Liturgical dance "enlivens liturgy"

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alessandro said:
liturgical dance
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Dance isn’t realy my thing either, but why does it upset people so much when there is a mass like this? I agree that we shouldn’t go to church to be entertained… I also found it corny, but not blasphemous…
It doesnt bother me if other catholics worship that way. Why does it bother some people?
 
Wolseley said:
Afraid? Of what?

A lot of people do find me frightening, but I am quite harmless, I assure you. 🙂
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the “heh heh heh heh ;)” comment…
I don’t know whether to be frightened or scared.
 
Neil_Anthony said:
Dance isn’t realy my thing either, but why does it upset people so much when there is a mass like this? I agree that we shouldn’t go to church to be entertained… I also found it corny, but not blasphemous…
It doesnt bother me if other catholics worship that way. Why does it bother some people?
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Because the Mass is the Sacrifice of the Mass and it is a solemn experience. Mary and the Disciples were not dancing at the feet of Jesus as the Crucifixion.
When we are at Mass, we are taken back to Calvery to be at the foot of the Cross. That is why liturgical dancing is not appropriate.
 
I attended a Christmas midnight Mass several years ago in my former parish in which several ladies (most of whom were leaders in the parish) performed liturgical dance. In one of the dances, they were processing to the altar, holding up candles, twirling around, dipping, etc., to “O Holy Night” – and when the choir belted out "F-A-L-L ON YOUR K-N-E-E-E-E-S, the dancers disappeared (or seemed to) – and of course, because our attention was on them instead of on Jesus, we were all craning our necks looking for them (they eventually got off their knees) – my daughter and I cracked up, because it was so absurd. I was later ashamed though – I found myself apologizing to our Lord for watching the entertainment instead of worshiping him.

We should not expect to be entertained at Mass. The dancing did NOT help us be more reverent – it did not draw us to worship – it was a huge distraction to worship. Jesus should be central, not the entertainers.
 
PatienceAndLove said:
Because the Mass is the Sacrifice of the Mass and it is a solemn experience. Mary and the Disciples were not dancing at the feet of Jesus as the Crucifixion.
When we are at Mass, we are taken back to Calvery to be at the foot of the Cross. That is why liturgical dancing is not appropriate.
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Oh, that makes a lot of sense. If we’re supposed to be mourning Christ’s death on the cross, it is awful to be dancing. Or to sing happy songs, like Christmas carols.

But so many places in scripture tell us to rejoice. When should Christians rejoice? Would we just do this on our own time with our families… not together at church?
 
Neil_Anthony said:
Oh, that makes a lot of sense. If we’re supposed to be mourning Christ’s death on the cross, it is awful to be dancing. Or to sing happy songs, like Christmas carols.

But so many places in scripture tell us to rejoice. When should Christians rejoice? Would we just do this on our own time with our families… not together at church?
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The difference between singing and dancing is dancing is something being performed and singing is something we can all do together without seeking attention but giving it to God.
There are more reasons such as it is unknown to Roman Catholicism as part of our worship where chant and hymns have a place.

But that is all behind the big reason, that it is forbidden as part of Mass and an innovation.

Most of all by showing disobedience and by introducing something like this to the Mass we ignore Christ present in the tabernacle and allow people to commit sacrilege by introducing man made worship and placing people above God.

We should always place Christ first, above our desires, feelings and temptation to seek our own pleasure above obedience. There is no problem with Christmas Carols as it is praising God, now if I broke out beer to praise God with Christmas Carols then I am now twisting praise into seeking pleasure to my own preference. How do we draw the line?
We look to the Church to tell us.

God Bless
Scylla
 
Yes, well I’m certainly glad that I don’t have to watch some fruit loop prance around the aisles where I go to church.
 
quiet52 said:
I attended a Christmas midnight Mass several years ago in my former parish in which several ladies (most of whom were leaders in the parish) performed liturgical dance. In one of the dances, they were processing to the altar, holding up candles, twirling around, dipping, etc., to “O Holy Night” – and when the choir belted out "F-A-L-L ON YOUR K-N-E-E-E-E-S, the dancers disappeared (or seemed to) – and of course, because our attention was on them instead of on Jesus, we were all craning our necks looking for them (they eventually got off their knees) – my daughter and I cracked up, because it was so absurd. I was later ashamed though – I found myself apologizing to our Lord for watching the entertainment instead of worshiping him.
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I think they messed up. Since you could not see them on their knees, you couldn’t see whether they cupped their hands to their ears when the choir sang “HEAR the angels’ voices”. Possibly they pointed their fingers down their throats for “VOICES”, but I don’t know. Possibly you missed 2/3 of the action. The liturgist/choreographer might make the necessary changes for next year.

Gee, I remember when the entrance procession for Midnight Mass was the smallest boys in red cassocks, followed by the “middle” boys in black cassocks and the oldest boys in white cassocks, followed by the little girls in their First Communion dresses, followed by the priest, flanked and followed by the servers. They didn’t dance, and probably couldn’t, or pantomime, which they would have found too embarrassing, but they also sang, along with the older girls in the choir loft (in Latin-yup, even the little kids knew the words). And at least they did it for free. And the same cassocks, and the white surplices that went with them, were sturdy and were handed down, year after year, which is probably not the case with “liturgical dance attire”. Admittedly, there were the candle and incense expenses.

Ah well! Backward me!
 
Ridgerunner said:
Kind of reminds one of the bogus druidical rites people sometimes do at Stonehenge.

