Disrespect of Christ

  • Thread starter Thread starter signumcrux
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
After hearing of the twenty 5-10 year old children massacred today I literally ran to my parish church in tears. I just wanted to feel closer to my lord and pray within His house. I fell into a pew and began pleading for the souls of these children. I looked upon the beautiful crucifix of our Lord and thought of his mercy. I looked around and noticed two people decorating 1 of 4 18ft christmas trees next to the altar. I looked around and saw lighted christmas trees all over the church and watched several laypeople, whom I know, walk all over and around the altar without any respect. I got out of my pew and exclaimed my disgust with the blatant abuse of supposed sacred ground. All I wanted to do was to push those trees over and give the place where our Savior’s transubstantiation occurs. Our churches have become no different than the Temple that Christ chased the money changers from. Our churches are pandering to commercialization of Christmas. I don’t care if this ticks any of you off because I am not the only one that feels like this. I’ve been a devout Catholic for twenty-two years (since I was born) and I am a medical student. I love our lord and I love our church, but I do not feel that Christ is HAPPY with us about the way we worship him. I am so close to driving down to the Orthodox church down the road and speaking with the priest there. I feel we have left Christ behind.

When I genuflex before the altar I should get comments about how I am showing off or giving a show.

I should be genuflexing in front of a 4 giant trees.

Should I leave the RCC and convert to Orthodoxy so I can worship the Lord with reverence? I posting this here because I do not want to do this; is there an alternative with the RCC?

Thank you. I am very upset and borderline lost right now and just need some guidance. If all you have to say is condescending and rude please do not respond.

Peace
It seems as though your feelings about wanting to leave are being found in feelings of hurt and of anger. God doesn’t motivate us through negativity, but rather through love. When I was going through a rather intense period of spiritual discernment, a preist told me this in no uncertain terms. He reminded me that if I feel motivated to do (or not do, as the case may be) for fear of the negative consequenses, then it isn’t God talking so much as it is our own human frailty.

Now, I know that the specific examples talked about in this video are not the same as what you felt, but I feel that there are some good points to be made; namely that while one may find that there is some level of spiritual truth to be found in other churches (and by no means is God restricted to any particular one), the Catholic Church represents the fullness of our understanding of what it means to know God. Have a look:

youtube.com/watch?v=MXql0zuRqCY

Also, I’m with the other members who remind us that it is part of our job as Catholics to make our Church better, not to quit when we’re faced with adversity.
 
OP, those people decorating the church may not have heard about the shooting, or if they did, said prayers and perhaps were saying them as they decorated. SOMEONE has to decorate the church for Christmas - and the day was already set when the tragedy happened this morning. Would you have been as upset to see the decorating going on if that shooting hadn’t happened?

I’ve done the Christmas decorating, and we did it as reverently as possible, but when you are up where the altar is, you can’t just kneel every other minute. You get the job done, bow as you go out, and try to maintain decorum while you decorate.

I think your emotions are running high because of the horrible event of 20 innocent children being shot to death in their classroom. I would urge you to pray for their families and not let the decoration of the church get you so upset.
I definitely agree with this.
 
After hearing of the twenty 5-10 year old children massacred today I literally ran to my parish church in tears. I just wanted to feel closer to my lord and pray within His house. I fell into a pew and began pleading for the souls of these children. I looked upon the beautiful crucifix of our Lord and thought of his mercy. I looked around and noticed two people decorating 1 of 4 18ft christmas trees next to the altar. I looked around and saw lighted christmas trees all over the church and watched several laypeople, whom I know, walk all over and around the altar without any respect. I got out of my pew and exclaimed my disgust with the blatant abuse of supposed sacred ground. All I wanted to do was to push those trees over and give the place where our Savior’s transubstantiation occurs. Our churches have become no different than the Temple that Christ chased the money changers from. Our churches are pandering to commercialization of Christmas. I don’t care if this ticks any of you off because I am not the only one that feels like this. I’ve been a devout Catholic for twenty-two years (since I was born) and I am a medical student. I love our lord and I love our church, but I do not feel that Christ is HAPPY with us about the way we worship him. I am so close to driving down to the Orthodox church down the road and speaking with the priest there. I feel we have left Christ behind.

