Priests perspective

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Father, thank you for your post. I would like to echo the comments of many here; we need to show our appreciation to our Faithful priests and pray for them. This Wednesday is the feast of St Jean Marie Vianny - patron saint of priests. I will certainly be praying for all priests on this day.

Father, maybe the abysmal state of catechesis is responsible for so many people just ‘punching their ticket’ at Mass. For many people the only catechesis they receive is at Mass. Too many priests, I think, only give ‘fairy floss’ homilies or ’ love one another’ homilies week after week after week. Perhaps if more priests actually used the homily to tell the congregation about the Mass and truths of the Faith a deeper understanding of the Mass and the Catholic Faith would be engendered. 🙂
 
Thanks for everyones responses and prayers. Ask anyone who knows me and they will assure you that I take no prisoners in my homilies. I call 'em as I see 'em. I have preached about “ticket punching”, so I don’t just use the phrase here. My main problem is with the Easter crowd that comes once a year, receives communion, and would never think about going to confession. They, and the ones I never see, are the ones I worry about. If you know anyone like that work on them.
 
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cestusdei:
Thanks for everyones responses and prayers. Ask anyone who knows me and they will assure you that I take no prisoners in my homilies. I call 'em as I see 'em. I have preached about “ticket punching”, so I don’t just use the phrase here. My main problem is with the Easter crowd that comes once a year, receives communion, and would never think about going to confession. They, and the ones I never see, are the ones I worry about. If you know anyone like that work on them.
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Father,
Thanks for for the insights… and I will add you to my prayer list!
Just a thought…
We had a priest once in my former diocese who gave homilies on Easter and Christmas sarcastically welcoming the “Paqualini and the Natalini”, (an Italian parish) I always felt sort of bad for them…just maybe some encouragement by him might have kept them coming back… God Bless Annunciata:)
 
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cestusdei:
I call 'em as I see 'em. I have preached about “ticket punching”, so I don’t just use the phrase here.
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Maybe you could preach a little bit here then. I’d like to know what “ticket punching” is and how you can tell that someone is doing it.
 
Welcome, Father! I am glad we have a priest poster. I have a theory that American Catholics are more heavily influenced by Protestant parish practices nowadays. Sometimes this is good–I am dazzled by Protestant parishes where everyone seems to know everyone else. However, some bad effects of this are the “I don’t get anything out of Mass” syndrome, as if Mass were a particularly tedious form of group therapy. We need a renewed emphasis on WORSHIP–giving rather than getting something out of Mass, and on SACRAMENTALITY–getting what you might not “feel” but confident that you still “got” it.
 
To answer the query cestusdei means “God’s brassknuckles”.
 
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cestusdei:
I am a priest. I thought I would relate my experiences at Mass. I say Mass by the book. The GIRM is my guide and I obey the rubrics. My homilies are orthodox as am I.

But although I have good parishioners there are far to many who only come to Mass at Easter. Some of those who come weekly are obviously just punching their ticket. There is a lack of engagement. And of course some go to parishes where the Mass is barely valid and definitely illicit and abuses abound. I feel for them.

Some of it is due to the banal icel translations and the music we are stuck with. Some of it is from poor catechesis. But far to many blame the priest or liturgy itself. “I don’t get anything out of the Mass Father”. I usually ask “what did you put into it?”. That sometimes evokes raised eyebrows. I would challenge you. Assuming the priest is doing what he is supposed to and you still “don’t get anything out of it”. Don’t blame us. Look at yourself. What did you bring to Mass? Do you understand what the Mass is? Do you believe in the Mass? Do you expect entertainment or can you worship as an act of will? What do you expect to get out it? After all you “get” Jesus’ Body and Blood. Isn’t that far more then we should hope for?

We all go through dry periods spiritually. But I don’t enjoy being the punching bag. I don’t think other priests do either. By all means try to correct abuses. Certainly we look forward to better translations and music. However, the fruits you receive from Mass depend on your openess to them. All grace is there waiting for you. You might find the old book The Spirit of the Liturgy helpful. But remember the state of the liturgy not only depends on the priests, but on the laity as well.
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Sapientia et doctrina.
Thank you father for being an orthodox, and faithful priest. I know it must be difficult these days, especially IF you are a Pastor of a parish, to defend truth, and all the teachings of the Church, according to the rubrics of the Mass etc. In any case, continue the true vocation of priesthood=to defend the truth of the Church, in the Service of God in season and out of season.
 
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cestusdei:
To answer the query cestusdei means “God’s brassknuckles”.
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Wonderful! I love your user name! and thank you for your thread here, Fr.

Perhaps I am naive, but I am so surprised that folks complain to their priests about their duties–this I simply do not understand. I cannot imagine *ever *complaining to a priest about his duties–it is simply beyond me. Priests do so much for us and work so very hard for us all the time. Even when I have been somewhat put off by a priest’s demeanor from time to time I certainly would never find it appropriate to complain, because I have no idea what the man may be going through. There has to be a fair amount of stress in a priest’s duties; I can only imagine.

I think parishioners would do well to focus more on how we can help our priests, how we can give back to our parishes, how we can help our parishes instead of always expecting our parishes to help us, instead of always expecting our priests to be perfect.

As for me, every Mass I attend I find kindness and goodness in the priest celebrating. I have rarely heard a poor homily; yes, some are better than others but overall I find them quite thoughtful and moving. I receive so much from Mass attendance and from Confession; it is never dull or slow to me. I owe so much to the priests I have known and learned from. Thank God for our priests!

Keep up the good work, Fr.Brassknuckles!
 
