Liturgical Abuses – Why?

[George_Waters]

After being a member of CAF for a couple of years and reading about all the liturgical issues folks here have I am forced to ask; why are priests and/or bishops allowing/promoting liturgical abuses?

Is this poor clerical education and knowledge? If so, why?

You can blame liberals, pride, etc., but how does that reconcile with the Holy Spirit not allowing Holy Mother Church to stray into error?

I am sincerly interested in what you all think.

Thank you.

 

[stbruno]

This is just my personal opinion, not based on any actual figures but just from my own observation. I live in a very large diocese…an archdiocese of over 300 parishes. There is no physical way to police our clergy. Many are the only priests in their parishes due to the priest shortage. So unless they do something overtly wrong, or evil…liturgical abuse or a stretch of the liturgical actions are overlooked. Not that they are condoned, but they cannot be policed. And if a lay person writes the bishop for an investigation, more than likely it is forwarded to a dean, a priest who is in charge of the deanery where the parish exists to do a followup. Many times, the old boys club comes to pass because the neighbor priests are friendly with another…and even if the dean finds something that is upsetting, the only thing he can do, is request that the priest changes his ways. Not command him…because who is going to replace the priest if he is removed. More reasons to pray.

 

[japhy]

You can blame liberals, pride, etc., but how does that reconcile with the Holy Spirit not allowing Holy Mother Church to stray into error?

Well, there have been worse problems that crept into the Church in its past: the Arian heresy, for one, was a widespread problem that was only barely defeated. I acknowledge that liturgical abuse is a widespread problem too, but luckily we are turning the tide, what with Redemptionis Sacramentum, Summorum Pontificum and the revitalization of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, and the knowledge available on this forum.

There are three general categories of liturgical abuse, as far as I can see:

1. *]Ignorance of the norms leading to accidental/incidental omissions, additions, and alterations
   *]Knowledge of the norms, but preference for personal modifications to the liturgy; or “knowing better” than the liturgy and “correcting” the text
   *]Knowledge of the norms, but disdain for them and preference for personal interpretations of the liturgy
   
   Here are some brief examples. (Type 1) The celebrant is unaware that the Confiteor is not complete without being followed by the Kyrie, so omits the Kyrie (happened at Mass this Sunday). (Type 2) The celebrant decides to recast or rephrase parts of the propers or ordinary of the Mass to “fit in better” with the feast, so he says “This is Christ, our King. Happy are those who are called to his supper” (happened at Mass this Sunday). (Type 2) The celebrant, mindful of the kneeling congregation, alters Eucharistic Prayer II to say “We thank you for counting us worthy to be in your presence and serve you” instead of “… to stand in …” (My pastor does this all the time when he prays Eucharistic Prayer II). (Type 3) The celebrant does not agree with the Church’s teaching on the Eucharist, and so alters words of the Liturgy of the Eucharist to make it seem like a meal, and Mass seems like a celebration of our own community, and not of Jesus. (This didn’t happen to me on Sunday.)
   
   So, to go back your original questions:
   

   … I am forced to ask; why are priests and/or bishops allowing/promoting liturgical abuses? Is this poor clerical education and knowledge? If so, why?

   If priests or bishops are promoting liturgical abuses, they either don’t know they’re promoting abuses (ignorance) and think they’re promoting legitimate “cultural” or “preferential” options in the liturgy… or they’re manifestly heterodox and are staking their claim against the authority which ordained them in the first place! Perhaps it is a misguided understanding of the Church’s teaching, or perhaps it is a disagreement with the Church’s teaching.
   
   If they are simply allowing liturgical abuses, it could be ignorance again, but it could be that they’re very busy, they don’t know how to diplomatically resolve the issue, they don’t want to “hurt anyone’s feelings” or “start something”, or maybe they just don’t think the problem is one that requires action any time soon.
   
   As far as clerical education goes, I don’t know for sure. I’ve never been in seminary. I would hope our new priests aren’t being taught to innovate the liturgy, or to believe things contrary to the faith of the Church!

 

[stjosephtomasi]

it is very often a problem of pride. Some priests want to put their own “stamp” on the liturgy. They feel they can make it more interesting or relevant or entertaining than it otherwise would be. But it all goes back to obedience . . .as they are required to celebrate Mass as the Church directs.

 

[piusphilistine]

After being a member of CAF for a couple of years and reading about all the liturgical issues folks here have I am forced to ask; why are priests and/or bishops allowing/promoting liturgical abuses?

Is this poor clerical education and knowledge? If so, why?

You can blame liberals, pride, etc., but how does that reconcile with the Holy Spirit not allowing Holy Mother Church to stray into error?

I am sincerly interested in what you all think.

Thank you.

1.) The fallen condition of mankind. Our concupiscence to sin – manifested as pride.

2.) Ignorance. Due to poor catechesis, incorrect catechesis, disinterest, etc. Due largely to #1.

3.) Lack of real control and leadership. I think if Pope Benedict XVI was able to issue an order that would necessarily cause all clerics to toe the liturgical line, he would – almost immediately. As it is his leadership while awesome, has to be far more subtle than many of us would like. See #1 again.

Finally, it’s critical to look at "liturgical abuses with some breadth and sense of history. Don’t ever let anyone sell you on the notion of the “good old days.” While many look back to say the 1950’s and early 1960’s as “great times” (and they were in a sense in the USA at least), they are but a blip in the history of the Church – and they weren’t as wonderful as some people would like to remember. The Church has endured FAR more difficult times than today in her 2000 years.

Take a look at the Church over its 2000 year history. It won’t excuse today’s problems, but it will add some perspective…

 

[piusphilistine]

After being a member of CAF for a couple of years and reading about all the liturgical issues folks here have I am forced to ask; why are priests and/or bishops allowing/promoting liturgical abuses?

Is this poor clerical education and knowledge? If so, why?

You can blame liberals, pride, etc., but how does that reconcile with the Holy Spirit not allowing Holy Mother Church to stray into error?

I am sincerly interested in what you all think.

Thank you.

That is a fairly deep question. In brief, I don’t believe the Holy Spirit is always listened to – due again to our fallen nature.

 

[George_Waters]

Thanks to the four of you who replied. I am glad you looked at the issue and tried to take it back to the base problem. There is always a lot of complaining about abuses here, but few who try to determine the root of the problem and treat the disease instead of the symptoms. I am fortunate in that our parish has been spared much abuse. WE are the body of Christ and it is up to us to be sure we act accordingly. Thanks.