Should "youth Masses" be different?

[agapewolf]

Your reasons are old.

The teenagers here are few and far between. I’ve got 250 teens at just one of the parishes I play at that like the youth mass. It’s not just me as an adult.
And, by calling something a youth mass, you are not limiting young people to that mass. That’s ridiculous

 

[benedictgal]

Your reasons are old.

The teenagers here are few and far between. I’ve got 250 teens at just one of the parishes I play at that like the youth mass. It’s not just me as an adult.

Not necessarily, agapewolf. Have you read the posts from the kids on this thread who are not entirely thrilled with the Youth Mass (or the ones who have a similar reaction in the My First Youth Mass thread)?

These are legitimate concerns. Incidentally, the retreat I lived was in 2006, which is not ancient history. Something else to consider is the fact that during World Youth Day 2005, several hundred young people packed a church in Cologne for both the TLM and Adoration. The celebrant? His Eminence Francis Cardinal Arinze.

The bottom line is that there are many, many youngsters who are coming of age who do not have the slightest idea that a very rich (and theologically and dogmatically sound) repertoire of music exists from the Church’s vast treasury of sacred songs. These songs have been handed down to us by through the centuries. But, no one seems to want to teach them to the youth during these Youth Masses because they are so wrapped up with contemporary Protestant Praise and Worship songs that are not suitable for the Holy Sacrifice.

 

[THutch04]

Well, I do wonder if it’s absolutely necessary. Look at the Eastern Churches; they don’t have a “teen Liturgy.” Personally I don’t care for youth Masses as much (partially because the music doesn’t appeal to me; I’m a very musical person, and music is what helps me focus on God, so if the music is distracting, I have a hard time concentrating). I can’t say that any of my friends would prefer a youth Mass to a regular Mass, but at the same time, my friends and I are all practicing Catholics, so something “geared toward us” isn’t necessary. For young people who might never have experienced Church, contemporary music might help them. But even then I still don’t know that it would really be necessary for the two to be different.

 

[benedictgal]

Well, I do wonder if it’s absolutely necessary. Look at the Eastern Churches; they don’t have a “teen Liturgy.” Personally I don’t care for youth Masses as much (partially because the music doesn’t appeal to me; I’m a very musical person, and music is what helps me focus on God, so if the music is distracting, I have a hard time concentrating). I can’t say that any of my friends would prefer a youth Mass to a regular Mass, but at the same time, my friends and I are all practicing Catholics, so something “geared toward us” isn’t necessary. For young people who might never have experienced Church, contemporary music might help them. But even then I still don’t know that it would really be necessary for the two to be different.

You make a very good point about the Eastern Churches. As a Latin Rite Catholic, I have to admit that many times I do forget that the Eastern Rite exists. Incidentally, I am curious as to whether or not the Orthodox have a similar situation with their youth.

I am still not very convinced that using contemporary Protestant Praise and Worship music is the way to go as far as the so-called Youth Masses are concerned.

Music is a very helpful tool to teach young people. Look what the old ABC Schoolhouse Rock did for many of us. We learned a little bit about the Constitution (I’m just a bill…), grammar (Interjections!) and other academic subjects. In fact, I could still remember some of the lyrics.

Songs like Attende Domine, O Sun of Justice, At That First Eucharist, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, Pangia Lingua Gloriosa and Alleluia, Sing to Jesus are liturgically and doctrinally rich songs that really convey our Faith in a beautiful and sacred manner. These are the songs that form a rich part of our Church’s vast deposit of Sacred Music. Sadly, instead of exposing young people to these rich treasures, we are giving them anemic hymns such as Lord, I Lift Your Name on High, Here I am to Worship and a bunch of other stuff that really has no place in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

 

[GemmaRose]

YES! YES! YES! Youth Masses should be different.

My story: I’m 52; went to Catholic school (grammar & high). I’ve only vague recollections of Sunday Mass as a child, 'tho we were forced to go to the 9:00 A.M. children’s Mass. What I remember the most was thinking either "He [the priest] *just read a nice story about Jesus. Why doesn’t he talk about that?" *or *“Why doesn’t he tell our parents downstairs [in the downstairs church]? They’re the ones with the money!” *because all I remember as “sermons” were constant appeals for cash. The school/roof/coal collections, etc. etc.

