Going to Mass does not feel like going to Mass anymore

[johnridgway]

Going to Mass does not feel like going to Mass anymore…… Why?

This is why………
I walk into the cathedral in Athens Greece about 45 minutes before the Mass starts, there are quite a few Filipinos doing the rosary out loud over a microphone, there is nobody there to welcome anybody.
You go and get a seat and kneel to pray, but as the rosary is so loud, concentrating on pray is almost impossible.
Just before the Mass begins, a woman spokeswoman get up and gives announcements and Mass petitions. “That was always the deacon’s job”
The music starts, instead of sacred music it is more like Gospel music, as is the case all through the mass.
Hearing what is going on during the Mass is hard, as most of the time people are too busy chatting with each other, or even talking on the cell phones.
Or running around lighting candles or trying to look important.
During the Lord’s Prayer everybody is holding hands, “44c outside, everybody sweaty”
Time for the Eucharist, everybody jumps up and goes and gets it, no waiting, no organisation, first up, first served. During this time of chaos the so called choir is singing what sounds like a pop song from the charts.
Finally the priest says the Mass is finished, go in peace. As soon as the priest turns round to pray, even before the last song has started to be sung, there is a great mass of movement. The Cathedral is empty before the priest finishes praying at the Altar.

Is this Holly mass? It does not feel Holly to me…

 

[hudson]

That is where liberalism has lead the Church. Some people don’t think it has gone far enough yet. Luckily there are a few traditionalist still fighting.

 

[Saintlucy]

I don’t know about liberalism. It sounds bonkers to me.

 

[MiserereMeiDeus]

Do not be discouraged, there are reverent Masses being offered out there. In the meantime, offer up any sufferings, disappointments or sorrows in reparation for the offenses, abuses and irreverence committed against Christ Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar.

 

[Heliotropium]

Unfortunately what you have described has become the norm and there is very little you can do about it. Have you tried a different parish?

cathecclesia.gr/hellas/index.php/dioceses/archdiocese-of-athens/parises-a-chapels.html

 

[HerrZJA]

That is where liberalism has lead the Church. Some people don’t think it has gone far enough yet. Luckily there are a few traditionalist still fighting.

I’m pretty liberal and I happen to think that the mass should be done by saying the red and doing the black. (or is that the other way around?)
It’s all in the book for a reason! Part of the beauty of the church is the uniformity of the liturgy!

 

[Armor_of_Light]

Hi all-

I’m fairly new to this site, but I have seen a few forum discussions on this sort of thing. It bothers me a great deal to sit through all the nonsense that seems to be overtaking the Mass, but I am really trying to focus on the Lord and not the stupidity. I read the threads and never seem to see a concrete, black & white, definate answer to the questions raised regarding:

a) are the certain bothersome practices breaking any rules?
b) If they are, where might I find documentation so I may pass it along to my parish?
c) I can’t imagine my parish is not aware of these things, so I am afraid they don’t care…what else can we do? Yes I know-pray-what else?

If these things are not “abuses” or actually forbidden, then why bother getting so upset? We can do nothing to change them…

Thanks all you smart people.

 

[lizaanne]

Find another parish, and complain to your Bishop. No one should have to put up with such nonsense.

~Liza

 

[wild_thing]

Hi all-

I’m fairly new to this site, but I have seen a few forum discussions on this sort of thing. It bothers me a great deal to sit through all the nonsense that seems to be overtaking the Mass, but I am really trying to focus on the Lord and not the stupidity. I read the threads and never seem to see a concrete, black & white, definate answer to the questions raised regarding:

a) are the certain bothersome practices breaking any rules?
b) If they are, where might I find documentation so I may pass it along to my parish?
c) I can’t imagine my parish is not aware of these things, so I am afraid they don’t care…what else can we do? Yes I know-pray-what else?

If these things are not “abuses” or actually forbidden, then why bother getting so upset? We can do nothing to change them…

Thanks all you smart people.

Much depends on the local Bishop. He sets the tone for his diocese- what is permissable and what is not. If you have complaints about the liturgy of your parish, first speak with your pastor and then to the Bishop.

 

[johnridgway]

I will try going to
****Church of St. Paul, **Piraeus. I believe they have a English mass there…
**

Find another parish, and complain to your Bishop. No one should have to put up with such nonsense.

~Liza

 

[marlap2]

My heart goes out to you in understanding and sympathy.

Perhaps you are being called to prayer for this situation. We are praying with you.

Prayer of Reparation

O Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore thee profoundly. I offer thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifferences by which He is offended. By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of thee the conversion of poor sinners.

If your soul is being challenged to pray, then God bless it. If however, you are in danger of falling away, find a parish with more reverence.

Blessings!

 

[johnridgway]

Thanks for the link, very helpful.

