How to deal with liturgical abuses?

[c4csp]

Hello,

I have lived my whole life as a Novus Ordo Catholic. Coming back to the faith after many years away, I have only grown closer to the Lord. I find myself longing for the TLM even though I have never been. I pray the Novus Ordo mass the best I can, but I just feel the overall experience of the sacrifice of mass is just not there as it is in my heart. Now I do not feel any of these abuses are deliberate from any involved, but nonetheless it just really bothers me at times. I haven’t received communion on tongue but am now planning to as soon as that is possible because I just have had issues with it. The clergy at times brings things or says things differently in the mass that draws focus to them rather than Jesus. I’ve noticed in confession when I have confessed things that I feel I offended God, they may say that is not a sin or downplay it, even though it pains me deeply in my heart. I never noticed these little things before because they are so subtle, but the closer I move to Christ, the more I recognize these things and it makes me feel our Lord deserves so much more. At the same time, I do not want to be critical and nit pick things, but I am confused. I think of Christ’s church to provide clear teaching and consistent reverent liturgy, and I feel lost at times as to what God wills. I want to do God’s will and worship Him the way He deserves but I find so much confusion in current church.

How do any of you handle these things?

 

[MeganCecilia]

The part that concerns me about what you wrote is when you mentioned you feel priests are downplaying your sins in confession. Are you sure about this? Are the sins you are confessing strictly listed as sins. I just want to make sure you are not scrupulous.

 

[c4csp]

No, not scrupulosity. It may just have been offenses that have become so normalized in our culture that the priest was trying to help me not be so hard on myself. Now granted that may be a caring thing to do and no ill will on his part. However, in the scope of my spiritual development, I am holding areas of my life to higher standards out of my love for the Lord.

 

[MeganCecilia]

Ok I understand!! Have you tried going to another parish? Maybe the priests there are different

 

[Diaconia]

Let the priest be Jesus, and let yourself be you.

Listen to Jesus, who is filled with mercy for you.

Also, I would avoid in the future referring to yourself as a Novus Ordo Catholic, there’s no such thing. And longing for the Tridentine Mass, when you’ve never been is odd.

Stay with the same confessor, as he will be able to help you if you develop trouble with scrupulosity. And obey your confessor, and trust in what Jesus says to you through him.

Deacon Christopher

 

[stpurl]

Let’s see. You joined 54 minutes ago and then you post. . .this.

You have never been to the TLM yet you somehow address the Ordinary Form or OF or just ‘Mass’, the terms that any regular Catholic would use, as “Novus Ordo’, a term which is not used by the majority of people who attend the EF/TLM but only by a few fringe ultra people, often schismatic. You don’t mention anything specific that the EF/TLM has which attract you, but make very vague and emotional and abstract ‘digs’ at how the “N.O” priests are ‘failing you’, even though you have never attended an EF/TLM or spoken to their priests or gone to their services.

Forgive me, but this looks like a troll post meant to portray people who love the EF/TLM as elitist and the OF as ‘lacking’.

I categorically reject BOTH Of those as extremist and divisive.

What ‘liturgical abuse’ are you accusing the OF of? Nothing.
With friends like you, we EF lovers don’t need enemies.

Please educate yourself on both forms of the Mass. Your OF is most likely not full of liturgical abuse at all, and if you are in earnest because you saw something you liked about the EF for God’s sake make sure you’re viewing something from EWTN and not some craziness from Most Holy Family or Traditio.

Thank you.

I’m speaking as probably one of the most stalwart, and oldest, defenders of the EF/TLM on these forums (check out my posts over years), and again, before you get really raked over the coals, stop and be sure you haven’t been taken in. Unfortunately, some of the sites which promote the TLM (a good thing) are extremely questionable in other areas (a bad thing).

 

[Irishmom2]

I have lived my whole life as a Novus Ordo Catholic. Coming back to the faith after many years away, I have only grown closer to the Lord. I find myself longing for the TLM even though I have never been.

How can you long for a mass you have never been to and make a comparison if you haven’t been to a Latin mass? You are going by what you have read or heard from others, but have not experienced for yourself.

I too will ask: what are these “abuses” you see happening?

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

The most frequent liturgical abuses people experience…aren’t abuses, just differences of preference. That’s worth paying attention to before getting too far down the path with this.

 

[c4csp]

Ok, well said responses. Maybe I am just being over critical. I was just seeing if I was crazy or others felt similar, but I guess I am just a little crazy lol.

Thank you Deacon Christopher, that was a helpful response. I need to trust in the Lord more so I can hear HIs voice.

