Did Anyone Here Watch the 49th Annual Eucharistic Conference Mass on EWTN?

[Spiller]

Did Anyone Here Watch the 49th Annual Eucharistic Conference Mass from Quebec City on EWTN? I found it troubling.

Francis Cardinal Arinze was the principal celebrant. As the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments Cardinal Arinze has been a great defender of the faith and of the solemn nature of the Mass.

While watching the Mass on EWTN I couldn’t help but think those who planned the Mass were trying to (metaphorically) poke Cardinal Arinze in the eye. The choice of sanctuary furnishings was sad. The altar, ambo and chairs appeared to have been made from scrap. The primary chalice looked more like wire-form art than a sacred vessel. During the procession of the gifts, someone legged-up what appeared to be a tiki statue made into a bongo. The gift procession itself was artificially long and just a bit odd.

We were also treated to a display of a new liturgical dance it would appear, sort of like a bunny hop/conga line.

Why does this sorta stuff still take place? Who are the people that derived pleasure/nourishment from planning a Mass in this manner? I would be the last to suggest moving the altar to a corner of the auditorium where the priest would then celebrate with his back to everyone, but this was just as bad.

What gives? The planners could not be that obtuse. They must have known it would be uncomfortable for Cardinal Arinze – and for many Catholics around the world that viewed it on EWTN. Just making a statement or deliberately trying to cause pain?

 

[stinkyweed]

Yes,I watched in parts on different days. Did not see all Masses, too much. Did think the eastern rite Mass was beautiful for the space they were in. I know it was difficult for them. The music sung was awesomely holy during that Mass. I am not sure which rite was used.
The broadcast itself was messy. It was not EWTN’s best moment. I would hope they were also shocked at some of the things there.
Let us pray that next in Ireland will lift all toward our Lord, to see Him hiddden in the humble form of Body, that to human eyes appears as bread. May we also pray for World Youth Day, may all stay faithful to the CATHOLIC CHURCH. It too will be on EWTN.:byzsoc:

 

[benedictgal]

Cardinal Arinze didn’t look at all comfortable. He didn’t seem to be at ease with that air-traffic controller headset he was wearing.

Now, bear in mind that it was Africa Day at the time he was celebrating the Mass. That may or may not have explained the dance because there is a region in the Congo that does have an indult for the dance. But, again, this was Quebec, and not the Congo. The deal with the family setting up a dinner table was also rather bizarre.

The furnishings looked like something out of the Buckhorn Museum in San Antonio (furniture using antlers and other animal oddities). While the Mass was in the round, the arrangement was not at all conducive to the solemnity of the liturgy. I will say this, though, the music, at least as far as I could tell (I had to rush out to help set up the parish hall for my pastor’s birthday party) was far superior to the infamous DC Mass. At least that was a bit of a consolation to Cardinal Arinze.

He did look a little worn by the time he got to the homily. I have a feeling that he had some words to say to the organizers of the Mass.

 

[Spiller]

Catholics of the world deserve better yet it seems like this stuff continues to go on. The President of the USA is rarely/never caught in situations like this. That’s because he has an advance team that sweats the details. When the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments is treated in this manner, it makes a HUGE statement – particularly when broadcast worldwide by EWTN. It seems that in this case they were intentionally trying to do things that Cardinal Arinze would not care for.

The Church needs to get control of this stuff.

 

[benedictgal]

Catholics of the world deserve better yet it seems like this stuff continues to go on. The President of the USA is rarely/never caught in situations like this. That’s because he has an advance team that sweats the details. When the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments is treated in this manner, it makes a HUGE statement – particularly when broadcast worldwide by EWTN. It seems that in this case they were intentionally trying to do things that Cardinal Arinze would not care for.

The Church needs to get control of this stuff.

