First, I’d just like to say that I’m a little uncomfortable with threads such as this because I don’t think it’s always a charitable thing to be a member of the “liturgical police.”
I’ve seen so many posts which start out with words such as “Father did such and such at Mass today. Is this an abuse. What should I do?”
I’m uncomfortable with the attitude of judging every little action of a priest when we have no idea or way of knowing why he’s doing or not doing something. (Obviously, I’m not talking about the most flagrant abuses… consecrating a loaf of Wonder Bread for example.
)
That being said, and based on a personal experience, I think the following poster put it best:
I think the best thing to do would just be to wait until the young priest gives a sermon you really like. After Mass wait for everyone else to go, and approach him.
Say something like “I really liked your homily today. You point about XXX really made me think of the importance of ZZZ, etc., etc.”
After you discuss that for a minute or two say, “Oh, by the way, I noticed something that confused me. Usually the priest genuflects at the consecration, but you didn’t today. Is there any particular reason?”
Don’t be accusatory, just ask out of curiosity. If he doesn’t mend his ways, then a discussion with the pastor would be warranted.
God Bless
Many years ago, I attended a Mass where I saw something that nearly made my eyeballs fall out: the celebrant consecrated the bread and wine *TOGETHER. *
Now, not only had I never seen this done before, at the time I was taking classes in liturgy and knew
darn well that this was an extraordinarly BIG no-no.
At the beginning of the Mass, the priest had introduced himself as a summer visitor. After the Mass, I approached him in much the same manner as
bilop suggested above. After a moment of welcoming chit-chat, I mentioned to him that I had never seen the consecration performed in the manner in which he had done so, and added that I was under the impression that both species could not be consecrated together.
He stopped to think for a moment with a slightly perplexed look on his face and then he explained that he worked with young people (college chaplain, I think - I don’t remember) and that’s how he always did it. But then he said, “I’ll have to look it up.” Our little talk was very friendly, and in no way confrontational or defensive…
*AND, * I never saw him consecrate like that again.
(I guess he really
did “look it up.”)
To the OP: Good luck with handling this situation, and let us know what happens. The priest may have some kind of good explanation, or you may be an instrument of encouragement for him; encouragement (a) that there *are * some Catholics who know how things should be and care about the Mass, (b) that you’ve approached him with an attitude of care and concern (you can always ignore that he can genuflect at the beginning and end of Mass and just note that he doesn’t do it at the consecration, and say something like, “I hope you’re not having any back problems, Father. I know how painful that can be.”), and (c) that you will be a help for his priesthood - just in case he has to go back and “look it up.”
