Let orthodoxy prevail?

[Crusader]

A growing number of people are tired of liturgical abuse in their parishes. They want it fixed right now (I certainly do) but many times they face terrible resistance from people who have worked long and hard to implement their ideas into the Mass.

My question is this. Are there any parishes where a concerted effort has been made by orthodox Catholics to quietly re-take the Mass from their abusive peers? In essence, put as much work as the abusers into changing the Mass back to what it should be from a grassroots level?

Things like slowly getting orthodoxpeople on the “liturgy committee.” Slowing filling the ranks of EMHC, readers, altar servers, cantors, ushers, etc. with orthodox Catholics? There would be no immediate gratification, but it would surely work over time, particularly with the new (and improved) breed of priests coming out of the seminary today…

 

[_veritas]

Crusader:

My question is this. Are there any parishes where a concerted effort has been made by orthodox Catholics to quietly re-take the Mass from their abusive peers? In essence, put as much work as the abusers into changing the Mass back to what it should be from a grassroots level?

This is already happening in many parishes, including my own, which also happens to be the Cathedral (yikes). First, our rector was replaced with a quite orthodox priest (though he is definitely a “patient” man, so to speak…). Then, many of the more liberal parishoners left to follow our former rector to his new assignment. Then, one of the more liberal staff members left to a new assignment. Her temporary replacement is a fairly orthodox person, who at least will not fight the rector on any orthodox changes he might try to make now.

In the background of all of this, a small contingent of more orthodox lay individuals began serving in the various liturgical ministries - even though some of us did not feel at all comfortable doing so, knowing that we would then be “participating” in some things we did not agree with. We reasoned that by our involvement, things would perhaps start to change by our good example (ie, dressing appropriately for Mass – it was not long ago when numerous EMHCs were wearing miniskirts… some still do, but I think it has improved, hopefully from our example). Also, only now is our liturgical ministry training being revised and reexamined – when I went through it, it definitely did not prepare me. There are many many EMHCs who were not trained correctly, and who still are unaware of many things that they should be aware of – including the Real Presence!! (eek!) By our being there, we have been able to gently pull people aside and explain the meaning of various things, or to point out to them what the Church actually requests that they, as extrodinary ministers, should do in response to certain situations (such as the dropping of a Host, or someone who tries to take the Host away).

The altar server, and lector, ministries have also been (I feel) improved by our very being there. Even the ushers have become more attentive I feel, after speaking with a few of them on the importance of people not walking away with Hosts. I think they are more aware of this possibility and more aware of what their response should be now.

In summary, we felt, and still do, that without our involvement in the ministies, alongside the renewal of orthodoxy in our rector, many things would not have changed or would have changed far more slowly. While it hurts us to see some of the things that have been going on, it encourages us as more and more people either join us (as orthodox Catholics already or by becoming more orthodox by our example).

Pray about it, and if you feel God calling you to this, then take courage and step up to the plate!

+veritas+

 

[missal_user]

These things work best when there is support from above, and by that I mean the bishop. We used to have terrible problems in Atlanta. Actually, that tireless defender of catholic orthodoxy Cardinal Bernardin, late of Chicago, trained here under our bishop ‘spirit of Vatican II bishop’ Hallinan. Sorry Chicago.

However, the installation of Archbishop Donoghue about 10-12 years ago was a tremendous blessing.

Basically, when a bishop takes his responsibilites seriously and just enforces what should be done, it makes it easier for pastors who are orthodox to do things the right way. Pastors who are on the fence get the idea fairly quickly and some pastors just get the opportunity to serve in other capacities outside of parishes, if you get the drift. Individuals at parishes are encourgaged to get involved, Vocations rise and things get better.

Two examples are Archbishop Donoghue’s liturgical directives of a few years ago where he summarized prior directives:
archatl.com/archbishops/donoghue/20020502.html

Note that in this diocese, lack of kneelers is not a sufficient reason for people not to kneel - I like that.

 

[Buckeyejoe]

Orthodoxy in the Church will utimately prevail, because the Holy Spirit is behind the movement, it is an authentic movement, it is the TRUTH.

We are to worship in Spirit and TRUTH! Not just Spirit and what we make up to be the truth. (Alot of liberal theologians need to read this, of course they don’t visit this website)

There is a strong uprising within the Catholic Church today, the lay people are demanding that we get back to solid Catholic Doctrine.

We will not tolerate any political correctness nonsense. There really is mortal sin and there really is a hell.

Today’s priests will not speak out against gay marraige, abortion, pornography, divorce…they will suffer severe condemnation from Christ at the time of their Judgement. They have been the shepherds who neglected the sheep. They have been the leaders with THEIR own agendas and not that of Christ.

We have an uprising of good priests and good lay people in the Church. Thank God.

As you said, “Let orthodoxy prevail” or another way to say this is “Let us worship God in Spirit and in Truth.”

 

[Edwin1961]

Buckeyejoe:

Orthodoxy in the Church will utimately prevail, because the Holy Spirit is behind the movement, it is an authentic movement, it is the TRUTH.

We are to worship in Spirit and TRUTH! Not just Spirit and what we make up to be the truth. (Alot of liberal theologians need to read this, of course they don’t visit this website)

There is a strong uprising within the Catholic Church today, the lay people are demanding that we get back to solid Catholic Doctrine.

We will not tolerate any political correctness nonsense. There really is mortal sin and there really is a hell.

Today’s priests will not speak out against gay marraige, abortion, pornography, divorce…they will suffer severe condemnation from Christ at the time of their Judgement. They have been the shepherds who neglected the sheep. They have been the leaders with THEIR own agendas and not that of Christ.

We have an uprising of good priests and good lay people in the Church. Thank God.

As you said, “Let orthodoxy prevail” or another way to say this is “Let us worship God in Spirit and in Truth.”

My pastor is very orthodox and spoke recently about the responsibility priest have to preach about the TRUTH. I feel truly blessed to be at a parish where the priest preaches the TRUTH than sidestepping the issues.
I do not know if this is because I am nnow attending a Byzantine Catholic Church or just that my Pastor has seen the LIGHT. (I wonder if most Byzantine Catholic Priests are like my Pastor?)

go with God!
Edwin