When I genuflex before the altar I should get comments about how I am showing off or giving a show.

I should be genuflexing in front of a 4 giant trees.

Should I leave the RCC and convert to Orthodoxy so I can worship the Lord with reverence? I posting this here because I do not want to do this; is there an alternative with the RCC?

Thank you. I am very upset and borderline lost right now and just need some guidance. If all you have to say is condescending and rude please do not respond.

Peace
Code:
  What does being a medical student have to do with it ?
The priest at my Parrish brings his Labrador which lays at the alter, the other parishes in my area let bar and grill establishments advertise at the back of the bulletin so you can go get sloshed with the local floozies after mass. All the more reason why I don’t take God or church seriously in terms of following the commandments
 
I’m sure there will be people who whisper, “How dare they sing those frivolous songs when so many families are suffering.”

But we’ve been practicing these songs since August! We had no way of knowing that our concerts would fall the day after a horrific tragedy! Don’t condemn us for going on with our lives! We were hired to do these concerts, and we have a responsibility to do what we promised we would do when we were hired!

.
It is tremendously difficult to feign normalcy after tragedy of any magnitude, but this is indeed more heinous. For lack of a better word, ‘common’ tragedies, i.e., death of an elderly parent, though expected, still makes life seem unreal, like your world has stopped and everyone around you keeps moving and you just can’t fathom how that is possible. It is surreal no matter how expected it may have been. We sometimes can’t even see that it is awkward for those around us, too. What to do, what to say. This has happened to me more times than I can count, though most certainly not to this level of insanity. However heartless and cruel it may seem to those suffering, the world does indeed keep moving around them, however painfully and awkwardly still it is for them. I will pray and reflect on this, for those who are suffering in the stillness and deserve a moment of silence and prayers from others during such awkward life-goes-on events as concerts, etc; wherever such a group may become a unified spirit for the suffering. (The White House has lowered its flag, and others have been asked by the President to do the same.) And I will pray and reflect also on those who must awkwardly go on during this tremendously difficult time, for they, too, are challenged in a different way, yet are a unified spirit in support of those suffering. Extraordinary prayers are needed because of an extraordinary event; extraordinary prayers are needed also for those close to this tragedy who remain to endure, as they eventually transition into an unspeakable ordinary life that, unfortunately, will never be ordinary or innocent again.

Cat - I don’t think you will be condemned or whispered over as you seem to think. You have a responsibility to contribute, however awkwardly, a sense of comfort from a place of normalcy and unified spirit for those who will still be coming to hear your talent. I will pray for you as well…
 
I guess you, Jeremy, feel it is “way more than necessary.” That is your own opinion. And by the way, we do not need to genuflect at the altar unless the Lord is present upon it, merely to bow. I never genuflect in coming into our sanctuary because the Lord is not in there - we have a separate chapel with the tabernacle in it. I do bow because the Lord’s sacrifice has taken place on that altar.

Please do not tar the entire Church with your bias. “This is our church now.” That is meaningless. That is that parish, those people, and YOUR OPINION. I’m glad you’re a Knight of Columbus, Jeremy, but can you ease up just a little?

Seriously, if you are ready to leave the church because of Christmas decorations, then what can anyone say?
Thank you again for your response. I respectfully request you please not give your (name removed by moderator)ut on this thread any further. You are taking this too personally and just making assumptions. I am in need of HELP and guidance and you do not understand what I am trying to say.

I’m not wanting to leave the church because of Christmas decorations; good assumption there. It really isn’t about Christmas decorations. Its about reverence.My “tarring” up the church is what? People like myself, who believe in absolute respect for the sanctity of the house of the Lord and the tradition of our church, are heretics now?
 
As have been said, one does not genuflect to the altar merely bow if one is outside the sanctuary. Once your inside the sanctuary you do not have to bow again (correct me if I am wrong here), one bow is enough. Thus the priest during the mass would do that. Bowing on entering the sanctuary and on leaving it.

One only genuflects before the tabernacle.
I’m curious. Why only one time? Why not every time?
 
Signumcrux,

I’ve been a catholic since day 2 and I have lived in a number of parishes. I haven’t seen anything different in them than the one you describe, unless there was loud unnecessary talking.

