Mass at the beach?

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apulido4

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Hello,

A monthly youth group at my parish is organizing a “get-together” at the beach in a couple of months.
They are planning to have a bonfire, some activities, etc… and I just found out that our Priest will be there as well, and he will celebrate Mass at the beach.

I absolutely don’t feel comfortable with this, but I’m not sure if it is actually wrong, or just my personal opinion.
I tried to get some info here, and all I found is that it might be okay if it’s a “special occasion”, but I still can’t see how this would be considered a “special occasion”.
They invited me, and a couple of my friends are planning to go, but I’m not sure if it’s even allowed in the first place.

Can anyone help?

Thanks!
 
Early church mass was held in basements and in the woods etc to hide from romans. As long as the blessed sacrament is there and other christians it is officially mass. It might be nice to be outside for mass. Give it a chance:)
 
There is nothing wrong with this.

Our LORD broke bread with His friends at the lakeshore, after all, post-Resurrection.

ICXC NIKA
 
In Ireland during British Occupation, people had masses in living rooms, basements, in mountains, caves and valleys. During the middle ages, and even today probably, priests would hold mass before a battle so the soldiers could go into battle with Christ. The location doesn’t really matter when you get right down to it.
 
Imprisoned Viet Namese and Chinese Priests and Bishops celebrate the mass in filthy prison cells.

John Paul II often hiked in the mountains. He may very well have celebrated atop a mountain in Poland.
 
po18guy said:
Imprisoned Viet Namese and Chinese Priests and Bishops celebrate the mass in filthy prison cells.

John Paul II often hiked in the mountains. He may very well have celebrated atop a mountain in Poland.
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There were priests that were imprisoned in World War 2, such as Maxmillian Kolbe, who would have celebrated mass in quite filthy conditions as well.
 
LegoGE1947 said:
There were priests that were imprisoned in World War 2, such as Maxmillian Kolbe, who would have celebrated mass in quite filthy conditions as well.
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As to the OP, if it is done in the vein of a spiritual retreat, there should be absolutely no problem with it. If it is not, then time exists to maybe massage it in that direction, with a speaker, or some catechesis, etc. What it appears to be at this point, is an opportunity.
 
po18guy said:
As to the OP, if it is done in the vein of a spiritual retreat, there should be absolutely no problem with it. If it is not, then time exists to maybe massage it in that direction, with a speaker, or some catechesis, etc. What it appears to be at this point, is an opportunity.
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In California, there is a mega-church, founded by Rev Chuck Smith, that came about by means of Pastor Smith reaching out to surfers and beatniks on LA beaches in the 1960s or 70s. (Calvary Chapel)
 
LegoGE1947 said:
In California, there is a mega-church, founded by Rev Chuck Smith, that came about by means of Pastor Smith reaching out to surfers and beatniks on LA beaches in the 1960s or 70s. (Calvary Chapel)
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Since they are known to be “rather” anti-Catholic, maybe this is a chance to gain back some ground.
 
The seventies called. They want their “Mass at the Beach” idea back.
 
Aeden said:
In Ireland during British Occupation, people had masses in living rooms, basements, in mountains, caves and valleys. During the middle ages, and even today probably, priests would hold mass before a battle so the soldiers could go into battle with Christ. The location doesn’t really matter when you get right down to it.
Click to expand...
The conditions do not need to be anything like that severe. While on pilgrimage, I’ve been to mass in hotel lobbys, airports, a city park, a Roman ruin, on shipboard, and even in a parking lot.

It’s HIS body that is the issue, and HIS body can be anywhere human bodies go to.

ICXC NIKA
 
Can’t believe these answers! Masses said in times of war or persecution obviously cannot said in proper places, so they are exceptions.

But altars and churches are consecration for a reason. Mass on the beach, outside of war or persecution, sounds just awful.

The Church gives us sacred art, consecrated buildings with consecrated altars with relics, and so much more, and we should use it.

For Mass. Person/group prayer, not liturgical, is fine anywhere almost.
 
po18guy said:
Since they are known to be “rather” anti-Catholic, maybe this is a chance to gain back some ground.
Click to expand...
I was not aware that Calvary Chapel was anti-Catholic. In my early years as a Protestant there was a music group called the Maranatha Singers that originated from Calvary Chapel that sang some classic contemporary (at the time) hymns.
 
Sounds interesting… Mass on the beach.

I have gone to an outdoor Mass so it shouldn’t be a problem.
 
LegoGE1947 said:
I was not aware that Calvary Chapel was anti-Catholic. In my early years as a Protestant there was a music group called the Maranatha Singers that originated from Calvary Chapel that sang some classic contemporary (at the time) hymns.
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They may have moderated a bit, but what material I have seen, from the Catholic perspective, had a clear bias to it.
 
newyorkcatholic said:
Can’t believe these answers! Masses said in times of war or persecution obviously cannot said in proper places, so they are exceptions.

But altars and churches are consecration for a reason. Mass on the beach, outside of war or persecution, sounds just awful.

The Church gives us sacred art, consecrated buildings with consecrated altars with relics, and so much more, and we should use it.

For Mass. Person/group prayer, not liturgical, is fine anywhere almost.
Click to expand...
This is why I am thinking it needs to be structured like a retreat. If the beach is a half-mile from the parish, it is awfully hard to justify this. If there is no parish nearby, OK then. But otherwise, it should be a day at the beach followed by mass in the parish.
 
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