I miss being part of my local parish

[Richard320]

It amazed me that some people denigrate churches because they have sloped floors (to better see the sanctuary), stadium seating (far more comfortable with far better support – very important for some) with padding/upholstery. That’s just nonsense.

Not to me, it’s not.

I’ve done plenty of late night cleanups after the Easter Vigil. It’s hard enough to scrape all the wax off the pews and floors when they’re smooth and hard; even with a paper bag and an iron, you can’t really get it all out of carpet. And then there’s the Asperges. The priests I know really like to dowse the congregation. Not a good idea with a lot of carpet and upholstery.

 

[Tietjen]

That’s a prime example of something people shouldn’t fixate on. Hold hands as you do, or don’t hold hands. That’s it. Don’t get angry because others do – that is nothing more than personal pride. And for those that claim others force them to hold hands I’ll simply chuckle.

See… herein is the primary difference between your thinking and mine. You appear to say, that each person should be able to decide for themselves what to do during the mass, “Hold hands as you do, or don’t hold hands. That’s it.” Hmm… I wonder then where you would draw the line. Should we each write our own GIRM? Should I be allowed to dance my way up to Holy Communion? What if, in my GIRM, I start attempting to shake people’s hands during the Homily? That would be okay right? You might argue, “Of course not! That is not a part of the mass to begin with!” If you did, I would agree with your argument and then inform you that NEITHER IS HAND HOLDING! and the only difference between the two is that parishes within the US have become more accepting of this NEW Protestant-like thing being added in the name of the “Oh isn’t that so nice” attitudes.

But… alas, I have said pretty much all there is to say about the subject. I understand the OP’s frustrations and share in them at times. I am not “angry” as you have repeatedly suggested… just a little bit saddened, not for myself as I attend a very orthodox parish, but for other Catholics who have never even been to a mass where they knelt, where hand holding wasn’t part of the Our Father, where aping the priest’s hand and arm gestures wasn’t the norm, where hymns weren’t song accompanied by a snare drum, electric bass, and guitar. Not angry, just sad… Peace everyone. I’m done in this thread.

 

[DiZent]

**…but for other Catholics who have never even been to a mass where they knelt, where hand holding wasn’t part of the Our Father, where [making gestures that appear similar to] the priest’s hand and arm gestures wasn’t the norm, where hymns weren’t song accompanied by a snare drum, electric bass, and guitar… ** Sorry I changed your quote, but the use of ‘aped’ was offensive.

I think herein lies the problem. For those of us for whom this was the norm, do you just say “get with the program or go away?”

Hand holding - not prohibited in my diocese; Raising of hands - no one I know does this to mimic the priest; they are lifting their hands in prayer. We stopped holding hands due to germs, but we lift our hands in prayer. And this is at my conservative parish. The gesture fit with “and also with you”, but does not fit with “and with your spirit”, so many people have stopped, but some still do. Again, not prohibited in my diocese because no one is trying to imitate the priest. I sing Allelulia in sign language for my autistic grandson. At Mass. Now that is a hand gesture.

 

[maryjk]

Because of some unavoidable stuff on Sunday, logistics dictated that we either attend a Saturday Vigil Mass, or go to a 6:30 AM Mass Sunday morning, and hope it’s quick, lest we be late to our Sunday event. Our usual venue is the Cathedral, a good 30 minute drive, but there is no Vigil Mass there. And 8 AM there is too late.

So you can only attend Mass on Saturday night or early Sunday, but only if you can get out quick?

Maybe you could read the whole thing again and see what I wrote. I don’t have the time constraints every week. But you know, life happens, and sometimes one has outside obligations that necessitate attending Mass at a different time or parish.

You had posted twice before I did. Once with the list of things that are wrong with your parish. Once to tell us that your old parish is 400 miles away.

All I am saying is that maybe you need to identify your priorities. If it is important for you to attend a different Mass, look at your unavoidable stuff. If the unavoidable stuff is important, force yourself to suffer through a Mass that you don’t like.

 

[pnewton]

Should I be allowed to dance my way up to Holy Communion? What if, in my GIRM, I start attempting to shake people’s hands during the Homily? That would be okay right? You might argue, “Of course not! That is not a part of the mass to begin with!” If you did, I would agree with your argument and then inform you that NEITHER IS HAND HOLDING!

Neither is folding one’s hands in prayer in the GIRM. This does not mean it can not be done in Mass, or if one person folds their hands in prayer or another has them in the pockets each is “writing their own GIRM.”