So Angry Skipped Eucharist

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I’m very familiar with the churches in the MB and Conway areas. I must say that I’ve not experienced what you describe.

Could you give the name of the parish, or at least the initials, where you experienced all this?
 
…and I thought I was having problems in my parish.
So sorry to hear of your plight. In addition to the other great suggestions in this thread, let me add one.
You may consider increasing your personal worship at home. Perhaps set aside a special shrine with a blessed painting of Our Lord and figurine of the Blessed Virgin. Have flowers at your shrine and light candles, burn insence. Meditate and pray and read the bible. Or whatever sacramentals you prefer (rosary perhaps?)
Then you won’t depend entirely on what happens in the church and can concentrate on the blessed sacrament of the eucharist. I’d do well to follow my own suggestion…
😉
 
RosalieM said:
…and I thought I was having problems in my parish.
So sorry to hear of your plight. In addition to the other great suggestions in this thread, let me add one.
You may consider increasing your personal worship at home. Perhaps set aside a special shrine with a blessed painting of Our Lord and figurine of the Blessed Virgin. Have flowers at your shrine and light candles, burn insence. Meditate and pray and read the bible. Or whatever sacramentals you prefer (rosary perhaps?)
Then you won’t depend entirely on what happens in the church and can concentrate on the blessed sacrament of the eucharist. I’d do well to follow my own suggestion…
😉
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Another possibility would be to go to Adoration at church.
 
Hi,

I have had a similar experience with the parishes in my area. I grew up in MA and recently moved here after 5 years in Omaha NE. MA and NE are fabulous places to be Catholic. The abuses and lack of good catechesis are heartbreaking. The abuses are not minor details either but at times very serious and disturbing. I have struggled for over a year now to find God’s will for me in this parish: Am I supposed to witness to people here and try to gently correct? Am I to be more open and see new things that are also good things? So far, the new and unfamiliar are not good and seem to come out of a lack of good catechesis and a desire to make the Church what cafeteria Catholics want, not what God wants. I have tried to witness by becoming involved, asking questions and listening and making requests when appropriate. We have a new pastor and I may make an appt. to discuss my concerns.

I try to go to daily Mass and it is much better than Sunday Mass. Quiet, more reverent. The people who attend daily Mass are wonderful too and also share some or all of my concerns but feel powerless. This group says the rosary after Mass which has been wonderful too. BTW, until recently “daily” Mass was 3 times a week, now it is 4. Father does need a day off which I don’t begrudge him but none of other parishes with 30 minutes have a Mass more than 2-3 times per week. We need more priests but the diocese seems to work harder at recruiting deacons and lay people than fostering vocations. Our parish does not pray for vocations on a regular basis. The issues go on and on.

We are right to be disturbed and sorrowful over these situations. The trick is what to do about it. Pray, perhaps a little righteous anger will help you but don’t let the situation keep you from Mass, if possible. Find a Mass that will work. You need to stay spiritually strong and if your current parish/Mass weakens you then get out. Satan wants you weak. The abuses lead us away from the truth and straight to him.

I am sorry this is so long but I wanted to counter some of the negative comments you recieved.

God Bless you. Pray constantly and unceasingly.
 
Friends:

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RosalieM said:
…and I thought I was having problems in my parish.
So sorry to hear of your plight. In addition to the other great suggestions in this thread, let me add one.
You may consider increasing your personal worship at home. Perhaps set aside a special shrine with a blessed painting of Our Lord and figurine of the Blessed Virgin. Have flowers at your shrine and light candles, burn insence. Meditate and pray and read the bible. Or whatever sacramentals you prefer (rosary perhaps?)
Then you won’t depend entirely on what happens in the church and can concentrate on the blessed sacrament of the eucharist. I’d do well to follow my own suggestion…
😉
Click to expand...
Funny that you say that, because I’ve recently been doing something similar to this. I’ve got a little “Catholic Corner” in my bedroom with my prayer cards, rosaries, framed picture of Jesus as a child, etc… I had never done that before and find it comforting b/c when I walk past that area, I am reminded of nice things 🙂
 
