Nun reads the Gospel at retreats??

  • Thread starter Thread starter namax91
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
N

namax91

Guest
Is this an abuse? Last week I was at a retreat led by a nun and priest. The nun read a passage from the Old Testament, then both of them told personal stories and reflections based on that reading. I had seen them before so I expected this, but next we sang a Gospel Acclamation, and then the nun went up and said “The Lord be with you,” then we all said, “and with your spirit.” She went on to read the Gospel like the priest at Mass, and it ended with, “The Gospel of the Lord,” and everybody said, “Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.” I felt awkward so I just mouthed the responses at the beginning and end. Was the nun reading the Gospel allowed since it wasn’t done at a Mass? And should I have just said the words out loud to avoid causing controversy? Please don’t tell me to report this to the Archdiocese, since this priest and nun were visiting from a different Archdiocese.
 
namax91 said:
Is this an abuse? Last week I was at a retreat led by a nun and priest. The nun read a passage from the Old Testament, then both of them told personal stories and reflections based on that reading. I had seen them before so I expected this, but next we sang a Gospel Acclamation, and then the nun went up and said “The Lord be with you,” then we all said, “and with your spirit.” She went on to read the Gospel like the priest at Mass, and it ended with, “The Gospel of the Lord,” and everybody said, “Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.” I felt awkward so I just mouthed the responses at the beginning and end. Was the nun reading the Gospel allowed since it wasn’t done at a Mass? And should I have just said the words out loud to avoid causing controversy? Please don’t tell me to report this to the Archdiocese, since this priest and nun were visiting from a different Archdiocese.
Click to expand...
While some of what you report seems, “off,” I think that you have to look at everything in context.

Was this an actual liturgy or was it something else?
 
I don’t understand what the concern is here.

You said yourself it wasn’t a Mass, so the rules for Mass don’t apply.

Someone read the Gospel – which we are all encouraged to do in our own lives – and people responded with the appropriate response for when it’s read aloud.

How is any of that a problem?
 
I’m with Quasi. What’s the problem with someone reading Scripture at a retreat? Or a prayer group? Or any other kind of gathering? The rules for Mass apply to Mass, not other circumstances.
 
+1

It was not a Mass.
Anyone can read the Gospel. Having an acclamation sung is reverent.
 
If its not at Mass, then there is no issue. Anyone can read the Gospel, but only a deacon of priest can read the Gospel (or give the homily) at Mass.
 
If you took a Bible study class from someone other than a priest…

But I can see your concern, because it *almost *seemed like a formal reading. 🙂
 
I believe there are guidelines for how a Liturgy of the Word is supposed to be conducted outside of Mass.
 
We do pretty much the same at our Franciscan meetings. When we have a Mass Fr. reads the Gospel.

Liturgy of the Word is different from just reading the Gospel in a group setting.
 
SMHW said:
I believe there are guidelines for how a Liturgy of the Word is supposed to be conducted outside of Mass.
Click to expand...
Since the OP reported that personal stories and reflections were told, this doesn’t even sound like a Liturgy of the Word, but Scripture study at a retreat. And this was specified as being a retreat.
 
I think one of the problems with the Church is not having more women in positions of authority, and I don’t mean as priests. I enjoy watching Fr. Jonathan Morris who appears regularly on Fox News, and he once said that no, women cannot be priests and the Church should not change that position, but there is no reason why a woman can’t be the boss of priests, and I thought that was so true. Anyway, I recall that interview because I experienced something similar this past Ash Wednesday. The short service before the administering of ashes was conducted entirely by the nun who works at our Church. She led us in prayer and read the gospel, and I felt that same awkwardeness wondering, do I say “Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ?” Most did, but there was definite hesitation. And it was just weird seeing her up on the altar. But I think that was just because we’re not used to it, not because there’s anything wrong with it. In fact, I think it was great.
 
Tarpeian_Rock said:
Since the OP reported that personal stories and reflections were told, this doesn’t even sound like a Liturgy of the Word, but Scripture study at a retreat. And this was specified as being a retreat.
Click to expand...
Actually what I found troubling was the sister saying, “The Lord be with you.”
 
madtom said:
I think one of the problems with the Church is not having more women in positions of authority, and I don’t mean as priests. I enjoy watching Fr. Jonathan Morris who appears regularly on Fox News, and he once said that no, women cannot be priests and the Church should not change that position, but there is no reason why a woman can’t be the boss of priests, and I thought that was so true. Anyway, I recall that interview because I experienced something similar this past Ash Wednesday. The short service before the administering of ashes was conducted entirely by the nun who works at our Church. She led us in prayer and read the gospel, and I felt that same awkwardeness wondering, do I say “Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ?” Most did, but there was definite hesitation. And it was just weird seeing her up on the altar. But I think that was just because we’re not used to it, not because there’s anything wrong with it. In fact, I think it was great.
Click to expand...
There have been monasteries of men on one side, and women on the other, both sides ruled by an abbess. Fontevraud in France was one such, from 1101 until 1792. The abbess ruled over the priests. So there is a precedent.
 
