Lifeteen Mass, building block or misrepresentation

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Isadore96

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What do you guys think? Does the LT Mass really help teens grow religiously or does it make them grow in the wrong way (like a child who eats candy for dinner and all the time.) Does the LT Mass show Teens what the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is, or does it show them what the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass isn’t. Does it show Teens a clear or a distorted idea of the Mass?
Isadore
 
Just like every other Mass said by every other priest in the world it could really go either way. If it is celebrated properly then it can be a very effective way of building the faith of teenagers in a time when their parents certainly aren’t doing much, if anything, to encourage their faith.

I have found the LT program in general to be very orthodox in its presentation of the faith. But each individual parish program would, of course, depend on those in charge.

James
 
This is a good thread. I attended Life Teen for four years, spent a year in college, and now plan on entering college seminary in the fall. My experience tells me that LT showed me what is most beautiful about the Mass… namely, the Eucharist. Before it, I never really appreciated Christ present Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity on the altar. I learned that the sacraments are the heart and soul of the faith, not the externals. These externals (friends, music, etc.) helped make Mass a time that I looked forward to each week, but it was not the REASON for my attendance. I still attend our LT Mass each week and find it to be mostly reverent and very Christ-centered Mass. In short, I do feel that LT brings teens to a greater understanding and awe for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
 
In my experience, I’ve found that Life Teen puts on some INCREDIBLE, life-changing retreats (I’ve met Bob Rice and Fr. Stan Fortuna because of a local conference), but I don’t really feel comfortable ‘officially’ joining them or going to the Life Teen Mass because it feels as if their worship is kind of sugar-coated and ‘for show’ (no offense to those who are really truly comfortable holding up their hands in worship, etc.).

I guess one bad experience I had was when the Life Teen leader went up after Mass and harshly chastised those who “were embarassed to show how much they loved Jesus” because they didn’t go up around the altar or did the hand movements and dances to the songs. He said that that obviously meant you didn’t love Jesus and He would be embarassed of you when you met Him.

That really angered me because I am not really the “extroverted worship” sort of person if you know what I mean, and just because I don’t feel the need or inner prompting to “do a dance for Jesus” obviously does NOT mean I don’t love Him.
 
*pro-life_teen*:
I guess one bad experience I had was when the Life Teen leader went up after Mass and harshly chastised those who “were embarassed to show how much they loved Jesus” because they didn’t go up around the altar or did the hand movements and dances to the songs. He said that that obviously meant you didn’t love Jesus and He would be embarassed of you when you met Him.

That really angered me because I am not really the “extroverted worship” sort of person if you know what I mean, and just because I don’t feel the need or inner prompting to “do a dance for Jesus” obviously does NOT mean I don’t love Him.
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I know this is a partial quote, but I do understand what you are saying; I worship Jesus but I am not the big hands in the air type of person. I think the priest was off the mark; we each have our own ways to worship and just because we dont do all the hands stuff doesnt mean we dont love God. In fact I personally feel it disrespectful to be around the altar or putting my hands in the air and clapping during Mass. However I have no objection to something fun like, a big dance with music after Mass is over in the church hall. I think there is a time and a place for everything.
 
*pro-life_teen*:
In my experience, I’ve found that Life Teen puts on some INCREDIBLE, life-changing retreats (I’ve met Bob Rice and Fr. Stan Fortuna because of a local conference), but I don’t really feel comfortable ‘officially’ joining them or going to the Life Teen Mass because it feels as if their worship is kind of sugar-coated and ‘for show’ (no offense to those who are really truly comfortable holding up their hands in worship, etc.).

I guess one bad experience I had was when the Life Teen leader went up after Mass and harshly chastised those who “were embarassed to show how much they loved Jesus” because they didn’t go up around the altar or did the hand movements and dances to the songs. He said that that obviously meant you didn’t love Jesus and He would be embarassed of you when you met Him.

That really angered me because I am not really the “extroverted worship” sort of person if you know what I mean, and just because I don’t feel the need or inner prompting to “do a dance for Jesus” obviously does NOT mean I don’t love Him.
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You are not allowed to go up around the altar, and we are not to allowed to add gestures to the Mass. Both are forbidden.
 