Annc said:
Hi,

I have had a similar experience with the parishes in my area. I grew up in MA and recently moved here after 5 years in Omaha NE. MA and NE are fabulous places to be Catholic. The abuses and lack of good catechesis are heartbreaking. The abuses are not minor details either but at times very serious and disturbing. I…
Click to expand...
Ah! It’s nice to know I’m not alone. I did get an email back from the Parish and they insist that the Sunday 5pm is the only “contemporary” Mass. Funny, though, because Easter Vigil (I attended before moving to the parish) is when the reinactment of Abraham willing to sacrifice his son on the alter of the church took place.

I look forward to Mass on Sunday in NE. I think it will give me a renewal of strength and determination to find the “right” Mass.
 
BostonMyrtleBea said:
Ah! It’s nice to know I’m not alone. I did get an email back from the Parish and they insist that the Sunday 5pm is the only “contemporary” Mass. Funny, though, because Easter Vigil (I attended before moving to the parish) is when the reinactment of Abraham willing to sacrifice his son on the alter of the church took place.

I look forward to Mass on Sunday in NE. I think it will give me a renewal of strength and determination to find the “right” Mass.
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It’s good that you contacted the parish. I would urge you to contact the diocese now and report these abuses. Liturgical dance (and possibly other things you describe) is not licit in the Catholic Church.
 
Maybe my thinking is disordered, but I try to find out specifically how, where, and why what is happening is contrary and/or is against the requirements. Then outline these, citing them from the rubrics, verse and page. Compose a respectful, generous letter to the bishop and ask him to respond. Tell him you are very concerned. If his response is dismissing, forward it to the archbishop and so on. REmember, priests are people. He may benefit from your loving concern. In my heart, I think I am obligated to speak from my heart BEFORE moving on. We would not be in this mess if everyone who was unhappy with liturgical abuses did likewise, I suspect. DON’T FORGET TO PRAY FOR THIS PRIEST!! Turn him over to Our Lady…:knight2:
 
Wow. I never thought of reporting anything. In what document would I find the list of things that are official so that I can write a proper letter? I have to admit that the issues seemed wrong out of a ‘gut feeling’ and not from any official knowledge of abuses.
 
BostonMyrtleBea said:
I am honestly looking for some advice as to what to do. I moved to Myrtle Beach and no longer enjoy going to Mass. I’m not in it for entertainment by any means, but for some reason, it feels Protestant in some ways. I grew up in Boston, went to Catholic schools, went to Boston College (Catholic) and was an active member of my parish as young adult (I’m 34 now). I wasn’t around during Latin Masses, but have been to one. I’m missing traditional songs, prayers, and other items in the celebration.

There are not a lot of Catholic Churches here (I’ve been to most in the area) but I cannot find a Mass that doesn’t freak me out. I’ve briefly mentioned this before, but my sister-in-law from Ireland and I went to Mass one Easter Vigil and we were so freaked out that we wanted to leave. Sound effects, dancers up and down the aisles, the priest asking us to get out of the pew and place our hands on the shoulders of new members, reinactments of bible scenes at the alter, some guy walking down the aisle “preaching” about JEsus, etc… We were so upset when we left. It was REALLY over the top. My sister-in-law refused to go back.

I have been going off-and-on and I hate that. I decided that I would go again on Sunday and officially join the church and get on with it. I was so angry during Mass on Sunday that I felt I was not in the right mind to take Communion. The priest talked about how he got complaints from visitors about the Mass during his homily and that the visitors should celebrate the differences in our parishes, but I was honestly agreeing with the complaints in my mind. Then the music was so odd. They had a band and the songs were similar (and some the same) as a protestant celebration I had recently attended for a baptism of an extended family member. I could NOT concentrate. The Gloria was a folk song, the Alleluia was hip, and the songs of the mass were all … funky.

I kept telling myself to “concentrate on the Mass… concentrate on the reason I’m here” and I was just disturbed the whole time. Then they had the collectors (younger teens) dressed up in red t-shirts and they were giggling down the aisles. I pulled out a prayer card and tried to pray and then here came the tamberines!!!

