M
mao_now
Guest
As A convert, I have for most of my catholic life assisted at the TLM now called “EF”. During my days of searching for the truth all celebrations of the Mass I attended were the Novus Ordo, now called “OF” After conversion I discovered the EF and have never went back to a liturgy of the OF. except for this past Sunday.
Now its been awhile since I have been to the OF, but I distinctly remember, how it was done in my pre conversion days, and it seems that alot has changed since then. Let me say from the start, this is not an attack on the OF nor do I doubt its validity, this is just an observation from someone who has an experience of Catholicism that has been shaped and nourished by the EF.Indeed this celebration of the OF was abuse free as far as I could tell.
so bear with me…please in charity.
The Church itself was built around 1974 its huge with very fine materials used. Lots of wood and Marble. fine metals and stained glass. Its built in the semi circular pattern, rows of pews on 3 sides but nothing behind the altar but A wall of white marble and molded plaster. On the wall is A giant molded Christ with arms in the orans position. To the left of this was A giant wooden cross. (no corpus) below was A wooden shelf on which was the tabernacle, made like A golden microwave oven. (the door even opened like one) in front was an altar that looked like an ikea table. on the same level and to the left was the ambo? A white plaster affait that had an unusual curve to it. There was some golden things attached but I couldnt make out what they were. The stained glass was modern but very nice and tasteful, as were the stations. But there were no statues or icons, and no vigil lamps, other than A very nice traditional sanctuary lamp on the wall by the tabernacle. It was the only “real” candle in the place, all others on the altar, (including the Easter candle) were fake. By that I mean they were large white cylinders that obviously were full of some kind of fuel, and they were lit and burned, but they werent wax. A parishoner told me later there were some "votive lights in back but they were all electric. I didnt notice them though.
I arrived early and the thing that first struck me was the level of noise.And the way people were dressed. Mostly shorts (men and women) and sandals and flip flops. Kind of “tennis court chic” (this is A very wealthy Parish) The more people arrived, the louder the talking as friends, family and neighbors greeted one another and caught up on the weeks events. One ot two people knelt in prayer and A few genuflected, I even saw A lady wearing A Chapel veil. But the talking was really getting loud at this time, and the choir was practicing a little.
To the left of the Sanctuary was an area I shall call the “music area” It had A large choir, An electric guitar, drums, saxophone, trombones, clarinets, and flutes, and A huge grand piano. Behind the piano was the handbell people. all of these instruments were played during the Mass.
At Mass time, A man from the choir stepped up to A lectern and said very cheerily “good morning everyone! and welcome to St…celebration of Pentecost Sunday!” the crowd responded in kind. The music began to play and the choir sing as the entrance procession started.The words to the songs appeared on the back wall. It was standard fare, 4 tiny children servers 2 boys 2 girls, in cassock and cottas, One carrying A huge oversized cross (with corpus) the others carrying those fat white cylinders, the girls with ponytails bouncing, and behind them A deacon and priest.
