Patriotic Mass Opinions?

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I’m a USAF Veteran.

“Nothing will stop the US Air Force” is a line from the Air Force Hymn.

And to the OP: this is a perfectly legitimate votive Mass.

However, I will add the clutter on the altar is inappropriate. That stuff should be placed on the edge of the sanctuary. Secular items like that have no place on the Altar of God.

From the Catholic Encyclopedia:

“A Mass offered for a votum, a special intention. So we frequently find in prayers the expression, votiva dona (e.g., in the Leonine Sacramentary, ed. Feltoe, p. 103), meaning “gifts offered with desire [of receiving grace in return]”. The Mass does not correspond to the Divine Office for the day on which it is celebrated.”

Indeed the Masses for ordination and for the dead, which occur in this book and throughout the Roman and Gallican Rites, are really examples of votive Masses for all kinds of occasions, for ordinations (ed. Wilson, pp. 22-30, etc.), for those about to be baptized (ibid., 34), anniversaries of ordinations (153-54), nuns (156), for the sick (282), for marriages (265), kings (276), travellers (283), the dead (301 sq.), and a large collection of Masses of general character to be said on any Sunday (224-44). In this book the name first occurs, “Missa votiva in sanctorum commemoratione” (p. 367; Rheinau and S. Gallen manuscripts). The Gregorian Sacramentary, too, has a large collection of such Masses and the name “Missa votiva”
 
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Thanks for your service. I understand and respect your opinion. I guess two veterans will just disagree on this!
 
Being a former Navy officer, I love that hymn but it always chokes me up. I can barely sing it. It was played at some of my shipmates’ funerals.
 
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BoomBoomMancini said:
It’s not so much the execution I’m objecting to, as the placement. If the military families of the parish wanted to put a display in the meeting hall or the entry way, I’d be fine with that.
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I agree with you BoomBoom, and a display like that would be a large distraction for me as well.
 
I know that hymn very well, and like you jfz178 it chokes this old sailor up.

Although I am in no rush, I’d like it used at my funeral.
 
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Yeah, agree to disagree. It’s kind of my pet peeve, I admit. I think a lot of people (not saying you necessarily) seem to forget that Jesus was not an American, and He didn’t become incarnate in the world to proclaim the awesomeness that is Amuricuh. Certainly, there’s nothing wrong with being patriotic, but let’s not put our pride and loyalty to a finite, human institution on par with our devotion to God.
 
Those weird bird wing things lead me to think this is some sort of pagan ritual, not a Mass.
 
That and Taps. Have not heard it at Mass, but rather at the burial. All too many funerals, for Vietnam, Korea, and WW2 vets, lots of them family members.
 
Mary_Ellen said:
Nothing” will stop the US Air Force?
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This is why context is important. The phrase is made in context of perseverance, hence, the “carry on” part. It is not a statement of omnipotence.

Anyway, such decisions are the purview of the priest, under the guidelines set by the bishop. That is the Catholic way. I think most of the arguments here are straw. There is no elevation of the military of nation to the level of God. No one believes that. I remember one Thanksgiving I was visiting in Utah and the priest had food laid out on a table in front of the altar. At the end, he blessed it and invited all to come and take one piece to incorporate into their family meal. I am rather confident that not one person too it as produce worship.
 
It looks a bit “tacky.” Like someone else said, it looks like someone went a little overboard at the craft store.

Yet, then again, only the wings seem to be a bit much. The red spots contribute to the tackiness so we have to remember that they aren’t really there.

I cannot tell from the picture if the altar itself is being used to support any decorations. For all we know, it might be completely apart from the altar. Maybe the OP can put this into perspective.

There’s nothing wrong with a memorial display; especially if it’s on a significant day (Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Patriots Day, etc. etc.)
 
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