Good Friday Contemporary Service & Dancing in Sanctuary

[Irishgal49]

My church has decided to have a Good Friday evening contemporary service presented by out deacon this year. Not knowing what to expect besides the normal reverence one would expect at any service being done within a Church I was kinda thrown back and shocked to see a play being done by the youth group with dancing and cartwheels being done within the sanctuary. I knew something was going on when I seen all the banjo’s and guitars setup. To make the situation even more bizarre the girls where dressed in what looked to be their nightgowns with more exposed then one would like to see. There was a scene representing Mary’s sorrow and the young women was doing splits, gymnastics and seductive dancing in front of the alter. I honestly couldn’t believe what I was seeing. They offered scenes of the gospel that were supposed to bring us all into a deeper meaning of Christ’s suffering but I couldn’t help wonder why this was done in this way or if this sort of thing is allowed? After the event, the service turned into a more normal tone with a homily, adoration of the cross and distribution of the Eucharist. I understand this was all done outside the context of mass, but has anyone ever seen anything like this inside the Church? There’s something about doing ballerina dancing with contemporary music that seems a little odd. Any thoughts?

I would email the priest with a cc to the bishop

 

[lax16]

I know this is not about liturgical dancing, but I just couldn’t resist posting this link - it is so funny and true…

youtube.com/watch?v=oASYa-Wkroc&feature=player_embedded

 

[RosalieM]

Oh I know, completely agree with you. I have honestly been going to a very devout chapel which offers 24/7 adoration and confessions everyday but I still feel a little torn having to let go of this parish in way. Perhaps I shouldn’t feel too guilty about it, but there is something about a reverent mass at atmosphere that actually makes it feel like I went to mass etc. I used to go to this parish for daily mass and got married there 2 years ago with a very devout priest which has since then been transferred. Now when I come to mass occasionally here there’s a sense of guilt I feel because some of the people which I don’t even know always ask me where I’ve been or ask me to join in on the bible studies, become a knight etc. I love the parish I just think it affects me spiritually at the moment in a negative aspect at times.

I felt heartbreak when I left the original parish I had been in upon my return to the faith. I also left the choir there for similar reasons. There was also a super priest there at first who was transferred. I went back a couple times for confession, to look at the beautiful stained glass windows and once to “sit in” with the choir. The things that affected me negatively are still going on there and my faith is strengthened at my new parish. You have to think of your faith first. This is what one very devout priest told me when I was discerning the change.

 

[mburn16]

Cardinal Arinze has been asked about this before…and from my understanding of his answer, Liturgical Dance is prohibited in Europe and North America within the confines of the mass, because there is no historical/cultural/traditional pattern of dance as a reverent thing…it is a either a social practice, or a “look at me” type event.

Since this appears to have been within the confines of the solemn liturgy, it does indeed appear to be a violation.

Now, if this had taken place separate from the services…that might be a different story.

 

[dfp42]

I talked to a priest today about it and he agrees that this sort of thing shouldn’t have occurred. He suggested that I should approach him in charity with the issue and that the dancing on a good Friday service is inappropriate.

 

[The_Curt_Jester]

It may not have been prayerful for you but maybe others interpreted differently and found that it made Good Friday more meaningful to them. As long as it didn’t replace the actual Triduum liturgy I say…why not?

If I found that having clowns juggling knives and riding unicycles in the sanctuary made Good Friday “more meaningful” for me, would that mean it’s okay to do? Could we throw in confetti, too? How about a hot dog vendor. Oh, wait. Good Friday, can’t have meat. Okay, cotton candy? Beer?

If Catholicism were just what each individual liked, we’d all be Baptists. Plain and simple, what the OP described is nothing short of a sacrilegious mockery of what should be a very solemn liturgy.

 

[anp1215]

I’m pretty sure the Vatican has never issued any sort of prohibition on dance outside of Mass. The situation the OP describes sounds quite awful – forbidden by any sense of good taste, surely – but I really don’t think either of you is going to be able to find a document from Rome that says, “No interpretive dance in a church.”

You’re right, I missed that this happened on Good Friday. Still inappropriate. I’m not one who complains about liturgical things very often; I have no problem with contemporary music or even guitars, etc. But sensual dancing crosses the line.

 

[grandfather]

I’m pretty sure the Vatican has never issued any sort of prohibition on dance outside of Mass. The situation the OP describes sounds quite awful – forbidden by any sense of good taste, surely – but I really don’t think either of you is going to be able to find a document from Rome that says, “No interpretive dance in a church.”

