Need input on liturgical abuse at school

[pjoduo]

I am currently a freshman at a Catholic college and would just like some (name removed by moderator)ut/advice on how to deal with a liturgy problem. My school is going to have an “Ecumenical Mass” on palm sunday where the Liturgy of the Word and of the Eucharist are split in two with the L of the W in one room with projectors and stuff for everyone and then have a procession to the Liturgy of the Eucharist. My first question is if this is for certain an abuse (I have been talking with the people in charge against it already though). If I am in error I would like to be certain. Also, if it is, does anyone have any advice of how to show them it is illicit to do? Thank you very much~! I apologize for the spelling and grammer, this is very rushed.

 

[Joan_M]

pjoduo:

I am currently a freshman at a Catholic college and would just like some (name removed by moderator)ut/advice on how to deal with a liturgy problem. My school is going to have an “Ecumenical Mass” on palm sunday where the Liturgy of the Word and of the Eucharist are split in two with the L of the W in one room with projectors and stuff for everyone and then have a procession to the Liturgy of the Eucharist. My first question is if this is for certain an abuse (I have been talking with the people in charge against it already though). If I am in error I would like to be certain. Also, if it is, does anyone have any advice of how to show them it is illicit to do? Thank you very much~! I apologize for the spelling and grammer, this is very rushed.

It is most certainly a serious abuse. The Mass is one action from start to finish, and cannot be split up. And, further, there is no such thing as an “Ecumenical Mass” - that one makes me very suspicious! It indicates to me that non-Catholics may be having active roles - like doing the readings, or other things that should not be happening.

If an Ecumenical service of come kind is deemed appropriate, it must not be a Mass. It can be a prayer service, and non-Catholics may then have active roles. The Mass cannot be tinkered with.

 

[pjoduo]

Thank you!

That is exactly what I was thinking and am trying to relay to them. Sadly I have made no progress. The Campus Priest has not replied and the Campus Minister has only replied saying something about the mass is ecumenical in nature and that there is nothing but good things to come of it. This worries me, and I do not wish for Jesus and his Mass to be so heavily abused.

Would you mind if I possibly sent your paragraph to them if the occasion arises? I believe I have told them this but it may help having another voice and way of stating it. (I will of course keep it anonomous). If not though that is perfectly alright.

 

[John_Lilburne]

pjoduo:

I am currently a freshman at a Catholic college and would just like some (name removed by moderator)ut/advice on how to deal with a liturgy problem. My school is going to have an “Ecumenical Mass” on palm sunday where the Liturgy of the Word and of the Eucharist are split in two with the L of the W in one room with projectors and stuff for everyone and then have a procession to the Liturgy of the Eucharist. My first question is if this is for certain an abuse (I have been talking with the people in charge against it already though). If I am in error I would like to be certain. Also, if it is, does anyone have any advice of how to show them it is illicit to do? Thank you very much~! I apologize for the spelling and grammer, this is very rushed.

The 2004 Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum specifically condemns this:

“[60.] In the celebration of Mass, the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist are intimately connected to one another, and form one single act of worship. For this reason it is not licit to separate one of these parts from the other and celebrate them at different times or places.[Footnote 135: Cf. S. Congregation for Divine Worship, Instruction, Liturgicae instaurationes, n. 2b: AAS 62 (1970) p. 696.] Nor is it licit to carry out the individual parts of Holy Mass at different times of the same day.”

This instruction concludes: “All things to the contrary notwithstanding. This Instruction, prepared by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments by mandate of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II in collaboration with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, was approved by the same Pontiff on the Solemnity of St. Joseph, 19 March 2004, and he ordered it to be published and to be observed immediately by all concerned. From the offices of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Rome, on the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, 25 March 2004.”

 

[pjoduo]

Thank you so much, I have just e-mailed your post. I think they are ignoring me but I will certainly keep trying to stop this.

Thanks again, that was very very helpful for this time and occasion. I sure hope it can change their hearts.

---

Edit in: Hey, what do you all recommend I do if they will not hear me anymore? Should I report to the diocosan level? We do not currently have a Bishop, but we do have a Priest as administrator for the time being.

 

[John_Lilburne]

pjoduo:

Hey, what do you all recommend I do if they will not hear me anymore? Should I report to the diocosan level? We do not currently have a Bishop, but we do have a Priest as administrator for the time being.

Yes, I think a diocesan Administrator could help. According to the Code of Canon Law, canon 427 “The diocesan Administrator is bound by the obligations and enjoys the power of a diocesan Bishop, excluding those matters which are excepted by the nature of things or by the law itself.” (From The Code of Canon Law: New Revised English Translation, HarperCollins Liturgical, 1997, ISBN 0-00-599375-X.)

What evidence is there is the priest plans to have a Liturgy of the Word is a separate place from the Liturgy of the Eucharist? If this has been publicly advertised, then I think a letter should be written to the diocesan Administrator as soon as possible. If it is just being discussed as a possibility, then it may be worth waiting for clearer evidence that it is the intention.

