Psalm 91 on Ash Wednesday

[m134e5]

I went to Ash Wednesday Mass at a different parish- for the sake of convenience (I cannot drive, and getting to my parish was very difficult yesterday- now I wish I had tried harder). I am well aware that some of the priest’s views are not in line with Church teaching. I also know that many of the parishioners want to go to Mass to satisfy their obligation, but don’t want to be challenged in their faith. (Most parishioners are working families- the parents are generally in their 40’s). It hasn’t been without surprises in the liturgy. Yesterday, the Psalm of the day was Psalm 51. In a way, the Psalm is especially important at that Mass- because Psalm 51 is the most obvious penitential Psalm. They did not use Psalm 51- they used Psalm 91 (A beautiful psalm, but Psalm 51 and Ash Wednesday just go together- that’s how it’s always been). The Psalms are especially meaningful to me- so I am offended by the misuse of the Psalms more than many other liturgical abuses. Also, I believe this was allowed because somebody wanted to water down the Faith. Am I overreacting (I’d like to think I’m pretty easygoing most of the time)? Is this a matter to take to the Bishop (if it was, he would listen…It’s Bishop Finn)

 

[SMHW]

I went to Ash Wednesday Mass at a different parish- for the sake of convenience (I cannot drive, and getting to my parish was very difficult yesterday- now I wish I had tried harder). I am well aware that some of the priest’s views are not in line with Church teaching. I also know that many of the parishioners want to go to Mass to satisfy their obligation, but don’t want to be challenged in their faith. (Most parishioners are working families- the parents are generally in their 40’s). It hasn’t been without surprises in the liturgy. Yesterday, the Psalm of the day was Psalm 51. In a way, the Psalm is especially important at that Mass- because Psalm 51 is the most obvious penitential Psalm. They did not use Psalm 51- they used Psalm 91 (A beautiful psalm, but Psalm 51 and Ash Wednesday just go together- that’s how it’s always been). The Psalms are especially meaningful to me- so I am offended by the misuse of the Psalms more than many other liturgical abuses. Also, I believe this was allowed because somebody wanted to water down the Faith. Am I overreacting (I’d like to think I’m pretty easygoing most of the time)? Is this a matter to take to the Bishop (if it was, he would listen…It’s Bishop Finn)

Well, Psalm 91 is one of the permitted seasonal psalms that can be used during Lent instead of the psalm of the day (as are Psalm 51 and Psalm 130) so you can’t say it is a liturgical abuse.

Perhaps this parish has misguided reasons for using a seasonal psalm; perhaps it has valid reasons. In either case I don’t think that you can take this issue to the bishop.

 

[Beno]

When I was the Music Director, my boss, the pastoral associate, insisted that we use a seasonal psalm during Lent and Advent every year “because memorization leads to prayer”. I wanted to use the psalms as indicated in the Missal. But my comments were overridden of course. I’m glad I’m no longer there.

 

[puzzleannie]

that is one of the optional seasonal psalms, and if the Mass immediately followed morning prayer, where Psalm 51 was said, it would make sense to substitute. If we are quick to jump on everything new to us shouting “abuse” like a liturgical Barney Fife we are doomed to have in general a very poor experience in Mass. May I suggest we all fast from liturgical policing in Lent and let the priest do his job.

 

[m134e5]

that is one of the optional seasonal psalms, and if the Mass immediately followed morning prayer, where Psalm 51 was said, it would make sense to substitute. If we are quick to jump on everything new to us shouting “abuse” like a liturgical Barney Fife we are doomed to have in general a very poor experience in Mass. May I suggest we all fast from liturgical policing in Lent and let the priest do his job.

I’m not big on liturgical policing either- and most of the time, I ignore liturgical abuses (or legitimate substitutions…even those whose purpose for substitution I may find questionable). This one was a big deal to me, because I feel like Psalm 51 (the normal reading for Ash Wednesday) best illustrates the meaning of Lent. Also, Psalm 91 is used much more often in the liturgical year- Psalm 51 is rarely used (it is optional for all the days of Lent, which I wouldn’t want them to do either- and I’ve never heard a parish use it instead of the psalm of the day). Whether this was legitimate or not, I still think it’s watering things down (similar to always using short forms of Gospel readings all the time, and omitting optional prayers and sequences, and never using the confiteor, etc.). This parish also has a history of doing crazy things that ARE abuses, such as using way too many communion ministers, using leavened bread for communion (I changed my mind about making that my home parish at that point), etc., and I do not like going there (I had no choice that day- but I will do all I can to make sure I never have to go there again).

 

[cgirl4ever]

I say just let it be.