Carnival Mass in Wurzburg

[michaeldaniels]

Carnival Mass in Wurzburg

At St. Augustine Church in Wurzburg, Germany, Fr. Thomas Eschenbacher celebrates a Carnival Mass with the full approval of Bishop Friedhelm Hofmann. Above, he appears between two youths in joyful attire.

Below first row, the opening procession allows attendees to appreciate the different Mardi Gras costumes. In the second row, one sees Fr. Thomas wearing a rainbow stole; in the third row he and a female clown proclaim in unison some lines from his sermon.

In the fourth row, the band 1+1 performs during Mass; in the fifth row, Fr. Thomas dances with the clown and some parishioners, and finally, the whole affair ends with general applause, sixth row.

Undoubtedly ceremonies like this constitute an efficient way to deviate attention from the Holy Mass as a renewal of the Sacrifice of Calvary. One should not forget that the Protestants consider mass as a festivity, not a sacrifice. Aren’t these increasingly numerous clownish Masses preparing Catholics to accept that interpretation? Once again, Progressivism adulterates the most important act of worship of the Catholic Church to make it palatable to Protestantism.

 

[michaeldaniels]

Last Picture…I’m sorry, but are there still people who want to defend the “inventions” done in the “spirit of Vatican II”?

 

[Hesychios]

Carnival Mass in Wurzburg …

Once again, Progressivism adulterates the most important act of worship of the Catholic Church to make it palatable to Protestantism.

I certainly don’t know what pastoral reason inspired the priest of that parish to attempt this, and I am not going to try to defend it (even if it happened to be Fat Tuesday, or for some other such reason). I just don’t see the connection between a carnival Mass and an appeal to Protestantism.

Are you trying to assert that ‘carnival’ worship is popular with Protestants? If so, please post why you think so.

 

[kildare]

Carnival is an ancient tradition and has been effective in highlighting the importance of Lent by giving an effective contrast. This works for certain culture, europe south and west of the great rivers (old roman empire) and latin america. It may be hard to understand for Anglo-saxons.
Christians are called to be joyful. You are confusing joy and fun with immorality.

 

[Mariamkutty]

Click here for a video of the pictures in Post # 1 depicting Carnival Mass in Wuerzburg

The carnival season begins at 11 minutes past 11 O’ Clock on November (11:11 11) and the merry making ends at the stroke of midnight on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Then Lent begins.

The world’s greatest carnival is in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a tradition introduced by the Portuguese after they colonized the land.

 

[NeedImprovement]

Carnival Mass in Wurzburg
…
Undoubtedly ceremonies like this constitute an efficient way to deviate attention from the Holy Mass as a renewal of the Sacrifice of Calvary. …

I think this is a point to be well taken.

Whatever the reasons for Mardi Gras, these particular pics look like a costume party that decided to go to Mass. The problem is, once they arrive at Mass dressed this way, there is every potential for desecration because they can serve to decimate a sense of the sacred by causing a distraction.

Guys, have another look at pic # 1 posted by michaeldaniels … Does anyone seriously believe those skirt lengths could be conducive to prayer…:dts:

These celebrations are fine - outside of the Mass.

 

[malphono]

Carnival is an ancient tradition and has been effective in highlighting the importance of Lent by giving an effective contrast. This works for certain culture, europe south and west of the great rivers (old roman empire) and latin america. It may be hard to understand for Anglo-saxons.
Christians are called to be joyful. You are confusing joy and fun with immorality.

Yes, Carnival is an old tradition, and yes it has been effective in highlighting the importance of Lent. It is a public celebration that ends with the beginning of Lent when the mood changes from festive to somber.

There is really nothing wrong with the practice per-se, but let’s keep in mind that it was never a liturgical practice, nor did the festivities ever take place in church. That’s where the problem is here: it has nothing to do with “confusing joy and fun with immorality” (nor do I think location or culture has any bearing), but rather has everything to do with liturgical disrespect (or “abuse” if one prefers).

 

[malphono]

Guys, have another look at pic # 1 posted by michaeldaniels … Does anyone seriously believe those skirt lengths could be conducive to prayer…:dts:

These celebrations are fine - outside of the Mass.

That photo seems to be of majorettes, and I think the outfits they’re wearing are pretty typical. That said, I agree 100%: keep it on the street. None of it belongs in church, much less at Mass or any other liturgical service.

 

[NeedImprovement]

That photo seems to be of majorettes, and I think the outfits they’re wearing are pretty typical. That said, I agree 100%: keep it on the street. None of it belongs in church, much less at Mass or any other liturgical service.