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cmom:
You are not allowed to go up around the altar, and we are not to allowed to add gestures to the Mass. Both are forbidden.
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Gathering around the altar is forbidden and there are plenty of Life Teen programs that don’t do for that reason. However, something like holding hands during the Our Father is not forbidden. It may be pointless and look silly but it is not forbidden. The Church legislates posture (stand, sit, kneel) but not gesture (holding hands, hands in the air, etc.).

James
 
Gathering around the altar is forbidden and there are plenty of Life Teen programs that don’t do for that reason.
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For what it’s worth, I live near the parish that founded L.T. and when they announced changes per the new G.I.R.M., they also announced their intent to continue abuses too. I think this shows the mindset that drives the entire LT program…

The teens will continue to come around the altar at the Teen Mass. This has been permitted by the bishop.

We will continue to use “The Mass never ends…” dismissal. It is part of the character of this parish and of the Life Teen Program.
 
Melman:
For what it’s worth, I live near the parish that founded L.T. and when they announced changes per the new G.I.R.M., they also announced their intent to continue abuses too. I think this shows the mindset that drives the entire LT program…

The teens will continue to come around the altar at the Teen Mass. This has been permitted by the bishop.

We will continue to use “The Mass never ends…” dismissal. It is part of the character of this parish and of the Life Teen Program.
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It probably didn’t help that the pastor of that parish was also the Vicar for the diocese. With a new, more orthodox bishop in their now maybe he will have to change his mindset a bit. The old bishop may have permitted these abuses but I wouldn’t think that the new one will. And that is not the mindset of a good many people behind the various LT programs in the country. It really all depends on who’s involved in a given parish.

James
 
Melman:
For what it’s worth, I live near the parish that founded L.T. and when they announced changes per the new G.I.R.M., they also announced their intent to continue abuses too. I think this shows the mindset that drives the entire LT program…

The teens will continue to come around the altar at the Teen Mass. This has been permitted by the bishop.

We will continue to use “The Mass never ends…” dismissal. It is part of the character of this parish and of the Life Teen Program.
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Well, God looks at the intentions too. I suspect there may be an agenda the LT founders are using, but in some of the parishes I think the priest and people really think that LT is something that would help the teens and try to better conform the LT Mass to Church Teachings. God looks at the intentions, and perhaps He is up there slapping His head going, “Argh thats NOT how I wanted it done, but they mean well, so I will use the LT mass to give them graces and lead them home” or something like that. I think there is a middle ground, cause a faith built around emotions is very fragile. What will happen to these teens when LT is gone and the Mass is no longer fun. Will they be able to proceed through the periods of spiritual dryness, or would they leave for a protestant church seeking the entertanment factor. However I have heard some LT programs emphisize the True Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist and I cannot argue with that at all, in fact I truly agree that our teens should be made aware of the True Presence. That is one thing special to our religion that none of the others have! Nothing can compare to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and I feel that the Mass is more than some time to be joyful in Gods prescence. If the Mass is reduced to clapping and joyful singing, we fail to realise its importance. So I think there are pros and cons to the LT program, and that if a few things were changed (IE a reverent Mass according to the rubrics, LT Holy Hours [then they can have their praise and worship] and continuing the instruction) LT could become a truly wonderful thing.
 
As one who is around Life Teen as an adult volunteer, I guess I’ll throw in my two cents.

When I first saw folks - anyone is invited - go up to the altar before the Eucharistic prayer had begun, I was mortified. I still am when I see it every week. I do not agree with liturgical abuses, no matter how silly I feel some of the new regulations are (i.e. pouring wine in to each individual chalice before the consecration, another thing my parish doesn’t do). But I feel like these regulations exist for a reason, and that reason is uniformity of worship, and they should be acknowledged.

Is it a misrepresentation? In many ways, I think that it is. Some have complained that it’s rather watered down in terms of content, and I tend to agree with that assesment. It tends to be charismatic in a non-orthodox way, which is just asking for trouble. I think kids hunger for undilluted Catholicism; they know when they’re being handed something that’s been watered down, and I know as a kid I certainly resented those who treated me in a way that insulted my intelligence. Often, I feel like I’m being handed broad spiritual material that has nothing to do with the precepts of the Catholic faith except for broad, general points. I’ve certainly never heard anything I’d consider to be heresy, but it never quite goes far enough, either.