 

[Peeps]

How do any of you handle these things?

I handle “these things” by not trusting my “feelings”, but instead, trusting the written documents of Holy Mother Church, and trusting the bishops (apostles) that Holy Mother Church has appointed to lead the Catholic Church.

If I trusted my “feelings,” I would still be Protestant, because the music is better than any Catholic Church I’ve ever been in, and people are so friendly!

Beware of your own “feelings,” and beware of those who appeal to those feelings.

 

[OraLabora]

I have lived my whole life as a Novus Ordo Catholic.

There is no such thing.

One is either Catholic (baptized), or one isn’t (not baptized). Liturgical preference is not a qualifier for the word “Catholic”.

 

[c4csp]

Part of problem right there. Many Bishops do not agree. This is what leads to confusion at times among the laity.

 

[Peeps]

Part of problem right there. Many Bishops do not agree. This is what leads to confusion at times among the laity.

So obey your bishop, unless he orders you to commit obvious sin.

E.g., if your bishop mandates receiving Holy Communion in your hand instead of on your tongue, obey him. Both are allowed in the U.S. . You may have a personal preference for one or the other, but your personal preference should not get in the way of obedience to the apostle of the Lord Jesus, the man who has been appointed by the Pope to lead your diocese.

Does this make sense to you?

If you truly wish to begin attending a Latin Mass, then look for one and go. If there is no Latin Mass in your area, then get involved with a group of people who are attempting to become a “stable” group and bring the Latin Mass into your area. If there is no group of people, you could start one, but be prepared for a long haul (several years). If this is discouraging to you, perhaps you could consider a move to a city or town that already has a well-established Latin Mass in a parish that is in communion with Rome, and that has a mix of lovely people of all ages (this is the situation in our city!).

But if none of this is possible, try not to pine over what you cannot have. That leads to discourage and eventually could lead to despair and bitterness, and these do not glorify the Lord Jesus or help you to get to heaven!

 

[c4csp]

Yes, makes perfect sense.

My Bishop did not mandate that, but I will inform you on something; Only the person receiving communion decides how to receive whether on tongue or in hand. The Bishop can encourage one way but not mandate it.

 

[Pitcairn17]

Yes, makes perfect sense.

My Bishop did not mandate that, but I will inform you on something; Only the person receiving communion decides how to receive whether on tongue or in hand. The Bishop can encourage one way but not mandate it.

The person receiving Communion may think they have that authority, but the people actually distributing Communion - the priest, deacon, or EMHC - are under the authority of their Bishop, who can most certainly - as our Bishop has - require that Communion only be distributed in the hand.

 

[CilladeRoma]

Exactly.
While in ordinary circumstances the choice lies with the communicant, during a pandemic, the Bishop has wide lee-way for what is best for all. I would rather have Mass with CITH only than not have Mass at.

 

[commenter]

Let’s see. You joined 54 minutes ago and then you post. . .this.

You have never been to the TLM yet you somehow address the Ordinary Form or OF or just ‘Mass’, the terms that any regular Catholic would use, as “Novus Ordo’, a term which is not used by the majority of people who attend the EF/TLM but only by a few fringe ultra people, often schismatic. You don’t mention anything specific that the EF/TLM has which attract you, but make very vague and emotional and abstract ‘digs’ at how the “N.O” priests are ‘failing you’, even though you have never attended an EF/TLM or spoken to their priests or gone to their services.

Forgive me, but this looks like a troll post meant to portray people who love the EF/TLM as elitist and the OF as ‘lacking’.

I categorically reject BOTH Of those as extremist and divisive.

What ‘liturgical abuse’ are you accusing the OF of? Nothing.
With friends like you, we EF lovers don’t need enemies.

Please educate yourself on both forms of the Mass. Your OF is most likely not full of liturgical abuse at all, and if you are in earnest because you saw something you liked about the EF for God’s sake make sure you’re viewing something from EWTN and not some craziness from Most Holy Family or Traditio.

Thank you.

I’m speaking as probably one of the most stalwart, and oldest, defenders of the EF/TLM on these forums (check out my posts over years), and again, before you get really raked over the coals, stop and be sure you haven’t been taken in. Unfortunately, some of the sites which promote the TLM (a good thing) are extremely questionable in other areas (a bad thing).

True. Thus kind of thread used to cycle through CAF about every two months, with very similar wording. My favorite was one that said, “Gosh, I was surfing through Youtube and by accident discovered a Latin Mass! I was raised in the Novus Ordo religion, so the Mass used to be in Latin all over? Wow!”