wrap over people who they thought were oppressed by Satan in other denominations.
Click to expand...
 
StrawberryJam said:
I hope that my observations don’t offend anyone here, but I have seen this type of reaction from christians in prayer in other denominations. I’ve even seen the congregation “bless” sheets to wrap over people who they thought were oppressed by Satan in other denominations.
Click to expand...
There is a certain amount of Pentecostal influence that comes in by means of the “Life in the Spirit” movement. “Life in the Spirit” was approved by the Pope, but I’m not sure that he realized that people were taking some of the gestures and including them in the Mass.
 
The only thing I could even think of - and not that it excuses it - the Church is not a Church of the LIttle Flower or Anything is it?
 
joandarc2008 said:
The only thing I could even think of - and not that it excuses it - the Church is not a Church of the LIttle Flower or Anything is it?
Click to expand...
No, it is not. But, I have been reading about Little Flower here and there and off and on for months now. Funny, your post made me think about reading about her again now.

I’m going tomorrow to buy a Mass card for yet another person who attended? Attends? daily Mass (every day, unlike me) that was very nice to me. She died right after all her family made it back to their respective homes after a stay celebrating Father’s Day. It is weird not seeing her there when I do try to make weekday Mass. Feels like there is one person missing. I know that sounds unconnected to Little Flower, but for me it does connect.
 
**For, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall”

1 Peter 1:24**
 
**For, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall”

1 Peter 1:24**
 
jmcrae said:
And keep on asking until you find answers that make sense. 🙂

Someone very wise once said, “There are no Catholics on this earth. What there are, are 1.5 billion persons on this earth who are at varying stages in their journey towards becoming Catholics. Some of them, including some members of the clergy, may appear at times to be moving backwards in that journey. This should not deter us from proceeding forward in our own journeys, however.”
Click to expand...
đź‘Ť:signofcross:
 
snowlake said:
bwdiaz;6804110:
… and I had bowed my head but then when I looked up, I realized all the congregation had raised their hands like they were joining in the blessing.

This happens in my parish all the time. I really don’t understand it either, Does anyone know why this is going on, and if there are any guidelines about it? I interiorly join in the prayer, but do not extend my hand - after all, I’m not a priest! I thought this type of blessing was reserved for ordained priests.Even though this might be an attempt to highlight the priesthood of the faithful, that is not the same thing. Why would the faithful need to “extend the hand” in blessing? I think it’s just another weird thing that has come about
that has its origins in fringe theology. And goofy liturgists.
Click to expand...
Blessings in the context of the Liturgy are reserved to the Priest (or Deacon IIRC). Therefore I believe that it falls into the category of a liturgical abuse.
I have seen this phenomenon on several occasions and it reminds me of the Nazi salute.
Click to expand...
 
jmcrae said:
There is a certain amount of Pentecostal influence that comes in by means of the “Life in the Spirit” movement. “Life in the Spirit” was approved by the Pope, but I’m not sure that he realized that people were taking some of the gestures and including them in the Mass.
Click to expand...
if you are speaking of the Catholic Charismatic renewal I have been attending Masses offered in these parishes regularly for 30 years and have never seen a) rose petals b) applause or c) any other abuses. If you have some definite proof that the Life in the Spirit seminar endorses such practices I would like to see it in writing, as it has never come up in any seminar I attended. In fact the parishes that are still part of this in this diocese are among those I attend when I am not in my own parish, just because I can trust that liturgy will be properly conducted by these particular priests.
 
puzzleannie said:
if you are speaking of the Catholic Charismatic renewal I have been attending Masses offered in these parishes regularly for 30 years and have never seen a) rose petals b) applause or c) any other abuses. If you have some definite proof that the Life in the Spirit seminar endorses such practices I would like to see it in writing, as it has never come up in any seminar I attended. In fact the parishes that are still part of this in this diocese are among those I attend when I am not in my own parish, just because I can trust that liturgy will be properly conducted by these particular priests.
Click to expand...
I’m not talking about their priests, or even most of the members of the Charismatic movement (most of whom are very, very orthodox and conservative) - I was replying to the post about the “blessing of the people” where there were lay people raising their hands - and I have seen some of the less-well catechized Charismatics doing this kind of thing - it comes from the “Blessings of the Lord” ritual in the meetings. It’s not meant to be transferred to other situations; nevertheless, some of them do it (and some of them even start singing the song that goes with it, so it’s not something else that just looks the same).
 
jmcrae said:
Someone very wise once said, "There are no Catholics on this earth. What there are, are 1.5 billion persons on this earth who are at varying stages in their journey towards becoming Catholics. "
Click to expand...
:hmmm: And who was the “wise” person who said that?
 
GIRM General instruction for the Roman Missal. Basic how to book of the Mass.
 
From the original posting, “She was with the group in the procession.” “She then took a seat with the altar girls after she finished circling the altar.” I would conclude that the procession was a Eucharistic Procession that is not only allowed at mass but is encouraged. Ex. a reader (lector) carries the Cross at the head of the Procession, followed by altar servers carrying lighted candles. The second reader ( lector) carries the Gospel (Book). The priest is next. This is the normal entrance at many parishes in my area for Sundays and special weekday masses that I have attended. The tossing of rose petals, althought they are very slippery, has been witnessed on a few occasions at different masses by myself, Though I cannot remember a Sunday Mass where that occured, I think rose petals are allowed, but do pose a risk.
see" GIRM #44 "and "Congregation for Divine Worship " for additional info reg. Processsions
 
thomas_jd said:
From the original posting, “She was with the group in the procession.” “She then took a seat with the altar girls after she finished circling the altar.” I would conclude that the procession was a Eucharistic Procession that is not only allowed at mass but is encouraged. Ex. a reader (lector) carries the Cross at the head of the Procession, followed by altar servers carrying lighted candles. The second reader ( lector) carries the Gospel (Book). The priest is next. This is the normal entrance at many parishes in my area for Sundays and special weekday masses that I have attended. The tossing of rose petals, althought they are very slippery, has been witnessed on a few occasions at different masses by myself, Though I cannot remember a Sunday Mass where that occured, I think rose petals are allowed, but do pose a risk.
see" GIRM #44 "and "Congregation for Divine Worship " for additional info reg. Processsions
Click to expand...
No one circles the altar ever in this arch. No one, not even the priest.
 
The rubrics do not speak of every single thing that may occur during Mass. They provide direction to the priest as to what is customary and lawful in celebrating the Mass. What this priest did was unusual for a Sunday Mass, but I think we should be charitable in assessing it. It could have happened because this little girl asked if she could do this right before Mass and the priest, not wanting to hurt her feelings, said “OK”. Thinking that might be beautiful doesn’t strike me as nefarious.

Odd things (as in out of the ordinary and not envisioned by the rubrics) may happen in the most unusual of places. On Easter Sunday, the former Cardinal Secretary of State gave a tribute to the Holy Father, defending him against those who were charging him with negligence in regard to minors who were sexually abused by clergy.

In Masses where a bishop is being ordained or installed, the principle consecrator sometimes chooses to give a little (or even a big) talk near the beginning of the Mass. I was present once when a particularly loquacious Archbishop said something hospitable to a number of visiting bishops and public dignitaries. Not in the rubrics.

The proper celebration of the Sacred Liturgy involves far more than a knowledge of rubrics.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top