Liturgical Abuses in Catechist Training Video

[Randy_Carson]

I have recently begun the process of achieving certification as a catechist. The course of study provided the Director of Religious Education at my church is Echoes of Faith.

In one video, Liturgy and Sacraments, there are scenes of masses being celebrated in various churches and settings. One mass is being held in a parish that apparently serves a Native American community, and the parish priest describes how elements of the Native American culture have been incorporated into the mass. These include:

1. Use of a deer skin rug spread on the floor as an altar with the priest kneeling before the chalice and paten; :nope:
2. Burning tobacco instead of incense and using a large feather to fan the smoke toward individuals in the congregation;
3. The beating of an Native American drum as accompaniment for for chanting that served no apparent purpose but did seem to make the participants feel good about themselves and their heritage. :ehh:

Another scene showed a priest in a large church tearing a thick loaf of bread at the moment of consecration, and the possibility of particles (crumbs) falling from this “host” would be highly probable.

In another setting, the celebrant sang the entire eucharistic prayer including the prayers of consecration in a modern style that would have made Andrew Lloyd Webber proud.

If these things are approved or within the guidelines established by the Church for the celebration of the Eucharist, then I will stand corrected. However, I can’t shake the feeling that these innovations cross the line of liturgical abuse.

Thoughts?

 

[puzzleannie]

Echoes is the prescribed catechist formation series in our diocese. My pastor refuses to let me use it. I have put together my own catechist formation course, assisted by older, wiser DREs in the diocese.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I have recently begun the process of achieving certification as a catechist. The course of study provided the Director of Religious Education at my church is Echoes of Faith.

In one video, Liturgy and Sacraments, there are scenes of masses being celebrated in various churches and settings. One mass is being held in a parish that apparently serves a Native American community, and the parish priest describes how elements of the Native American culture have been incorporated into the mass. These include:

1. Use of a deer skin rug spread on the floor as an altar with the priest kneeling before the chalice and paten; :nope:
2. Burning tobacco instead of incense and using a large feather to fan the smoke toward individuals in the congregation;
3. The beating of an Native American drum as accompaniment for for chanting that served no apparent purpose but did seem to make the participants feel good about themselves and their heritage. :ehh:

Another scene showed a priest in a large church tearing a thick loaf of bread at the moment of consecration, and the possibility of particles (crumbs) falling from this “host” would be highly probable.

In another setting, the celebrant sang the entire eucharistic prayer including the prayers of consecration in a modern style that would have made Andrew Lloyd Webber proud.

If these things are approved or within the guidelines established by the Church for the celebration of the Eucharist, then I will stand corrected. However, I can’t shake the feeling that these innovations cross the line of liturgical abuse.

Thoughts?

I would suggest that you read ***The Roman Liturgy and Inculturation ***by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the discipline of the Sacraments.

 

[H_Opey]

Br Rich, do you have a link for that document?
So it is NOT true that you can go ANYwhere around the world and celebrate the same Mass?

 

[Walking_Home]

I have recently begun the process of achieving certification as a catechist. The course of study provided the Director of Religious Education at my church is Echoes of Faith.

Thoughts?

---

Mr. Carson-----I would suggest that you send a copy of this video to the Vatican. Rome needs to be aware of the material that is being used for religious education in some places.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Br Rich, do you have a link for that document?
So it is NOT true that you can go ANYwhere around the world and celebrate the same Mass?

The basic Mass is the same, but some elements of different cultures can be incorporated in specific ways when the Mass is celebrated within that culture. It would be improper for lets say a typical American parish in Chicago to add Native American elements when there are no Native American faithful in the parish.

You should be able to find it at the Vatican Website. Mine is a paper copy.

 

[H_Opey]

I guess I am missing something.
Some of the things in the video mentioned, such as the rug as the altar seem too far fetched.
It reminds me of the Vietnamese mass where they have the dancing of the dragon to ward of evil spirits, the coins for good luck and the “good luck” sayings writting in gold on red banners. When does Christ enter? Aren’t there some things that should be left out?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I guess I am missing something.
Some of the things in the video mentioned, such as the rug as the altar seem too far fetched.
It reminds me of the Vietnamese mass where they have the dancing of the dragon to ward of evil spirits, the coins for good luck and the “good luck” sayings writting in gold on red banners. When does Christ enter? Aren’t there some things that should be left out?

That is why I said you need to read the Vatican document to fully understand what could be acceptable and what is not acceptable. Before making any judgments.