 

[pjoduo]

The Priest (who is a Msgr.) stated it at last sunday’s Mass in detail to those present. I rarely attend these Masses and opt for an area parish, but about 6-8 of my friends told me about it and I verified it with Campus Ministry (who in addition to the Msgr. are planning this). As of now this “Ecumenical Mass” is definitly in the works, I am hoping we can change that.

There is some wonderful news though, I have about 10 students who are assisting me in this endevor. Today they all found out and have vowed to assist in any way possible. A few more have already stated their wishes to attend an area Church instead. I truly hope we can make a differance.

 

[John_Lilburne]

pjoduo:

The Priest (who is a Msgr.) stated it at last sunday’s Mass in detail to those present. I rarely attend these Masses and opt for an area parish, but about 6-8 of my friends told me about it and I verified it with Campus Ministry (who in addition to the Msgr. are planning this). As of now this “Ecumenical Mass” is definitly in the works, I am hoping we can change that.

There is some wonderful news though, I have about 10 students who are assisting me in this endevor. Today they all found out and have vowed to assist in any way possible. A few more have already stated their wishes to attend an area Church instead. I truly hope we can make a differance.

Here is a possible misunderstanding about what the Monsignor is planning. On Palm Sunday before a Mass begins there is a “Commemoration of the Lord’s Entrance into Jerusalem”. One Mass that day can use the “First Form: The Procession”.

From the Roman Missal, for Passion Sunday (Palm Sunday):
“At the scheduled time, the congregation assembles in a secondary church or chapel or in some other suitable place distinct from the church to which the procession will move. The faithful carry palm branches.”
At this place the priest greets the people, says a prayer, there is a Gospel reading, and a brief homily may be given. Then there is a procession to the church. Mass begins with an Opening Prayer and there is a Liturgy of the Word.

Make sure that the people you are talking to have not confused the first Gospel reading with a Liturgy of the Word for Mass.
Reference: The Roman Missal, Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, 1985, page 122.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

pjoduo:

I am currently a freshman at a Catholic college and would just like some (name removed by moderator)ut/advice on how to deal with a liturgy problem. My school is going to have an “Ecumenical Mass” on palm sunday where the Liturgy of the Word and of the Eucharist are split in two with the L of the W in one room with projectors and stuff for everyone and then have a procession to the Liturgy of the Eucharist. My first question is if this is for certain an abuse (I have been talking with the people in charge against it already though). If I am in error I would like to be certain. Also, if it is, does anyone have any advice of how to show them it is illicit to do? Thank you very much~! I apologize for the spelling and grammer, this is very rushed.

No, the Mass cannot be split up like that. I would contact the diocese. There is really nothing you can do. I’m sure whoever is organizing this would not care what the documents say.

 

[stbruno]

cardinalnewmansociety.org/

Why don’t you email the Cardinal Newman Society. They are the watchdog group for Catholic universities. You probably will get a wonderful response from them if you pose the question to them. Pray on it always.

 

[pjoduo]

John Lilburne:

Here is a possible misunderstanding about what the Monsignor is planning. On Palm Sunday before a Mass begins there is a “Commemoration of the Lord’s Entrance into Jerusalem”. One Mass that day can use the “First Form: The Procession”.

From the Roman Missal, for Passion Sunday (Palm Sunday):
“At the scheduled time, the congregation assembles in a secondary church or chapel or in some other suitable place distinct from the church to which the procession will move. The faithful carry palm branches.”
At this place the priest greets the people, says a prayer, there is a Gospel reading, and a brief homily may be given. Then there is a procession to the church. Mass begins with an Opening Prayer and there is a Liturgy of the Word.

Make sure that the people you are talking to have not confused the first Gospel reading with a Liturgy of the Word for Mass.
Reference: The Roman Missal, Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, 1985, page 122.

Don’t worry it is not a confusion. I know about this, and this is not what I am speaking of. The actual mass was split in two.

 

[pjoduo]

Haha just 5 mins ago they decided to cancel! We were able to get the other students to protest it (almost every active young Catholic on campus) and provided so much Church letters and laws against the practice that they decided to have the Mass as usual. Thank you for all the help guys, all the young people are very happy here.

(Granted the same old Liturgical Abuses will take place, but this has been stopped! We were able to address the other abuses though, and we will see how that goes.)

 

[John_Lilburne]

Well done. Glad to hear it was not just confusion about a Palm Sunday procession.

 

[pjoduo]

Yes, thank you for all help!

I guess there were over 20-30 people constantly emailing them and talk about this “Ecumenical Mass” and how they feel it is wrong. This combined with the fact that what they were going to do is against so many documents must have done it.

It is inspiring to see how some of the youth of my University are so orthodox with the faith. It is the complete opposite of the teachers and campus ministry.