Feast Day of St. Mary Magdalene Mass Changes

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PalaceFlophaus

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Hello all,

As a new Catholic I have written questions before regarding the liberal nature of my parish/universalism of my Pastor, and gotten some very helpful responses. Thank you.

I would appreciate any opinions on the following: yesterday, my parish decided to make the mass entirely about the Feast of St. MM… and I suspected from the start that it would be a thinly (if at all) veiled plug for allowing women to become priests and bishops… that is, “Christian Feminism Day”. I was correct, in that a (female) layperson gave the homily (third time this year), and referred repeatedly to Christ appointing Magdalene as the “Apostle to the Apostles”. A filmclip was showed from Zefirelli’s Jesus of Nazareth (a fine, beautiful film) with Anne Bancroft’s Magdalene excoriating the dull, nonbelieving Apostles. The Gospel reading was changed entirely, to Magdalene’s encounter with the risen Christ. And the Prayers of the People referred repeatedly to a “wounded” institution needing to recognize the baptismal call of women.

These are important issues, and I do NOT mean to sound flippant or chauvinistic. Discussion, respect and openness ARE key… but I was extremely uncomfortable with the Mass being used to ham-fistedly deliver a controversial political message that goes against the current teachings of the Church.

I spoke to a trusted, older Catholic (who shares many of my beliefs), and he said it hadn’t bothered him, due to the fact that “they don’t do this often”, it may have helped some people, and there is always “Pastor’s discretion” that we need to allow for.

Alright, I’ve gone on too long already. Any thoughts?

Thanks.
 
The Memorial of St. Mary Magdalene is an Obligatory Memorial. It is to be celebrated on the day the Memorial falls except on Sundays. On Sundays, the proper readings and prayers for Sunday should be done. However, if the parish is under the patronage of St. Mary Magdalene, then the parish and only the parish under her patronage can celebrate her day as a Solemnity. This can only be done during Ordinary Time. If the day would fall during Advent, Lent, Holy Week, Octave of Easter, for example, then the day would be supressed.

The order in which a celebration is to be done is:
SOLEMNITY
FEAST
Obligatory Memorial
Optional Memorial
Proper Day (i.e. Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time)
 
PalaceFlophaus said:
Hello all,

As a new Catholic I have written questions before regarding the liberal nature of my parish/universalism of my Pastor, and gotten some very helpful responses. Thank you.

I would appreciate any opinions on the following: yesterday, my parish decided to make the mass entirely about the Feast of St. MM… and I suspected from the start that it would be a thinly (if at all) veiled plug for allowing women to become priests and bishops… that is, “Christian Feminism Day”. I was correct, in that a (female) layperson gave the homily (third time this year), and referred repeatedly to Christ appointing Magdalene as the “Apostle to the Apostles”. A filmclip was showed from Zefirelli’s Jesus of Nazareth (a fine, beautiful film) with Anne Bancroft’s Magdalene excoriating the dull, nonbelieving Apostles. The Gospel reading was changed entirely, to Magdalene’s encounter with the risen Christ. And the Prayers of the People referred repeatedly to a “wounded” institution needing to recognize the baptismal call of women.

These are important issues, and I do NOT mean to sound flippant or chauvinistic. Discussion, respect and openness ARE key… but I was extremely uncomfortable with the Mass being used to ham-fistedly deliver a controversial political message that goes against the current teachings of the Church.

I spoke to a trusted, older Catholic (who shares many of my beliefs), and he said it hadn’t bothered him, due to the fact that “they don’t do this often”, it may have helped some people, and there is always “Pastor’s discretion” that we need to allow for.

Alright, I’ve gone on too long already. Any thoughts?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
Report all of this to the Bishop, and on to the Vatican if need be.
The gospel is not to be changed, except for special reasons (listed in the post above).

Have you considered changing parishes, as the liberal spiritual environment may be damaging to you.
 
All of what you described is very grave. God bless you for bearing these kinds of things, especially as a new Catholic. I am reminded of St. Catherine of Siena, who had to be bear similarly grave antics at Mass. It pained her greatly. Her mission became the authentic reform of Holy Church through prayer and sacrifice while being enflamed with charity by the Holy Spirit–and it worked

I’m not sure what advice I can offer you, just offer spiritual consolation to Jesus as His Holy Sacrifice is being abused and mocked, just like St. Mary Magdalen and others did at the foot of the Cross. That would be the best way to honor this great Saint, in my opinion.
 
It is your duty as a Catholic to report it. First to the diocese then on up if necessary.

As children are probably being fed this garbage, it is every Catholic who cares about their salvation to stand up for truth.
Every Christian who allows people to be taught error will be judged for it, depending on their involvement and knowledge of the error.

I would not contribute any money to this parish and instead send what you do have to more orthodox parishes, you can put a note in the basket stating this also. Every little bit of resistance can help make this more visible to those who do not know that this is a grave abuse and contrary to the faith.

In Christ
Scylla
 
Thanks all for your advice. Genesis 315, you’ve inspired me to learn more about St. Catherine of Siena. We all have our favorite saints, but forget many others… it sounds like I need to read more about her.
 
I think you should go to the Pastor first and discuss your feelings. If that doesn’t work, take a few others who feel the same way back with you. I think a lot of times they think they are being “pastoral” and doing what the congregation wants. If they hear from several people that sometimes will help them see the light. If that still doesn’t work, then you should contact the Diocese. This is how Christ told us in the Gospel to deal with disputes.
I have had to do similar things in our church and have actually been well received. My recommendation is to make sure that whatever you do, you do it charitably and with respect for the priest’s office.
Finally, I think it is too easy to move to another church. God has put you there to be a light to the others who are being led astray. Get actively involved in the Parish so that you can expose more people to the areas of the Church’s teachings that are being ignored (or disregarded completely).
 
scylla said:
I would not contribute any money to this parish and instead send what you do have to more orthodox parishes, you can put a note in the basket stating this also. Every little bit of resistance can help make this more visible to those who do not know that this is a grave abuse and contrary to the faith.

In Christ
Scylla
Click to expand...
That’s an interesting idea. I never thought of that. Has anyone ever done that?
 
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