Reading the horoscope during mass

[Sir_Knight]

A strange thing happened yesterday during mass. We decided to go to mass on Saturday at a nearby parish because of the holiday weekend.

During the homily, the priest opened up a newspaper. Laid it on the altar and read the horoscope. His point was that as Catholics, we don’t need to look to the stars but to God who tells us that every hair on our head is counted and numbered.

It was an interesting point but something about seeing a newspaper on the altar didn’t seem right to me.

Comments?

 

[baltobetsy]

A picture is worth a thousand words. The jarring scene of the newspaper horoscope on the altar may be just what it takes for someone to realize they have false gods in their life.

Betsy

 

[josethekke]

A picture is worth a thousand words. The jarring scene of the newspaper horoscope on the altar may be just what it takes for someone to realize they have false gods in their life.

Betsy

I think it is a right thing to explain with examples just going through the horoscope for curiosity may not be a sin

 

[vince2paul]

In my opinion, it was used correctly. Once, I went to a parish which included horoscope in their weekly bulletin

 

[Miserissima]

I would like to clarify your question: is it because the celebrant used a prop during the homily or is it because of the controversy over reading horoscopes?

The items, in and of themselves, have no power. It really comes down to the content of the sermon, which you said was alright.

(I can see why using props might be inappropriate. Here’s an *extreme *example: if today the priest is showing a newspaper for a horoscope, next week will he bring in a Playboy for a sermon about pornography? Just kidding, like I said, it was an extreme example.)

But what really has me raising my eyebrows is that you said he “Laid it on the altar.” Was the celebrant away from the lectern and he actually had put the paper on the mensa? Because that would definately irk me.

 

[Sir_Knight]

I would like to clarify your question: is it because the celebrant used a prop during the homily or is it because of the controversy over reading horoscopes?

Seeing a dirty newspaper on the same altar that a few minutes later would hold the the body & blood of the God of the Universe just didn’t seem right to me.

 

[VAC]

During the homily, the priest opened up a newspaper. Laid it on the altar and read the horoscope. His point was that as Catholics, we don’t need to look to the stars but to God who tells us that every hair on our head is counted and numbered.

It was an interesting point but something about seeing a newspaper on the altar didn’t seem right to me.
Comments?

It got your attention and you definitely remembered the sermon and the message. Did the newspaper stay on the altar until mass was over, or was it removed after the homily?
Sometimes a visual aid gets a point across better than just talking.

 

[Miserissima]

Seeing a dirty newspaper on the same altar that a few minutes later would hold the the body & blood of the God of the Universe just didn’t seem right to me.

Same here. That’s why I asked, “Was the celebrant away from the lectern and he actually had put the paper on the mensa? Because that would definately irk me.”

Altar space, or altar stone?