Priest: Catholic liturgy is in 'state of emergency'

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**Priest: Catholic liturgy is in ‘state of emergency’

** Forty years have gone by since the Second Vatican Council concluded its work. The 16 conciliar documents have brought about many changes in the Catholic Church. One of the most visible changes is the way the Mass in the Latin rite is celebrated.

Unfortunately, shortly after the close of the council, the liturgical reforms the council set in motion have been upset by ignorance, misinterpretation, and even infidelity. The liturgy in America has become an ongoing battle between three groups of Catholics.

One group rejects the Missal of Pope Paul VI. Another group has misconstrued the liturgical norms of the missal and continues to spread errors and abuses that have nothing to do with the liturgy. Yet another group attempts to show the importance and beauty of the liturgical changes brought about by the council through a delicate fidelity to all the liturgical norms of the Church.

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I’m not sure I would agree that the essay supports a claim of liturgical “emergency.” Rather, what I would suggest that that the essay claims that there are numerous liturgical aberrations or abuses. That would fall into the category of “liturgical praxis” rather than the liturgy itself.

Now, that may sound like it’s not important, but it is. If the liturgy itself were in a state of emergency then it could not be celelbrated correctly anywhere – that that’s not the point that the author is making. Rather, his claim is that the liturgy is abused and he points to the “northeast” as the primary area of abuse while absolving the Diocese of Corpus Christi from any abuse.

From personal experience I can say that the Masses I have attended in the Dicoese of Austin (also in Texas) were very well celebrated. Many people contend that there are abuses in my diocese, but I don’t often see them (perhaps because they are few and far between in my parish and when I’m not at my Latin parish I’m at my Melkite parish). However, prior to my ordination I did visit many parishes and during the first part of my time since ordination I served as a master of ceremonies for our bishop and for visiting bishops – normally for confirmation, but also for other events. I saw little evidence of abuse in that role.

I do not discount liturgical abuse since I have seen it (the last time was in Florida) – but I still can’t agree with the title.

Perhaps “Liturgical praxis in Northeast is in ‘state of emergency’” might be a more accurate title.

Deacon Ed
 
I definitely think parishes need to be checked up on regularly at least, to be sure they are biding by the Churches rules. I recently left a parish that has several liturgical abuses and is teaching its catechesis that mass is a time of community, not prayer, and praying to a flower as God is just fine. :confused:

Being the only already baptized student in the RCIA class, I left. I found a parish that is celebrating correctly and the priest is willing to give me private instruction, so I’m very excited as God leads me to His Church.

I really hope the Church can soon help all its parishes get back to the truth and away from pagan and other outside sources for their teaching.
 
Deacon_Ed said:
I’m not sure I would agree that the essay supports a claim of liturgical “emergency.” Rather, what I would suggest that that the essay claims that there are numerous liturgical aberrations or abuses. That would fall into the category of “liturgical praxis” rather than the liturgy itself.

Now, that may sound like it’s not important, but it is. If the liturgy itself were in a state of emergency then it could not be celelbrated correctly anywhere – that that’s not the point that the author is making. Rather, his claim is that the liturgy is abused and he points to the “northeast” as the primary area of abuse while absolving the Diocese of Corpus Christi from any abuse.

From personal experience I can say that the Masses I have attended in the Dicoese of Austin (also in Texas) were very well celebrated. Many people contend that there are abuses in my diocese, but I don’t often see them (perhaps because they are few and far between in my parish and when I’m not at my Latin parish I’m at my Melkite parish). However, prior to my ordination I did visit many parishes and during the first part of my time since ordination I served as a master of ceremonies for our bishop and for visiting bishops – normally for confirmation, but also for other events. I saw little evidence of abuse in that role.

I do not discount liturgical abuse since I have seen it (the last time was in Florida) – but I still can’t agree with the title.

Perhaps “Liturgical praxis in Northeast is in ‘state of emergency’” might be a more accurate title.

