Liturgical Abuse on 11/18- Did I handle this correctly?

[CyberSaint]

After Mass this evening, I wrote the following e-mail to our priest, who is currently out of town. Names removed to maitain anyonimity. Was this appropriate of me?

Father X,

          This evening (11/18) at our 5 p.m. Mass, a missionary conducted the Mass. I do not know his name, nor do I know the organization he represented. Could you let me know?
        All I can remember of him was the wonderful sermon surrounded by the terrible liturgical abuse.
          His sermon was excellent, one of the better ones I have ever heard from the pulpit. Then he conducted the liturgy with little regard for the General Instructions on the Roman Missal. The prayers were not said in accordance with the Missal, with much ad-libbing. He decided to leave out the Creed because, as he said, the sermon was too long. He left the sactuary to walk the isle of the nave to shake people's hands during the Sign of Peace.The words of institution were changed such that I wondered if the Mass was even valid. The list goes on.

The Mass became something foreign, something not normal. I was truly disturbed and saddened by the apparent casual lack of regard for the Liturgy. After Mass, I congratulated him on his sermon, then expressed my deep concern over the deviations from the Liturgy. He replied that the Liturgy “wasn’t very important” to him. My jaw dropped. I could not believe a priest would have no regard whatsoever for the Liturgy.
He asked for donations, yet how could I in good conscious support what I have experienced when so many other organizations do good work and also faithfully execute the Liturgy?
I asked Deacon X to tell you about this, and he replied that the priest was “acting from the heart,” and “it was not like he would go to hell for this or anything.”

         Father, I thought Liturgical Abuse was a serious matter. I ask you to not let this priest conduct Mass for us again. I am so distressed by this I am of half a mind to write to the Archbishop about this man, and the organization he represents.

           I could use your perspective. Write back soon.

What are your thoughts?

 

[puzzleannie]

good, I hope the pastor gets more letters like yours, but I would wait, edit the letter, and rank the abuses in order of seriousness. omitting the Creed or wandering around shaking hands does not invalidate the Eucharist , changing the words of consecration does. I would have made note of the exact wording he used, because without it, my case would be much weaker, since of course I would take the further step of copying the bishop and the man’s religious superior with this letter.

 

[MrS]

I would tend to also point out the correct things he DID do (if there where any), so that the pastor has a good sense of your knowledge of the matter.

It might also be well to mention your concern for any priest or deacon who appears to “own” the liturgy to the point of introducing persoal and incorrect deviations from the GIRM.

If you can, include the relevant portions of the GIRM to reinforce your concern. And perhaps you could say that you feel the bishop would not be one to approve of this priest’s choice of liturgy either. Good luck. Your priest is fortunate to have you.

 

[LilyM]

I would tend to also point out the correct things he DID do (if there where any), so that the pastor has a good sense of your knowledge of the matter.

It might also be well to mention your concern for any priest or deacon who appears to “own” the liturgy to the point of introducing persoal and incorrect deviations from the GIRM.

If you can, include the relevant portions of the GIRM to reinforce your concern. And perhaps you could say that you feel the bishop would not be one to approve of this priest’s choice of liturgy either. Good luck. Your priest is fortunate to have you.

Perhaps add a few more specifics in your letter - do you remember exactly what he DID say in place of the regular words of institution? Or what sort of ad-libs he made at other points of the Mass?

And I agree - rank them in order, I personally would put the lesser ones first and save the worst for last, and list them as separate points (numbered perhaps) just for added clarity.

 

[Elzee]

Getting ready to write such a letter myself to a Bishop, I appreciate you sharing this and the comments. I agree with the comments above, but would also like to congratulate you on a very level-headed tone to your note. You did not rant and rave, but you were very confident - yet courteous - in your wording.

 

[netmilsmom]

I’m very impressed that you started with the possitive first.
I hope your priest is as well.

 

[CyberSaint]

Thanks everyone. I always appreciate your perspective on things.

I will await my priest’s response…

 

[kleary]

After Mass this evening, I wrote the following e-mail to our priest, who is currently out of town. Names removed to maitain anyonimity. Was this appropriate of me?

Father X,

This evening (11/18) at our 5 p.m. Mass, a missionary conducted the Mass. I do not know his name, nor do I know the organization he represented. Could you let me know?
All I can remember of him was the wonderful sermon surrounded by the terrible liturgical abuse.
His sermon was excellent, one of the better ones I have ever heard from the pulpit. Then he conducted the liturgy with little regard for the General Instructions on the Roman Missal. The prayers were not said in accordance with the Missal, with much ad-libbing. He decided to leave out the Creed because, as he said, the sermon was too long. He left the sactuary to walk the isle of the nave to shake people’s hands during the Sign of Peace.The words of institution were changed such that I wondered if the Mass was even valid. The list goes on.

The Mass became something foreign, something not normal. I was truly disturbed and saddened by the apparent casual lack of regard for the Liturgy. After Mass, I congratulated him on his sermon, then expressed my deep concern over the deviations from the Liturgy. He replied that the Liturgy “wasn’t very important” to him. My jaw dropped. I could not believe a priest would have no regard whatsoever for the Liturgy.
He asked for donations, yet how could I in good conscious support what I have experienced when so many other organizations do good work and also faithfully execute the Liturgy?
I asked Deacon X to tell you about this, and he replied that the priest was “acting from the heart,” and “it was not like he would go to hell for this or anything.”

Father, I thought Liturgical Abuse was a serious matter. I ask you to not let this priest conduct Mass for us again. I am so distressed by this I am of half a mind to write to the Archbishop about this man, and the organization he represents.

I could use your perspective. Write back soon.

What are your thoughts?

Well… at 30 years old I wept- when I told the pastor at my former parish goodbye. I grew up there- I had friends there. I served Mass there when I was a young kid and trained them when I became an adult.

Then something happened similar to your situation and I left the parish for an Indult Mission Church in the Diocese- to where I am registered now.

In the paraphrased words of Cardinal Arinze- “Liturgical abuse will have the faithful abandoning their parishes and attending the established Ecclesia Dei Indult Locations instead.”

Ken