The vestments seemed to be made of Precious materiels ie damask and gold thread, (this is A very wealthy white Parish with A huge congo) but the style was practically undiscernible. I mean the dalmatic and chazzie were just huge pieces of precious fabric, that went to the floor. They had somekind of ophrey on them in geometric patterns and both had collars (I forget the name for that piece of tat) but at least they werent polyester with lime green vines and huge globs of purple grapes sewn on…LOL
The Mass began as usual but There was somekind of asperges.after the priest reverenced the altar, He blessed water, and he and the Deacon went amongst the people with little bowls and palm leaves sprinkling everyone. The choir sang “song of fire and water” the words were projected on the back wall. There was the gloria next, (Mass of creation) I read that on the back wall. Then the readings, But I couldnt follow them, because all of the readings were presented at one time, mixed in with bits of song from the Choir, and Dramatic voices and handbells…it was pure theater. And the curious thing was, the bits of song from the choir, was to the Traditional melody of “Veni creator Spiritus!” But it was all in English.after all of this was done. Next A man went to the front of the Choir and people stood, He said “please sit down for the sequence” This was followed by loud laughter. And then he sang the sequence, I didnt recognize the Melody or the translation, even though it was projected on the wall.Then came the Gospel there was an alleluia, the Deacon read the Gospel but seemed to show inordinate reverence to the book itself. He bowed profoundly to it, but walked right in front of the tabernacle without so much as a nod. A short 15 min homily, something about coke bottles and blades of grass employed as instruments. and how we could become instruments also when hit by the wind of the Holy Spirit. Then they began to prepare the altar, the choir sang A song. I noticed the vessels were all very nice and made of gold, in traditional designs. But the 2 little altar girls put them on the altar. even the main chalice, which was covered with A pall and purificator. It seemed like 2 little girls setting the table for their mother.The gifts were brought fwd. and the Eucharistic prayer III was used. I noticed at the preface the Priest joined his thumbs and index fingers…strange… athe consecration bells were rung, and the Priest lifted up A GIANT host. (no incense was used at all during this mass) The Eucharistic ministers lined up after the priests communion. They recieved, and then they distributed communion. A priest, deacon and about six lay people. for maybe 400 communicants.I noticed A lot of folks dashing out the doors after communion. (the crowd thinned considerably) after the vessels were cleansed. evryone sat in silence for A minute. The choir director stepped forward and made the announcements. Most of which were accompanied by loud laughter and clapping. A final blessing, and they marched out. as soon as the choir finished…the congo applauded…and it was all over…then the real talking and catching up began! It all seemed very strange to me…I was almost lost…But it made me realize this…call it what you will EF or OF there are not two uses of the one Roman rite. There are two religions battling for the soul of one Church…there can be only one…For years the Old faith put up A vicious fight for its very survival. Now it has been brought to the mainstream again…It will be interesting to see how this plays out. I dont doubt the faith of these people at this Mass…it just seemed…so innocent…so inward… These are just my thoughts and observations.
God bless
Now its been awhile since I have been to the OF, but I distinctly remember, how it was done in my pre conversion days, and it seems that alot has changed since then. Let me say from the start, this is not an attack on the OF nor do I doubt its validity, this is just an observation from someone who has an experience of Catholicism that has been shaped and nourished by the EF.Indeed this celebration of the OF was abuse free as far as I could tell.
so bear with me…please in charity.
The Church itself was built around 1974 its huge with very fine materials used. Lots of wood and Marble. fine metals and stained glass. Its built in the semi circular pattern, rows of pews on 3 sides but nothing behind the altar but A wall of white marble and molded plaster. On the wall is A giant molded Christ with arms in the orans position. To the left of this was A giant wooden cross. (no corpus) below was A wooden shelf on which was the tabernacle, made like A golden microwave oven. (the door even opened like one) in front was an altar that looked like an ikea table. on the same level and to the left was the ambo? A white plaster affait that had an unusual curve to it. There was some golden things attached but I couldnt make out what they were. The stained glass was modern but very nice and tasteful, as were the stations. But there were no statues or icons, and no vigil lamps, other than A very nice traditional sanctuary lamp on the wall by the tabernacle. It was the only “real” candle in the place, all others on the altar, (including the Easter candle) were fake. By that I mean they were large white cylinders that obviously were full of some kind of fuel, and they were lit and burned, but they werent wax. A parishoner told me later there were some "votive lights in back but they were all electric. I didnt notice them though.
I arrived early and the thing that first struck me was the level of noise.And the way people were dressed. Mostly shorts (men and women) and sandals and flip flops. Kind of “tennis court chic” (this is A very wealthy Parish) The more people arrived, the louder the talking as friends, family and neighbors greeted one another and caught up on the weeks events. One ot two people knelt in prayer and A few genuflected, I even saw A lady wearing A Chapel veil. But the talking was really getting loud at this time, and the choir was practicing a little.