Deacon Ed
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Deacon Ed: I sing in a Cathedral choir and have done so since 1983. In all these years I have not seen any evidence of liturgical abuse in any spoken diocesan liturgy in which I’ve ever sung. I could do without the “vestal virgins” wafting bowls of incense around a la Cecil B DeMIlle or the liturgical dancers whith their obvious “May Poles”. Within the context of the liturgy, there has been no liturgical abuse. Outside the context of the liturgy anything goes.

This was NOT the norm in which I grew up. HMC says these are not abuses…with great reluctance, OK. The Mass is not some 1950s Cecille B. de MIlle epic.

Such things are NOT the norm for the Cathedral parish. Only at diocesan events.

Which begs the question. Our parish norm is a reverent NO - which is all I ask. I grew up with the TLM. I was an altar boy during the TLM and I sang in the children’s choir during the TLM.

There’s a whole bunch of my folk (baby boomers) who remember what the Mass was like before V II. Some are happy with the change and some are not, like me. How can I explain to you just how profoundly different things were when I grew up? There’s a huge paradigm shift which has never been answered for those of us who were caught in the middle.

I was in high school when Vatican II happened. I was perfectly happy being a “now” Traditional Catholic. OK, fine, I acknowledge that some of my classmates and my teachers in a fully Catholic boy’s high school were ecstatic about the “new springtime of the Church”. I wasn’t.

We were never given an option. The Brothers drove the new springtime without remorse. I’m 55 years old now and yet in 1969 for my graduation Mass, I had to sing “Sounds of Silence” and “Hello Darkness My Old Friend” at my graduation from my Catholic high school. I can’t tell you how bitterly I resent this. I can’t tell you.

So, when you ponder the great “springtime in the Church”, remember me! I stand before you and I declare, it was not universal. AND, it was not unanimous!
 
I was under the impression that the phrase “new springtime of evangelization” referred not to the horrific liturgical experimentation of the late 60’s through the 80’s, but rather to the new expansion of orthodoxy that has been happening these last few years. This website is one example of it.
 
brotherhrolf said:
Deacon Ed: I sing in a Cathedral choir and have done so since 1983. In all these years I have not seen any evidence of liturgical abuse in any spoken diocesan liturgy in which I’ve ever sung. I could do without the “vestal virgins” wafting bowls of incense around a la Cecil B DeMIlle or the liturgical dancers whith their obvious “May Poles”. Within the context of the liturgy, there has been no liturgical abuse. Outside the context of the liturgy anything goes.
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Well, I’m older than you (will be 60 in a few months) and I, too, grew up with the TLM and nuns who insisted that, as an altar server, I should not only know the Latin responses, but what they meant as well. My brother was the one with the good voice so he sang in the choir.

I have seen liturgical dancers both in places where they are valid and in liturgies where they are not. I don’t like them when they are out of place and love them when they are a legitimate part of the liturgy.

I have attended the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress on many occasions and generally attend one of the “quieter” liturgies. We served the Divine Liturgy there on year and I was present. I used to go to the deaf Masses since I was involved for over 10 years in deaf ministry. I try to stay away from the main liturgies as they do more than push the envelope. But that’s a different diocese than my own.

As for the paradigm shift – I think that we each need to come to grips with the liturgy as promulgated by Rome and as it is supposed to be served. It is every bit as reverent as the TLM when done right.

As has been noted, you are misusing the term "new springtime’ that has nothing to do with the Liturgy.

You talk about events that happened in 1969 and about your bitterness. If I may, I would suggest that this is 2007 and it’s time to move on. Mistakes were made, people did things they shouldn’t have done. When we dwell on the past we tend to live there and life ceases. We need to live in the here and now where God is living and active in our lives. What we were is certainly a part of who we are today – and if we can grow past what was then the future will be that much better.

Deacon Ed
 
Has anyone read Mat Abbot’s reprint of Father Farfaglia’s article entitled, *STATE OF EMERGENCY–THE PRESENT SITUATION OF THE CATHOLIC LITURGY IN AMERICA?