In 6th grade, when we were no longer required to attend the 9:00, I went to one 11:00 Mass, which I believe was a high Mass, then stopped going.

Although the Lord blessed me with a very deep faith, and I certainly knew my Catechism, I saw absolutely *no connection *between the faith I had & what I found at Mass.

I did not go to Mass or Confession from 6th Grade 'til Senior year of high school where, God bless him, our priest counsellor held First Friday Masses in the auditorium. It was the 70’s, where “anything goes” was the mentality; I’m not saying that I advocate a return to such things as “dialogue” homilies, etc., but if it wasn’t for these Masses which had contemporary music & geared for us teenagers, who knows if I would have continued to go to church on Sunday after my high school graduation?

We are all individuals. God made us like that. He didn’t make us to be robots. We shouldn’t treat our congregations that way.

I’m a liturgical musician who specializes in contemporary liturgical/contemporary Christian music. My firm belief is that every parish should have a Mass with no music. Some people find any music to be distracting.

There should also be a choir Mass mixing beautiful choral pieces & simpler things for the congregation to sing (especially the Psalm response, Sanctus, etc.).

There should be a Family Mass geared for small children where the Children’s Lectionary should be used, together with a Children’s Eucharistic Prayer & simple songs which children can sing. A 6 year old who gets used to singing in church, even something like *His Banner Over Me is Love *(which I personally can’t stand), will grow up to be an adult who sings in church. And, I believe, even in a Children’s Mass, occasionally, we should add an “old favorite” (Holy God, We Praise Thy Name comes to mind) & tell the children before singing it that this is a song that we’ve sung for years - that their parents & grandparents & even great-grandparents know it. The homily should be geared to small children. Some of the most profound homilies I’ve ever heard were at Children’s Masses (where I participated as music minister). A short homily that a child can understand teaches the child to listen to the priest when he speaks & causes the child to grow up listening to the homily instead of reading the bulletin or diocesan newspaper. (And don’t tell me you’ve never seen anyone do this!)

There should be a Youth Mass geared for teens & young adults. The music should be contemporary. There are very many good contemporary liturgical songs. Incidentally, many of what has been referred to as “Protestant Praise and Worship” songs are far better than a lot of what we find in our church missals because they do, indeed, lead to worship, which is what liturgical music is supposed to do. The homily should be geared to the age group. Teens are under enormous pressure. While they may not be worrying about supporting a family, or a relationship with spouse and children, they are worrying about grades, peers, drugs, morality.

This all lays the foundation of going to Mass on Sunday. There will come a day when the teen or young adult will "outgrow’ the Youth Mass & switch to an adult Mass.

I understand that many parishes are so short-staffed that there isn’t an option for that many Masses. Then it’s up to the pastor to be creative. There are as many solutions as there are problems.

P.S.One of the posts questioned why teens don’t volunteer at a regular Mass as lectors, etc. Plain and simple, some pastors will not allow it because of their age! Is it any wonder why some teens drop out of church?

“I wish that my heart could beat, that I could live and breathe only for Jesus, I wish that my tongue could utter no other name than that of Jesus; that my eye could see only Jesus; that my pen could write only about Jesus, and that my thoughts could soar to nothing but Jesus. I have often wondered where on earth there might be something on which I could center my love. But neither on earth nor in heaven do I find any such thing but only my beloved Jesus… O Jesus, seek me in love; I no longer possess anything; you have stolen my heart…” - St. Gemma Galgani

 

[snhs]

YES! YES! YES! Youth Masses should be different.

My story: I’m 52; went to Catholic school (grammar & high). I’ve only vague recollections of Sunday Mass as a child, 'tho we were forced to go to the 9:00 A.M. children’s Mass. What I remember the most was thinking either "He [the priest] *just read a nice story about Jesus. Why doesn’t he talk about that?" *or *“Why doesn’t he tell our parents downstairs [in the downstairs church]? They’re the ones with the money!” *because all I remember as “sermons” were constant appeals for cash. The school/roof/coal collections, etc. etc.

Although the Lord blessed me with a very deep faith, and I certainly knew my Catechism, I saw absolutely *no connection *between the faith I had & what I found at Mass.

