I need some help

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AMDGAlto

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I recently learned that a religious person who leads a group of young girls ages 12(?)-18, which I am a part of, is planning to have the group perform a liturgical dance before Mass next Sunday. (19th) It happens that I wasn’t going to be able to go that day anyway so I don’t have to worry about being asked to participate, but I was wondering how I could tell this person that if the girls’ group will be participating in liturgical dances I won’t come anymore.

Should I write them an email, a letter, or give them a phone call?

Should I take action before the event and say that I don’t think it should be done, or should I wait until after the event and say I can’t be in the group anymore because of it? I’m leaning towards before, but I have qualms about telling a religious what they’re doing isn’t right so I feel like backing out quietly afterward…

Can you guys help me with this problem? I’m not entirely sure what to say if they try to debate me, I don’t think I’m very good at debates, I take too long thinking out the right answer/wording.

I’d really like to continue with this group, it’s very fun and we do helpful and good work, but I won’t be able to if this happens.

If you can’t help, could you pray I get a good solution?

Thank you,
Mari
 
You might want to check out this thread here:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=240510&highlight=liturgical+dance
I’m sure there’s others on CAF about it, run a search and see if it helps you with info.

It’s got some good info on liturgical dance. My favorite is Cardinal Arinze’s comment- that we come to Mass to adore God, not to entertain one another. If anyone tries to debate you over your decision not to take part in something that makes you uncomfortable, you might try explaining it in that way.

Good luck.
 
Hard as it is, I think you should call-- the email is easier, but the leader of the group deserves a chance to explain the situation, and you need an opportunity to clarify the specifics before you commit yourself to leaving the group.

You mention that the dance is to take place before mass-- in that case, I’m not certain we can really call it ‘liturgical’ dance, since it won’t be part of the liturgy.

Even so, I’m not sure it should take place inside the sacred space of a church. I suppose most church buildings are used for non-liturgical worship from time to time-- dramatic gospel readings, that sort of thing.

I’m not AT ALL a fan of ‘liturgical’ dance, or dance in general, for that matter.

But if it:
–Took place outside the context of Mass, with a long enough break between the two to make it clear that they weren’t connected, and

–Didn’t take place in the worship space, or at least not in the sanctuary proper, and

–Neither the costumes nor the dance itself could be construed as the least bit provocative [what matters here isn’t intention, but effect]

If all these were true, I think it would be a little hard to find much fault. It still wouldn’t be my cup of tea, though.
 
Mari,

one thing I’ve learned over the years is that you can’t change someone’s view on “beautiful liturgy”. I am personally very against liturgical dance because I think it is a horrid and, quite frankly, disgusting way to behave in front of the Lord. Prancing around with furly short skirts in front of the Blessed Sacrament…sigh it makes me angry. I know; i’ve witnessed it first hand before.

Anyway, if you still wish to try to talk to this person and tell him/her that it is liturgcally incorrect, I applaud you for doing so. If he doesn’t give, then just stop attending that group. It will save you a lot of pain. However, if you wish, you can also speak with your pastor and, if you get no where, sometimes writing to the bishop helps. You’ll be really surprised to know that many bishops are also strongly against liturgical dancing.

Best of luck,

Michael
 
Ok here we go another opinion.
As I see it Dance is one of the “external” parts of some liturgical services. That is to say it is a cultural part if accepeted by local culture as a reverent form of worship. I don’t believe dance is a Reverent part of our culture in the united stases by any means.
But that said I did a little research on vatican.va and found this tid bit demonstrating how in different cultures Dance may be Reverent.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
[00236-02.04] [IN200] [Original text: English]
  • H.E. Most. Rev. Angel FLORO MARTÍNEZ, I.E.M.E., Bishop of Gokwe (ZIMBABWE)
The ZCBC had its Annual Plenary Assembly in April 2005 on the theme "The Lord Jesus is present on our Journey of Life at the tables of the Word and the Eucharist”. This was done in response of the Year of the Eucharist and the previous call by SECAM to celebrate in 2005 the Year of the Bible in Africa.
The Instrumentum Laboris in no. 46 reminds us about it saying “The Liturgy of the Word together with the Liturgy of the Eucharist constitute a single, inseparable act of worship”. Nos. 54 to 56 will deal with it again in a practical way.
Our Liturgies of the Eucharist are well attended and constitute a real feast and celebration with an active participation from the faithful expressed in joy, song and a dignified dance.
[Edited]+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If you do not believe that dance is a dignified way of worshop just don’t do it. I would recomend explaining that to your group leader.
After all your commitment is to God not him.
I hope this has been of some help.
Bless you
humbly yours jim
 
JimArsenault said:
Ok here we go another opinion.
As I see it Dance is one of the “external” parts of some liturgical services. That is to say it is a cultural part if accepeted by local culture as a reverent form of worship. I don’t believe dance is a Reverent part of our culture in the united stases by any means.
But that said I did a little research on vatican.va and found this tid bit demonstrating how in different cultures Dance may be Reverent.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
[00236-02.04] [IN200] [Original text: English]
  • H.E. Most. Rev. Angel FLORO MARTÍNEZ, I.E.M.E., Bishop of Gokwe (ZIMBABWE)
The ZCBC had its Annual Plenary Assembly in April 2005 on the theme "The Lord Jesus is present on our Journey of Life at the tables of the Word and the Eucharist”. This was done in response of the Year of the Eucharist and the previous call by SECAM to celebrate in 2005 the Year of the Bible in Africa.
The Instrumentum Laboris in no. 46 reminds us about it saying “The Liturgy of the Word together with the Liturgy of the Eucharist constitute a single, inseparable act of worship”. Nos. 54 to 56 will deal with it again in a practical way.
Our Liturgies of the Eucharist are well attended and constitute a real feast and celebration with an active participation from the faithful expressed in joy, song and a dignified dance.
[Edited]+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If you do not believe that dance is a dignified way of worshop just don’t do it. I would recomend explaining that to your group leader.
After all your commitment is to God not him.
I hope this has been of some help.
Bless you
humbly yours jim
Click to expand...
True.

Regardless, here’s the finite way I see it:

If any one person in the parish is opposed to something like liturgical dancing, then it shouldn’t be done. It’s not the same like if someone didn’t want to kneel at Mass(i’ve heard it before); kneeling is part of Roman Catholic tradition, and dancing during Mass, is, well, quite frankly, not.
 
“This was done in response of the Year of the Eucharist and the previous call by SECAM to celebrate in 2005 the Year of the Bible in Africa.”

Since the quote pertains to liturgies in Africa I am reminded of what Cardinal Arinze has said on the subject.

*“Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, has publicly criticized introducing dance into the Liturgy, as it risks reducing this sacred rite to a spectacle. In an address in 2003, for example, the cardinal responded to a question on “liturgical dance”: “There has never been a document from our Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments saying that dance is approved in the Mass”; and he noted that "the tradition of the Latin Church has not known the dance. It is something that people are introducing in the last ten years – or twenty years”. (See Cardinal Responds to Questions on Liturgy AB October 2003)"
adoremus.org/1003Arinze.html
*
 
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