I don’t mean to hurt your feelings in saying this. But I honestly don’t see what they did that was wrong. If they had been horsing around or misbehaving in some way, but I really don’t see it.
Someone has to do the decorations. It is to glorify the house of God and to bring the people closer to God that this is being done. A christmas tree is a decoration. We decorate the church with plants, flowers, and other things all during the year. Christmas is no different.

I don’t want to upset you any further, but I believe those children really hit you hard and you reacted. A friend of ours broke down and cried about it in her home just spontaneously.
It is a very hard thing to deal with. But the one thing we can look to is Jesus.

One day, Jesus was at the roadside and tired. The women of the nearby village brought their children to him. He laid his hands on them and embraced them. That is what we need to think about.

I genuinely hope you feel better and wish you a holy and happy Christmas.

Fred
Thanks Fred, I appreciate you sincerity. It was more than the decorations. I have no problem with decorations. It is the placement of such. There is a limit that should be observed. It was too much. Merry Christmas.
 
What does being a medical student have to do with it ?
The priest at my Parrish brings his Labrador which lays at the alter, the other parishes in my area let bar and grill establishments advertise at the back of the bulletin so you can go get sloshed with the local floozies after mass. All the more reason why I don’t take God or church seriously in terms of following the commandments
Being a medical student has nothing to do with it. I was giving a little info about myself. Are you being funny or do you really believe it is okay for an animal to lay at the altar?
 
Being a medical student has nothing to do with it. I was giving a little info about myself. Are you being funny or do you really believe it is okay for an animal to lay at the altar?
Code:
   I'm past the point in my life where I care.
The church raffels off liquor at family carnivals for money, which I think is the real joke.
 
Let me clarify some things.(Darn some of you don’t listen well)
I’m strong in my faith, but some of you are making me doubt more than today’s experience.

-I was not angry at the people decoration the church
-I was not angry at the decorations.

I don’t care about that. Great! Decorate the church; no prob. How many times have you seen 18’ Christmas trees obscuring the view of the tabernacle at the Vatican? It wasn’t the decorations. It was the fact that these objects are cluttering the church and taking our mind away from God. When I go to mass, I want to be close to my Lord. I don’t want to see Christmas trees with sparkly lights and listen to the choir sing Jingle Bells. That is sacrilegious. If those statements are “tarring up” the church and turning me into a heretic, which by the way my music director called me once, than brand me so.

Please don’t give me the “This is just your parish” speech because if you calculate how many times this has been said on this forum you would see, its not just my parish.

Yes, the Catholic Church of the United States, in a very large sense has become too cozy with secularism and comfort. Deny it all you want but you are only making yourself feel better.

Its not about decorations guys its about Sacred Tradition and reverence for the lord. Just because the Blessed Sacrament isn’t exposed doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take extreme measures to bring sanctity to His house.

I never said I was leaving the church but I do get very irritated with the lack of respect that most Catholic Churches are getting.

My great-grandmother who was raised in times when this didn’t happen (Pre-VII) warned me of this. She said our church in fifty-years will unrecognizable from a Lutheran, Anglican, or any other protestant church. We are getting there!

Thank you for the advise to start going to a Tridentine Mass; I will do that. Until our Bishop shuts it down and run the FSSP out of town again.
 
I’m past the point in my life where I care.
The church raffels off liquor at family carnivals for money, which I think is the real joke.
I’m sorry man. That is ridiculous.My parish priest rode in the back of a '57 Corvette during a summer parade last year waving at everyone. The car he drives everyday costs more than my house. I guess its not just my parish.
 
First, its been a horrible day for a lot of people, so let’s not be hasty. However, I totally understand your feelings and you’re largely right: so many Catholics today act as if Our Lord was not present at Mass or in the church.

Your outrage isn’t wrong, but leaving the Church would be. Have you ever visited a Latin Mass parish? You might find what you’re looking for.

I’m praying for the victims of today’s horrible crime, and I’ll pray God guides you. Feel free to PM me if you want to talk more.
Thank you for understanding what I was saying and for your kind words. God Bless you and you family. I believe Christ is pulling me toward the more traditional part of our beautiful Church.
 
What did the Orthodox priest tell you?