To the left of the Sanctuary was an area I shall call the “music area” It had A large choir, An electric guitar, drums, saxophone, trombones, clarinets, and flutes, and A huge grand piano. Behind the piano was the handbell people. all of these instruments were played during the Mass.
At Mass time, A man from the choir stepped up to A lectern and said very cheerily “good morning everyone! and welcome to St…celebration of Pentecost Sunday!” the crowd responded in kind. The music began to play and the choir sing as the entrance procession started.The words to the songs appeared on the back wall. It was standard fare, 4 tiny children servers 2 boys 2 girls, in cassock and cottas, One carrying A huge oversized cross (with corpus) the others carrying those fat white cylinders, the girls with ponytails bouncing, and behind them A deacon and priest.
The vestments seemed to be made of Precious materiels ie damask and gold thread, (this is A very wealthy white Parish with A huge congo) but the style was practically undiscernible. I mean the dalmatic and chazzie were just huge pieces of precious fabric, that went to the floor. They had somekind of ophrey on them in geometric patterns and both had collars (I forget the name for that piece of tat) but at least they werent polyester with lime green vines and huge globs of purple grapes sewn on…LOL
The Mass began as usual but There was somekind of asperges.after the priest reverenced the altar, He blessed water, and he and the Deacon went amongst the people with little bowls and palm leaves sprinkling everyone. The choir sang “song of fire and water” the words were projected on the back wall. There was the gloria next, (Mass of creation) I read that on the back wall. Then the readings, But I couldnt follow them, because all of the readings were presented at one time, mixed in with bits of song from the Choir, and Dramatic voices and handbells…it was pure theater. And the curious thing was, the bits of song from the choir, was to the Traditional melody of “Veni creator Spiritus!” But it was all in English.after all of this was done. Next A man went to the front of the Choir and people stood, He said “please sit down for the sequence” This was followed by loud laughter. And then he sang the sequence, I didnt recognize the Melody or the translation, even though it was projected on the wall.Then came the Gospel there was an alleluia, the Deacon read the Gospel but seemed to show inordinate reverence to the book itself. He bowed profoundly to it, but walked right in front of the tabernacle without so much as a nod. A short 15 min homily, something about coke bottles and blades of grass employed as instruments. and how we could become instruments also when hit by the wind of the Holy Spirit. Then they began to prepare the altar, the choir sang A song. I noticed the vessels were all very nice and made of gold, in traditional designs. But the 2 little altar girls put them on the altar. even the main chalice, which was covered with A pall and purificator. It seemed like 2 little girls setting the table for their mother.The gifts were brought fwd. and the Eucharistic prayer III was used. I noticed at the preface the Priest joined his thumbs and index fingers…strange… athe consecration bells were rung, and the Priest lifted up A GIANT host. (no incense was used at all during this mass) The Eucharistic ministers lined up after the priests communion. They recieved, and then they distributed communion. A priest, deacon and about six lay people. for maybe 400 communicants.I noticed A lot of folks dashing out the doors after communion. (the crowd thinned considerably) after the vessels were cleansed. evryone sat in silence for A minute. The choir director stepped forward and made the announcements. Most of which were accompanied by loud laughter and clapping. A final blessing, and they marched out. as soon as the choir finished…the congo applauded…and it was all over…then the real talking and catching up began! It all seemed very strange to me…I was almost lost…But it made me realize this…call it what you will EF or OF there are not two uses of the one Roman rite. There are two religions battling for the soul of one Church…there can be only one…For years the Old faith put up A vicious fight for its very survival. Now it has been brought to the mainstream again…It will be interesting to see how this plays out. I dont doubt the faith of these people at this Mass…it just seemed…so innocent…so inward… These are just my thoughts and observations.
God bless
That is quite possibly the scariest thing I’ve ever seen.