I did not go to Mass or Confession from 6th Grade 'til Senior year of high school where, God bless him, our priest counsellor held First Friday Masses in the auditorium. It was the 70’s, where “anything goes” was the mentality; I’m not saying that I advocate a return to such things as “dialogue” homilies, etc., but if it wasn’t for these Masses which had contemporary music & geared for us teenagers, who knows if I would have continued to go to church on Sunday after my high school graduation?

We are all individuals. God made us like that. He didn’t make us to be robots. We shouldn’t treat our congregations that way.
…
There should be a Youth Mass geared for teens & young adults. The music should be contemporary. There are very many good contemporary liturgical songs. Incidentally, many of what has been referred to as “Protestant Praise and Worship” songs are far better than a lot of what we find in our church missals because they do, indeed, lead to worship, which is what liturgical music is supposed to do. The homily should be geared to the age group. Teens are under enormous pressure. While they may not be worrying about supporting a family, or a relationship with spouse and children, they are worrying about grades, peers, drugs, morality.

This all lays the foundation of going to Mass on Sunday. There will come a day when the teen or young adult will "outgrow’ the Youth Mass & switch to an adult Mass.

I understand that many parishes are so short-staffed that there isn’t an option for that many Masses. Then it’s up to the pastor to be creative. There are as many solutions as there are problems.

P.S.One of the posts questioned why teens don’t volunteer at a regular Mass as lectors, etc. Plain and simple, some pastors will not allow it because of their age! Is it any wonder why some teens drop out of church?

I think we already covered the fact that young people are not the same as they were decades ago. That argument works both ways though, your experiences as a child do not necessarily reflect those of teenagers today.

The formation which priests undergo has also changed quite radically both post VII and in the priests for the third millennium initiatives. In light of this change Priests are far more likely to make an effort, where possible, to deliver homilies tailored to the congregation.

Shouldn’t your faith also have indicated to you that the key part of Mass is the consecration and receiving Christ, whether the Priest gives a fabulous homily or not? Surely that should have been reason enough to go to Mass regardless of anything else.

Shouldn’t the Young people have a say in what music a ‘youth Mass’ contains? That being the case if young people want Gregorian Chant they should get it.

You are correct that young people are under a lot of pressure, but part of that is a pressure to conform and if you are starting a ‘youth Mass’ and adding a certain type of music that pressure is only increased. There is a lot of individualism involved with this type of Mass, an idea that the Church should be bringing itself into line with what we want. Well that isn’t what any Mass should be about and to reduce it to that kind of denominator is wrong. We are meant to campaign against moral relativism, the kind of thing that allows people to call themselves Catholics while completely disregarding many of the Church’s teachings, surely the same should be true of such liturgical relativism which detracts from what should be the main focus of Mass and our faith.

I’d also disagree with you about youth involvement in the Mass. If there were such demand then they would become altar servers or offer to help with children’s liturgy/parish youth groups. The fact is a lot of them can’t be bothered or don’t consider it cool.

 

[japhy]

I’m reading Spirit of the Liturgy by Romano Guardini. It’s from 1918, but I think it speaks to the issue today. In the last chapter, “The Primary of the Logos over the Ethos”, he makes this observation (sorry for the length of this quote, but I think it is vital to our discussion):
This predominance of the will and of the idea of its value gives the present day its peculiar character. … This is the reason, too, why spiritual organizations such as the old contemplative orders, which formerly were automatically accepted by spiritual life everywhere and which were the darlings of the orthodox world, are not infrequently misunderstood even by Catholics, and have to be defended by their friends against the reproach of idle trifling. … The practical will is everywhere the decisive factor, and the Ethos has complete precedence over the Logos, the active side of life over the contemplative.

What is the position of Catholicism in relation to this development? It must be premised that the best elements of every period and of every type of mind can and will find their fulfillment in this Religion, which is truly capable of being all things to all men. So it has been possible to adapt the tremendous development of power during the last five centuries in Catholic life, and to summon ever fresh aspects from its inexhaustible store. A long investigation would be needed if we were to point out how many highly valuable personalities, tendencies, activities and views have been called forth from Catholic life as a result of this responsiveness to the needs of all ages. But it must be pointed out that an extensive, biased, and lasting predominance of the will over knowledge is profoundly at variance with the Catholic spirit.

