Over-focusing on the externals?

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Chalice:
The Archbishop need not “approve” the GIRM for it to be valid. And the Vatican did far more than “okay” it. You’re wrong again.
The USCCB approved the Norms in the the GIRM for the US.
They can’t change what is written, but approve anything that is vague.
Here is an example that might help…
usccb.org/liturgy/current/norms.shtml

Now, you can keep saying no.
You can keep saying nix.
You can put your fingers in your ears or your head in the sand.

BUT if you don’t believe me and the Bishop’s website, you need to check with someone at your Diocese.
 
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Chalice:
Your retort is VERY Protestant in nature. The Church has spoken on this issue. Very clear. Read the Archbishop’s letter above. Yet you feel you know better so you glean some tidbits that you interpret in a way that make you feel they trump what the Church actually directs. Sadly you cannot offer an official Church document that contravenes the GIRM on this matter.

You follow your ego. I’ll follow the Church.
The “church” does not direct standing as the norm. The USCCB does.
My parish is a Slovak Catholic Church. My priest is under his Bishop in Slovakia.
We kneel for communion.
 
Here Chalice, this might help you to understand the role of Bishops in setting the norms for a Diocese…
Code:
				Nevertheless, it is also true that the liturgical norms do allow   some flexibility. With reference to the central and most important   liturgical action, the Mass, for example, we can speak of three   levels of flexibility. First, there are in the Missal and the   Lectionary some alternative texts, rites, chants, readings and   blessings from which the priest celebrant can choose. (cf GIRM   24, RS 39) Then there are choices left at the competence of the   diocesan bishop or the Conference of Bishops. Examples are regulation   of concelebration, norms regarding the distribution of Communion   under both kinds, the construction and ordering of churches,   translations and some gestures. (cf SC 38, 40; GIRM 387, 390)   Some such alternatives require *recognitio* from the Holy   See. The most demanding level of variability concerns inculturation   in the strictest sense. It involves action by the Conference   of Bishops, after the conducting of deep interdisciplinary studies   and *recognitio* from the Holy See.
From here…
adoremus.org/0505Arinze.html
 
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Chalice:
True.

I find it fascinating that someone would (for example) insist on kneeling to receive Holy Communion (even though the Church directs we stand) while also spewing venom at those who hold hands during the Lord’s Prayer and/or assume the orans position – two things the Church has not condemmed.

It surely does make one wonder…
not true… (Q) if the directive were to stand, why would kneeling be allowed? (A) because standing is not a mandate

this language could lead someone to believe that standing is condemned by some, kneeling condemned by others
 
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Freeway4321:
You’ll always have those who are overly concerned with the external elements to the Mass. And that’s a sign of a lack of foundation in the Catholic faith, and of a lack of being a christian.

.
yes there are some… but perhaps it is because they are overly concerned with the liturgy being more about Him, and less about us. Each of the concerns mentioned here seem to have a common denominator: What can I or We do differently in the Liturgy that should have us in a full state of awe.

I just hear “but this make us more…” or “now we can be…” way too often as the reason given to change the externals… which by the way, used to be internals.
 
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Chalice:
No.

"GIRM 160. The norm for reception of Holy Communion in the dioceses of the United States is standing. Communicants should not be denied Holy Communion because they kneel. Rather, such instances should be addressed pastorally, by providing the faithful with proper catechesis on the reasons for this norm.

Show me an official Church document that condemns holding hands during the Lord’s Prayer or assuming the oran’s position. None exist.

This is another huge problem. Certain people insisting the Church has condemned something when She has not AND ignoring what the Church actually directs (see GIRM #160 above) because they believe they know better.
Do you mean the Church in American, the Church in the Holy See, or what… perhaps we can answer that better after a clear explanation of what will happen at the Synod.
 
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MrS:
not true… (Q) if the directive were to stand, why would kneeling be allowed? (A) because standing is not a mandate

this language could lead someone to believe that standing is condemned.
Yes, and anyone who says the Church has condemned kneeling to receive communion is mistaken and needs to properly inform themself before making such rash statements.
 
netmil(name removed by moderator):
RIGHT! I’m glad you get it.
It’s applicable because the Bishops approved it and it was okayed by the Vatican.
YOU are under your Bishop, in any case that there is silence by the Vatican.

So if the Vatican is silent on hand holding (which I gave you the document from the Vatican), YOUR BISHOP rules.

Check with your Diocese, you may be disobeying your Bishop.
I say this with all due respect for your sensibilities 🙂 , but you don’t understand how this works. If your bishop is silent on hand holding it’s because it has been repudiated by the Vatican, therefore, he doesn’t need to add his okay to this repudiation. His silence supports the ruling not negates it. Really though, if this is an ongoing problem in his diocese he ought to make it clear that this practice has been repudiated instead of letting people go on thinking it’s all right when it isn’t.
 
Chalice said:
1.) You may find them “arbitrary”, but I cannot because they come from the Church.

