Liturgical Abuses Deterring Me?

  • Thread starter Thread starter dynahmik
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
D

dynahmik

Guest
Many of the masses that I attend at different parishes in my archdiocese, have liturgical abuses occurring (perhaps 70% of the time). At the parish I attend on Sundays, the priest never wears his clerics, never wears his stole, and changes the wording in the liturgy! Furthermore, many EMHCs feel that they are some sort of mock-priest. At the mass I went to this morning, some of the EMHCs even grabbed the Eucharist themselves from the ciborium! To make matters worst, all the EMHCs give out blessings to those who go up without receiving communion, acting in such a way that they give out a vibe of entitlement to do so. Some other abuses happen regularly that I not to think about, as this just keeps making me more and more depressed. This breaks my heart so much. Every time I see this happening, I get so upset and sad. I guess this may be because I’d be considered a “traditionalist.” It really sucks for me as my archdiocese seems to be quite liberal. The faith is so watered down and proper catechesis is almost non-existent. All these things combined with a few others have been discouraging me from applying for the local seminary to study for the archdiocese. I don’t know how much more of this I can take. I feel like an elderly man who may get a heart attack any second because of all the heinous things (at least to me it feels that way) happening. I feel like I’m gonna lose my mind because of all the irreverence and ignorance! Nobody else seems to notice or even care at all. The faith has become so dry and dull for people, that it seems to me like no one takes it seriously (even some priests)! I see so many people just falling asleep, texting on their phones, and just doing other things during mass, and not paying attention at all. It pains me that they don’t know how valuable the faith is! The mix of liturgical abuses, indifferent priests, misinformed laity, etc. is having a heavy toll on me, and is for whatever reason somehow deterring from wanting to become a diocesan priest. Quite honestly, the religious life is looking extremely appealing to me right now. I think I’d much rather live in a community isolated from the urban society, where I can devote all my time and effort to a deeply spiritual way of living. However, at the same time, I have no idea why, but I feel that God does not want me to do this. I have thought of visiting the Benedictine abbey not too far away to perhaps discern a vocation with them, but every time I plan to do so, I feel guilty. Why? I really don’t know. When I think of being a priest who works within the secular world though, it seems intimidating and extremely difficult, but for some odd reason, more “right.” I don’t really know where I am going with this, but I just really had to let this out somewhere…St. John Vianney, pray for us
 
dynahmik said:
All these things combined with a few others have been discouraging me from applying for the local seminary to study for the archdiocese. I don’t know how much more of this I can take.
Click to expand...
Have you spoken to your archdiocesan vocation director?
 
dynahmik said:
Many of the masses that I attend at different parishes in my archdiocese, have liturgical abuses occurring (perhaps 70% of the time). At the parish I attend on Sundays, the priest never wears his clerics, never wears his stole, and changes the wording in the liturgy! Furthermore, many EMHCs feel that they are some sort of mock-priest. At the mass I went to this morning, some of the EMHCs even grabbed the Eucharist themselves from the ciborium! To make matters worst, all the EMHCs give out blessings to those who go up without receiving communion, acting in such a way that they give out a vibe of entitlement to do so. Some other abuses happen regularly that I not to think about, as this just keeps making me more and more depressed. This breaks my heart so much. Every time I see this happening, I get so upset and sad. I guess this may be because I’d be considered a “traditionalist.” It really sucks for me as my archdiocese seems to be quite liberal. The faith is so watered down and proper catechesis is almost non-existent. All these things combined with a few others have been discouraging me from applying for the local seminary to study for the archdiocese. I don’t know how much more of this I can take. I feel like an elderly man who may get a heart attack any second because of all the heinous things (at least to me it feels that way) happening. I feel like I’m gonna lose my mind because of all the irreverence and ignorance! Nobody else seems to notice or even care at all. The faith has become so dry and dull for people, that it seems to me like no one takes it seriously (even some priests)! I see so many people just falling asleep, texting on their phones, and just doing other things during mass, and not paying attention at all. It pains me that they don’t know how valuable the faith is! The mix of liturgical abuses, indifferent priests, misinformed laity, etc. is having a heavy toll on me, and is for whatever reason somehow deterring from wanting to become a diocesan priest. Quite honestly, the religious life is looking extremely appealing to me right now. I think I’d much rather live in a community isolated from the urban society, where I can devote all my time and effort to a deeply spiritual way of living. However, at the same time, I have no idea why, but I feel that God does not want me to do this. I have thought of visiting the Benedictine abbey not too far away to perhaps discern a vocation with them, but every time I plan to do so, I feel guilty. Why? I really don’t know. When I think of being a priest who works within the secular world though, it seems intimidating and extremely difficult, but for some odd reason, more “right.” I don’t really know where I am going with this, but I just really had to let this out somewhere…St. John Vianney, pray for us
Click to expand...
Yes, St. John Vianney…Pray for us!

