Laymen involved in the celebration of the Mass

[Ockham]

But there is little talk of sin in the churches today. When’s the last time you heard a priest mention the sin of ABC in church?

That’s true in Novus Ordo Masses, but I hear sin quite often from traditionalist priests. It seems part of the ‘spirit of V2’ and the NO was to de-emphasize sin so as to not turn people away. Much like a parent who doesn’t want to discipline their child in fear of not being pals anymore. I don’t need to hear warm and fuzzy “no judgement” sermons, I need help to arrive at a good place for eternity. Isn’t that suppose to be one of the Church’s roles?

Death - Judgement - Heaven - Hell

 

[ProVobis]

…

You’re right, I can’t judge anyone in particular. But I can accept simple math and state probabilities. And I also agree with your premise that the Church doesn’t teach what’s right and what’s wrong much anymore. So unless they want to simulate Lutherans who don’t believe in confession, they really shouldn’t be administering communion to those who have not had the proper moral formation, including the belief in the Real Presence. Maybe the best way for them to salvation is to stay morally ignorant but I wouldn’t recommend it for the time that they still have to spend on earth.

 

[ProVobis]

then what are you suggesting?

There are a lot of ways the Church can increase one’s awareness of whether it’s appropriate to receive or not. However, it is most certainly NOT done by simply employing more EMHC’s to distribute just because there are not enough priests to do so. If anything the Church should be limiting its distribution of communion and encouraging more confessions and spritual communions. According to the Catechism of Trent, a spiritual communion is worth more than unworthy sacramental communion but how many know that today?

 

[At_Trent]

I’m sure you can use Trent to justify anything you want to believe with your imagination.

Blessings,
Marduk

What stake in this discussion on the Latin Rite do you have ? I don’t post on the Eastern forum because I am ignorant of the sensibilities of our Eastern brethren and have little knowledge of the various churches. Not that I don’t care, but there is so much in the Deposit of Faith I still need to learn.

Do Roman Catholic members of CA post over there and disrupt threads ? Just trying to understand what stake you have in all of this.

 

[At_Trent]

Unless I’m the only sinner left in the world then it’s safe to conclude many people are receiving Holy Communion inappropriately.

No doubt they are. Some are more worried about what others may think if they don’t receive, than they are of the prospect of eternal fire.

 

[Phemie]

No doubt they are. Some are more worried about what others may think if they don’t receive, than they are of the prospect of eternal fire.

I would suggest that most think they are good people who have done nothing wrong because they haven’t robbed anyone, cheated on their significant other or killed anyone. They don’t see using ABC, common law marriages, cheating on taxes or anything else as ‘sin’ so they feel no need for Confession.

Unfortunately, in my parish, there are only three **scheduled **moments for confession during the year: Form II 1)during Lent, 2) next week for the little ones preparing for First Communion and 3) during Advent. Few even bother to attend during Lent and Advent and even fewer remain at the end to avail of the sacrament (except the little ones, obviously). I have tapped Fr. on the shoulder and requested his presence in the reconciliation room (sometimes when I’m at work). He’s usually not present in the church long enough before Mass for many people to request same.

 

[Ockham]

That’s sad Phemie and I’ll pray the situation in your parish improves. Have you talked to your priest about the necessity of Confession?

 

[Phemie]

That’s sad Phemie and I’ll pray the situation in your parish improves. Have you talked to your priest about the necessity of Confession?

The last couple of pastors have suffered from the opposite of the ‘if you build it they will come’ syndrome: the “They don’t come so why build it?” syndrome. That’s been the comment: “Why should I waste my time sitting in the confessional/reconciliation room for 30 minutes before Mass when nobody comes?”

I’m reminded of a judge in a particular area of Canada who made the comment to the Press one day that the majority of the adults in the communities she was serving were criminals. The people were outraged and she had to be transferred to another part of the province.

My brother, a cop, was talking to people who were ranting against what she had said. “We ARE NOT criminals, how dare she say that!?!”

My brother looked at one and asked, “Have you ever cheated on your taxes?” “Who hasn’t?” came the reply.

He asked another one, “Have you ever poached for deer or lobster?” “It’s not the same.”

Yet another, "Have you ever had someone earning income and living with you that you didn’t declare to Social Services, or been paid under the table so you didn’t have to declare the income to Unemployement Insurance? “Everybody does THAT!”

“All three of you have committed crimes. It’s so ingrained in the community that you can’t even recognize the behaviour as breaking the law. The judge was only speaking the truth.”

I think when it comes to sin we have the same type of situation.

 

[ProVobis]

Yet another, “Have you ever hidden income from Social Services or had someone living with you that you didn’t declare?” “Everybody does THAT!”

You might as well ask them “Why do you go to communion?” and expect the same “Because everyone else does.”

 

[pnewton]

What stake in this discussion on the Latin Rite do you have ?

If you are going to ask that, why not question the whole premise of this thread in a forum that is supposed to be on Traditional Catholic spirituality. From the OP:

I think of this often when I go to a* NO Mass* with laymen serving as ‘greetors’, ‘lectors’ or when laymen bring the gifts to the altar or distribute Holy Communion

Not that this thread is unique in this regard.

 

[At_Trent]

If you are going to ask that, why not question the whole premise of this thread in a forum that is supposed to be on Traditional Catholic spirituality.

“Forum for discussion of traditional Roman Catholic spirituality” That is the description of this forum.

Does the Rite he attends have laity involved in the same ways as the OF ? I honestly don’t know I don’t understand why he’s taking sides on the matter.