Issue with the Consecration Prayer at University Mass

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Hi everyone. I made an account specifically to ask this question, yikes. So, I attend a Jesuit university. Last night at mass, our university president was presiding. During the end of the consecration prayer, the part where the priest says, “Through Him, with Him, in Him…” and so forth, he invited everyone in the congregation to JOIN IN and say it with him. My mouth dropped. Naturally everyone went along with it. What are your thoughts?

No one has the authority to change the way the mass is participated in … I was just totally stunned. Not really sure what to do. This is my 4th year, so trust me I’ve encountered a lot of craziness with the Jesuits, but for me this just took it a step too far.

Thoughts, reactions, ideas for a course of action?

Thanks!
 
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I would make a public complaint to the University President and if no reply, write a letter to the local Bishop
 
I don’t like it when one man at the back of the church always says it (loudly) with the priest.
 
That used to be really common – haven’t seen it in a long time. It’s not appropriate, but I guess I don’t think it’s a “step too far.” If you’re really concerned about it, you should address it with the celebrant, although not publicly.
If you don’t feel he addresses it, then you can write to the local bishop – but I would have very very low expectations that the bishop will engage with this.
 
We had one man who whispered this quite loudly with the priest; come to find out he was a retired archbishop.
 
That’s cool.

This man isn’t though, he brings his dog, talks during mass (not whispering) and likes to bellow ‘communion antiphon’.

It’s good he goes though.
 
MaryT777 said:
We had one man who whispered this quite loudly with the priest; come to find out he was a retired archbishop.
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??? Then why was he in the pew? Why wasn’t he sitting in choir?
 
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MaryT777 said:
He’s retired. He says Mass when other priests are gone.
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? He should still sit in choir. He doesn’t need to con-celebrate, but he really should be sitting in choir with a cassock and surplice 🤔
 
Sitting in choir doesn’t mean having a musical choir. it simply means that he sits in (or near) the sanctuary in cassock and surplice. That’s where clergy typically sit when simply attending mass.

I cannot quote it to you, but I believe there is a canon that says that all clergy SHOULD BE vested at mass, even if only sitting in choir.
 
Can someone post a canon that says all clergy SHOULD BE vested as mass, even if only sitting where he general congregation sits.

He sits behind me in the third pew.
 
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MaryT777 said:
Can someone post a canon that says all clergy SHOULD BE vested as mass, even if only sitting where he general congregation sits.

He sits behind me in the third pew.
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To be clear, I didn’t say he must be in choir. I said he “should be.”

I’ve been googling, and I can’t find anything that says he can’t do it, but I’ve seen things that say it is custom for him to sit in choir.

However, I totally understand why he doesn’t want to con-celebrate. But I don’t really understand why he doesn’t want to sit in choir unless he simply doesn’t want to get changed (which isn’t a good reason to me)
 
MaryT777 said:
Can someone post a canon that says all clergy SHOULD BE vested as mass, even if only sitting where he general congregation sits.
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  1. Holy Mass and other liturgical celebrations, which are acts of Christ and of the people of God hierarchically constituted, are ordered in such a way that the sacred ministers and the lay faithful manifestly take part in them each according to his own condition. It is preferable therefore that “Priests who are present at a Eucharistic Celebration, unless excused for a good reason, should as a rule exercise the office proper to their Order and thus take part as concelebrants, wearing the sacred vestments. Otherwise, they wear their proper choir dress or a surplice over a cassock.” It is not fitting, except in rare and exceptional cases and with reasonable cause, for them to participate at Mass, as regards to externals, in the manner of the lay faithful.
www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20040423_redemptionis-sacramentum_en.html#Chapter%20V
 
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I had no idea, Thanks Father. He truly comes in shorts in the summer and whispers all the priest parts.
 
Perhaps he is unwell or weak and he just wishes to go to Mass without getting all robed up and having to sit in choir. Perhaps he has already discussed it with the other priests and for some reason they have all agreed that him sitting in the pew works best. Just let the man attend Mass in peace.

Edited to add, I see Fr. David’s post and am not trying to argue with it, but if this man is the least bit elderly I would really suspect some kind of health issue that is of course his personal business.
 
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MaryT777 said:
Thanks that is how I feel. He is 90 and just got out of the hospital.
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Ok. But you didn’t say that before. A retired bishop could be as young as 76 years old (and sometimes even younger) and in perfect health.

But at the same time, if he’s sitting in the 3rd row, he feels well enough to walk up for communion. If he was sitting in choir, the priest would walk communion directly to him. So unless he’s in a wheel chair and the wheel chair access is in the 3rd row, it sounds to me that he simply doesn’t want to put a cassock on (or he needs help getting dressed and is too proud to ask for help).

I’m not judging him, but I do think it’s a shame he’s not sitting in choir.

God Bless
 
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rmparker27 said:
Hi everyone. I made an account specifically to ask this question, yikes. So, I attend a Jesuit university. Last night at mass, our university president was presiding. During the end of the consecration prayer, the part where the priest says, “Through Him, with Him, in Him…” and so forth, he invited everyone in the congregation to JOIN IN and say it with him. My mouth dropped. Naturally everyone went along with it. What are your thoughts?

No one has the authority to change the way the mass is participated in … I was just totally stunned. Not really sure what to do. This is my 4th year, so trust me I’ve encountered a lot of craziness with the Jesuits, but for me this just took it a step too far.

Thoughts, reactions, ideas for a course of action?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
This abuse is defined by the Church as “objectively grave matter.” Objectively; meaning that it doesn’t depend on circumstances or locale, nor can it be dispensed.

See Redemptionis Sacramentum 173 (together with 52)

Unfortunately, since this is the university president doing this, any complaints are likely to fall on deaf ears. That’s simply reality.
 
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