How was Christmas Mass?

[YoungTradCath]

Okay, I’m going to say something that might rub some people wrong.

My son sort of has OCD and scrupolosity, if they can be differentiated.

I have thought about witnessing more to him about Catholicism. But I believe it will encourage his scrupulosity. From what I have seen on here, it is very easy to be scrupulous as a Catholic.

At this stage, I more prefer that he be at peace, trying to serve God the best that he can, than to be worried that everything is a sin.

I see. I don’t particularly know what to do in that situation.

 

[Cristiano]

…Why is your son wearing a dalmatic?

It was the pastor decision, he makes that call for Xmas and Easter. Between the processions for introduction and reposition of the infant Jesus and the Mass the priest and four of the servers change vestments, you can see the priest humeral veil. The regular Mass vestment for a solemnity is a cassock, surplice, and a mozzetta.

It is also a way to foster vocations. Some of these servers, including my son, are already considering seminar after high school.

The clergy, the servers and some of the faithfuls genuflected. It is normal at our parish. My son makes a point of inquiring about that every year during the altar servers morning rehearsal, just to make sure that the servers will remember.

 

[Phemie]

It was the pastor decision, he makes that call for Xmas and Easter. Between the processions for introduction and reposition of the infant Jesus and the Mass the priest and four of the servers change vestments, you can see the priest humeral veil. The regular Mass vestment for a solemnity is a cassock, surplice, and a mozzetta.

It is also a way to foster vocations. Some of these servers, including my son, are already considering seminar after high school.

The clergy, the servers and some of the faithfuls genuflected. It is normal at our parish. My son makes a point of inquiring about that every year during the altar servers morning rehearsal, just to make sure that the servers will remember.

Sorry, but the dalmatic is the deacon’s vestment and that means someone who’s been ordained, not just an altar server. No different from having the servers dress up in chasubles to foster vocations.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Do you mean they didn’t fall asleep simply because my voice is so soothing and comforting?

The challenge was because it was midnight

 

[YoungTradCath]

It was the pastor decision, he makes that call for Xmas and Easter. Between the processions for introduction and reposition of the infant Jesus and the Mass the priest and four of the servers change vestments, you can see the priest humeral veil. The regular Mass vestment for a solemnity is a cassock, surplice, and a mozzetta.

It is also a way to foster vocations. Some of these servers, including my son, are already considering seminar after high school.

The clergy, the servers and some of the faithfuls genuflected. It is normal at our parish. My son makes a point of inquiring about that every year during the altar servers morning rehearsal, just to make sure that the servers will remember.

I’m sorry. The priest has good intention, but it is very wrong and backwards to vest an non-ordained man or boy in a vestment proper to an ordained man. That creates confusion in the congregation and inevitably leads to false assumptions, such as more of that, “I didn’t know Vatican II changed…” or, “That deacon looks young.”

I’m not admonishing you in the slightest, but that is very wrong on the priest’s part to have your son vested in a dalmatic, the vestment proper to deacons (and certain other ordained men in certain situations) only. That kind of boggles my mind, to see a biretta’d priest standing next to a very improperly dressed altar boy, honestly!

I, like your son, am also considering a vocation. However, I feel this would detriment it for me more than anything else.

I just cannot comprehend the priest’s actions regarding this. That would be like him, a priest, wearing an ermine-lined cappa magna and pontifical gauntlets, garments exclusive to the episcopacy. That’s unthinkable… However, again, I’m not admonishing you.

 

[ChrisCA]

…

First of all, no one knew the new responses, despite being directed to the pew cards before Mass. Then the priest clearly stated before the creed that we would be genuflecting as it is a feast day, and the part is even marked in the pew cards. We get to that part, no one genuflects. God Bless him, he then stops mid-creed and says, Please Genuflect Now.

…

I didn’t know we were to genuflect during that part of the Creed! The priests/deacon bowed from what I can remember. Is there another day which we are to genuflect instead of bowing?

 

[zab]

It was the best Christmas Mass ever… but then every year is. If ever there was anything to complain about I don’t remember it. My children are all grown so I don’t have to handle the little ones. The good far out weighs any little complaint. I was walking home from Mass a couple of days before Christmas Eve and said hello to an old stranger eating a sandwich and standing in front of a restaurant reading the sign. We said hello, then he said, " Wow you look happy" I said, “I am” then he said “not happy…” then he looked in the air as if searching for the right word, then he said, "Spiritual!- you look “Spiritual” . I guess that is always how Mass is for me.

 

[smndtupidisaftr]

They hate the incense, they hate the genuflections, they found the polyphonic music boring and they snoozed during the homily.

In other words, they hated everything that was reverent and spiritual. This is probably why I can’t stand Christian rock or whatever praise music is being called these days. It just plays on emotions rather than trying to elevate our souls.