Agreed… It’s where the outfits are located which is my point. Photo # 3 appears to show two rows of majorettes seated on each side of the sanctuary near the altar, which, according to the photo in post # 2 is up higher than the congregation, hence visually more prominent . As much as I love majorettes, those particular outfits don’t really appeal to me as a suitable frame around an altar on which the Holy Sacrifice is about to be offered.

 

[michaeldaniels]

I’m sorry, I am not confusing anything…it is straight up immoral in every regard. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass does not need to take a back seat to some circus spectacle. When are people going to realize there is such a huge chasm between the reverence and respect shown towards the Most Blessed Sacrament in 1950, as opposed to today and put their foots down and demand stuff like this stop happening.

There once was a time when the priest, out of reverence for The Body of Christ would keep his thumbs and forefingers of each hand together until they were washed over the chalice after receiving Holy Communion…now it is hard to find a priest that wants to even do a decent Elevation…

You are confusing joy and fun with immorality.

 

[Layman]

Eventually they’ll realise that feeeeelings, populism, ‘joyousness’, personalisation, noise and audience participation are not conducive to inculcating holiness. A pity if it takes church closures and a dearth of priests to get this idea across.

In my opinion, it’s Christian Darwinism at work. The mills of God are terrible and they grind slowly. Holiness calls to the pious and keeps them, marketing brings in the curious and then later they leave.

 

[Onegin]

Sorry, but saying that Anglo-Saxons simply don’t understand this - local? - practice smells a bit too much like cultural relativism for my taste.

Based on the photos, what was going on in that Mass should not have been going on. Anywhere. In any country. Period.

Sorry folks but what is wrong is wrong.

 

[pnewton]

I am wondering. They are doing this at a Tridentine Mass?

 

[michaeldaniels]

I think it is obvious they are not…that is the relevance. For the love of God, can we please return to tradition…to the sacredness and the reverence. Everytime something like this happens it is an abomination…and those of us that fight against it are labeled as “rigid” and “insensitive”…all the meanwhile, the words of Bella Dodd CLEARLY REMIND ME of the current state of The Catholic Church…and I quote:

***“Once the Faith was destroyed, she explained that there would be a guilt complex introduced into the Church…. to label the ‘Church of the past’ as being oppressive, authoritarian, full of prejudices, arrogant in claiming to be the sole possessor of truth, and responsible for the divisions of religious bodies throughout the centuries. This would be necessary in order to shame Church leaders into an ‘openness to the world,’ and to a more flexible attitude toward all religions and philosophies. The Communists would then exploit this openness in order to undermine the Church.”

---

If you can’t see the forest for the trees…then God help you…I will certainly pray for you and others that can not…or choose not to

If I misundertood what you were trying to imply with your post, I apologize

I am wondering. They are doing this at a Tridentine Mass?

 

[Breviarylover]

:dts::dts::dts:

 

[Breviarylover]

I am wondering. They are doing this at a Tridentine Mass?

No, it does not look like an EF Mass, at all.

 

[pnewton]

I think it is obvious they are not.

Then why is it posted here. Groupthink? This is the Traditional Catholicism forum, not the Catholic News or L & S forum.

If the motivation was to alert others to problems, it would have been placed where those most needing alerting it would have seen it. I do not like this type of Mass any better than you do. But if the stereotype of Traditional Catholic is ever to be changed, negativity for negativity’s sake needs to stop. We do not elevate ourselves when we tear down others.

 

[pnewton]

I am not going to respond at this time, in deference to the staff, except to say that this thread is all wrong. If you want, I will PM why.

 

[SBH]

Carnival is an ancient tradition and has been effective in highlighting the importance of Lent by giving an effective contrast. This works for certain culture, europe south and west of the great rivers (old roman empire) and latin america. It may be hard to understand for Anglo-saxons.
Christians are called to be joyful. You are confusing joy and fun with immorality.

Perhaps, but at Mass? I don’t think so…it is out right sacrilege.

 

[Mariamkutty]

I’m somewhat surprised at the judgmental tone of the posts on this thread.

The youth pastor who conducted the Youth Carnival Mass in Wuerzburg depicted here, did it with the permission of his bishop.

Wuerzburg, since 1814 a part of the state of Bavaria, the German state from where the present Pope Benedict XVI hails, is Christian since 689 AD. It is very conservative in its Catholic practice.

Does anyone remember King David of the Old Testament, the one has been described as a man after God’s own heart, who danced and sang in the temple as part of his worship?

Has anyone forgotten that the Roman Catholic Church is very much West European in its culture and many of the customs we take for Christian are adopted from European paganism, including the date for Christmas celebration?

So if Catholic youth in Wuerzburg choose to celebrate Mass in the joyful spirit of carnival clowns, what exactly is wrong with it? Rather than looking upon it as bringing irreverence to worship, should it not be looked upon as offering up to God an otherwise irreverent, Godless celebration outside of the church?