I understand the sadness…please pray for priests! One step at a time all this can change. I share your concerns, although I must say we have many holy priests where I live. The Lord is present in the Eucharist for you, to give you strength.

A retreat sounds like a good idea to be with the Lord in a special way and listen to Him.

May our Lord Jesus Christ bless you and lead you on your spiritual journey!
 
Praying to the Holy Spirit to give you guidance, direction, strength, fortirude & wisdom in your time of need.
 
Please do not let the actions of others deter you from a possible vocation. We can always use good priests filled with humility and submitting themselves to God and His Church.

God bless,
 
dynahmik said:
Many of the masses that I attend at different parishes in my archdiocese, have liturgical abuses occurring (perhaps 70% of the time). At the parish I attend on Sundays, the priest never wears his clerics, never wears his stole, and changes the wording in the liturgy! Furthermore, many EMHCs feel that they are some sort of mock-priest. At the mass I went to this morning, some of the EMHCs even grabbed the Eucharist themselves from the ciborium! To make matters worst, all the EMHCs give out blessings to those who go up without receiving communion, acting in such a way that they give out a vibe of entitlement to do so. Some other abuses happen regularly that I not to think about, as this just keeps making me more and more depressed. This breaks my heart so much. Every time I see this happening, I get so upset and sad. I guess this may be because I’d be considered a “traditionalist.” It really sucks for me as my archdiocese seems to be quite liberal. The faith is so watered down and proper catechesis is almost non-existent. All these things combined with a few others have been discouraging me from applying for the local seminary to study for the archdiocese. I don’t know how much more of this I can take. I feel like an elderly man who may get a heart attack any second because of all the heinous things (at least to me it feels that way) happening. I feel like I’m gonna lose my mind because of all the irreverence and ignorance! Nobody else seems to notice or even care at all. The faith has become so dry and dull for people, that it seems to me like no one takes it seriously (even some priests)! I see so many people just falling asleep, texting on their phones, and just doing other things during mass, and not paying attention at all. It pains me that they don’t know how valuable the faith is! The mix of liturgical abuses, indifferent priests, misinformed laity, etc. is having a heavy toll on me, and is for whatever reason somehow deterring from wanting to become a diocesan priest. Quite honestly, the religious life is looking extremely appealing to me right now. I think I’d much rather live in a community isolated from the urban society, where I can devote all my time and effort to a deeply spiritual way of living. However, at the same time, I have no idea why, but I feel that God does not want me to do this. I have thought of visiting the Benedictine abbey not too far away to perhaps discern a vocation with them, but every time I plan to do so, I feel guilty. Why? I really don’t know. When I think of being a priest who works within the secular world though, it seems intimidating and extremely difficult, but for some odd reason, more “right.” I don’t really know where I am going with this, but I just really had to let this out somewhere…St. John Vianney, pray for us
Click to expand...
Welcome to everything I harp on constantly on here. Your preaching to the choir! Here is some good news.

Had a priest come down and visit our parish along with a young deacon. Priest has been a priest for 1 week and the deacon was just ordained transitional. Very young both of them. Im an usher so after Mass I had a nice long discussion with both of them. My parish has its share of abuses that im sick of as well so I pleaded with them to please remain traditional. The priest informed me that at least the guys he was going through with were very traditional and had a spirit of obedience. He said he wasn’t sure what had happened over the last 40 years but it seemed many had the spirit of disobedience his words. He sung the Mass actually and it was so orthodox for the novus ordo mass that people were all confused for the responses! It was hilarious 😃

Anyway it certainly was a breath of fresh air! We NEED traditional priests so if your going to go to seminary DO IT! We need help! alternatively the FSSP seminaries are PACKED! you could try them if your interested in Latin and continuing the tradition of the TLM. That’s always an option.
 
Sometimes, God lets a group of people reap the benefits of their own prayers-- if a diocese prays for vocations, it’s natural that many vocations that arise from those prayers help serve as laborers in the local harvest. 🙂 And if God is calling you, wouldn’t it make sense that he would give you the sort of spirit your area needs the most?

I’ve really enjoyed all the FSSP priests I’ve had the privilege of listening to. They have really thoughtful, literate homilies. I’ve also been impressed by the priests in religious orders that I’ve met-- some of them have lived very cloistered lives, some of them have traveled extensively and served the missions. But if you’re feeling a call to the diocesan priesthood, it may be part of God’s plan for revitalizing your area.

All the best to you in your discernment.
 
Personally, I have seen these same abuses in my own diocese, in the parishes closest to my home they are all present. It deeply and terribly saddens me. It also saddens me that my diocese of more than 8 million Catholics has only one Latin mass parish which is over an hour away from my home.