 

[TrueLight]

In other words, they hated everything that was reverent and spiritual. This is probably why I can’t stand Christian rock or whatever praise music is being called these days. It just plays on emotions rather than trying to elevate our souls.

They attend a reformed church. It is more like a Presbyterian church.

And I would more say that it is alien to them, and understandably so, as some Catholics cannot stand the EF, let alone a non-Catholic who is not used to it.

 

[jmoneyideas]

Can I just throw out a Blanket Statement…

I am so Glad I am Coming Home

This was the best Christmas experience I have ever had at any Church from the Episcopal Churches as a youth to my old Non Denom church…

 

[TrueLight]

Can I just throw out a Blanket Statement…

I am so Glad I am Coming Home

This was the best Christmas experience I have ever had at any Church from the Episcopal Churches as a youth to my old Non Denom church…

Amen!

 

[Cristiano]

Sorry, but the dalmatic is the deacon’s vestment and that means someone who’s been ordained, not just an altar server. No different from having the servers dress up in chasubles to foster vocations.

And…? Do you expect me to go and complain to the priest that twice a year the has a couple of servers that have clerical attire during a processional to repose the statue of the infant Jesus on the manger or o carry the fire inside the Church at Easter? I think that having to rush to the sacristy to change vestments is a little bit too much work, but honestly I do not fret (too much) about that.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Wow. Just wow!

Kudos to your priest for doing the best that he could.

At my EF mass, I saw a Chreaster walk in with a cup of coffee – a big pet peeve of mine, and I have never seen that before at this parish. I really think there should be a sign saying that no food or drinks are allowed at some parishes, especially on days like Christmas and Easter.

I just decided to say a prayer that God would lead her to come to mass more often, which as a perk, would eliminate that coffee during mass problem.

At the more orthodox parish I attend, they do have signs on ALL the doors leading into the church - “No food, drinks, or gum chewing.” They don’t mess around.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Can I just throw out a Blanket Statement…

I am so Glad I am Coming Home

This was the best Christmas experience I have ever had at any Church from the Episcopal Churches as a youth to my old Non Denom church…

I’m glad for you!!!

:extrahappy::dancing:

Yay! Think how wonderful next Christmas will be!

 

[TheRealJuliane]

During Communion, the singer/opera-singer decides to go into one more song even after everyone was seated. Why, I don’t know. So she tears into O Holy Night, full opera voice. Then, at the end, a man stands up out of no where and yells out, “BRAVO! BRAVO!” And then everyone stands up and starts clapping!

Waiting for that to happen after the priest’s homily…I know he would love it…But I’m not going back to find out if it ever happens. Never again is right.

 

[Cristiano]

I’m sorry. The priest has good intention, but it is very wrong and backwards to vest an non-ordained man or boy in a vestment proper to an ordained man. That creates confusion in the congregation and inevitably leads to false assumptions, such as more of that, “I didn’t know Vatican II changed…” or, “That deacon looks young.”…

I am not saying that altar servers should wear dalmatics during processionals, but it is not my call. However, during Mass there is no confusion at all between the priests, the deacons, the instituted acolytes, and the altar servers. Their roles, positions and attires differ quite a bit. The people that would be confused in that scenario are the same people that could not tell the difference between a priest and a deacon. If you were to attend that Mass you would clearly understand who is who and what their role is. Three priests, one deacon, two acolytes, and thirteen altar servers could seem too many people around the sanctuary but they work well together and again it is not my call.

 

[Cristiano]

At the more orthodox parish I attend, they do have signs on ALL the doors leading into the church - “No food, drinks, or gum chewing.” They don’t mess around.

We have those signs inside and outside church next to trash cans but we still find quite a bit of chewing gum stuck under the pews. But I still rather see that kind of people in church then hearing them saying “I was a Catholic”.

 

[Cristiano]

Waiting for that to happen after the priest’s homily…I know he would love it…But I’m not going back to find out if it ever happens. Never again is right.

During the announcements our pastor mentioned that as usual we have visitor from a local Jewish temple and everybody started clapping.

I am pleased that they come to join us, but I hate clapping during Mass. I will clap 'till my hands turn purple the day they will be there for their Baptism.

 

[asia53]

Okay, I’m going to say something that might rub some people wrong.

My son sort of has OCD and scrupolosity, if they can be differentiated.

I have thought about witnessing more to him about Catholicism. But I believe it will encourage his scrupulosity. From what I have seen on here, it is very easy to be scrupulous as a Catholic.

At this stage, I more prefer that he be at peace, trying to serve God the best that he can, than to be worried that everything is a sin.

Peace is better than anguish. IMHO, you’re a great mom, TL.

 

[jmcrae]

I found it a little ironic that we observed the Great Silence at my suburban parish (which has a reputation for being the noisiest parish in the whole Diocese), but not at my more traditional and much quieter home parish (the choir sang something all the way through it).