Gee, that sounds like the same argument that I made regarding the dismal and horrid music for the DC Mass that Pope Benedict had to endure. That music was a particularly embarassing momvnt for the Church in the United States. After all, Pope Benedict has made several statements on sacred music. It would seem that the planners were also saying, “You have your agenda. This is ours.” It’s sad that both Peter and his Prefect got to experience the worst in liturgy in this continent.

 

[Spiller]

Gee, that sounds like the same argument that I made regarding the dismal and horrid music for the DC Mass that Pope Benedict had to endure. That music was a particularly embarassing momvnt for the Church in the United States. After all, Pope Benedict has made several statements on sacred music. It would seem that the planners were also saying, “You have your agenda. This is ours.” It’s sad that both Peter and his Prefect got to experience the worst in liturgy in this continent.

And?

The “dismal and horrid music” you speak about was in no way as overt and aggressive an attack/statement as all the stuff that took place at the subject Mass. My honest thoughts were that whomever planned the Mas did it with a specific intent to cast a pall on Cardinal Arinze and his position as prefect.

 

[benedictgal]

And?

The “dismal and horrid music” you speak about was in no way as overt and aggressive an attack/statement as all the stuff that took place at the subject Mass. My honest thoughts were that whomever planned the Mas did it with a specific intent to cast a pall on Cardinal Arinze and his position as prefect.

And you don’t think that the same thing happened at DC? Please. That music was the antithesis of everything that Benedict wrote, especially his statement where he notes that certainly, as far as the liturgy is concerned, we cannot say that one song is as good as another.

Either way, both Pope and prefect got to experience the worst of the liturgical style of North America. Both liturgies were an embarassment.

 

[Spiller]

And you don’t think that the same thing happened at DC? Please. That music was the antithesis of everything that Benedict wrote, especially his statement where he notes that certainly, as far as the liturgy is concerned, we cannot say that one song is as good as another.

Either way, both Pope and prefect got to experience the worst of the liturgical style of North America. Both liturgies were an embarassment.

If one accepts that the music was “dismal and horrid” (not all do) then it reflects poorly on those who planned the Mass and to a much lower degree, the Pope’s own team.

OTOH the subject Mass almost seems as if was crafted (from MANY different angles, not one) to belittle Cardinal Arinze and more specifically the office he represents within the Church. The Pope is universal. The prefect’s responsibilities are far narrower and it appears the Mass was modeled to make a mockery of those responsibilities.

It appears as though someone was trying to send a distinct message. Someone would have caught this and demanded changes long before the day of the Mass.

 

[belgianwaffles9]

The masses were planned so horribly because they were planned by [edited], the former Papal Master of Cermonies who Benedict XVI recently [edited] made in charge of the Eucharistic Congresses [edited]. [Edited] he’s running around promoting a book supporting his abuses now, as well. [Edited] Unfortunately, he’s still getting on TV.

Spiller:

I would be the last to suggest moving the altar to a corner of the auditorium where the priest would then celebrate with his back to everyone, but this was just as bad.

I would have loved to see that, actually. Even if they did the masses versus populum instead of ad orientam, i think it would have been a better use of space to have the altar not in the center, as is a more trafitional design for a large church.

And if you would prefer the priest and the people not to face the same way, then wouldnt you be in favor of moving the altar to some corner? Beause with it in the middle, at least half the people on the other side see his back (although i personally think they had the better perspective).

 

[Ixliam]

Did think the eastern rite Mass was beautiful for the space they were in. I know it was difficult for them. The music sung was awesomely holy during that Mass. I am not sure which rite was used.

It was the Byzantine-Ukranian rite.

 

[stinkyweed]

Thank you, It was the most beautiful and up lifting toward the heavenly Mass. Felt like the Whole Church was there, even with the place. Was thankful that EWTN ran the whole Mass.

 

[japhy]

The masses were planned so horribly because they were planned by Abp. Piero Marini, the former Papal Master of Cermonies who Benedict XVI recently fired and made in charge of the Eucharistic Congresses, where Pope Benedict decided he could do the least damage.

Oh, geez, I forgot about that.