Novus Ordos Mass...why?

[Morgan_Hiver]

Hello everyone. This is my first post. I really felt the need to vent and find answers.

I made my confirmation (I am not a convert, just returning) last week at Saint Dominic Savio in Bellflower, CA. Unfortunately I was not able to truly enjoy this momentous event. There were no stations of the cross insight (maybe they took them down for Advent. Is this customary?). The crucifix held during the entrance was some bizarre post-modern art project. The cross itself was wood, and the “Jesus” was metal, but looked like two legs from a Christmas tree stand turned into a cross. The large crucifix was over the entrance door. Basically you’ll only see it on your way out of the church. The weird thing about that large crucifix is Jesus had one arm free from the cross, as if saying he never did die on the cross, but just walked off of it. The music was terrible. The “choir” consisted of a pianist, singers, lead acoustic guitarist, harmonica, drums and a very faint trumpet. They played a lot of protestant pop “hymnals” that you hear on infomercials at 2am “I CAN SING OF YOUR NAME FOREVER!”. By the middle of the ceremony I had an astonishing headache.

I haven’t been to a NO mass in a few years but this was definitely the worst I’ve experienced. Just about every parishioner refused to be given the communion wafer by mouth. They just held their hands out and popped it in themselves (maybe I am just being picky?). The thing I find odd about Saint Dominic Savio’s is the parish was founded by Salesians… being that they are a religious order you’d think they hold on to some of the sacred traditions. I think the most bizarre part of it all was the fact that the Bishop actually sang along to the music. How could some one so high up in the church actually like this stuff? It really threw me off when the Bishop would chant for a few words and the choir would storm in with an awful song.

If it weren’t for the name on the building I would have thought I was attending a protestant gathering.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this???

 

[archangel04]

Hello everyone. This is my first post. I really felt the need to vent and find answers.

I made my confirmation (I am not a convert, just returning) last week at Saint Dominic Savio in Bellflower, CA. Unfortunately I was not able to truly enjoy this momentous event. There were no stations of the cross insight (maybe they took them down for Advent. Is this customary?). The crucifix held during the entrance was some bizarre post-modern art project. The cross itself was wood, and the “Jesus” was metal, but looked like two legs from a Christmas tree stand turned into a cross. The large crucifix was over the entrance door. Basically you’ll only see it on your way out of the church. The weird thing about that large crucifix is Jesus had one arm free from the cross, as if saying he never did die on the cross, but just walked off of it. The music was terrible. The “choir” consisted of a pianist, singers, lead acoustic guitarist, harmonica, drums and a very faint trumpet. They played a lot of protestant pop “hymnals” that you hear on infomercials at 2am “I CAN SING OF YOUR NAME FOREVER!”. By the middle of the ceremony I had an astonishing headache.

I haven’t been to a NO mass in a few years but this was definitely the worst I’ve experienced. Just about every parishioner refused to be given the communion wafer by mouth. They just held their hands out and popped it in themselves (maybe I am just being picky?). The thing I find odd about Saint Dominic Savio’s is the parish was founded by Salesians… being that they are a religious order you’d think they hold on to some of the sacred traditions. I think the most bizarre part of it all was the fact that the Bishop actually sang along to the music. How could some one so high up in the church actually like this stuff? It really threw me off when the Bishop would chant for a few words and the choir would storm in with an awful song.

If it weren’t for the name on the building I would have thought I was attending a protestant gathering.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this???

Yes you are being picky, receiving it my hand or tung is perfectly find as long as the person is in a state of grace, that’s what the Church teaches. On another post I posted about me wanting to receive it by kneeling and my priest told me that I would rather receive it by had and standing. No big deal as long as I get to receive my Lord it’s all that matters.

I’ve experience horrible music at mass, even some clapping to go along with it and it sucks. But the mass is the mass regardless (as long as the priest is valid) and the Eucharist is present. You can’t blame this on Novus Ordos on the mistakes people commit. If the OM is celevreate the way it should be, then you will see how beutiful it really is.

 

[Morgan_Hiver]

You know… another thing I found odd was that one of the altar boys had on sneakers and jeans under his vestments. I am sure he was wearing a t-shirt under there too, just as the drummer was wearing a BLINK 182 t-shirt. One of the laymen involved in some sort of ministry (not sure which) made a few announcements wearing blue jeans, work boots and a Carhartt construction coat.

 

[Trick]

I used to be an Altar boy before Vatican II, I often wore a t -shirt, jeans and my keds shoes while I served at Mass.

 

[CradleCath]

Hello everyone. This is my first post. I really felt the need to vent and find answers.

I made my confirmation (I am not a convert, just returning) last week at Saint Dominic Savio in Bellflower, CA. Unfortunately I was not able to truly enjoy this momentous event. There were no stations of the cross insight (maybe they took them down for Advent. Is this customary?). The crucifix held during the entrance was some bizarre post-modern art project. The cross itself was wood, and the “Jesus” was metal, but looked like two legs from a Christmas tree stand turned into a cross. The large crucifix was over the entrance door. Basically you’ll only see it on your way out of the church. The weird thing about that large crucifix is Jesus had one arm free from the cross, as if saying he never did die on the cross, but just walked off of it. The music was terrible. The “choir” consisted of a pianist, singers, lead acoustic guitarist, harmonica, drums and a very faint trumpet. They played a lot of protestant pop “hymnals” that you hear on infomercials at 2am “I CAN SING OF YOUR NAME FOREVER!”. By the middle of the ceremony I had an astonishing headache.