Anyway, I know it can be difficult. Go to a more traditional parish if this one upsets you.
I haven’t been able to speak to him yet. I’m not leaving the church, but I am curious about the differences in sacred tradition between the two. God Bless.
 
I’m sorry man. That is ridiculous.My parish priest rode in the back of a '57 Corvette during a summer parade last year waving at everyone. The car he drives everyday costs more than my house. I guess its not just my parish.
Code:
 Well the very fact that these cases exist is more reason why I dont belive in the fullness of Christ or the church to be honest with you. I really dont' like God that much, and these instances just compound it. I can't take a church seriously who sells liquor at family gatherings or has billbored style advertisement in some parking spaces for local resturants and buisness like its some kind of ball park.
Did this only happen after vatican II coucil? or was the corruption always there in cheap advertisement? and money gathering?
 
Let me clarify some things.(Darn some of you don’t listen well)
I’m strong in my faith, but some of you are making me doubt more than today’s experience.

-I was not angry at the people decoration the church
-I was not angry at the decorations.

I don’t care about that. Great! Decorate the church; no prob. How many times have you seen 18’ Christmas trees obscuring the view of the tabernacle at the Vatican? It wasn’t the decorations. It was the fact that these objects are cluttering the church and taking our mind away from God. When I go to mass, I want to be close to my Lord. I don’t want to see Christmas trees with sparkly lights and listen to the choir sing Jingle Bells. That is sacrilegious. If those statements are “tarring up” the church and turning me into a heretic, which by the way my music director called me once, than brand me so.

Please don’t give me the “This is just your parish” speech because if you calculate how many times this has been said on this forum you would see, its not just my parish.

Yes, the Catholic Church of the United States, in a very large sense has become too cozy with secularism and comfort. Deny it all you want but you are only making yourself feel better.

Its not about decorations guys its about Sacred Tradition and reverence for the lord. Just because the Blessed Sacrament isn’t exposed doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take extreme measures to bring sanctity to His house.

I never said I was leaving the church but I do get very irritated with the lack of respect that most Catholic Churches are getting.

My great-grandmother who was raised in times when this didn’t happen (Pre-VII) warned me of this. She said our church in fifty-years will unrecognizable from a Lutheran, Anglican, or any other protestant church. We are getting there!

Thank you for the advise to start going to a Tridentine Mass; I will do that. Until our Bishop shuts it down and run the FSSP out of town again.
It is the priest’s responsibility to determine how much decorating will be appropriate for his church. We may or may not have the same tastes as he does, but we should respect his decisions.

You should see the 100-year-old Italian parish here in our city at Christmas time! Here’s a link–http://www.stanthonyrockford.com/parish/visuals_xmas.asp

Does your parish choir really sing Jingle Bells during Mass?
 
I’m sorry man. That is ridiculous.My parish priest rode in the back of a '57 Corvette during a summer parade last year waving at everyone. The car he drives everyday costs more than my house. I guess its not just my parish.
and priests can’t wave to everyone ?:confused: i’m very happy that you were able to find a cheap house.
 
I haven’t been able to speak to him yet. I’m not leaving the church, but I am curious about the differences in sacred tradition between the two. God Bless.
Well the very fact that these cases exist is more reason why I dont belive in the fullness of Christ or the church to be honest with you. I really dont’ like God that much, and these instances just compound it. I can’t take a church seriously who sells liquor at family gatherings or has billbored style advertisement in some parking spaces for local resturants and buisness like its some kind of ball park.
Did this only happen after vatican II coucil? or was the corruption always there in cheap advertisement? and money gathering?
Ok first to both of you, you are acting out of a very limited experience of your own parishes or at best, the parishes in this part of the world. As someone who has lived in about three countries, multiple parishes in each now, I can tell you that this is not the same everywhere.

Our part of the world is in a bit of a turmoil. Priests know morality but they don’t know prudence. They know what they must not do but don’t know how to live a life that helps them do that. Same has extended to the faithful. In such a scenario, you are bound to see these abuses.

For many with normal sensibilities, both the OP’s complain and Jessup’s regarding Liquor selling can be seen as obviously imprudent acts. The bad thing here is that most, especially well intentioned Catholics who are doing their best to follow the Lord, will not see that. They will get in to arguments with you and put you down as trying to enforce your opinion and that the Church never states it immoral. The issue of course is that we both know it is immoral on the grounds of prudence. Prudence comes with our sensibilities. In a culture where sensibilities are often distorted, it is no surprise to meet such a reaction.

