Liturgical Pet Peeves

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DaveBj:
What’s wrong with that?

“I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting…” St. Paul, 1 Tim. 2:8

Are the laity presumed not to have holy hands? :hmmm:

DaveBj
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Because it adds something to the mass that is not supposed to be there, like holding hands during the Our Father. The orans posture has traditionally been that of the priest. I realize most people are probably doing it as an act of piety, but I don’t believe it’s appropriate. Same for the folks who mouth the words of consecration with the priest. Both actions just look very silly to me, and I would say are consequences of “priest envy” or poor catechesis.

Also see Karl Keating’s response in this thread, which states it better that I possibly could 😃 : forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=2762
 
Ah catholiclady beat me to it. 👍 And with a reply 10x better than mine! :bowdown:
 
Only because I have answered this question many times before - and it is also one of my pet peeves.

Have you ever been to a Mass where the people not only use the orans position but do some funny little twirling of the hands at the wrists as they raise them higher and higher during the Alleluia - this one really gets me.
 
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catholiclady:
Have you ever been to a Mass where the people not only use the orans position but do some funny little twirling of the hands at the wrists as they raise them higher and higher during the Alleluia - this one really gets me.
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As mentioned in another thread, this is the American Sign Language way of saying “Alleluia.” It is properly used at Masses for the deaf.

Betsy
 
but not by the whole congegation to do who are not deaf, right?
 
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catholiclady:
but not by the whole congegation to do who are not deaf, right?
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When it’s a specific Mass for the deaf, I don’t see any problem with joining in the signing in solidarity with the deaf people there. But in a regular Mass, I would find it kind of silly and distracting.

Betsy
 
Changing words at any part of the Mass, whether the priest or the congregation, but especially the priest doing so during the Eucharistic Prayer.

Choirs ( / rock bands) which include drums, electric guitars, bass guitars, or any other instrument commonplace on MTV.

Clapping. Ugh.

Wishy-washy homilies in which the priest takes 20 minutes to say nothing.

Asking us to greet those around us before Mass. I think this is a response to people saying Catholic churches don’t do enough to make visitors feel welcome, but I don’t think anyone could’ve found a way to prove them more right.

Casual dress, especially immodestly dressed females. What do you hope to acheive? Isn’t church an odd place to try to woo guys with immodest dress? Double, nay, triple Ugh.

People who leave right after Communion.
 
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Ransom:
Choirs ( / rock bands) which include drums, electric guitars, bass guitars, or any other instrument commonplace on MTV.
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Neither should one use instruments that are used for pagan orchestral and theater music (organ) and pagan New Age music (chanting). . . ??
 
All my old pet peeves have been covered, and I also gained some new ones after reading this thread! 🙂

One potentially annoying pet peeve almost popped up in my local church. Apparently, some people thought that it would make church a lot more fun for the little ones, if the priest gave them a cookie during communion. Yes, that’s right, instead of a blessing, and in place of a host, they’d get an Oreo, or a gingersnap, perhaps.

Why? Just why? I guess, maybe, so they’ll feel like grown-ups? Ugh.

Thankfully, that idea didn’t take. I don’t even want to think about the message it would have given the children. That the miracle of the Eucharist is about as sublime as Chips A’hoy? :rolleyes:

Eww.
 
Deacons or priests who read me their homily - word for word for word. I always get the impression this sermon is plagerized. Especially when fumbling over some words makes it seem as if he is reading it for the first time. If it can’t be delivered with some conviction just photocopy and distribute it at the door. I’ll read it myself.
 
Altar Servers in flip flops.

Priests and laypeople who, when preparing the Sanctuary for Mass, do not acknowledge the Blessed Sacrament upon entering and exiting the Sanctuary when the Tabernacle is in the Sanctuary.

Children going to the bathroom constantly during Mass and most especially during the Consecration. This is most distracting in a church in the round! ugh :mad:

The priest and people throwing the peace sign with their fingers to everyone in the church (mostly at daily Mass).
 
I tried to post a minute ago, but I don’t think it worked.

Folks: if you are witnessing genuine grave liturgical abuses, you NEED to do something about it, even if you are just a visitor. Talk to the Priest! Don’t go so overboard that they blow you off, but speak firmly.

If they blow you off or continue the next day or week, you must go to the Bishop. Write him by snail mail, be brief, have your letter edited, state your grievance and the date it occurred. Pray. Be patient.

If you are blown off again, you need to write to the Congregation of Divine Worship in Rome, Cardinal Arinze’s people. I guess that’s all you can do then. Attend different parishes. I’d consider moving if the bishop blows you off, though. There’s little likelihood for things improving if he does that, and the Mass is the most important thing there is.
 
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catholiclady:
You ask what is wrong with the people praying in the Orans position.

This is a gesture prescribed for the priest and the lay people are not to imitate him. The liturgical use of this position by the priest is spelled out in the rubrics (the laws governing ow the Mass is said). It indicates his praying on behalf of us. Acting as alter Christus.

In private prayer you can use this position but not at Mass.
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Understood. Thanks for the explanation. (And you too, ktm 😉 )

DaveBj
 
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CD4:
Well…'Till this I had never seen a “Clown Mass”…I think I might have thought they really didn’t exist…Now I know the awful truth What is the point? Why is this done?
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How do you know this a Catholic Mass in the picture and not an Episcopal ceremony where this kind of nonsense is somewhat popular? I’ve actually read Episcopals justify these masses on the ground that the clown masses help bring to light the comedic underpinnings of the crucifixion. Odd folks–
 
I agree with all of the above. Some of the music is horrible, loud geetars, drums and some of the people dressed like they were going on a hiking trip I once heard a priest make the following annoucement" When one goes to Church they should be mindful of where they are going and the purpose for which they are going ,and dress accordingly"!
 
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swampfox:
How do you know this a Catholic Mass in the picture and not an Episcopal ceremony where this kind of nonsense is somewhat popular? I’ve actually read Episcopals justify these masses on the ground that the clown masses help bring to light the comedic underpinnings of the crucifixion. Odd folks–
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stjosephsmen.com/letters/clownmass.htm

Anyone who says there are “comedic underpinnings” of the crucifixion needs to have his head examined and then go to confession for committing blasphemy.
 
How do you know this a Catholic Mass in the picture and not an Episcopal ceremony where this kind of nonsense is somewhat popular? I’ve actually read Episcopals justify these masses on the ground that the clown masses help bring to light the comedic underpinnings of the crucifixion. Odd folks–

This Clown Mass, 1 Sept 2002, 9:15AM, Christ the King Church, Pleasant Hill CA, Diocese of Oakland. Fr. Brian Joyce in clown vestments… Although looking at the altar, walls and sanctuary it could easily pass for a Protestant church- You have to love the bar stools!!

Their website contains homilies from laity and nuns. On the current parish history page it states, "Sunday worship continued to be our central concern both inside our Church and on our own lawn with standard traditional ritual and occasional innovation for children’s liturgies, teen worship and clown ministry. "
ctkph.org/
 
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