I haven’t been to a NO mass in a few years but this was definitely the worst I’ve experienced. Just about every parishioner refused to be given the communion wafer by mouth. They just held their hands out and popped it in themselves (maybe I am just being picky?). The thing I find odd about Saint Dominic Savio’s is the parish was founded by Salesians… being that they are a religious order you’d think they hold on to some of the sacred traditions. I think the most bizarre part of it all was the fact that the Bishop actually sang along to the music. How could some one so high up in the church actually like this stuff? It really threw me off when the Bishop would chant for a few words and the choir would storm in with an awful song.

If it weren’t for the name on the building I would have thought I was attending a protestant gathering.

Been there, felt that. My Grandson received his first Communion from an EXTRAordinary Eucharistic minister…in a Church built in the round, with no kneelers, the words of a “really cool” hymn were shown on the wall by a projector (or something) & to top it all off , we were entertained by Liturgical “dancers”.** We now belong to a parish that has the Latin Mass every Sunday. Thanks be to God & Pope Benedict.**
And no, you aren’t too picky.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this???

 

[ProVobis]

I used to be an Altar boy before Vatican II, I often wore a t -shirt, jeans and my keds shoes while I served at Mass.

Not we. The nuns made us wear white shirts with ties. And polished black shoes. They show up even with the cassocks on.

 

[CradleCath]

I used to be an Altar boy before Vatican II, I often wore a t -shirt, jeans and my keds shoes while I served at Mass.

My brothers were also altar boys before Vatican II & our Dad wouldn’t have let his sons out the door in anything less than dark slacks & a white shirt, if they were going to serve the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

 

[Renko]

Totally a stinking liberal church, run as fast as you can and find yourself a traditional church, then you will have something.

 

[pnewton]

The original post was too much of a shotgun against the Mass to make much coherent sense of it. Perhaps the headache the poster said he had led to a poor perception of the liturgy. I would suggest that if there is a specific liturgical question that the poster wants to address, then to do so in the appropriate forum. To jump in to a Traditional Catholic forum with one’s first post rant about a Mass that is not related to the Traditional Catholic forum appears to me to be more argumentative than constructive.

 

[Ohiomom]

In charity, OP is a newbie though in order to be confirmed I though you had to belong to a parish for a while and in all of the parishes I know of if you are an adult and have been baptised Catholic, but were never confirmed you have to go through RCIA and you are confirmed during the Easter vigil. I have heard that California can have some… interesting liturgies and poor music are rampant all over but this would have been known.

 

[Monica4316]

maybe just try to find a more traditional parish… they DO exist…

and yes I know what you mean

if you’re in this situation again, try to not let it all distract you and just pray and focus on the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the same everywhere.

God bless

 

[Morgan_Hiver]

Actually, I do belong to a traditional parish. However, I was in an Adult Confirmation course that just finished last Sunday. The ceremony took place at an unfamiliar parish. The outside of the building was very nice but the inside was very empty and cold. Reminded me of a town hall.

The parish I belong to has the TLM (low) every Sunday and a TLM high mass every third Sunday. I am part of the Gregorian Schola. I love it. The church itself is beautiful. It doesn’t look like the hideous churches that seem to be all over California. Being originally from New York I am not used to all the church buildings that look like the house in Brady Bunch.

I guess I am lucky enough to be in Southern California where there are a few churches that offer the TLM. Unfortunately, as I said, the buildings are hideous.

 

[PacoG]

One of the laymen involved in some sort of ministry (not sure which) made a few announcements wearing blue jeans, work boots and a Carhartt construction coat.

What a horrible abuse…blue collar people having the audacity to attend Mass in their work clothes. That is so horrible it must have invalidated the Mass. What a horrible sin it is. We can’t have such commoners showing up at Mass.

We all know that working, blue collar people never attended Mass before Vatican II. It’s something that is an innovation of the Novus Ordo.

This should be reported to the Congregation for Divine Worship right now.

 

[DihydrogenOxide]

Hello everyone. This is my first post. I really felt the need to vent and find answers.

I made my confirmation (I am not a convert, just returning) last week at Saint Dominic Savio in Bellflower, CA. Unfortunately I was not able to truly enjoy this momentous event. There were no stations of the cross insight (maybe they took them down for Advent. Is this customary?). The crucifix held during the entrance was some bizarre post-modern art project. The cross itself was wood, and the “Jesus” was metal, but looked like two legs from a Christmas tree stand turned into a cross. The large crucifix was over the entrance door. Basically you’ll only see it on your way out of the church. The weird thing about that large crucifix is Jesus had one arm free from the cross, as if saying he never did die on the cross, but just walked off of it. The music was terrible. The “choir” consisted of a pianist, singers, lead acoustic guitarist, harmonica, drums and a very faint trumpet. They played a lot of protestant pop “hymnals” that you hear on infomercials at 2am “I CAN SING OF YOUR NAME FOREVER!”. By the middle of the ceremony I had an astonishing headache.