 

[Caesar]

Reminds me of something Fr. Ambrose in the Eastern Christianity forum posted:

Saint Scaredycats

You’re new in the suburbs and it’s Sunday morning, so you and your spouse drive over to the nearest Catholic Church – uh, make that community. You walk into the modern cement structure and are accosted by a GREETER (so says the sticker stuck to his shirt), who welcomes you with a moist handshake.

You proceed to a pew, genuflect, and reach down for the kneeler. No kneeler! Hmm. So you kneel on the linoleum floor, but in so doing bang your chin on the pew in front of you. Half-dazed, you just sit down. Time to get your bearings. You look around – no statuary, no crucifix, no Stations of the Cross, no Tabernacle, no stained-glass windows. Ah, but how 'bout those felt banners with Latin sayings! Alas, no, actually it’s Pig Latin – no doubt an attempt to be relevant to the Younger Generation.

After the band is warmed up, the cantor announces from behind the conga drums that the ‘presider’ today will be Father Bud, who, after boogying up the centre aisle clapping his hands to the beat, belts out to the half-empty-multi-purpose auditorium, ‘Hi, evvvrybodddy!’ And the audience yells back, ‘Hi, Buuudd!’ Since the Penitential Rite is omitted, you’re quickly into the Scripture readings. No Pig Latin here! Now you’re into Feminese – ‘God our Father/Mother’ and all that jive.

Then the homily. You’re hungry for guidance. One of your daughters is sleeping with her boyfriend, your son is deeply into pot, and your ailing mother wants her doctor to give her a lethal injection. So, what do you hear? ‘We must be non-judgemental and inclusive for God accepts everyone just as she or he is.’ Then an announcement: ‘At the doughnut hour after the liturgy, our Gay and Lesbian Support Group will show a video about alternative lifestyles.’

Since the Creed is not recited, you’re into the Eucharistic Prayer in no time, with your pew-mates standing up for their rites (or ‘rights’), arms outstretched like the presider’s. At the Sign of the Peace the band breaks into lounge music for ten minutes of chatting, laughing, and backslapping. Next on the program, says Bud, is Sister Sam. Suddenly a grizzled nun bursts out of the sacristy in purple leotards. After she prances around a bit, Bud
leads a big round of applause.

Then, finally, Communion. Bud retires to his cushioned Presider’s Chair (isn’t that where the Tabernacle usually is?) as four women wearing plastered smiles distribute Communion. Then Bud rises and boogies out.

As you proceed to your car, still half-dazed, you wonder: Why is this ‘Catholic community’ so enthralled by our tawdry culture, so afraid to be Catholic?"

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I’m sorry but you seem to be out in left field somewhere, instead of actually addressing the original posters question about inculturation in the liturgy in a serious manner.

 

[Caesar]

From my perspective there are two ways one can go on the issue of the Inculturation of the Liturgy.

Firstly, one can argue that bringing the surrounding culture into the Liturgy is a way of making the local people comfortable with the Catholic religion. It also may serve as a way to convert them and help them to better understand the faith. After all, many of the early missionaries (like St. Patrick) chose to teach through the use of already-existing rituals, symbols and ideas. Also, it can be argued that the Catholic Liturgy has been assuming various rituals and symbols for it’s own purpose throughout the history of the Church.

On the other hand, it can be said that assuming cultural practices into the Liturgy is damaging to the Mass and the understanding of the people. It can be seen as a form of relativism. Also, care must be taken in the use and placement of non-Christian elements in the Liturgy- does it change the intent of the Mass in anyway, or remove/change established parts of the Liturgy? For example, the OP mentioned the use of a deer-skin rug in place of an altar. This changes the established tradition of the Church in using an Altar as a representation of the Tomb of Christ. It also does not allow for a fixed altar.

 

[yinekka]

Try this website, the materials look pretty good.

acmrcia.org/index2.html

My own Catechist Course here in Australia was pretty grim too. I can’t understand why there are no guidelines as to what materials must be taught and why there is no oversight to see that the authentic Catholic Faith is being taught. If we catechists are being indoctrinated with hetrodoxy how are we supposed to give the kids we teach, or the adults in RCIA the true Faith?

 

[az_4_faith]

Here’s the beauty of the Catholic Church:

For centuries, the Church has recognized that She has so many tools at her disposal to spread the Word of God, including the incorporation of various cultural aspects into her Liturgy so that the un-churched could relate to Her without abandoning their beloved customs.

Unfortunately, those incorporations are not supposed to go outside of those cultures to be used as “new and improved” ways of celebrating liturgy far from these places, and far from their original intentions. In other words, the end up incorporated in places where they, to say frankly, look ridiculous and serve no purpose.

To use a training video like that outside of the Native American community where it was intended is just plain dumb.