If I were you, I would try and find a good Latin mass parish near you and get in contact with the society which runs it (FSSP, etc.,) to discuss vocations. Since, being a traditionalist you may be deterred away from a diocesan vocation where the novus ordo would be celebrated (I don’t know if you have these feelings for sure, but just making the assumption), it may be a good option for you to get in contact with the vocations director of one of these other traditionalist societies.

God bless you!

Landon
 
I know the feeling. There are apparently liturgical abuses in too many parishes. I have had issues in my own parish, though, not to the degree that you speak of. Mostly to do with EMHC giving blessings, no crucifix above the altar (risen Christ instead). Then there are the issues of people visiting in the sanctuary before mass, distracting people who are trying to pray, protestant themed hymns, irreverent dress, etc., etc., etc. My wife and I love our priest, and I know that it must be quite the feat to reign any of this in at this point as it is apparently so ingrained within the parishioners.

However, as eightydeuce82 alluded to, there is a trend among young priests coming out of the seminary to embrace traditional precepts of the Church. In my diocese (where there is a very small percentage of Catholics), we now have two parishes that offer the E.F. Mass, We have a Una Voce group, where we serve both the Low and High Masses of the E.F., and also assist in the N.O. Masses with our Schola Cantorum, chanting Latin Hymns. There is talk of a third Church within the diocese where the priest has expressed some desire to re-learn the E.F. Mass and celebrate it in his parish.

It is, and will be a slow process, but I believe that the Holy Spirit will turn the Church around, to the beauty, splendor and reverence of days gone by.

Pax Christi.
 
We need to pray for some major renovations it seems. So many abuses everywhere you look. It almost seems like there are no parishes that are in obedience…

But the thing is… if we all jump ship looking for that ‘perfect parish’, we’ll NEVER be here to help fix the ones that are failing.

In Scripture Paul was CONSTANTLY reprimanding newly formed parishes for falling away from the ‘path’. Why would we think we would be any different?
 
dynahmik said:
Many of the masses that I attend at different parishes in my archdiocese, have liturgical abuses occurring (perhaps 70% of the time). At the parish I attend on Sundays, the priest never wears his clerics, never wears his stole, and changes the wording in the liturgy! Furthermore, many EMHCs feel that they are some sort of mock-priest. At the mass I went to this morning, some of the EMHCs even grabbed the Eucharist themselves from the ciborium! To make matters worst, all the EMHCs give out blessings to those who go up without receiving communion, acting in such a way that they give out a vibe of entitlement to do so. Some other abuses happen regularly that I not to think about, as this just keeps making me more and more depressed. This breaks my heart so much. Every time I see this happening, I get so upset and sad. I guess this may be because I’d be considered a “traditionalist.” It really sucks for me as my archdiocese seems to be quite liberal. The faith is so watered down and proper catechesis is almost non-existent. All these things combined with a few others have been discouraging me from applying for the local seminary to study for the archdiocese. I don’t know how much more of this I can take. I feel like an elderly man who may get a heart attack any second because of all the heinous things (at least to me it feels that way) happening. I feel like I’m gonna lose my mind because of all the irreverence and ignorance! Nobody else seems to notice or even care at all. The faith has become so dry and dull for people, that it seems to me like no one takes it seriously (even some priests)! I see so many people just falling asleep, texting on their phones, and just doing other things during mass, and not paying attention at all. It pains me that they don’t know how valuable the faith is! The mix of liturgical abuses, indifferent priests, misinformed laity, etc. is having a heavy toll on me, and is for whatever reason somehow deterring from wanting to become a diocesan priest. Quite honestly, the religious life is looking extremely appealing to me right now. I think I’d much rather live in a community isolated from the urban society, where I can devote all my time and effort to a deeply spiritual way of living. However, at the same time, I have no idea why, but I feel that God does not want me to do this. I have thought of visiting the Benedictine abbey not too far away to perhaps discern a vocation with them, but every time I plan to do so, I feel guilty. Why? I really don’t know. When I think of being a priest who works within the secular world though, it seems intimidating and extremely difficult, but for some odd reason, more “right.” I don’t really know where I am going with this, but I just really had to let this out somewhere…St. John Vianney, pray for us
Click to expand...
If you are blessed enough to have one available nearby, I suggest seeking out a Mass offered in the Extraordinary Form (Traditional Latin Mass). If not, the best advice I can offer is that you keep your head bowed and your eyes closed (perhaps pray the rosary) during the irreverent Masses you have to attend. None of us should be forced to experience abused and irreverent Liturgies. Unfortunately, we don’t always have a choice. I pray that it is true that the young seminarians (our future priests) will right the ship. Until then, pray and persevere. Console Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament as He is so poorly treated at so many Masses. Console Him as so many go up to receive Him without having seen the inside of a confessional in years. It is all we can do. Pray, pray, pray to the Blessed Mother, and to St. Joseph - the Patron of our Holy Church - to deliver us from this present crisis and send us good and holy priests conformed to the Sacred Heart of Jesus!
 