Still, I can’t help but like it. Every week I see kids who might not have any connection to the faith outside of a Sunday Mass attendance - at their parents’ request - coming a little closer to God. At Life Nights, we take on purity issues, pray, and there are times when we do indeed learn a little about the faith, too. The general sense of unity and fellowship fostered by Life Teen is unparallel in anything I’ve ever seen in a teenage atmosphere. Even the quiet, shy types who probably aren’t all that accepted at their high schools are included with love and joy by their peers who are probably some of the most popular students in their schools. And having taught high school in the past, that is truly something worth holding on to.

Does the program need to be tweaked? Absolutely. But does the fundamental premise of Life Teen need to be scrapped? I hope it never happens.
 
There are certainly good elements of the Lifeteen program and I use many of their published materials in our parish youth ministry. There is much good in having our youth understand and learn to love and live the Mass and lead a sacramental life. I believe that this can be accomplished by having them involved in every aspect of parish life and liturgical ministries which means involvment and presence at every Mass, not one “for youth only”. If this is what they come to expect at every Mass they participate in, they are bound to be “disappointed”. Better to have them learn to love the Tradition of the Mass, rather than a specific program geared towards youth. And I am not going to support liturgical abuses or teach our teens that it’s okay to pick and choose which rules and norms you accept and follow. Lifeteen needs to revise the program to support the bishops’ documents on liturgy, not vice versa.

Peace…
 
I think for sure every LT Mass is an abomination. God bless.
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… That is an extremely strong statement. Every Lifeteen mass? Not even one Lifeteen mass is a good thing? :rolleyes:
 
Well, God looks at the intentions too.
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As St. Alphonsus Maria Ligouri would say: “God intentions pave the road to Hell.”

God bless.

Oh, and no, there is not one good LT Mass. As St. John writes in fifth chapter of his first epistle, v 17, “All iniquity is sin.” Sin is never acceptable. God bless.

“…see what things the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.” Ps. LXXIII. 3
 
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EENS:
I think for sure every LT Mass is an abomination. God bless.
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Quite the ignorant statement for someone with a username of EENS - which implies that you are Catholic.

The bread and wine transubstantiated into the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ before throngs of adoring teenagers - yes teenagers! and their families - who humbly kneel down in adoration of their Lord and their God.

Might I suggest that you change your handle on these forums. You might mislead someone into believing you are Catholic.

James
 
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James0235:
Quite the ignorant statement for someone with a username of EENS - which implies that you are Catholic.

The bread and wine transubstantiated into the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ before throngs of adoring teenagers - yes teenagers! and their families - who humbly kneel down in adoration of their Lord and their God.

Might I suggest that you change your handle on these forums. You might mislead someone into believing you are Catholic.

James
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Transubstantiated?? I am sure that you know that the INTENTION of a Priest can validate or invalidate a Mass… if the Priest does not have the intention to “do what the Church does” the Sacrament is NOT confected. In any event, when the Sacrament IS confected, it is much more of a sin beause of the irreverence shown to the Blessed Sacrament. At least when there is no Consecration, there is only irreverence to a piece of bread. God bless.
 
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EENS:
Transubstantiated?? I am sure that you know that the INTENTION of a Priest can validate or invalidate a Mass… if the Priest does not have the intention to “do what the Church does” the Sacrament is NOT confected. In any event, when the Sacrament IS confected, it is much more of a sin beause of the irreverence shown to the Blessed Sacrament. At least when there is no Consecration, there is only irreverence to a piece of bread. God bless.
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Are you saying that priests have no intention to “do what the Church does” during a LT Mass? And every LT Mass is invalid? And you also seem to be implying that there is no reverence at any LT Mass.

I have to say that I am amazed to learn of someone like yourself who has been graced with the miracle of bilocation. Actually it is a much greater miracle since you seem to be able to simultaneously experience irreverence at LT Masses in 600+ parishes as well as read the hearts and minds of all of those priests.

James
 
I didn’t say all LT Masses are invalid; surely some are, as has been reported: not Consecrating both bread and wine (only bread), going against what the Bishop has commanded in regard to Liturgy (going around altar, worng music, dance, MAKING OUT AT THE SIGN OF PEACE!!???, etc.). There is no way to justify such behaviour. We must, then, adhere to the Mass by the rubrics. We should ahdere to the Mass by the rubrics of all time (the Traditional Mass). God bless.
 
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