Rushed Mass? Is this normal?

[chiibug]

I attended a Mass the other day after work at a Church I don’t usually frequent. I was very weirded out.

First, there was no Homily after the Gospel reading. There was no Nicene Creed or Apostle’s Creed, just a few short words. During the Prayers of the Faithful, the attendees did “prayer shout outs” from the pews. “Pray for so and so, pray for this guy, pray for me for this, etc.,”

At Eucharist, everyone rushed the alter to receive Communion. The whole Mass, from beginning to end, felt very rushed, like everyone, including the priest, wanted to get out as soon as possible. “In and out in 30 minutes or less” is the feel I got.

Is more common than I think? It didn’t even feel like Mass to me.

 

[CapIV]

It is not unusual for daily Mass to be very short (about 30 minutes or so) since the priest may opt out of the homily if he wishes and music etc can be omitted. But not quite to the manner that you are suggesting…

 

[The_Fool]

I could be wrong, but are not the Prayers of the Faithful supposed to be general intersessions? Yes, I know a number of parishes will include specifics like so-and-so has cancer, or such-and-such has passed away, but they usually try to keep them vague, right?

 

[chiibug]

I could be wrong, but are not the Prayers of the Faithful supposed to be general intersessions? Yes, I know a number of parishes will include specifics like so-and-so has cancer, or such-and-such has passed away, but they usually try to keep them vague, right?

Well, not only were they specific, but people were yelling them to the priest at the alter. A hint of protestantism maybe? I don’t know.

 

[Windmill]

Individual petitions are always to be made in silence. You are not supposed to say out loud your individual prayers. If a lady were to say, “For my husband, that God will give him the grace to stop committing adultery,” or if another person says, “That my deadbeat husband will drop dead tomorrow”, are you going to respond with “Lord, hear our prayer.”?

There is a reason for the Church’s liturgical legislation.

 

[Snerticus]

Individual petitions are always to be made in silence. You are not supposed to say out loud your individual prayers. If a lady were to say, “For my husband, that God will give him the grace to stop committing adultery,” or if another person says, “That my deadbeat husband will drop dead tomorrow”, are you going to respond with “Lord, hear our prayer.”?

There is a reason for the Church’s liturgical legislation.

I’m used to the individual petitions being said in silence for a brief moment during the petitions. The parish I’m at now doesn’t even ask for individual petitions, so I have to say them in my mind during the petition list, which is annoying, but what can I do.

That said, I have been to a parish where when they get to the part where they ask for individual petitions, people say out loud who they want to pray for. I think it was at a charismatic type mass, but I’m can’t recall too well… it’s been a long time.

 

[Joe_5859]

I attended a Mass the other day after work at a Church I don’t usually frequent. I was very weirded out.

First, there was no Homily after the Gospel reading. There was no Nicene Creed or Apostle’s Creed, just a few short words. During the Prayers of the Faithful, the attendees did “prayer shout outs” from the pews. “Pray for so and so, pray for this guy, pray for me for this, etc.,”

At Eucharist, everyone rushed the alter to receive Communion. The whole Mass, from beginning to end, felt very rushed, like everyone, including the priest, wanted to get out as soon as possible. “In and out in 30 minutes or less” is the feel I got.

Is more common than I think? It didn’t even feel like Mass to me.

This does not seem like an uncommon description of a weekday Mass.

At a weekday Mass, many elements can be omitted, such as the homily or the sign of peace. Music is not necessary. The creed is not said (unless it is a Solemnity, such as the the feast of St. Joseph).

The essential elements are still there: Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist. So even if it “feels” less like Mass, it is still just as much a participation in Christ’s Paschal Sacrifice as any other Mass.

The “Prayers of the Faithful” are indeed supposed to be General Intercessions. This does not mean there can’t be some specificity. Rather that praying “for the healing of uncle Bernie’s big toe”, we might pray “for Uncle Bernie and all who suffer from ailments of the foot.”

Regardless, it is not proper for the intercessions to be “shouted out” from the pews. Though this should not happen, I have seen it at many parishes in several states, so I believe it is fairly common. It makes me cringe, but it is certainly far from the gravest liturgical abuse.

 

[maryjk]

I attended a Mass the other day after work at a Church I don’t usually frequent. I was very weirded out.
First, there was no Homily after the Gospel reading. There isn’t always a Homily at daily Mass. There was no Nicene Creed or Apostle’s Creed, just a few short words. We also don’t say the Creed at daily Mass. During the Prayers of the Faithful, the attendees did “prayer shout outs” from the pews. “Pray for so and so, pray for this guy, pray for me for this, etc.,” I have seen this, at our Parish, our Priest asks to keep them general.