Protestantism presents, in its various forms, ranging from the strong tendency to the extreme of free speculation, the more or less Christian version of this spirit, and Kant has rightly been called its philosopher. It is a spirit which has step by step abandoned objective religious truth, and has increasingly tended to make conviction a matter of personal judgment, feeling, and experience. … The relation with the super-temporal and eternal order is thereby broken. The believer no longer stands in eternity, but in time, and eternity is merely connected with time through the medium of conviction, but not in a direct manner. Religion becomes increasingly turned towards the world, and cheerfully secular. It develops more and more into a consecration of temporal human existence in its various aspects, into a sanctification of earthly activity, of vocational labor, of communal and family life, and so on.
He also quotes Goethe (who wrote Faust); "Deed instead of “In the beginning was the Word”.

The contrast is between the desire to be ever-creating, ever-doing, and the desire to simply contemplate what God has done and Who God Is.

 

[GemmaRose]

I think we already covered the fact that young people are not the same as they were decades ago. That argument works both ways though, your experiences as a child do not necessarily reflect those of teenagers today.

True, they may not. However, they may reflect some.

The formation which priests undergo has also changed… Priests are far more likely to make an effort, where possible, to deliver homilies tailored to the congregation.

Tell me where this is so, that I can move there,

Shouldn’t your faith also have indicated to you that the key part of Mass is the consecration and receiving Christ, whether the Priest gives a fabulous homily or not? Surely that should have been reason enough to go to Mass regardless of anything else.

Thank you for being concerned about my faith, however nothing’s wrong with my faith.

There is, however, a problem with the faith of very many teens & young people inasmuch as they barely have faith. Many have received no catechesis at home & have barely received any in school - especially in CCD classes with some series of books that I have seen & have had the unfortunate experience of having taught with. You speak as a faith-filled adult who understands what receiving the Body and Blood of the Lord means. There are very many teens who won’t even get to that point because they hang around the back of the church (because that’s what kids do) & will walk out if they get bored. I’d find value in Mass because of the Eucharist even if “rap music” were being played (although I pray this NEVER happens) because Jesus is still Jesus. Most teens have not yet gotten to that point. I’ve taught 5th grade CCD - do you have any idea how hard it is to get them to come to church when their parents don’t bring them? How do you instill in them the value of the Mass when they’re not going & not being taught by the example of their parents? Fast forward a few years to when they are teens. Do you think that a few years maturity brings to them a deep knowledge of the Eucharist?

Shouldn’t the Young people have a say in what music a ‘youth Mass’ contains? That being the case if young people want Gregorian Chant they should get it.

Yes. If they want it, and few do, they should get it. Again, however, this is presupposing that (a) they’re going to any Mass in the first place & (b) they even know what Gregorian Chant is.

You are correct that young people are under a lot of pressure, but part of that is a pressure to conform and if you are starting a ‘youth Mass’ and adding a certain type of music that pressure is only increased.

How ?!?

There is a lot of individualism involved with this type of Mass, an idea that the Church should be bringing itself into line with what we want. Well that isn’t what any Mass should be about and to reduce it to that kind of denominator is wrong.

This exact same argument can be used against Gregorian Chant and a Latin Mass.

We are meant to campaign against moral relativism, the kind of thing that allows people to call themselves Catholics while completely disregarding many of the Church’s teachings, …

True.

…surely the same should be true of such liturgical relativism which detracts from what should be the main focus of Mass and our faith.

What “detracts” is highly individual. What detracts your main focus may not detract mine & vice versa.

I’d also disagree with you about youth involvement in the Mass. If there were such demand then they would become altar servers or offer to help with children’s liturgy/parish youth groups. The fact is a lot of them can’t be bothered or don’t consider it cool.

I’m not exactly sure what you’re disagreeing with here. Some younger ones do become altar servers. I’ve worked in parishes where one had to be at least 18 to lector or be in the adult choir. Some parishes don’t have children’s liturgy groups for them to become involved. Most parish youth groups center on sports – that they go to, Mass they don’t. If they "can’t be bothered, see my opinion above on lack of catechesis.

“I wish that my heart could beat, that I could live and breathe only for Jesus, I wish that my tongue could utter no other name than that of Jesus; that my eye could see only Jesus; that my pen could write only about Jesus, and that my thoughts could soar to nothing but Jesus. O Jesus, seek me in love; I no longer possess anything; you have stolen my heart…” - St. Gemma Galgani

 

[VociMike]

We don’t make it a habit to force the youth to attend any one particular Mass.

