Paradox at a Youth mass

[threej_lc]

So I went to a Youth mass on Sunday. Yeah, the kind most the people on this forum hate where the music has drums and electric basses and guitars. A few minor liturgical abuses aside (Altar girls wearing street clothes, not cassocks, etc.) I tend to like these masses, under the condition that I already attended a more orthodox one that weekend.

Anyway, it got to the homily, and the homilist said, “Ya know, I think its about time we’re due for a homily on hell. When was the last time you heard a homily on hell?”

Then he proceded to talk about what a terrible place it was, and how sin is real and if we don’t confess it and repent, we’re bound to end up there, etc. Then he asked the crowd to raise their hand if they thought it was easier to get to heaven then to hell. To my surprise, about 4/5ths of the congregation raised their hands. The priest then yelled at them, “Well you all obviously weren’t paying any attention to the readings, were you! Enter through the NARROW gate! Many will try but few will enter!”

The point is this all amused me, because most people on this forum hate youth masses, but likewise claim there isn’t any orthodox preaching on sin and hell.

Josh

 

[_veritas]

Great to hear that your priest was on fire for the salvation of the youth!

I too like to attend Masses with instruments other than an organ once in awhile, though usually (in our area) it means that the Mass as a whole is at least a little inconsistent with the GIRM… thus, I must remind myself it is still the Mass and it is still the Lord!

When these youth Masses are done correctly, as they usually do for the Steubenville teen conferences, they are powerfully alive with the Spirit and God works great things through them!

Would that more organizers of “youth” Masses would see Steubenville, and your priest/homily, as a model to follow, and truly bring kids and their parents to a deeper understanding of the fullness of the Faith!

Thanks for sharing,

+veritas+

 

[tom.wineman]

Would you say it was sacred music and to the greater glory of God ?

 

[Meggie]

yep, I totally agree, the only place where I have heard preists speak out against hell and sex outside of marriage is in a homily directed to youth. I think its because teens don’t judge a priest for sticking up for what is right but any ordinarry citizen would find this kind of homily more like an accusation.

Teens are more open to Christ’s laws. We see more than most people think, and know more than they think we know. Give us the oppurtunity and we will learn. The way I see it a typicall normal Mass is the sugar coating of ligurty…40 minutes in and out with a dry, short homily…nothing to disrupt or discourage any way of life, no questions asked no questions needed.
Teen ligirtugs seem to be the real thing. Ask why the priest does that (not during the midddle of mass, but anyway) have long homilies, sing the responsorial song…thats what youth masses are bring to Catholocism