How do you tell a priest you love that you didn't love his mass?

[Cinette]

I’m not sure you understand your response to my post?

But you know, having a popcorn or burger social for the teens after Mass, that isn’t a bad idea.

There is a local parish that has an evening social after an hour of Eucharistic Adoration that is organized by and for the teens of the parish. Both Adoration and the social afterward are very well attended. After all, it is a time of life that can pose some serious spiritual “rapids”, a time when an hour spent in quiet with and before the Lord becomes a particularly welcome respite. After that, you get an hour with a bunch of other people your age who feel the same way!

Oh yes sure!

I am a Grandmother with a marvellous husband (convert from atheism 3 years ago). One of the things that touched him when he was on his journey was other people’s reverence. There is a saying that Faith is caught, not taught.

I remember when I was a teenager we had this feeling that we were left out - too young for some things and too old for other things. We felt neglected. Nobody understood us. We had so many problems!

When I see young people achieve a close relationship with the Lord I cannot resist telling them how fortunate they are. I firmly believe that ALL teens, when preparing for Confirmation should do a Life in the Spirit Seminar with a Charismatic group. Its sticks - it is transforming. It is necessary. Especially in our world today it is a huge, huge plus. Tell your priest this.

Blessings

 

[benedictgal]

In doing some research, I came across this item that the former Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger collaborated in back in 1998. Even though this was addressed to the Australian Bishops Conference, I believe that it is certainly appropriate to the situation the OP described:

1. Weaknesses and Correctives.
   **A weakness in parish liturgical celebrations in Australia is the tendency on the part of some priests and parishes to make their own changes to liturgical texts and structures, whether by omissions, by additions or by substitutions, occasionally even in central texts such as the Eucharistic Prayer. Practices foreign to the tradition of the Roman Rite are not to be introduced on the private initiative of priests, who are ministers and servants, rather than masters of the sacred Rites (Sacrosanctum Concilium 22 § 3 Instruction Inaestimabile Donum 5). Any unauthorized changes, while perhaps well-intentioned, are nevertheless seriously misguided. **The bishops of Australia, then, will continue to put their energy above all into education, while correcting these abuses individually. Such education and corrective action are also the effective means for the pastoral care of those at the parish level who criticize and report the efforts of others, sometimes justly, but sometimes in a judgmental, selective, ill-informed and unproductive manner.

**A return to a real sense of the Church and of Liturgy is the most effective path to overcoming obstinacy in personal tastes and to setting aside arbitrary action, fault-finding, conflict and division. **Both in regard to the Liturgy and other questions in the life of the Church, there is a need for fidelity to the mind of the Church and willingness to dialogue with others, above all the pastors and bishops.

Here, the former Cardinal Ratzinger is not advocating a vigilante, Old West-style shoot first and then ask questions later approach. What is called for, especially in the case of what the OP described, is a charitable discussion with the priest, using the appropriate documentation from the Holy See (Redemptionis Sacramentum, the GIRM) as a starting point. RS does provide remedies for what the OP described. However, the proper steps need to be followed.

 

[Cinette]

He is a new priest, and when I visited his parish he asked me what I thought of the style of the youth mass I attended. He told me he knew it was a little different and wanted to get my opinion but beforehand he seemed so enthusiastic and excited about it that I feel like if I told him the truth I’d break his heart!

I could be wrong here, but I feel that the EWTN daily masses are as close to the way it should be as possible.

Please help me understand which of these really are ok to have at mass in case I am being too critical.

• there was a huge “risen Jesus” cross in the middle instead of a crucifix
• the Tabernacle was off to the side
• after the Lamb of God all the people stayed standing until they received (I had to kneel…this one really bothered me)
• they read a clip of history about where and when and who wrote that particular reading before each reading sort of putting it in context (not before the Gospel though)
• the music was performed by a band and the hymns were by famous catholic pop stars(granted they were really good…but a band?)
• during many of the parts of mass where the priest was talking there was “background” music
• the congregation raised a hand over the newly consecrated Hosts almost as if their blessing Him could make Him anymore present than He already was…
• after communion but before the final blessing, they took a moment to pass on the “Elijah Cup” from one family to the next (I haven’t heard of this before)
• after mass they applauded (again the band was really good…but that is not the point)

I feel horrible…I love this priest…but I don’t think the right way to touch teens hearts is through dramatization of the mass. sure…in a way it reaches them because teens (even a lot of adults) sometimes are drawn to drama…but I guess what I’m saying is that I wish everyone understood that Mass feels good because of how holy it is…it is not holy because of how good it feels. So what do I tell my priest friend???

Soooo?

Have had that talk with your priest yet?

 

[Eli4n4]

Thank you to everyone.

I did send him an e-mail and I was as nice as possible…told him I’ve been reading from the GIRM (which I have…A LOT). I just gave him my opinion; that I love a good old traditional mass like what is seen on EWTN and then mentioned the parts in the mass I attended that I enjoyed (because there were a few nice traditional things in it ). No reply yet.

 

[Eli4n4]

In doing some research, I came across this item that the former Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger collaborated in back in 1998. Even though this was addressed to the Australian Bishops Conference, I believe that it is certainly appropriate to the situation the OP described:

Here, the former Cardinal Ratzinger is not advocating a vigilante, Old West-style shoot first and then ask questions later approach. What is called for, especially in the case of what the OP described, is a charitable discussion with the priest, using the appropriate documentation from the Holy See (Redemptionis Sacramentum, the GIRM) as a starting point. RS does provide remedies for what the OP described. However, the proper steps need to be followed.

Thank you…I have been looking everywhere for something like that (I must be really bad at research…I guess that’s why I’m here )…I’ve always felt that way…but I just needed the reassurance. Never a good idea to get too comfy with your own opinions.