Low Mass

[EyesClosed]

…The spirit of minimalism present in this thinking is disturbing. The Mass is still the Mass, with all its graces, if we drop every “extra” part. Why sing at all It doesn’t affect the consecration. Why have intercessory prayers? The Mass is still the Mass without them. The same grace is present. Why not just choose the shorter or easier options every time. Pretty soon, people will come to consider that the norm. And it doesn’t really matter anyway since it gives the same grace…

Trimming away the Mass until it gives the impression of a Sunday ticket-punching process can be very problematic. While the grace bestowed by any valid Mass is indeed the same, our ability to appreciate and absorb that grace is directly related to the quality and format of the liturgy.

The analogy I like to use is a bag of chips. Many people love chips. They enjoy snacking on them. However take a bag of chips and crush its contents into tiny fragments and most people will pass on partaking. Chemically the contents of a bag of pulverized chips is identical to a bag of unbroken chips, but the presentation is hugely different and it does make a difference when it comes to people partaking in the chips (or the Mass.)

I also take issue with the publicly stated reasons for stripped-down Masses. Some claim that simple frugality as practiced by St. Francis and others is the driving force. Yet take a look at the price tags on those adobe-colored burlap surplices and brushed aluminum altar ware. They’re not frugal!

Others mention scheduling problems on Sunday and the need for short Masses. In sum, such churches need to learn how to schedule their Sundays.

More and more, in the end, I think (in normal parish settings), stripped-down, utilitarian Masses are a product of laziness and parish politics than anything else.