Arrgh! Horrible "Surprise" at Mass today

[netmilsmom]

Do you really think Jesus at this Mass was offended by the girls and the priest? My guess is that he was embracing them with his love, all through it!.

My guess is that He was looking at them the way I look at my kids when they make up a play.
With loving humor.

 

[jmcrae]

Reading comprehension is not one of your strong points, eh?
Try it again, understanding that the OP walked into a LifeTeen Mass with very few teens and no announcement that it was being changed to a LifeTeen mass. It certainly wasn’t about teens praising God, when few teens were there.

But it also wasn’t worth committing a mortal sin over.

He should have stayed to the end of the Mass, since he knew it was the last available Mass for that Sunday, and just offered up his discomfort and annoyance about the music, etc. - a soul in Purgatory could have been released for that, but instead he chose to commit a mortal sin by walking out before the end.

 

[Atk_Aheeni]

I go to Mass at the 7pm last chance Mass (last one in the diocese), expecting the usual lukewarm homily, Haugen & Haas, and the massive cremation. Its about the best I can expect in this diocese. Anyway, I got a wonderful surprise when Mass started, and we were informed that from now on, that this would be a “Teen Mass”, and the organist was now replaced by teens with acoustic guitars.

…I always thought that although I wasn’t really happy with the Mass at this parish, that it could be much worse. Well, today we got a load of Protestant music…my wife (ex Baptist) was very familiar with what they decided to play…since they use that exact same music at the Mega-Church down the street…

Drove me nuts! I was so angry I walked out of the Mass…

I feel bad for those kids who they are trying to reach out to. I can only imagine bieng on stage with a guitar singing christian music in a catholic church and watch people pick up there stuff and leave. I dont like that kind of music either but I wouldnt want to dump on the kids or the church for trying to reach out to there peers with the skills they do have.

I wouldnt have liked it myself but I couldnt make them kids who were playing feel bad by walking out because theyre playing of guitars.

Those kids could be out getting high and drunk but nope they are participating in church. Believe me from one Alaskan to another you know how the kids get there kicks up there. Anchorage may be big but it aint that big. I say Kudos to the kids who participate and try to get there peers to come to church.

 

[Isidore_AK]

Ya so? Where does it say he has to stay in the sanctuary to give his homily? Our Bishops always walk up and down the center isle of the church when they give their homilies.

From the GIRM: **136. The priest, standing at the chair or at the ambo itself or, when appropriate, in another suitable place, gives the homily. When the homily is completed, a period of silence may be observed. **

Our new Paster started doing this. I thought he was wrong, but the missalette says, that if music is being played, this part is said quietly by the priest.

Your priest is wrong.

To Quote the GIRM:
GIRM Ch. 2:

1. Among the parts assigned to the priest, the foremost is the Eucharistic Prayer, which is the high point of the entire celebration. Next are the orations: that is to say, the collect, the prayer over the offerings, and the prayer after Communion. These prayers are addressed to God in the name of the entire holy people and all present, by the priest who presides over the assembly in the person of Christ.43 It is with good reason, therefore, that they are called the “presidential prayers.”
2. It is also up to the priest, in the exercise of his office of presiding over the gathered assembly, to offer certain explanations that are foreseen in the rite itself. Where it is indicated in the rubrics, the celebrant is permitted to adapt them somewhat in order that they respond to the understanding of those participating. However, he should always take care to keep to the sense of the text given in the Missal and to express them succinctly. The presiding priest is also to direct the word of God and to impart the final blessing. In addition, he may give the faithful a very brief introduction to the Mass of the day (after the initial Greeting and before the Act of Penitence), to the Liturgy of the Word (before the readings), and to the Eucharistic Prayer (before the Preface), though never during the Eucharistic Prayer itself; he may also make concluding comments to the entire sacred action before the dismissal.
3. The nature of the “presidential” texts demands that they be spoken in a loud and clear voice and that everyone listen with attention.44 Thus, while the priest is speaking these texts, there should be no other prayers or singing, and the organ or other musical instruments should be silent.

Mass is over, no problem in him thanking the girls, giving them encouragement.

It is inappropriate to clap for the “band” at Mass. There should be silence in the church after Mass.

Well that was a mistake, but I wouldn’t get upset about it. Perhaps you could talk to the girls and inform them that they should bow towards the tabernacle.

How kind of you to admit this one…

I haven’t seen any disrespect other than your own, towards the priest and the girls playing the music.

Disrespect?!? Hah! They’re the ones who are being disrespectful to Our Lord.