That’s not what I said. I asked how is having all youth Masses with one particular “flavor” of music not forcing that music on those young people who desire to go to a youth Mass?

If not all young people want such music at all of their youth Masses, then how dare the powers that be force such music on all youth Masses?

 

[benedictgal]

[There is, however, a problem with the faith of very many teens & young people inasmuch as they barely have faith. Many have received no catechesis at home & have barely received any in school - especially in CCD classes with some series of books that I have seen & have had the unfortunate experience of having taught with. You speak as a faith-filled adult who understands what receiving the Body and Blood of the Lord means. There are very many teens who won’t even get to that point because they hang around the back of the church (because that’s what kids do) & will walk out if they get bored. I’d find value in Mass because of the Eucharist even if “rap music” were being played (although I pray this NEVER happens) because Jesus is still Jesus. Most teens have not yet gotten to that point. I’ve taught 5th grade CCD - do you have any idea how hard it is to get them to come to church when their parents don’t bring them? How do you instill in them the value of the Mass when they’re not going & not being taught by the example of their parents? Fast forward a few years to when they are teens. Do you think that a few years maturity brings to them a deep knowledge of the Eucharist?

But, the problem is that many idiosyncracies have been introduced into Youth Masses that do lead to confusion. Furthermore, the type of music that is used is sorely deficient in Church doctrine, dogma and authentic liturgical theology.

The Mass is not some feel-good experience. It is the Holy Sacrifice. It is the union of heaven and earth. This is not the message that the youth are getting when they go to these kinds of Masses, especially when the music is contemporary Protestant Praise and worship.

I am from the beginning of the JP II generation. When he reached out to us in the beginning, it was always with the undertanding of Tradition and how we could become incorporated into this Mystery of Faith. It was certainly never the intent of the late Holy Father to turn the Mass into an abberration. He even wrote documents regarding the fact that the music used for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was questionable.

Now, we have a very strong Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, who is trying to reign in on the chaos that liturgies like the Youth Mass have wreaked. There are problems, despite what other posters might want us to believe. These are problems that had to prompt intervention from the Holy See. While some thought that these problems were taken care of in 2004, they reared their heads again in 2005 when many Fathers of the Synod on the Eucharist made note of the fact that the music at Youth Masses was very problematic.

There are also many errors regarding the liturgical planning guide used by such groups as LifeTeen that term what happened prior to the Second Vatican Council as man-made mysteries. This is very problematic because, as Pope Benedict has said on numerous occasions, the work of the Second Vatican Council has been misunderstood. I didn’t include the quote from the LifeTeen liturgical planner because it’s in another thread (First Youth Mass). Suffice to say, when I read it, a big red flag went up.

 

[Michael_Welter]

That’s not what I said. I asked how is having all youth Masses with one particular “flavor” of music not forcing that music on those young people who desire to go to a youth Mass?

If not all young people want such music at all of their youth Masses, then how dare the powers that be force such music on all youth Masses?

Well, we only have one youth Mass at our parish. So we have made a decision to select a style of music that most of our youth prefer. So far, it has worked well for us.

 

[VociMike]

Well, we only have one youth Mass at our parish. So we have made a decision to select a style of music that most of our youth prefer. So far, it has worked well for us.

Then call it the “contemporary music Mass” or somesuch. But don’t call it a youth Mass.

BTW, how can you possibly know that most of the young people in the parish prefer that kind of music at Mass?

And why aren’t you exposing these captive young people to other forms of music that the Church values highly, regardless of their preferences?

 

[Michael_Welter]

Then call it the “contemporary music Mass” or somesuch. But don’t call it a youth Mass.

Actually, we call it the Life Teen Mass.

BTW, how can you possibly know that most of the young people in the parish prefer that kind of music at Mass?

Why is that so hard to believe? Our youth are outspoken enough to tell us what they like.

And why aren’t you exposing these captive young people to other forms of music that the Church values highly, regardless of their preferences?

What makes you think we aren’t? In fact, we are.

 

[jmcrae]

T

BTW, how can you possibly know that most of the young people in the parish prefer that kind of music at Mass?

