List of abuses and disappointments after 8 months in a new diocese

[bobzills]

Well, its been a couple of weeks since I addressed these concerns with my pastor and the best I heard back from him was that I might perhaps be more comfortable at another Parish and he suggested a few…

This is what I heard also.

 

[rpp]

So the priest has essentially said he will not be obedient to the GIRM? He also said that if you want a Mass done in obedience to the GIRM you should go elsewhere? Do I understand you correctly?

It seems to me you have been patient and have responded in a reasonable manner. You noted problems and brought them to the attention of the priest. Now the priest appears to be refusing to obey the GIRM (and therefore the bishops in the USA).

Some of the things you mentioned are quite serious and need to be corrected.

It is very sad, but it sounds like it is time to contact your bishop.

I will add that whether or not you manage to get the priest to conform, you will probably (if not already) become a pariah at that parish.

 

[Joab_Anias]

So the priest has essentially said he will not be obedient to the GIRM? He also said that if you want a Mass done in obedience to the GIRM you should go elsewhere? Do I understand you correctly?

No, I don’t think he did actually or essentially say that. I see how that can be implied from his response but I am not making those conclusions from it. I haven’t been back to see if there are any changes either because last weekend I wanted to celebrate the Divine Mercy and went to a parish that did as we had called into this one prior and asked if they would be and was told they wouldn’t.

It seems to me you have been patient and have responded in a reasonable manner. You noted problems and brought them to the attention of the priest. Now the priest appears to be refusing to obey the GIRM (and therefore the bishops in the USA).

Again, I can’t conclude that he is refusing just because he didn’t specifically placate my concerns with his response and it has only been two weeks and I haven’t been back yet but will be this Saturday Vigil.

Some of the things you mentioned are quite serious and need to be corrected.

Yes I know. I have been considering throwing in the towel and finding another parish but I don’t think thats what I should do. I have never done that before. Parish hoping is not an alternative for me though I may visit others from time to time to be refreshed and fed if the need be. I will bear the cross in the state I have been lead to. Not shed it for sake of comfort in the pursuit of spiritual consolations.

It is very sad, but it sounds like it is time to contact your bishop.

Note the letter above sent to the Vicariate and Cardinal (Post 60). I didn’t name names or cite the GIRM and canons but did identify myself and my concerns. I have received no reply from them as of yet. I made Fr. aware of this thread early on and feel airing things this way is helping my understanding though and giving me someone to discuss it with and the benefit of journaling so to speak. I hope he has time to keep up with it.

I will add that whether or not you manage to get the priest to conform, you will probably (if not already) become a pariah at that parish.

I am not there to be popular anyway or to make anyone conform per se’. I am there for Jesus. In fact, I don’t want to be a burden on my pastor or any priest for that matter. I am sure showing my face would be enough to remind of what I have said I see as abuses at this point. Since Fr. said he didn’t have time to meet with me for spiritual direction then there is always the confessional where I can bring these things up (though its not the place unless it causes me to sin and I won’t unless that happens). I am more than content to come here and if need be seek out a priest who does have time to talk to me. If I have challenged Fr. to adhere to the GIRM (which I don’t think I have) he must know that I am not going away and the GIRM can’t conform to him. There is an unresolved delema for me that may eventually become his pastoral duty to address. Thats in the Lords hands at this point.

I don’t think we must demand our priests to be perfect any more than God demands it of us but only gently asks us to try. I have the same charity for our priests (good or disobedient) that I would like for them to have toward us. They aren’t all canon lawyers or are expected to be and they have pride just like any other human being. These innovations that I see have been going on a long time. I am sure I am not the first to see them or that they have come about without some sincere justifications. If there are such justifications I would like to hear them though.

I believe I have important insights to offer into why I believe its less than charitable to be anything but obedient to the rubrics of the Mass not only from a perspective of obedience but a practical and humanistic life experience perspective that I only wish to be heard on, and discussed with to understand. I don’t think I am overly scrupulous in my life. I rarely like giving to cezar what is cezars.

I am not a Pharisee willing to try and crucify anyone over the law. Its just that I see the Church law as Gods will and protection and departure from it in the liturgy as harmful to the Church and the faithful because I have suffered temporal effects of disobedience, of my own, and through others, that I can directly correlate to the innovations in the liturgy for the past 40 years.

Thus my concerns are not based on a lack of charity and legalism but on charity toward others and obedience to God and His Church. I understand the desire for and plausibility of ecumenical need for change in the liturgy and that change can be good toward building up. And for most of my life was on board with that for however and whatever ways changes came. This is when things went terribly wrong for me by doing things my way.

Its through great spiritual struggles the Lord has brought me to a conservative view that change in the liturgy shouldn’t be encouraged through personal initiatives as the canon says but properly promulgated through the paradosis of and Magisterium of the Church. I mean, if one wants change in the liturgy why not argue for an indult before doing it? Then if approved, isn’t everyone happy? At the very least the Priest is obedient. Instituting new traditions on personal initiative and liberal interpretations by taking advantage of the vast ignorance of the GIRM and canons is hardly forthright imho.

For me, disorder has resulted in personal failures and at times even resentment toward the liberal interpretations being allowed in the first place, bringing me full circle from a liberal to conservative viewpoint the hard way. I now fail to see past my scars where there could ever be regrets for obedience but plenty of them for rebellion.

Peace.

 

[rpp]

Joab, I admire the humility and patience you are bringing to this problem. I agree that you should continue to graciously, patiently and humbly continue to try to have these abuses corrected. Nor for you but for all the people of the parish.

May God continue to bless you and your efforts. May you see the fruit of them soon.

 

[Joab_Anias]

Joab, I admire the humility and patience you are bringing to this problem. I agree that you should continue to graciously, patiently and humbly continue to try to have these abuses corrected. Nor for you but for all the people of the parish.

May God continue to bless you and your efforts. May you see the fruit of them soon.

Thanks. I am sure all will be fine.