It sounds like you’ve have some problems, which have nothing to do with the way the Mass is celebrated.

Perhaps you have the problem?

 

[AquinaSavio]

Ya so? Where does it say he has to stay in the sanctuary to give his homily? Our Bishops always walk up and down the center isle of the church when they give their homilies.

Come on, Jim. The GIRM says what is to be done, not what is to be avoided. There’s a big difference.

Mass is over, no problem in him thanking the girls, giving them encouragement.

He’s drawing attention to the music, when it is really not the focal point of the Mass. Sure, Mass is over…but, applause almost gives the idea of entertainment, not worshipping God (which is why we’re there).

Well that was a mistake, but I wouldn’t get upset about it. Perhaps you could talk to the girls and inform them that they should bow towards the tabernacle.

Why didn’t the priest correct it? Did he think it was cute that they didn’t know any better? I’d say there are several red flags here…

I haven’t seen any disrespect other than your own, towards the priest and the girls playing the music.

You’re simply trying to bog this person down with arguments. Coming up on the altar is a lack of respect, whether the girls meant to do it or not. The priest allowed it, too.

It sounds like you’ve have some problems, which have nothing to do with the way the Mass is celebrated.

Can we keep these debates on a Catholic level? Implying that they have problems because they’re frustrated with some abuses is just immature. I think you need to stop flinging insults and just state your case.

God Bless

 

[Still_Trying]

Ya so? Where does it say he has to stay in the sanctuary to give his homily? Our Bishops always walk up and down the center isle of the church when they give their homilies.

Our new Paster started doing this. I thought he was wrong, but the missalette says, that if music is being played, this part is said quietly by the priest.

Mass is over, no problem in him thanking the girls, giving them encouragement.

Well that was a mistake, but I wouldn’t get upset about it. Perhaps you could talk to the girls and inform them that they should bow towards the tabernacle.

I haven’t seen any disrespect other than your own, towards the priest and the girls playing the music.

It sounds like you’ve have some problems, which have nothing to do with the way the Mass is celebrated.

Jim

Wow. I’m pretty new here, but those were sure some snotty comments…wouldn’t have expected it from a Catholic forum. Terribly inappropriate.

You may want to reference the GIRM. Your Bishops are not following it. Keep in mind that just because it’s a bishop or priest doing or saying whatever it is you are blindly accepting…it doesn’t mean they are correct.

And I disagree with your opinion about conduct as mass is ending. IMHO I would think it appropriate to quietly leave the nave out of respect for those who wish to remain in prayer and out of respect for the Eucharist.

 

[deb1]

Try it again, understanding that the OP walked into a LifeTeen Mass with very few teens and no announcement that it was being changed to a LifeTeen mass. It certainly wasn’t about teens praising God, when few teens were there.

I was under the impression that the OP said that it wasn’t a Life Teen Mass. I might be wrong. This is a long thread, afterall.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

From the GIRM: 136. The priest, standing at the chair or at the ambo itself or, when appropriate, in another suitable place, gives the homily. When the homily is completed, a period of silence may be observed.

What part of when appropriate don’t you understand?

Also, the first word in the accronym, GIRM is, “general.” In other words, the local Bishop has authority on how the Mass is celebrated in his diocese, unless restricted by Rome. The GIRM does not restrict the Bishop, because it’s “general,” not absolute.

Like I said before, all the Bishops who have been head of the diocese that I live in, have walked the isle among the people, when they’ve given their homilies. I think they know what they’re doing.

Your priest is wrong.

 

[Isidore_AK]

But it also wasn’t worth committing a mortal sin over.

He should have stayed to the end of the Mass, since he knew it was the last available Mass for that Sunday, and just offered up his discomfort and annoyance about the music, etc. - a soul in Purgatory could have been released for that, but instead he chose to commit a mortal sin by walking out before the end.

I think seething in anger and hatred is a good reason to leave. I said it already, I wanted to beat the tar out of the priest for doing this. I get very very angry, and if I don’t remove myself from the cause of my anger I get physically violent. It was better that I leave. Y’all can tell me as much as you want that I should have stayed, but I know I did the right thing. Its better to leave than to assault the priest.

Also, I originally posted this thread in the “back fence” forum because I just wanted to vent, not EDIT debate people about what happened. I attended that Mass because its one of the few in this diocese that I find acceptable. Most of the rest are already contempo masses, hippy masses (y’know, with acoustic guitars and tamborines…), or rock’n roll masses. This was one of the last refuges from the dreck you get at most masses…and now its gone, without so much as a EDIT warning! Arrrrgh!