Probably because they vote for it with their feet. Which Mass do you see the young people at? The one with Gregorian Chant? The one with traditional classical hymnody? Or the one with the contemporary music?

They are, after all, free to make any one of these three to be “their” Mass, and thus, the “Youth Mass.”

 

[VociMike]

Actually, we call it the Life Teen Mass.

In the first place, I don’t want to give the impression I’m focusing on your particular parish. What I’m saying is intended to be general.

Having said that, any Mass that uses the term “Teen” in its description is obviously intending to be a youth Mass.

Why is that so hard to believe? Our youth are outspoken enough to tell us what they like.

Except for all the ones who just avoid the whole thing. Self-selecting samples are not valid samples.

What makes you think we aren’t? In fact, we are.

Then you’re having a LifeTeen Mass once a month with chant and polyphony? Those are, after all, the two forms of music most highly regarded by the Church.

BTW, I’m in an area where a survey was taken among college students and 90% wanted chant at Mass, vs. 30% who wanted contemporary music. Just in case anybody wants to claim that young people are monolithic in their desire for “their” music.

 

[VociMike]

Probably because they vote for it with their feet. Which Mass do you see the young people at? The one with Gregorian Chant? The one with traditional classical hymnody? Or the one with the contemporary music?

They are, after all, free to make any one of these three to be “their” Mass, and thus, the “Youth Mass.”

No, the style and identity (“the youth Mass”) of the Mass is set first, and then those who desire that style (or perhaps just desire other aspect of that Mass) come to that Mass.

Now if you had multiple long-established youth Masses, each identical except for music style, then you might use the “vote with their feet” argument.

 

[GemmaRose]

I will be the first one to agree that there have been problems, and very many abuses with youth/teen/folk Masses - whatever you want to call them.

HOWEVER, problems and abuses don’t occur everywhere, and contemporary music certainly isn’t to blame.

THE BIGGEST PROBLEM I SEE IN THE CHURCH TODAY ARE THOSE HARD-HEADED BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO SEEM TO BE INTENT ON VOCIFEROUSLY INSISTING THAT THE CHURCH STEP BACKWARDS SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS

Originally Posted by VociMike

BTW, how can you possibly know that most of the young people in the parish prefer that kind of music at Mass?

jmcrae, I couldn’t have put it better myself:

Probably because they vote for it with their feet. Which Mass do you see the young people at? The one with Gregorian Chant? The one with traditional classical hymnody? Or the one with the contemporary music?

*“I wish that my heart could beat, that I could live and breathe only for Jesus, I wish that my tongue could utter no other name than that of Jesus; that my eye could see only Jesus; that my pen could write only about Jesus, and that my thoughts could soar to nothing but Jesus. I have often wondered where on earth there might be something on which I could center my love. But neither on earth nor in heaven do I find any such thing but only my beloved Jesus… I am the fruit of your passion, Jesus, born of your wounds. O Jesus, seek me in love; I no longer possess anything; you have stolen my heart…” * - St. Gemma Galgani

 

[jmcrae]

No, the style and identity (“the youth Mass”) of the Mass is set first, and then those who desire that style (or perhaps just desire other aspect of that Mass) come to that Mass.

Well, if we saw hundreds of kids at the Mass with the Gregorian chanting (and there is absolutely nothing to prevent them from coming to that one) then we would call that one the “Youth Mass,” and as youth leaders, that’s the Mass we’d go to, to make announcements about youth-oriented activities around the Diocese and around the parish.

However, it tends to be the contemporary music Mass that attracts the kids, and that’s the one that we follow them to, to give them information that pertains to them.

Now if you had multiple long-established youth Masses, each identical except for music style, then you might use the “vote with their feet” argument.

There are three Masses in the parish, each with its own musical style. The kids are free to attend any one of the three - nobody is “forcing” them to attend any particular one.

 

[AquinaSavio]

I’d especially like to hear from younger people on this question.

I am 17 years old, and I would like to give my personal opinion.