At Eucharist, everyone rushed the altar to receive Communion. What do you mean “rushed?” Generally, there aren’t as many people at daily Mass than at Sunday Mass. So, people may not go up for Communion pew by pew. “Rushed the Altar” sounds like they ran up and almost knocked down the Priest. Is that what happened? Or was it just not as orderly as you see on Sunday?The whole Mass, from beginning to end, felt very rushed, like everyone, including the priest, wanted to get out as soon as possible. “In and out in 30 minutes or less” is the feel I got.
Daily Mass generally takes about 30 to 35 minutes.
Is more common than I think? It didn’t even feel like Mass to me.

 

[CB_Catholic]

I attended a Mass the other day after work at a Church I don’t usually frequent. I was very weirded out.

First, there was no Homily after the Gospel reading. There was no Nicene Creed or Apostle’s Creed, just a few short words. During the Prayers of the Faithful, the attendees did “prayer shout outs” from the pews. “Pray for so and so, pray for this guy, pray for me for this, etc.,”

At Eucharist, everyone rushed the alter to receive Communion. The whole Mass, from beginning to end, felt very rushed, like everyone, including the priest, wanted to get out as soon as possible. “In and out in 30 minutes or less” is the feel I got.

Is more common than I think? It didn’t even feel like Mass to me.

At most parishes the daily Mass is about 30 minutes, there may or may not be a homily, there often is no music, or the singing is a capella by the congregation, the Creed may be omitted, people are not ushered up for Communion. Things are generally quieter and more subdued. Many people are on their way to work, or if at noon, on their lunch hour, so time constraints are necessary. We have 2 daily Masses in our parish, one at 7:15 and one at 8:30, each lasting about 1/2 hour and they pretty much resemble what you have described, except for "shouting " from the pews, although some people do add to the prayers of the Faithful with general intercessions (such as for an end to abortion, or a prayer for vocations), but they do so briefly and quietly. Daily Masses seem less formal than the regular Sunday Liturgy, but make no mistake, you are at Mass, and Christ is just as present. Most parishes do not have daily Masses like the ones you see on EWTN, but that would be nice.

 

[Yours_Truly]

I attended a Mass the other day after work at a Church I don’t usually frequent. I was very weirded out.

First, there was no Homily after the Gospel reading. There was no Nicene Creed or Apostle’s Creed, just a few short words. During the Prayers of the Faithful, the attendees did “prayer shout outs” from the pews. “Pray for so and so, pray for this guy, pray for me for this, etc.,”

At Eucharist, everyone rushed the alter to receive Communion. The whole Mass, from beginning to end, felt very rushed, like everyone, including the priest, wanted to get out as soon as possible. “In and out in 30 minutes or less” is the feel I got.

Is more common than I think? It didn’t even feel like Mass to me.

Let’s compare this to the Traditional Mass I attended this morning.

1.) There was not Creed or Gloria (these are omitted during Lent).

2.) No “shout out” prayers. If this happened the person would be removed by force

3.) No sermon, as their is never a sermon at a daily mass.

All in all, I bet the mass lasted no longer than 35 minutes.

 

[Anne1964]

Sounds pretty normal for a daily Mass. Sometimes the priest will invite people to make a prayer petition, sometimes not. Depends on which priest is celebrating Mass.

 

[Windmill]

I’m used to the individual petitions being said in silence for a brief moment during the petitions. The parish I’m at now doesn’t even ask for individual petitions, so I have to say them in my mind during the petition list, which is annoying, but what can I do.

That said, I have been to a parish where when they get to the part where they ask for individual petitions, people say out loud who they want to pray for. I think it was at a charismatic type mass, but I’m can’t recall too well… it’s been a long time.

**GIRM 2002 #71: The intentions are announced from the ambo or from another suitable place, by the deacon or by a cantor, a lector, or one of the lay faithful.68

The people, however, stand and give expression to their prayer either by an invocation said together after each intention or by praying in silence.

**There is a sharp distinction between what is done by the petitioner and the people. The person leading the petitions is at the ambo (or the celebrant’s chair), etc… The people’s “invocation said together” refers to things such as, “Lord, hear our prayer” or “Te rogamus audi nos”. But the document makes the point that the role of the people is limited to this common invocation or silent prayer. By opening up the General Intercessions to the people in the pews, you are in fact committing a liturgical abuse.