I am not going to bother searching. I remember reading in the 80s the Vatican forbid dancing in ceremonies. Whether there is a loophole in the document or not I can’t say. But I’ll bet you can find documents on the use of sacred space that say the sanctuary and church, separating the sacred from the profane and are reserved for sacred purposes. I guess someone might interpret dancing with young women not wearing enough clothing sacred, but then why not go to a nightclub and call that sacred?

I have seen liturgical dancing. It realy is horrible. There is nothing even artistic about it, much less religious. It is goofy, silly and embarrassing. For some reason most of the priests at the parish where what I witnessed took place either left the priesthood or were involved in sex scandals. One went to jail, another got the diocese sued for millions and four or five abandoned their vows. Another was the editor of a radical gay magazine. Connect the dots.

 

[grandfather]

It felt very strange to say the least. I almost wanted to pull out my iphone and start recording the event to do a double take on it but I didn’t due to respect. Needless to say, this type of secularization has been an ongoing theme at this parish since I’ve been back to the faith. I don’t know what I can really do if anything to change things. I know I shouldn’t let this bother me but it just does. I really want Christ to have true meaning again in my community and not a secularized approach. For some reason or another I feel that I keep bumping into these things around me when I’m trying to come closer into the Catholic faith.

One reason we go to church is to find a sanctuary from the distress of the world. If you are distressed at church something is wrong. You should find a place where you can worship without the agony, or being subjected to agravation. It is not your job to make a parish orthodox. That is the bishop’s job and he is responsible to God for what goes on in his diocese, not you.

He may very well already know what is going on.

 

[grandfather]

Oh I know, completely agree with you. I have honestly been going to a very devout chapel which offers 24/7 adoration and confessions everyday but I still feel a little torn having to let go of this parish in way. Perhaps I shouldn’t feel too guilty about it, but there is something about a reverent mass at atmosphere that actually makes it feel like I went to mass etc. I used to go to this parish for daily mass and got married there 2 years ago with a very devout priest which has since then been transferred. Now when I come to mass occasionally here there’s a sense of guilt I feel because some of the people which I don’t even know always ask me where I’ve been or ask me to join in on the bible studies, become a knight etc. I love the parish I just think it affects me spiritually at the moment in a negative aspect at times.

You are not the one who should feel guilty.

 

[Diana_Catherine]

My church has decided to have a Good Friday evening contemporary service presented by out deacon this year. Not knowing what to expect besides the normal reverence one would expect at any service being done within a Church I was kinda thrown back and shocked to see a play being done by the youth group with dancing and cartwheels being done within the sanctuary. I knew something was going on when I seen all the banjo’s and guitars setup. To make the situation even more bizarre the girls where dressed in what looked to be their nightgowns with more exposed then one would like to see. There was a scene representing Mary’s sorrow and the young women was doing splits, gymnastics and seductive dancing in front of the alter. I honestly couldn’t believe what I was seeing. They offered scenes of the gospel that were supposed to bring us all into a deeper meaning of Christ’s suffering but I couldn’t help wonder why this was done in this way or if this sort of thing is allowed? After the event, the service turned into a more normal tone with a homily, adoration of the cross and distribution of the Eucharist. I understand this was all done outside the context of mass, but has anyone ever seen anything like this inside the Church? There’s something about doing ballerina dancing with contemporary music that seems a little odd. Any thoughts?

You could talk to the priest, that you thought it was inappropriate but in my experience the best way to send the message that it is wrong, is to find another parish. I would leave and find a more appropriate parish.

It may not have been prayerful for you but maybe others interpreted differently and found that it made Good Friday more meaningful to them. As long as it didn’t replace the actual Triduum liturgy I say…why not?

Because it is wrong. The sanctuary is a holy place and should be treated as such.

The “sensus Catholicus” (Catholic sense, Catholic understanding) is the sure guide here. Good Friday is the day of profound mourning because of the brutality inflicted upon Our Lord due to our sins. It is a time of fasting and prayer and penance. It is the culmination of Lent. It is not a time for dancing and music. The altars are stripped bare and the tabernacle stands open. In the EF, it is forbidden for the bells to ring or for the organ to be played until Easter Vigil. The scene you described, besides being absolutely tasteless and scandalous, goes against the sensus Catholicus.

