Dancing around the altar

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Episcopal gloves, cassocks and surplices, and a beautiful church, combined with trad - looking nuns? I’m intrigued
 
Apparently all of these pictures are from Germany. I’m sure that answers the intrigue you originally had.
 
Oh, Germany.

Where cultural Catholicism and crazy liberalism meet…
 
My instinctive reaction is No. No dancing in church, ever. I have only once been present at a Mass that included dancing – just one dancer, female, but for me that was already one dancer too many.
 
The topic of concerts being performed in acusticly pleasing churches and dancing be it charismatic, ballet, what ever, is pointless to complain about, because if a bishop or abbot , priest , deems it to be okay and good for the community, then ipsofacto it is and said clergy could really careless if they lose a few people to their congregation over it. They would rather have a niche progressive church / congregation that is appearing to become modern to a fast paced world. It becomes hypocrticial to go to a parish where concerts are taking place in a place of worship and dancing, and then to turn around and say wait, since neither is taking place today, you should have your phone off and be silent

If it is a problem for others the only choice is to just find another parish that doesnt do such things… instead of dealing with clergy and leaders who smile and shagrin and say well the community loves it, when in reality it is the collection basket that is seeing the real increase and elitests who feel they have earned some kind of position to run a church as they see fit. An then get offended when called out on their bovine scatology.
 
HolySpirit1 said:
The topic of concerts being performed in acusticly pleasing churches
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Dancing is one thing, concerts are something else. I’ve never heard anyone complain about a performance of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion or Handel’s Messiah in a church. On the contrary, I’d say that a church is an eminently suitable setting for a performance of an oratorio – provided, of course, that the acoustics are up to the required standard.
 
I consider Mozart’s Requiem, the Bach Oratorios etc perfectly worshipful to perform in our cathedral. We had a polyphonic choir concert by a contemporary of Palestrina. (de la Rue?) It’s not mass, and doesn’t replace mass, and never should, but it is worship in another way.
 
Speaking pastorally, it is unfair to the congregation to replace the regular, ”accustomed” mass time to be too far out of the norm. If you want to elaborate and offer non-standard mass a/o prayer/services do it, but as an addition, not a replacement.

Example: I can do my weekly Sunday High (Lutheran) Mass. During the weekevenings, I can pick from Taizé mass, Anglican Evensong (my parish is hugely into ecumenism), family mass, various bilingual masses, even one that looks pretty Orthodox liturgically (though I’ve never been there - it’s a district that carters to the mixed immigrant community).
If someone wanted to do a solemn dance on a random Tuesday evening, I’m good to go. If I’m feeling old school I still have a choice.
 
Yes, I referenced this in an earlier post. This sort of “dancing” is more of a rhythmic sway and is proper to the Ethiopic Rite.
 
The edited video is a little disingenuous.

The first part was at a stadium for some large event. Perhaps Carnivale ?

The part where the couple is dancing, is not during Mass as the final blessing was given beforehand. In fact, when the couple are dancing, there isn’t any clergy seen around the altar.

It may be a couple celebrating their wedding anniversary. Who knows ?

Jim
 
an there in is the problem, how can one really expect people to be reverent and silent in a place of worship, which is what a church is, when you have weird dancing going on and give it a name to excuse why it is being done, and then have concerts taking place.

it is just hypocrasy and double standards that clergy of all ranks allow, for what ever reason that they have come up with to justify it. I just wont waste my time and money at such churches, if i was into that , i’d just ditch the catholic church altogether and go to some modern church at some building, with a tricked out sound system and a nice projection screen. Or better yet, if i was into opera, id just go to an actual proper concert hall and enjoy it there.

It is just a difference of opininon on the matter, thankfully not one that comes with any kind of obligation to actually respect.

I mean if dancing and opera music is fine, then you have to cave in to all forms of dancing and all forms of music being performed, or else it is just hypocrasy and double standards. But what ever the Catholic Church doesnt really encourage common sense and being guided by ones God given conscience so, it becomes a take it or leave it, make your choice and go where you are comfortable and hope for the best.
 
LOL! Thank you Joy for knowing the difference between the “altar” and the “sanctuary!” Why is it that so many people use these terms interchangeably? When speaking to my ministry people and others, I make it a point to teach the difference. The biggest offenders are the ones who should know better!

In the case of the OP, remember that he said is was not during a liturgy for what it’s worth. I think I can take it if it where done respectfully as possible and not overdone.

I remember a similar question about this not to long ago.

Dance in a spiritual setting, Mass or not, is the norm for some of our sisters and brothers in foreign countries. There, dance is their expression of love and worship and far be it for me to say, “stop, we don’t do that in the civilized world!” I’d would love to see dance in a city in the far reaches of Africa (as one example) where Catholic Ministries have spread the Gospel and saved people by teaching them Jesus and the Mass for the first time. And, for that, I believe that Jesus too is dancing!
 
I agree. In fact we should not just post any (false) video or picture. Make sure to get it from the right source as to what it is.
 
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Who can take a Mass like this seriously?

Let’s keep this issue simple: if Jesus wanted us dancing at Mass, the Gospel accounts of the Last Supper would have told us so.

In fact, the washing of the feet recounted in John’s Gospel implicitly implies that our Lord did not want any dancing performed at Mass. Otherwise, it would have made no sense for Him to spend time washing the apostles’ feet, only to have them dancing around just minutes later.
 
bobperk said:
Who can take a Mass like this seriously?

Let’s keep this issue simple: if Jesus wanted us dancing at Mass, the Gospel accounts of the Last Supper would have told us so.

In fact, the washing of the feet recounted in John’s Gospel implicitly implies that our Lord did not want any dancing performed at Mass. Otherwise, it would have made no sense for Him to spend time washing the apostles’ feet, only to have them dancing around just minutes later.
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You might be surprised there are indeed some people who are enormously edified by this kind of mass celebration.

Not that I endorse or condemn it. I am a GIRM person, it makes life simple.

However, there are times in private situation where some flexibility is exercised for the group of people concerned.
 
This is an issue where if such a worship service was both desired and permissible, it should be a stand-alone Mass, or several parishes could combine and take turns hosting a “liturgical dance” Mass, e.g. “St. Vitus Parish will be hosting liturgical dance Mass Sunday at 1pm.” That way the vast majority of the flock would not be subject to this particular form of worship, but the fancy-foot faithful could join together and perform their routine together.
 
bobperk said:
Let’s keep this issue simple: if Jesus wanted us dancing at Mass, the Gospel accounts of the Last Supper would have told us so.
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Playing the Devil advocate here. I think that does not conclusively say that there should not be any dance, right?

The mass is a liturgy, right? It is not only made up of the Rite of the Eucharist but a combination of rites for worship.
bobperk said:
In fact, the washing of the feet recounted in John’s Gospel implicitly implies that our Lord did not want any dancing performed at Mass. Otherwise, it would have made no sense for Him to spend time washing the apostles’ feet, only to have them dancing around just minutes later.
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If it implies, then you may be right but it does not mean you have a case for it.

How about the presentation of gifts? Is not that a thanksgiving, presenting our gifts for offering to God?

The idea that dancing is gross or lurid is not true because liturgical dance has a place in worship. We also know that King David danced at the most holy Ark of the Covenant.

I would say a valid reason why we should not dance during the mass is because of GIRM, which does not say anything about dancing. Before or after the mass? Then that could be different consideration altogether.
 
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