I haven’t been to a NO mass in a few years but this was definitely the worst I’ve experienced. Just about every parishioner refused to be given the communion wafer by mouth. They just held their hands out and popped it in themselves (maybe I am just being picky?). The thing I find odd about Saint Dominic Savio’s is the parish was founded by Salesians… being that they are a religious order you’d think they hold on to some of the sacred traditions. I think the most bizarre part of it all was the fact that the Bishop actually sang along to the music. How could some one so high up in the church actually like this stuff? It really threw me off when the Bishop would chant for a few words and the choir would storm in with an awful song.

If it weren’t for the name on the building I would have thought I was attending a protestant gathering.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this???

Ugh. You’re not being picky at all. I don’t know what that other person above is talking about. I feel repulsed by that, because I know what you mean…they treat Jesus like He’s just some sort of a Ritz cracker that they are to consume by their whole attitude toward him. There is little reverence and they just kind of dully pop the Host into their mouth and rush off hurriedly.

I don’t like this at all. I attended a parish in the state of Georgia a while back that had a similar group. They sang those idiotic the protestant contemporary Christian music songs that have absolutely no place in the Mass.

That would tick me off that it was my confirmation and it was so irreverent to the Lord. I try to go to Mass where there is high reverence for Him. That angers me so much. Also, the guitars, harmonicas and other random instruments sound like something you’d here at Jazz night in a coffee shop, not something that should be played in church. No wonder you were angered. They played drums and electric guitar at the one church I attended, so yes, I’ve seen that, too.

I’m with you on this one.

 

[Morgan_Hiver]

What a horrible abuse…blue collar people having the audacity to attend Mass in their work clothes. That is so horrible it must have invalidated the Mass. What a horrible sin it is. We can’t have such commoners showing up at Mass. It might offend snobby teenagers who haven’t worked a day in their life.

We all know that working, blue collar people never attended Mass before Vatican II. It’s something that is an innovation of the Novus Ordo.

This should be reported to the Congregation for Divine Worship right now.

Actually, I have nothing against blue collar people. I grew up with a single mother who was a school janitor all of my adolescent life. I work in customer service. I answer phones and enter orders. Sure I don’t get dirty, but I definitely relate to the likes of warehouse workers and construction workers more than I would a doctor or lawyer. I just think slacks and an inexpensive button down (even a sweater) looks more respectful than CLEAN BLUE JEANS, SPOTLESS CONSTRUCTION BOOTS and a BRANDNEW CARHARTT jacket. Besides, this was a ceremony and everyone in the class (there were over 150 candidates from over 30 parishes) were given a list of rules stating the proper attire, no bubble gum, etc… And another thing…I grew up poor but when I went to mass my mother made sure I wasn’t dressed like I just shoveled snow.

 

[DihydrogenOxide]

What a horrible abuse…blue collar people having the audacity to attend Mass in their work clothes. That is so horrible it must have invalidated the Mass. What a horrible sin it is. We can’t have such commoners showing up at Mass.

We all know that working, blue collar people never attended Mass before Vatican II. It’s something that is an innovation of the Novus Ordo.

This should be reported to the Congregation for Divine Worship right now.

It’s one thing if they are just attending and it’s bad enough then, but it’s totally different if they are Eucharistic ministers, altar servers, lectors or cantors. Someone who is going to be front and center helping at Mass should at least dress the part least of all for the congregation, but much more so for God.

 

[pnewton]

Something to meditate on:

Luke 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Do we go to Mass to worship God or to judge?

 

[ELROD]

Morgan Hiver, you have described what every mass is like in the area where I live. There are no other choices.

 

[Ohiomom]

I do understand now. The diocese apparently decided adults who need confirmation don’t receive the sacrament in the parish, possibly so they can all be confirmed by the bishop (as opposed to RCIA when those that are converting are confirmed by their parish priest. They ended up at one of the more…less liturgically correct churches.

I can relate. I do go to the closest parish to me for daily mass and there is much solid about the parish, but I still dislike the decor and the music minister does love her protestant hymns. I attend an EF mass because I love the EF and the TLM community, and I am not distracted by the elements that are counter to worship for me.

Re: the comments OP made about the clothing- this has been done to death in other threads, but he has a point. You are going to make announcements for the confirmation mass for your diocese and the bishop is there and you can’t find a pair of Dockers and a polo to change into even if you are coming straight for work? My grandfather who worked in factories always changed before going to any event at his church, even a simple meeting.

But Morgan, at least you have now been confirmed and your home parish sounds lovely. Congrats!

 

[DihydrogenOxide]

Something to meditate on:

Do we go to Mass to worship God or to judge?

This has nothing to do with poor people going to Mass and everything to do with wearing proper attire when serving during the Mass.