Churches are not auditoriums and the sanctuary is not a stage. The sanctuary is the holy of holies, the house of God, the gate of heaven. It is Calvary, where the sacrifice of Our Lord is bloodlessly recreated at every Mass. Liturgical dance of any kind simply does not fit into the sensus Catholicus, and especially on Good Friday.

• PAX

This is so true.

 

[fille_francais]

My church has decided to have a Good Friday evening contemporary service presented by out deacon this year. Not knowing what to expect besides the normal reverence one would expect at any service being done within a Church I was kinda thrown back and shocked to see a play being done by the youth group with dancing and cartwheels being done within the sanctuary. I knew something was going on when I seen all the banjo’s and guitars setup. To make the situation even more bizarre the girls where dressed in what looked to be their nightgowns with more exposed then one would like to see. There was a scene representing Mary’s sorrow and the young women was doing splits, gymnastics and seductive dancing in front of the alter. I honestly couldn’t believe what I was seeing. They offered scenes of the gospel that were supposed to bring us all into a deeper meaning of Christ’s suffering but I couldn’t help wonder why this was done in this way or if this sort of thing is allowed? After the event, the service turned into a more normal tone with a homily, adoration of the cross and distribution of the Eucharist. I understand this was all done outside the context of mass, but has anyone ever seen anything like this inside the Church? There’s something about doing ballerina dancing with contemporary music that seems a little odd. Any thoughts?

 

[Brendan]

Cardinal Arinze has been asked about this before…and from my understanding of his answer, Liturgical Dance is prohibited in Europe and North America within the confines of the mass, because there is no historical/cultural/traditional pattern of dance as a reverent thing…it is a either a social practice, or a “look at me” type event…

FYI, the prohibition is world wide, not just Europe and North American.

What Cardinal Arinze mentioned was in places like Africa, there is a customary shuffling of feet to keep time with the music.

That is permissable ( world wide)

Here is what Cardinal Arinze had to say ( para 8)

1. Dance in the Liturgy
   Some people want to introduce dance into the sacred liturgy. The Latin Rite liturgy has not had any such practice. We have therefore to ask those who want to bring in the dance to state their case.

If they say that the reason is to make the Mass interesting, the answer is what we have just considered. We come to Mass to worship God, not to see a spectacle. We have the parish hall and the theater for shows.

Others say they welcome some dance in order to express fully our prayer, since we are body and soul. The answer is that the liturgy indeed appreciates bodily postures and gestures and has carefully incorporated many of them, such as standing, kneeling, genuflecting, singing, and giving a sign of peace. But the Latin Rite has not included the dance.

It is not easy for dancers not to draw attention to themselves. Granted that some very refined dances in some cultures can help to elevate the mind, is it not true that for many people dances are a distraction rather than a help to prayer?

Dances easily appeal to the senses and tend to call for approval, enjoyment, a desire for a repetition, and a rewarding of the performers with the applause of the audience. Is this what we come to Mass to experience? Have we no theaters and parish halls, presuming that the dance in question is acceptable, which cannot be said of them all?

Is it true that in many parts of Africa and Asia there may be a cultural habit of graceful body movement which, with due study and approval of the local Church, may go down well within a liturgical celebration. The Ethiopian rite has known graceful rhythmical movements and the procession for the Gospel. The Roman Rite Mass approved for the Democratic Republic of the Congo has similar entry movements.

But this is very different from what the ordinary person in Europe or North America thinks of when the concept of dance is evoked. Can we blame people who associate dance with Saturday evening, ballroom, theater or simply, innocent enjoyment? The liturgical books approved by the bishops and the Holy See for Europe and North America understandably do not authorize the importation of dance into church, let alone the celebration of the Eucharistic Sacrifice. (see the article in the official bulletin of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments: Notitiae 106-107, June-July 1975, pp. 202-205. Editor’s note: this article is available on the Adoremus web site at www.adoremus.org/Dance.html)

adoremus.org/0505Arinze.html

Here is an example that I took on one of my mission trips to Tanzania. This is a the dedication Mass of a new church that my parish helped fund.

skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=8a5aaf7449167689&resid=8A5AAF7449167689!5210&parid=8A5AAF7449167689!452

As you can see, it is radically different from what is attempted at US parishes under the name of ‘liturgical dance’

 

[Aran_Houlihan]

Unflappingbelieveable. On Good Friday of all days. Run, don’t walk away from that parish.

its meant to be a Solemn celebrations with a Solemn Liturgy