God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.

Amen.
 
Is it just me or are we starting to see TONs of these posts about this topic?
 
eightydeuce82 said:
Is it just me or are we starting to see TONs of these posts about this topic?
Click to expand...
No, it’s not just you, and it is encouraging. I think people are beginning to open their eyes to the abuses and are making their voices heard. I often have debates with one of my best friends about the abuses in the church, I have been ostracized and lost friends as a result of making my concerns and traditional beliefs known at gatherings. But this will not deter me and I will continue to speak to the truth as taught by the Church. I encourage everyone who sees the writing on the wall to be a warrior for our Lord and His Holy Catholic Church, to promote a return to reverence and tradition, and to address abuses where they are found.
 
Liturgical abuse is really sad. Perhaps you could sit down and talk to this priest about how his actions are upsetting to you, in a gentle and polite way. If it’s severe, you may need to contact your local bishop and inform him.
 
AnnArbor said:
Have you spoken to your archdiocesan vocation director?
Click to expand...
Yes, I have. He seems too focused on numbers though. Its like he has a specific quota of seminarians that he needs to meet, in order for him to be satisfied. I have tried speaking to him about some of the things that have been deterring me from entering the seminary, but he just tries to dodge them and talk about other things 😦
 
eightydeuce82 said:
Welcome to everything I harp on constantly on here. Your preaching to the choir! Here is some good news.

Had a priest come down and visit our parish along with a young deacon. Priest has been a priest for 1 week and the deacon was just ordained transitional. Very young both of them. Im an usher so after Mass I had a nice long discussion with both of them. My parish has its share of abuses that im sick of as well so I pleaded with them to please remain traditional. The priest informed me that at least the guys he was going through with were very traditional and had a spirit of obedience. He said he wasn’t sure what had happened over the last 40 years but it seemed many had the spirit of disobedience his words. He sung the Mass actually and it was so orthodox for the novus ordo mass that people were all confused for the responses! It was hilarious 😃

Anyway it certainly was a breath of fresh air! We NEED traditional priests so if your going to go to seminary DO IT! We need help! alternatively the FSSP seminaries are PACKED! you could try them if your interested in Latin and continuing the tradition of the TLM. That’s always an option.
Click to expand...
I have been thinking about the FSSP for quite some time now actually. This first came up when I tried to find a parish in the archdiocese that celebrates the TLM. Coincidentally, its a FSSP apostolate. Also, a good friend of mine (a seminarian actually) says that he thinks I should try looking more into the FSSP, as he believes I have very similar passions and desires to them. When I first spoke to my spiritual director that I was discerning the priesthood, he immediately turned around and gave me the icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe he had hanging. He said that he felt like Our Lady was indicating him to do so, while we were talking (he has a very deep devotion to Mother Mary). Not entirely sure, but maybe it could be God hinting to something? 🤷
 
dynahmik said:
Yes, I have. He seems too focused on numbers though. Its like he has a specific quota of seminarians that he needs to meet, in order for him to be satisfied. I have tried speaking to him about some of the things that have been deterring me from entering the seminary, but he just tries to dodge them and talk about other things 😦
Click to expand...
Perhaps he’s trying to let you know that the “other things” are more important at this stage of your discernment.

I was a little confused because you talked about applying to a local seminary – and it’s the diocese that decides where you are going to go. Glad you are in conversation with the formation director!
 
dynahmik said:
I have been thinking about the FSSP for quite some time now actually. This first came up when I tried to find a parish in the archdiocese that celebrates the TLM. Coincidentally, its a FSSP apostolate. Also, a good friend of mine (a seminarian actually) says that he thinks I should try looking more into the FSSP, as he believes I have very similar passions and desires to them. When I first spoke to my spiritual director that I was discerning the priesthood, he immediately turned around and gave me the icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe he had hanging. He said that he felt like Our Lady was indicating him to do so, while we were talking (he has a very deep devotion to Mother Mary). Not entirely sure, but maybe it could be God hinting to something? 🤷
Click to expand...
I think that fact that these kinds of threads keep popping up every day and you a discerning person for the priesthood recognizes a dire need for a return to traditional Catholicism and are noticing the same thing so many are these days…which is a lack of a Catholic identify in many parishes across the world. I honestly believe when the Mass was changed the way we believe Changed. Now you have some horrible statistics as far as belief amongst Catholics. More people don’t believe in the real presence now than do. That’s scary. I am always getting bashed on here linking the change in the Mass to the current state of affairs IN the church but im yet to see anyone tell me why it is the way it is and it just so happened to fall exactly when we changed the way we worshiped.

lex orandi, lex credendi lex vivendi I really think people don’t remember this saying.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top