 

[Ray_Scheel]

but instead he chose to commit a mortal sin by walking out before the end.

It is a rather broad brush to declare this was mortal sin when a real attempt was made to attend a properly (as locally possibly) said mass.

I’ve also walked out on a particularily bad teen masses because I didn’t want to give any appearance of condoning or endorsing the scandalous treatment of the liturgy or the Eucharist I was observing. I made it through the possibly heretical rendition of something resembling the Apostles Creed that managed to abbreviate the content despite doubling the length of the wording, but whe the priest stopped to ask the teens to elevate their hands with him during the consecration I could no longer stand having to silently watch the mistreatent of the core of the faith.

There is no obligation to consent to borderline heresy and sacrelidge through silent participation or apparent consent; the sin was on the part of the priest and organizers for denying the faithful of at least a tolerable mass with a switch they were only made aware of after it was too late for them to attend a more properly said mass elsewhere.

 

[Still_Trying]

I feel bad for those kids who they are trying to reach out to. I can only imagine bieng on stage with a guitar singing christian music in a catholic church and watch people pick up there stuff and leave. I dont like that kind of music either but I wouldnt want to dump on the kids or the church for trying to reach out to there peers with the skills they do have.

I wouldnt have liked it myself but I couldnt make them kids who were playing feel bad by walking out because theyre playing of guitars.

Those kids could be out getting high and drunk but nope they are participating in church. Believe me from one Alaskan to another you know how the kids get there kicks up there. Anchorage may be big but it aint that big. I say Kudos to the kids who participate and try to get there peers to come to church.

I agree with you that it’s good that kids are participating in Church rather than doing immoral or illegal things. It is wonderful for them to work on bringing their peers to Mass.

But, that wasn’t the point. And no one just stomped out in the middle…they just quietly got up and left. I seriously doubt the girls noticed as their placement in the room wouldn’t have given them the right line of sight (they were not on the stage…they were in the side/middle area next to the organ). No one was rude to the girls…I was watching (I can remember performing as a teen and being worried about being laughed at or what-not, so am sensitive to that…of course, I was protestant at the time so it was a different atmosphere).

The girls did a nice job. It just would have been appropriate at a youth group function…not during mass.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I think seething in anger and hatred is a good reason to leave. I said it already, I wanted to beat the tar out of the priest for doing this. I get very very angry, and if I don’t remove myself from the cause of my anger I get physically violent. It was better that I leave. Y’all can tell me as much as you want that I should have stayed, but I know I did the right thing. Its better to leave than to assault the priest.

Also, I originally posted this thread in the “back fence” forum because I just wanted to vent, not EDIT debate people about what happened. I attended that Mass because its one of the few in this diocese that I find acceptable. Most of the rest are already contempo masses, hippy masses (y’know, with acoustic guitars and tamborines…), or rock’n roll masses. This was one of the last refuges from the dreck you get at most masses…and now its gone, without so much as a EDIT warning! Arrrrgh!

Praying for you!

Jim

 

[Still_Trying]

It is a rather broad brush to declare this was mortal sin when a real attempt was made to attend a properly (as locally possibly) said mass.

I’ve also walked out on a particularily bad teen masses because I didn’t want to give any appearance of condoning or endorsing the scandalous treatment of the liturgy or the Eucharist I was observing. I made it through the possibly heretical rendition of something resembling the Apostles Creed that managed to abbreviate the content despite doubling the length of the wording, but whe the priest stopped to ask the teens to elevate their hands with him during the consecration I could no longer stand having to silently watch the mistreatent of the core of the faith.

There is no obligation to consent to borderline heresy and sacrelidge through silent participation or apparent consent; the sin was on the part of the priest and organizers for denying the faithful of at least a tolerable mass with a switch they were only made aware of after it was too late for them to attend a more properly said mass elsewhere.

Thank you!! It’s good to know there are folks out there standing up for what is right!

I think I will contact the priest about this. I don’t want to see our liturgy abused. And up here it’s not like we can just drive to a neighboring diocese to get away from it. (Nearest one is a SIX PLUS hour drive ONE way).

 

[Atk_Aheeni]

I agree with you that it’s good that kids are participating in Church rather than doing immoral or illegal things. It is wonderful for them to work on bringing their peers to Mass.

But, that wasn’t the point. And no one just stomped out in the middle…they just quietly got up and left. I seriously doubt the girls noticed as their placement in the room wouldn’t have given them the right line of sight (they were not on the stage…they were in the side/middle area next to the organ). No one was rude to the girls…I was watching (I can remember performing as a teen and being worried about being laughed at or what-not, so am sensitive to that…of course, I was protestant at the time so it was a different atmosphere).