So both of you need to understand this. Be patient with others and try to slowly show them the way. Discuss the matters. The part of the world we live in is almost like an early Christian community. People are still groggy and trying to grasp around and find their way. They know what is right and wrong from the church but they do not know how to live their lives to best accomplish/reflect what they know. They come from a culture that has abandoned its Christian tradition and way of living for more than a century. So you must be patient. Correct them with brotherly/sisterly love. If they do not accept, be patient. We know they disrespect Christ unknowingly. We know they act imprudently with the liquor issue. But our duty then is to stick around and keep showing them the way. Raise our point in the best way possible and explain it to them. If they don’t listen, make it clear that you still disagree and pray for them. Leaving the Church is a selfish move and honestly, unwise because as St. Peter said “Lord, to whom else do we go?”

Also if you leave, you would have abandoned your duty to stay and help your brothers and sisters.

We will also do well to keep in mind that the Orthodox are lacking communion with the Successor of Peter. Thus they are prone to error and contradicting traditions. After all, Orthodox already allow divorce. Some Orthodox patriarchates are known to be in favor of allowing contraception as well.

As long as you are Catholic, you will have access to the truth. Thus, it is why you know why somethings are right or wrong like the OP issue. If you leave the church, you are just trading that treasure for something that makes you feel good.
 
I haven’t been able to speak to him yet. I’m not leaving the church, but I am curious about the differences in sacred tradition between the two. God Bless.
I can answer your questions, what do you like to know? Also perhaps we need to make a new thread in another forum.
 
Let me clarify some things.(Darn some of you don’t listen well)
I’m strong in my faith, but some of you are making me doubt more than today’s experience.

-I was not angry at the people decoration the church
-I was not angry at the decorations.

I don’t care about that. Great! Decorate the church; no prob. How many times have you seen 18’ Christmas trees obscuring the view of the tabernacle at the Vatican? It wasn’t the decorations. It was the fact that these objects are cluttering the church and taking our mind away from God. When I go to mass, I want to be close to my Lord. I don’t want to see Christmas trees with sparkly lights and listen to the choir sing Jingle Bells. That is sacrilegious. If those statements are “tarring up” the church and turning me into a heretic, which by the way my music director called me once, than brand me so.

Please don’t give me the “This is just your parish” speech because if you calculate how many times this has been said on this forum you would see, its not just my parish.

Yes, the Catholic Church of the United States, in a very large sense has become too cozy with secularism and comfort. Deny it all you want but you are only making yourself feel better.

Its not about decorations guys its about Sacred Tradition and reverence for the lord. Just because the Blessed Sacrament isn’t exposed doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take extreme measures to bring sanctity to His house.

I never said I was leaving the church but I do get very irritated with the lack of respect that most Catholic Churches are getting.

My great-grandmother who was raised in times when this didn’t happen (Pre-VII) warned me of this. She said our church in fifty-years will unrecognizable from a Lutheran, Anglican, or any other protestant church. We are getting there!

Thank you for the advise to start going to a Tridentine Mass; I will do that. Until our Bishop shuts it down and run the FSSP out of town again.
On the other hand, a non-Catholic visitor to that church might think, “Hey, this isn’t so bad after all, in fact, it’s all pretty and stuff,” and might just come back the next week and even enroll in RCIA. It happens.

Your original post was definitely directed at the decorations and the people putting them up. You backed that down but the theme is still there, even in this post. If the trees are obscuring the tabernacle, you could just go over to the decorators, be polite and say, “Excuse me, but I think we should move the trees so that Jesus isn’t being hidden.” And then grab a couple of strong men and move them!

When you look for problems, you’ll always find them. 🤷
 
It is the priest’s responsibility to determine how much decorating will be appropriate for his church. We may or may not have the same tastes as he does, but we should respect his decisions.

You should see the 100-year-old Italian parish here in our city at Christmas time! Here’s a link–http://www.stanthonyrockford.com/parish/visuals_xmas.asp

Does your parish choir really sing Jingle Bells during Mass?
Oh, that is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!

👍
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top