I’m glad Priests are reading these forums and It is great to hear from a strong Orthodox Catholic Priest, it is a breath of FRESH air!

Personally I hate what the Mass has become, its a dual problem lukewarm parishoners and lukewarm Priests.

I do know one thing, if the Priests started laying down the line with the parishoners, (Similar to when I have to discipline my own children), then this indiffent attitude would change.

As a man, I appreciate manly Priests, I have zero respect for the majority, Mr. Niceguy sugar and spice Priests. (Although I’ll bet all the little old ladies think their cute)

Tell it like it is, with love, but be bold, and don’t put up with too much of the B.S. that the laity throws at you.

Thanks
Joe.
 
Hi Father and Welcome To The Forum! 🙂 Great post and I appreciate your perspective from the other side of the altar.

Our priest recently retired, and we are lucky to have another wonderful priest. I am also blessed with a terrific priest, who is my Spiritual Advisor. I will keep you in my prayers.

With deepest respect,
:blessyou:
Annie
 
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Charlemagne:
I have often wondered if some of those I see at Mass are there because it’s become a routine for them. It’s something they’ve always done on Sunday morning.
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You’re right but it’s not as bad as it sound. The Catholic Church is all about tradition and ritual. We have dry periods in our life-could last for years or even a decade or more. I’ve told my boys that no matter what, you keep going to church because that’s the crutch that supports you. Some day, something happens in your life and you tune back and in and you haven’t missed a beat. I think a lot of people going to mass are just putting in time - but it’s time well spent. Sure they’re wasting the opportunity of true spirtual growth and redeeming grace, but they’re doing what they have to do until something opens them up to God. So let’s just accept that they’re there. Those of us who know what they’re missing can just smile at each other and make them wonder.

Patrick
 
My dear Father,

With all due respect you state the following: But although I have good parishioners … Some of those who come weekly are obviously just punching their ticket. There is a lack of engagement. This does seem to me that you are being a little judgemental? One thing I have learned lately is that much as I can see on the outside I cannot see the heart as God sees it.
And because I cannot see the heart and what goes on there, my understanding and judging of their externals is worthless. The same goes for those who appear to be ‘obviously’ deep in prayer. Are we certain?? Are they thinking of somthing completely unrelated and the words of the Mass oing over their heads? Unless we are certain as God is certain we cannot and should not judge the motives of peoples attendance at Holy Mass.

God Bless you and your ministry,
Fergal
Naas
Ireland
 
fergal,

When someone only shows up once a year that is pretty good evidence that they are punching their ticket. I remember one Mass at Christmas where a young child pointed to the altar and said “Daddy what is that man doing up there”. They shushed him quickly. It was obvious that they went to Mass so rarely that their child had no idea what was going on. I have had children in 5th grade not know how to make the sign of the cross. When I said, “it is how we being Mass don’t you remember”, they said “no”. They had only been to Mass a few times. If you see someone in a ski-mask with a gun walk into a bank chances are he is a robber. It may be judgemental, but I would call the police. As my dad always says “don’t be so open-minded your brains fall out”.
 
cestusdei, Fergal and I have both asked about your claim that
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cestusdei:
Some of those who come weekly are obviously just punching their ticket. There is a lack of engagement.
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Please explain how this applies to weekly massgoers - NOT to the “C&E” crowd.
 
at least the ticket punchers show up for Mass, you are making some progress. Every year we have about 125 first communions, 10 at each Mass during the Easter season, sitting with their families in the front pews. It is obvious that at least half of these families never attend Mass, have not the least idea what is going on and why. This is in a parish that obliges parents to attend 6 sacramental preparation meetings and to bring children to Mass. Other than actually giving the kids tickets for the ushers to punch (which used to be done) I would entertain any suggestions to get these families to come to Mass regularly.
 
I’ll give you an example of some DAILY ticket punchers.
My aunt attends daily Mass, as do several other grey-haired ladies. It’s almost like the breakfast club, though.
These ladies recite the rosary before Mass, and each one has her decade in which she leads.
One morning a man came who didn’t know the pecking order and led in a mystery.
The lady who normally leads that mystery got up out of her pew, walked over, and PUNCHED the guy in the arm.
After Mass, the ladies all decide where they’re going for breakfast together, where they proceed to gossip terribly about fellow parishoners.
One day, my aunt called me, strongly urging me to get sterilized. “You know what they’re saying about you, don’t you? They’re saying you multiply like rabbits.”
Who is they?
The daily communicants, that’s who.
They go to Mass like it was a social function, and benefit very little from the prayers, readings, homilies and sacraments offered.
Not trying to judge them, but it sure seems as though they’re just there punching their tickets.
They’re totally clueless about Church teachings. They just go through the motions.
I imagine there are folks like this everywhere.

Pax Christi. <><
 
I know what cestusdei means by punching their tickets. My older sister does to Mass every week. She sends her kids to Catholic schools. She also yaps all through Mass, gossips with other mothers , pays no attention to the service, trashes the new pastor and generally bahaves badly. But the catch for her is but I go to Mass every week. Is she a good Catholic? NO. She disagrees loudly with the Church on most isssues especially abortion. But I go to Mass is her excuse. We went to a lecture about women in the Church and she led the charge against the priest. I was horrified. Mass attendance alone does not make one a good Catholic.
Nice to see a priest here. Welcome Father, keep up the good work.
Kathy
 
Look I am happy that people go to Mass. But some simply don’t even try to pay attention or worship. Surely most here know of such cases. My thread is meant to point that out so that you can see that it is not just the laity who have beefs about liturgy and that it is not always the priests fault. All of us need to enter into the spirit of the liturgy as best we can when we assist at Mass. That sums it up.
 
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