The girls did a nice job. It just would have been appropriate at a youth group function…not during mass.

Yeah but any catholic knows when you see people leave the church during mass its either someone had a baby someone died or someone fainted. Those kids know better what that was about. i guess i would have took one for the team.

 

[DWPC]

Well…don’t I hear ya! Nothing ticks me off faster than seeing a group of teenagers gathered in a church using their time, talent and energy to praise God…
Who’d have thought 35 years ago, when this unfortunate liturgical mayhem was unleashed, that the simple act of attending Mass for some Catholics would become a stressful issue.That posts like Isadore’s appear at all is argument enough that things have gone too far.

The teens can *praise *God anywhere, anytime. This was a not a prayer meeting, it was a Mass; a rite with an explicit liturgy in which ALL faithful Catholics *should *be welcome to particpate and recieve Christ in the Eucharist free of an unpleasant environment or intimidating actions. To think that we’re now at a point where good and faithful Catholics feel intimidated or stressed about the simple act of going to Sunday Mass!

 

[Island_Oak]

Reading comprehension is not one of your strong points, eh?
Try it again, understanding that the OP walked into a LifeTeen Mass with very few teens and no announcement that it was being changed to a LifeTeen mass. It certainly wasn’t about teens praising God, when few teens were there.

Trust me when I asssure you that I had no trouble whatsoever deciphering the temperament of the OP or what s/he meant by his post and responded accordingly:

…I think seething in anger and hatred is a good reason to leave. I said it already, I wanted to beat the tar out of the priest for doing this. I get very very angry, and if I don’t remove myself from the cause of my anger I get physically violent. It was better that I leave. Y’all can tell me as much as you want that I should have stayed, but I know I did the right thing. Its better to leave than to assault the priest.

…and if anyone can justify this as a healthy, justifiable observance of form, we do not belong to the same Church.

 

[Atk_Aheeni]

Well…don’t I hear ya! Nothing ticks me off faster than seeing a group of teenagers gathered in a church using their time, talent and energy to praise God.
I mean, c’mon on…whatever happened to sneaking cigarettes, swiping liquor from the old man’s cabinet and getting drunk or having sex in the back of the Chevy??? What in the world is to become of the detox counselors, crisis pregnancy advisors, parole officers, abortion protestors–I mean these folks need to earn a living too, don’t they?!? WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH KIDS THESE DAYS turning to the Church of all places to spend their time!!! I hope we can turn this trend around and soon!!!

LOL

 

[Ray_Scheel]

Yeah but any catholic knows when you see people leave the church during mass its either someone had a baby someone died or someone fainted. Those kids know better what that was about. i guess i would have took one for the team.

Having the guts to walk out is taking one for the team, while sitting and through silence and inaction giving the impression that one thought the scandalous treatment of the liturgy was acceptable actually makes one a party to the scandal. When to stick it out and when to go is a judgement call based on one’s person own comfort level, but the teen masses seem especailly inclined to pack in the reasons to take what actions one can to quietly object to bad liturgies being forced upon the attending faithful.

 

[Isidore_AK]

Trust me when I asssure you that I had no trouble whatsoever deciphering the temperament of the OP or what s/he meant by his post and responded accordingly:

…and if anyone can justify this as a healthy, justifiable observance of form, we do not belong to the same Church.

Listen buddy, I have admitted multiple times in this thread that I have anger problems. If you’d lived my life you would too. I am not trying to justify my reaction. I know full well that both my anger and my reaction were sinful. That doesn’t mean that I should sit there, become even more EDIT ticked off and do something that would land me in the pokey.

Think of the incredible Hulk. Hulk angry, Hulk SMASH. That describes me pretty well. You won’t like me when I’m angry. As it is I went outside where it was about 5 degrees above 0, and cursed like a sailer for about 15 minutes. I threw a temper tantrum. A big one.

But that is how I react to anger and stress. I direct physical violence at the source of my anger. Deal with it.

 

[tkdnick]

it was a Mass; a rite with an explicit liturgy in which ALL faithful Catholics *should *be welcome to particpate and recieve Christ in the Eucharist free of an unpleasant environment or intimidating actions. To think that we’re now at a point where good and faithful Catholics feel intimidated or stressed about the simple act of going to Sunday Mass!

INCLUDING those people who wish to worship God with a more contemporary music style!!!