*Father draws an interesting parallel between priests who are liturgical abusers and those who are sexual abusers, or those who do not keep their vows of chastity. I noticed the parallel in my own home church, as, one by one, priests of my childhood and teen aquaintance were written about in the local newspaper and parishoners were asked to come forward with any abuse they may have experienced.

People are being scandalized by both kinds of abuse in the church and some are throwing up their hands and walking away.

The article says that
liturgical abuses are rooted in two major heresies that are common among the American clergy, especially the older members of the clergy. The first heresy is that many members of the clergy no longer believe in the ministerial priesthood. Secondly, many priests deny transubstantiation, or minimally, have a very ambiguous idea of what it really means.
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In spite of all the Magisterial information available and the general literacy of most Americans, we are in a sort of Spiritual and Liturgical Dark Ages, where the the teachings of the Catholic Church and real meaning of the Mass has almost become lost in some Catholic circles.

Those places where things are still understood and practiced in line with the Magisterium will be like the Medieval monasteries which painstakingly preserved civilization.

I, too, long for the Holy Father to stand up for the Faith among the bishops and let the chips fall where they may.
 
Hi I think you are rightand that there has to be some grip of the situation by the Holy Father. There seems to be a terminal and sickly lack of will amongst the priests and Bishops. It seems to be better to do nothing and do something and cause controversy. I do wonder wher some of them actually believe in transubstantiation.People don’twant to be talked at all the time. they need their festivals and their customs and the act of going to church has become too boring for most young people,sadly. Recently I suggested a Corpus Christi procession, in the hope that getting the congregation out to be exposed to the body and blood of Christ would have an energising and incredible effect on them, capture the imagination and strengthen faith, but there was a lukewarm response.If the Laity ar to play a full part , it is necessary for the clergy to pull their finger out a bit more. Above all there should be more Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, where our true destiny lies.God Bless.
 
evelynicholson said:
Hi I think you are rightand that there has to be some grip of the situation by the Holy Father. There seems to be a terminal and sickly lack of will amongst the priests and Bishops. It seems to be better to do nothing and do something and cause controversy. I do wonder wher some of them actually believe in transubstantiation.People don’twant to be talked at all the time. they need their festivals and their customs and the act of going to church has become too boring for most young people,sadly. Recently I suggested a Corpus Christi procession, in the hope that getting the congregation out to be exposed to the body and blood of Christ would have an energising and incredible effect on them, capture the imagination and strengthen faith, but there was a lukewarm response.If the Laity ar to play a full part , it is necessary for the clergy to pull their finger out a bit more. Above all there should be more Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, where our true destiny lies.God Bless.
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You hit the nail on the head. So many in the clergy are afraid to cause controversy.

It is sad about the lack of response to your Corpus Christi procession. I wonder if part of it is the lack of education about what it really entails and the fear on the part of the clergy.

I am blessed in the area I’m in now to have parishes that do have Exposition, which is great.

I honestly think it takes a rare kind of person to be a priest. Many people would just not be up to the task.
 
Excellent article!!!👍

God bless Fr. Farfaglia!!!

Yes I do think that it is time that Rome cracks down on the abuses once and for all. It will happen eventually, but the sooner it happens the better.
 
francesco920 said:
Excellent article!!!👍

God bless Fr. Farfaglia!!!

Yes I do think that it is time that Rome cracks down on the abuses once and for all. It will happen eventually, but the sooner it happens the better.
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Yep. I think we really need to pray hard for the Holy Father to have the strength he will need for this task.
 
It seemed to be a logical well thought out article which I might have been able to agree with…until this:
It is interesting to note, based upon a lifetime of observation, that those priests who habitually carry on with women, or those active homosexual priests who carry on with their proclivities, are guilty of the most obtrusive and bizarre liturgical abuses. There is a connection between purity of heart, of body, and of faith.
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Here he left the ranch. He does say it is his own observation, but here is my observation, that quote invalidates the article. There is no science or data in his “lifetime of observation”, and it does a great disservice to the American clergy.

John
 
You’re right. Its not scientifically based, but I have made the same observation.

And, even if that portion of the article is wrong, I honestly don’t think that negates the rest of the article.
 
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