It is no great surprise that Cdl Mahoney likes it. The L.A. Cathedral has a sort of Stonehenge aura about it. You don’t suppose…???
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You know what we really need is NUDE liturgical dancing. We were all born naked - as God made us. The druids supposedly danced naked!! Y’a know, I bet it would increase attendance - especially if the dancers were all high school and college age. We could all sway to the beauty of God’s creation!!

By Jove - I think we could really make this a true “religious” experience. What say we all start clamoring for naked liturgical dance!! Why keep the clothes you fuddyduddies?
 
johnnykins said:
You know what we really need is NUDE liturgical dancing. We were all born naked - as God made us. The druids supposedly danced naked!! Y’a know, I bet it would increase attendance - especially if the dancers were all high school and college age. We could all sway to the beauty of God’s creation!!

By Jove - I think we could really make this a true “religious” experience. What say we all start clamoring for naked liturgical dance!! Why keep the clothes you fuddyduddies?
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HAHA!!! I’d pass out in my pew if such a thing happened for sure!

Anyway, someone in a previous post mentioned that liturgical dancing draws attention to the person dancing and not to God, who should be the center of EVERY Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. To that, I say, “AMEN.”
 
johnnykins said:
You know what we really need is NUDE liturgical dancing. We were all born naked - as God made us. The druids supposedly danced naked!! Y’a know, I bet it would increase attendance - especially if the dancers were all high school and college age. We could all sway to the beauty of God’s creation!!

By Jove - I think we could really make this a true “religious” experience. What say we all start clamoring for naked liturgical dance!! Why keep the clothes you fuddyduddies?
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Wow! My Irish ancestors went to Mass in hedgerows, and the above would send me there too! I’ll bet I would find many a priest in the hedgerows with me, to say Mass. I can picture it now:

“Hi. Are you a priest?”

“Yup, couldn’t stand the naked dancing. It’s a serious occasion of sin you know. It all started with that liturgical dancing. After awhile, they couldn’t draw people in with just dancing, I guess. The Bishop…well, I’m not supposed to speak against the Bishop, so I won’t.”

“Well, Father, I mean I’m not against sex and all, but there’s a place for…”

“Yes, my son, I know.”

“Uh, any chance of persuading you to say Mass here?”

“Glad you asked. Sure! Oh, call those other people over that are hiding in this hedgerow and the one over on the other side of the field. Well, and then in the next field too.”

“Oh, sure. Just give me a minute. Gee, how many of you all are in here…???”

(Sound of huge crowd assembling.)
 
johnnykins said:
You know what we really need is NUDE liturgical dancing. We were all born naked - as God made us. The druids supposedly danced naked!! Y’a know, I bet it would increase attendance - especially if the dancers were all high school and college age. We could all sway to the beauty of God’s creation!!

By Jove - I think we could really make this a true “religious” experience. What say we all start clamoring for naked liturgical dance!! Why keep the clothes you fuddyduddies?
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Gee, I might even volunteer for that-----provided they pass out vomit bags to the congregation first.

I have a lot of great physical features, you know. One of my best is this belly that sort of flops out and hangs there, looking somewhat like a bleached watermelon with hair on it. It can jiggle and bobble with the best of them, provided the tune is jazzy enough.
 
Wolseley said:
Gee, I might even volunteer for that-----provided they pass out vomit bags to the congregation first.

I have a lot of great physical features, you know. One of my best is this belly that sort of flops out and hangs there, looking somewhat like a bleached watermelon with hair on it. It can jiggle and bobble with the best of them, provided the tune is jazzy enough.
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OK!!! That’s the spirit!!! That’ll “enliven” the liturgy!!! Perhaps a tune with bongo drums or something like a “belly dance” number. 😃
 
Or even better, one of those old Buddy Holly tunes----you know, the ones with a lot of hiccups—adapted for the liturgy. That’ll really get the old stomach hopping up and down. 👍

You know, I’ve always said that you can tell that a man’s on the level when his bubble’s in the middle.
 
Wolseley said:
Or even better, one of those old Buddy Holly tunes----you know, the ones with a lot of hiccups—adapted for the liturgy. That’ll really get the old stomach hopping up and down. 👍

You know, I’ve always said that you can tell that a man’s on the level when his bubble’s in the middle.
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:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: The mere thought of four or five middle aged bald white guys dancing would sure put an end to this liturgical dancing idea.
 
alessandro said:
The Cafeteria is Closed blog brought the following to my attention: In the December 20, 2007, issue of The Evangelist, the official publication of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, NY, an article entitled “Dancers Enliven Liturgy” appeared:As part of the annual Family Christmas Eve liturgy at St. Mary’s Church in Oneonta, liturgical dancers will dance to a Nativity carol. The feature has been a part of the Mass for 12 years, said Michelle Gardner, coordinator for liturgical dance at the Otsego County parish. She has taught dancing for more than 25 years at area colleges and high schools. …

Liturgical dance is a simple, uncomplicated form of movement, Mrs. Gardner said, with actions that are a form of prayer. “The dance is meant to draw the worship community into the prayer,” she explained, “not to merely observe what the dancers are doing. The dancers are trained in certain movements that serve to invite the entire community into praise and worship.”
“The feedback was, ‘This is a great way to pray.’ The community was very excited about it,” she said. …

“Now, each year, college students who were liturgical dancers in high school and who are home for the holidays participate in the Christmas Eve Mass,” she said. “They’ve danced at Confirmations and monthly youth ministry Masses as well as other church functions, but the Christmas Eve Mass has become a tradition at St. Mary’s.”

In].
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Why not send an December 20, 2007 issue of the official publication of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, NY to the Vatican?
 
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