Is it a liturgical abuse?

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At a paraliturgy I attended a priest’s stole was draped over the altar, fringe hanging over the front. The faithful were encouraged to come up, kneel in front of the altar, touch the stole if they wanted and say a prayer. Symbolically the actions fit with the theme of the event. Apart from laity entering the sanctuary, which isn’t really a defined area in this chapel is the draping and use of the stole a liturgical “abuse” or a wrong/incorrect thing to do? Or more specifically is it not allowed? If so how can I know for sure?
 
There are types of liturgical decoration (paraments, and others) for altars that resemble stoles, but are not stoles.

It would guess that is what you experienced.

Deacon Christopher
 
It was a priest’s stole. Most definately. One in current use.
 
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The catholic dictionary definition I just read will suffice here: “Form of public worship in which Catholics engage without following the official liturgy”
It was not a sacramental service or the divine office. Some hymns/“holy songs”, prayers an exhortation perhaps by a nun…can’t remember the specifics.
 
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Cate said:
“Form of public worship in which Catholics engage without following the official liturgy”
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If they weren’t following the liturgy, the term “liturgical abuse” doesn’t apply, would be my guess.
 
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Did it look like this?

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Here’s an illustration of a priest stole, a parament, and a diaconal stole. All matching, all the same material, with tassels, etc.

Priests and deacons don’t let their stoles be used as decorations.

Deacon Christopher
 
I am absolutely 100 percent sure it was the priest’s stole. Not a random stole but a stole worn during Mass and confessions by the resident priest. He may have been present. I think he was. In my short 49 years I have met priests who let rainbow stole, alb wearing nuns say all but the words of consecration and sit cross legged at coffe table altars in public, not private Masses. Some priest’s indeedwould let their stoles be used as paraliturgical props. This catholic community has a reputation for orthodoxy…hence my question.
 
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This event took place at least a couple of months ago. I think the priest may have been present. I think he may have passed his stole to the nun who put it on the altar. I don’t want to tell an untruth so to speak and can’t be certain he was. The issue isn’t whether a particular priest consented to his stole being used or whether he owned it or just used it because it was among the communal vestments. It occurred at the chapel of a catholic community comprising consecrated nuns, their community member chaplain and laity. The issue is that it was a priest stole (not a deacon stole) not anything else and whether or not draping it on the altar for people to hold the edges of and pray is something officially the Church allows.
 
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Cate said:
catholic dictionary definition
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The Catholic dictionary isn’t an actual church document.

There isn’t any such thing as a para-liturgy as far as an actual “thing” in the church. There are liturgies and there are other things that are not liturgies.
Cate said:
It was not a sacramental service or the divine office.
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Then “liturgical abuse” isn’t really applicable, because it’s not a liturgy so there is no “abuse” of the liturgy, meaning failure to follow the rubrics.
 
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Cate

Welcome to CAF. Hope you find it enjoyable and informative.
 
Thank you for informing me of my incorrect terminology. I’ll try to be more careful in the future. I didn’t know what other word to use for brevities sake to describe this “public, catholic, prayer event”. Are you able to help with my query apart from helping me know my vocabulary wasn’t precise enough? I presume you can figure out from what I"ve said so far what I am trying to find out…if you can are you able to assist?
 
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General rule is, if it isn’t in the Roman Missal, raise questions…
 
That’s why I’m here. I’d like to mention my concern to the community involved but I’m raising my question here in the hope I can find out whether or not this would be something the Church considers allowable or not. If it is allowable I don’t want to question these people about it for prudential reasons I prefer not to divulge.
 
Cate said:
I am absolutely 100 percent sure it was the priest’s stole. Not a random stole but a stole worn during Mass and confessions by the resident priest. He may have been present. I think he was. In my short 49 years I have met priests who let rainbow stole, alb wearing nuns say all but the words of consecration and sit cross legged at coffe table altars in public, not private Masses. Some priest’s indeedwould let their stoles be used as paraliturgical props. This catholic community has a reputation for orthodoxy…hence my question.
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Why not just ask the priest.

Was it a laity run Liturgy of the Word you attended? Minus a Gospel reading and Homily in the absence of a Priest or Deacon
 
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  1. From what you’ve posted, it looks like you just “think” it was the priest’s stole and you have no confirmation that it actually was a priest’s stole.
  2. This event wasn’t a liturgy, so there can’t be liturgical abuse.
If you are concerned that a priest may have used his stole in some incorrect manner (not amounting to liturgical abuse due to (2)), then I would recommend you contact the priest involved and express your concerns. He may explain to you that it wasn’t a stole.
 
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This could be like the old Holy Roman Empire quip. It wasn’t a liturgy, it wasn’t a stole and it wasn’t abuse. 🙂
 
I understand and I agree with your approach.

Do you think you can have access to a Roman Missal? It has to be last one promulgated. You’ll find in there rules for veneration during or around the Liturgy and then you will be able to evaluate better.

My understanding is unless it is a relic of a saint, the act of public veneration doesn’t make sense. Neither saying a prayer using a stole as a channel is tbh.

PS - I am not used to novus ordo Mass, so I can’t tell for sure. But I am sure this is not allowed during Traditional Roman Mass.
 
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