I didn’t say that the rulings of the Church are arbitrary only the directives of some bishops, which is why I think it ought to be changed, as I explained.
2.) Rubrics are already in place and eveyone should be following them.
Naturally. I never said they shouldn’t.
3.) Why would you protest if your bishop required everyone to stand after the AD? Because you feel kneeling is better? That’s not orthodox…
No, it would be my right to let the bishop know that many of us disagree with his reasoning and why. We’re not puppets, but members of the same Church. Unless and until he ruled otherwise I would, of course, follow his directive, no matter how ill-considered I believed it to be. Btw, MY bishop has NOT made such a ruling, thanks be. He sees no good reason to alter what is already in the rubrics (even though he could), and I think him very wise in that regard. 😉
 
netmil(name removed by moderator):
The “church” does not direct standing as the norm. The USCCB does.
My parish is a Slovak Catholic Church. My priest is under his Bishop in Slovakia.
We kneel for communion.
I am speaking of the Western Church in the USA. That should go without saying.
 
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Della:
No freedom of conscience and common sense. 😉
This “freedom of conscience” is one of the most septic things to strike in a long time. Disagree with the Church? That’s OK, you can just dissent because your conscience requires you to.

Sadly those people using this excuse have some of the worst formed (or totally non-existant) consciences to begin with.

As far as “common sense”, it’s by no means “common” and in this context, just another excuse to ignore the Church.
 
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Chalice:
This “freedom of conscience” is one of the most septic things to strike in a long time. Disagree with the Church? That’s OK, you can just dissent because your conscience requires you to.

Sadly those people using this excuse have some of the worst formed (or totally non-existant) consciences to begin with.

As far as “common sense”, it’s by no means “common” and in this context, just another excuse to ignore the Church.
Well, it is unfortunate that some people have used both these perfectly good expressions to justify open dissent against Church teaching, but I am not using these expressions in that way, but in the way they are truly meant to be used, with holy wisdom and a well-formed conscience. 😉
 
netmil(name removed by moderator):
My parish is a Slovak Catholic Church. My priest is under his Bishop in Slovakia.
We kneel for communion.
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Chalice:
I am speaking of the Western Church in the USA. That should go without saying.
It should be noted that the parish in question is located in the USA and is also affiliated with a local Archdiocese.

Does that accurately describe the arrangement, netmil(name removed by moderator)?
 
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msproule:
It should be noted that the parish in question is located in the USA and is also affiliated with a local Archdiocese.

Does that accurately describe the arrangement, netmil(name removed by moderator)?
Your Slavak parish is not part of the Western (or Latin) Church.
 
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MrS:
Each of the concerns mentioned here seem to have a common denominator: What can I or We do differently in the Liturgy that should have us in a full state of awe.

I just hear “but this make us more…” or “now we can be…” way too often as the reason given to change the externals… which by the way, used to be internals.
Excellent point MrS!

As the original post said, are we over-focusing on the externals?

**When Jesus is present on the altar, is He more concerned about what posture our bodies are in, or what state our hearts and souls are in? **

If it’s not something that is done out of spite, irreverence, disobedience, etc., and does not invalidate the Holy Sacrice of the Mass, then let it go; it’s not worth all this energy being spent on who’s “right.”
 
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MrS:
yes there are some… but perhaps it is because they are overly concerned with the liturgy being more about Him, and less about us. Each of the concerns mentioned here seem to have a common denominator: What can I or We do differently in the Liturgy that should have us in a full state of awe.

I just hear “but this make us more…” or “now we can be…” way too often as the reason given to change the externals… which by the way, used to be internals.
Perhaps my intention was misread as if I were agreeing with “progressive” movements (changing externals) in the liturgy. I do not agree with the vast majority of them… because we should be in a full state of awe and only concerned with the internals. Any postures, actions, fellowships too often become externals that take away from the internal.

If we were, we might (as Scott Hahn would say) only remain prostrate before the sanctuary.
 
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Chalice:
Your Slavak parish is not part of the Western (or Latin) Church.
Unfortunately, it is not the parish I attend. It is too far away 😦 . Anyway, as far as I know, it is not an Eastern Rite parish! It is a Latin Rite parish. The priest celebrates the Normative (Pauline) Mass, he just does so without all the unfortunate innovations and illicit adaptations that are so rampant elsewhere.

Our Archdiocese has many non-Latin Rite (Maronite, Byzantine, Chaldean, etc.) parishes that technically fall under other Eparchies, etc. but this Slovak Catholic Parish is not in the same category.

Hopefully, netmil(name removed by moderator) can confirm this or if I am incorrect then she can set me straight!
:tiphat:
 
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Didi:
Excellent point MrS!

As the original post said, are we over-focusing on the externals?

**When Jesus is present on the altar, is He more concerned about what posture our bodies are in, or what state our hearts and souls are in? **

If it’s not something that is done out of spite, irreverence, disobedience, etc., and does not invalidate the Holy Sacrice of the Mass, then let it go; it’s not worth all this energy being spent on who’s “right.”
On the contrary.

I disagree with that. It’s always worth the energy. Not achieve a “who’s right, who’s wrong” result. But to achieve the result that is most desired… the truth.

Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi.
 
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