No, there should be absolutely no changes in “youth Masses.” Such Mass should not even exist. My reasons:

1. The Vatican has issued no special instructions on how to go about “youth Masses.” In fact, the Vatican has not even approved the existence of youth Masses, as far as I know.
2. The Catholic Church is one and universal. There do not need to be special Masses for every race, age, and gender. This is like saying that men need a different Mass than women. It’s the same sacrifice. We don’t need to have a variety when it comes to Mass.
3. Why cater to the young people? Personally, I am offended when adults feel that they need to dumb everything down for me. I am completely capable of learning the truth about the Mass and recognizing the astounding sacredness of it. Give me knowledge, not novelty! I get enough of that at school and in every day life. People are always trying to think up new ways to attract my attention and distract me from what’s really important. Don’t change the Mass for me…make me change myself for the Mass.

I’m sure they have the best of intentions…but good intentions won’t lead me to Heaven.

1. The Mass is the re-presentation of Christ’s eternal sacrifice. Thus, it is outside of time and therefore has no need to “modernize” it’s liturgy.
2. We have no reason to modernize our liturgy to draw people in. If we are relying on ourselves to bring people to God’s Church, then our way of thinking is quite misguided. God will brings people to the Church through you. Thus, if you want to attract young people to Mass, pray for us and stop introducing these ridiculous novelties to attract our attention.
3. These novelties are oftentimes utterly dangerous. Teenagers, often very ignorant of the faith, are led to believe that Mass is just a time to have fun. Indeed…no one was dancing around and waving their hands at the Crucifixion. Is there any difference? None whatsoever. Happiness is a part of the Mass because we still get to receive Christ in the Eucharist, but make us control ourselves and don’t give us the idea that we need to dance up the aisle to receive communion. We are quite capable of understanding and appreciating (actually loving) traditional music which really expresses the solemnity of the occasion.

Sorry for my blunt response. I meant nothing in malice.

In Jesu, Per Mariam,
Trevor

 

[benedictgal]

THE BIGGEST PROBLEM I SEE IN THE CHURCH TODAY ARE THOSE HARD-HEADED BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO SEEM TO BE INTENT ON VOCIFEROUSLY INSISTING THAT THE CHURCH STEP BACKWARDS SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS

Well, then, if you are counting our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI and the countless men and women who have been nourished in the faith through a tradition that goes back two millenia, then, I proudly stand with them.

First of all, the Church is not stepping backwards by insisting that the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass be celebrated according to established norms and rubrics. This includes music.

When the Mass is heavily sprinkled with personal idiosyncracies, novelties and innovations that have no business being within the framework of the Sacrifice, and the organizers are presenting them in such a way that is confusing, that is the problem.

The bottom line is that these Masses geared towards youngsters are offering them pretty much what the Roman Empire did: bread and circus. Rather than giving them hymns that are grounded in the Faith and have deep dogmatic, doctrinal and liturgically theological depth, young people are given songs that celebrate the community and make their actions more important than what God is doing. The hand-clapping and other idiosyncracies really add nothing to the Mass. The Holy Sacrifice is something that unites heaven and earth. While it is a joyous occasion, there is solemnity and sobriety. It’s not an anything-goes event. It is the Mass.

Your statement seems to indicate that just about everything the Church did within the past several hundred years didn’t amount to much. I beg to differ. The Church didn’t begin after 1965, as perhaps many (including the perpetrators of these Youth Masses) would like to think. Furthermore, the Second Vatican Council never did this:

In the days before the Vatican Council, the Church was so concerned that mystery be preserved that it cloaked the mysteries Jesus revealed to us. When man-made mysteries
were eliminated by the Liturgical reforms of the Second
Vatican Council, many people still complain that the mystery
was being eliminated. This is incorrect. The mystery is
more intense than ever because it is directly in front of us.

This is from the LifeTeen Liturgy Planning Guide. This is a gross misrepresentation of the teachings of the Second Vatican Council. This is also a cleverly concocted myth that Pope Benedict is trying to dispel through many of the documents that he has issued regarding the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

If this is the spirit of the LifeTeen liturgical program, it is no small wonder that many of the young people exposed to this are confused. It also gives credence to the fact that maybe we need to return to the kind of Faith that our ancestors treasured. Many saints, including Blessed Gemma (whom you quote), were nourished with the Traditions of our Faith (and liturgy). These include young people like St. Dominic Savio and St. Maria Goretti (and, they died as teenagers). Did they need LifeTeen Masses? No. Would they recognize what is going on today at the Youth Masses as the Holy Sacrifice? Probably not.