OraLabora said:
There have been monasteries of men on one side, and women on the other, both sides ruled by an abbess. Fontevraud in France was one such, from 1101 until 1792. The abbess ruled over the priests. So there is a precedent.
Click to expand...
At the risk of a thread derailment-----It’s not unheard of for a Catholic hospital to have a nun as CEO. Run by a nun. A nun runs. I would assume that any priests on staff, or in a chaplaincy service, would ultimately be answerable to her from an administrative/operations standpoint. “Father, I understand if the hair nets are uncomfortable, but you cannot enter the ICU without one on your head.”
 
madtom said:
I think one of the problems with the Church is not having more women in positions of authority, and I don’t mean as priests. I enjoy watching Fr. Jonathan Morris who appears regularly on Fox News, and he once said that no, women cannot be priests and the Church should not change that position, but there is no reason why a woman can’t be the boss of priests, and I thought that was so true. Anyway, I recall that interview because I experienced something similar this past Ash Wednesday. The short service before the administering of ashes was conducted entirely by the nun who works at our Church. She led us in prayer and read the gospel, and I felt that same awkwardeness wondering, do I say “Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ?” Most did, but there was definite hesitation. And it was just weird seeing her up on the altar. But I think that was just because we’re not used to it, not because there’s anything wrong with it. In fact, I think it was great.
Click to expand...
I think one of the Major problems in the church is the feminization of the church.
 
eightydeuce82 said:
I think one of the Major problems in the church is the feminization of the church.
Click to expand...
I’m not sure what you mean by feminization. If by “feminization” you mean greater female involvement, I respectfully and wholeheartedly disagree. If by “feminization” you are referring to effects of the so-called women’s liberation movement, then I agree.
 
eightydeuce82 said:
I think one of the Major problems in the church is the feminization of the church.
Click to expand...
Upper management of the Church is 100% male and females are explicitly prohibited from joining their ranks. If you think that kind of organization is too “feminized” then how much further do you want to take it? Should we root women out of lower leadership positions as well?
 
I think when people talk about feminization, they’re referring to a mindset that focuses more on “Jesus loves you,” and less on hellfire and damnation; more on inclusiveness and egalitarianism and less on developing and supporting strong, traditionally-minded male role models and leadership; more on unequivocal love and less on tough love.
 
madtom said:
I’m not sure what you mean by feminization. If by “feminization” you mean greater female involvement, I respectfully and wholeheartedly disagree. If by “feminization” you are referring to effects of the so-called women’s liberation movement, then I agree.
Click to expand...
Let me try to explain this with out sounding all anti VATII lol!

In the United States today, 45 years after Vatican II, 31,000 lay persons plan liturgies, direct the music groups, schedule the lectors and run the education programs for adults, engaged couples and children; four-fifths of these ecclesial ministers are women. Before Vatican II, most of those jobs did not exist; less than 1 % of these jobs were filled by lay people. Before Vatican II the average parish lay woman were most likely to be found in the Altar Society or Holy Name Society. Today, almost 50 % of all administrative positions in dioceses are held by women.

Quite correctly stated. Almost every parish across the country uses scores of lay Eucharistic and song ministers, lectors, and altar servers for its various Masses. Then, there are the liturgists, youth ministers, social concerns directors, adult education coordinators and other professional pastoral positions that never existed before Vatican II. Lay ministers make most of the pastoral visits to the sick and prisoners. And roughly 80 % of these positions are held by women. The NPLC predicts that the overall pattern indicates the bulk of positions will continue to be filled by women

So what’s the outcome? What are the fruits? Don’t get me wrong women have a very strong position in the church and they always have from the beginning. I don’t want to sound anti-woman but the fruits of all this “change” is clearly apparent. We have 60 years of data to show what has happened. Before Vatican Council II, Catholic men frequented the Sacraments, took family responsibilities seriously and filled the seminaries. After Vatican Council II, the churches emptied, the divorce rate skyrocketed, and the sacristy was overrun with women. A kind of effeminate man attracted by the New Theology entered the seminaries, and the virile ethos of the Church grew fainter and fainter. It is no wonder not only men, but also many women, are leaving the Catholic Church today or no longer assist at Sunday Mass. Huston we have a problem.

This isn’t obviously the only issue but it is an issue. The masculinity has in fact left the church. I am glad some of our bishops are standing up finally and combatting this issue. For one the altar girl issue and they are bravely standing up and returning to traditional practices.

I borrowed some of this from a website btw…
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top