Unfortunately what you have described has become the norm and there is very little you can do about it. Have you tried a different parish?

cathecclesia.gr/hellas/index.php/dioceses/archdiocese-of-athens/parises-a-chapels.html

 

[johnridgway]

Thank you for your prayer.

I have been to an orthodox service where the liturgy is just sublime, almost what the catholic used to be.

to make changes is good, but to make changes to a mass where it is not recognisable anymore is very bad for the church and the catholic family as a whole.

I hope the church wakes up to what it is doing before it is to late.

all we can do is pray.

My heart goes out to you in understanding and sympathy.

Perhaps you are being called to prayer for this situation. We are praying with you.

Prayer of Reparation

O Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore thee profoundly. I offer thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifferences by which He is offended. By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of thee the conversion of poor sinners.

If your soul is being challenged to pray, then God bless it. If however, you are in danger of falling away, find a parish with more reverence.

Blessings!

 

[Heliotropium]

If there are any rules then they would be posted in the GIRM

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20030317_ordinamento-messale_en.html

However sometimes there are no rules for things that should be common sense.

Any liturgical abuses should be reported to your Bishop.

Hi all-

I’m fairly new to this site, but I have seen a few forum discussions on this sort of thing. It bothers me a great deal to sit through all the nonsense that seems to be overtaking the Mass, but I am really trying to focus on the Lord and not the stupidity. I read the threads and never seem to see a concrete, black & white, definate answer to the questions raised regarding:

a) are the certain bothersome practices breaking any rules?
b) If they are, where might I find documentation so I may pass it along to my parish?
c) I can’t imagine my parish is not aware of these things, so I am afraid they don’t care…what else can we do? Yes I know-pray-what else?

If these things are not “abuses” or actually forbidden, then why bother getting so upset? We can do nothing to change them…

Thanks all you smart people.

 

[johnridgway]

This is Greece, laws and common sense don’t go together in a third world country…



the Greek services is fine during the day, but as my Greek is very poor i go to the English service that has been over run buy Filipino’s.

and unfortunately the priest disappears like a magician afterwards. he has never been outside greeting the parishioners as they leave, maybe that is because there are not many left when he leaves the alter.

time to look for a different church with a English service.

anyway, it is getting dangerous getting to the cathedral at the moment, with all the protesters in syntagma square.

If there are any rules then they would be posted in the GIRM

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20030317_ordinamento-messale_en.html

However sometimes there are no rules for things that should be common sense.

Any liturgical abuses should be reported to your Bishop.

 

[hazcompat]

I am sincerely sorry and praying’

peace

 

[TrueLight]

the Greek services is fine during the day, but as my Greek is very poor i go to the English service that has been over run buy Filipino’s.
.

What is the issue with Filipinos? Is their cultural Catholicism different?

 

[ATeutonicKnight]

Going to Mass does not feel like going to Mass anymore…… Why?

This is why………
I walk into the cathedral in Athens Greece about 45 minutes before the Mass starts, there are quite a few Filipinos doing the rosary out loud over a microphone, there is nobody there to welcome anybody.
You go and get a seat and kneel to pray, but as the rosary is so loud, concentrating on pray is almost impossible.
Just before the Mass begins, a woman spokeswoman get up and gives announcements and Mass petitions. “That was always the deacon’s job”
The music starts, instead of sacred music it is more like Gospel music, as is the case all through the mass.
Hearing what is going on during the Mass is hard, as most of the time people are too busy chatting with each other, or even talking on the cell phones.
Or running around lighting candles or trying to look important.
During the Lord’s Prayer everybody is holding hands, “44c outside, everybody sweaty”
Time for the Eucharist, everybody jumps up and goes and gets it, no waiting, no organisation, first up, first served. During this time of chaos the so called choir is singing what sounds like a pop song from the charts.
Finally the priest says the Mass is finished, go in peace. As soon as the priest turns round to pray, even before the last song has started to be sung, there is a great mass of movement. The Cathedral is empty before the priest finishes praying at the Altar.

Is this Holly mass? It does not feel Holly to me…

This is a horrible situation. I hope that you pray for those people, as I certainly will. They need all of the prayers they can get.

I would recommend going to a different parish, if possible. If not then continue going, but try your best to focus on Mass, if it at all possible. If it were me I would be too busy slapping phones out of people’s hands and writing a personal letter from the Bishop, but hopefully you’re not too much like me.

I will pray for you and your situation. Hopefully it will be resolved. Just know that there are traditionalists that still love the church of Sacraments and not the church of feelings.

Dominus Vobiscum.

:knight1:

 

[Bigcat71]

What is the issue with Filipinos? Is their cultural Catholicism different?

Sounds to me that the poster has a problem with Filipinos since he brought up twice that they had basically taken over the Mass.

 

[thequeen]

I don’t know about liberalism. It sounds bonkers to me.

I agree Saintlucy it seems that the music uses for mass now days is getting more and more protestant.