I am going home to Boston this coming weekend and I can’t WAIT to get to Mass. With all of the other fun things to do, I am counting the days to a normal and respectful Mass (IMHO). I certainly can’t wait to go to Mass every time I fly home, but between one church where people are falling over themselves and across the aisles to grab your hand during the Our Father (don’t like that) and getting out of aisles to touch others when the priest tell us is just too much for me.

I will try to see if another time is a bit more “normal” but I wonder if I’m the only one who feels this way. I feel so lost and am really struggling with this.
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I had to laugh a little when I read…‘here come the tambourines.’ LOL Aw. I’m sorry you are feeling a bit uncomfortable with the mass. I, too, had a similiar dilemma with a parish we recently joined…well, we no longer attend that parish, and joined another (well, soon to be registered) I too like the traditional Catholic mass. I like singing…but I like a choir…not a band to break out into a theatrical moment. It somehow distracts and de-tracts from the mass. (in my opinion) Now, the reason we are at mass is for the Eucharist, but you also need to feel like you are being spiritually fed, and I don’t see anything wrong with leaving a particular parish to explore another one–if you are that uncomfortable. My dh and I really did not feel comfortable at our other parish, and I had already joined a women’s group. I do feel bad about leaving that, but I probably will join a women’s group at this new parish. I hope things work out for you! Keep praying…and please try not to skip mass…it’s there to nourish you.🙂
 
BostonMyrtleBea said:
I am honestly looking for some advice as to what to do. I moved to Myrtle Beach and no longer enjoy going to Mass. I’m not in it for entertainment by any means, but for some reason, it feels Protestant in some ways. I grew up in Boston, went to Catholic schools, went to Boston College (Catholic) and was an active member of my parish as young adult (I’m 34 now). I wasn’t around during Latin Masses, but have been to one. I’m missing traditional songs, prayers, and other items in the celebration.

There are not a lot of Catholic Churches here (I’ve been to most in the area) but I cannot find a Mass that doesn’t freak me out. I’ve briefly mentioned this before, but my sister-in-law from Ireland and I went to Mass one Easter Vigil and we were so freaked out that we wanted to leave. Sound effects, dancers up and down the aisles, the priest asking us to get out of the pew and place our hands on the shoulders of new members, reinactments of bible scenes at the alter, some guy walking down the aisle “preaching” about JEsus, etc… We were so upset when we left. It was REALLY over the top. My sister-in-law refused to go back.

I have been going off-and-on and I hate that. I decided that I would go again on Sunday and officially join the church and get on with it. I was so angry during Mass on Sunday that I felt I was not in the right mind to take Communion. The priest talked about how he got complaints from visitors about the Mass during his homily and that the visitors should celebrate the differences in our parishes, but I was honestly agreeing with the complaints in my mind. Then the music was so odd. They had a band and the songs were similar (and some the same) as a protestant celebration I had recently attended for a baptism of an extended family member. I could NOT concentrate. The Gloria was a folk song, the Alleluia was hip, and the songs of the mass were all … funky.

I kept telling myself to “concentrate on the Mass… concentrate on the reason I’m here” and I was just disturbed the whole time. Then they had the collectors (younger teens) dressed up in red t-shirts and they were giggling down the aisles. I pulled out a prayer card and tried to pray and then here came the tamberines!!!

I am going home to Boston this coming weekend and I can’t WAIT to get to Mass. With all of the other fun things to do, I am counting the days to a normal and respectful Mass (IMHO). I certainly can’t wait to go to Mass every time I fly home, but between one church where people are falling over themselves and across the aisles to grab your hand during the Our Father (don’t like that) and getting out of aisles to touch others when the priest tell us is just too much for me.

I will try to see if another time is a bit more “normal” but I wonder if I’m the only one who feels this way. I feel so lost and am really struggling with this.
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There aren’t a lot of Catholic churches in the south. There number a few compared to Northeast. This is Liturgical abuses at its fullest. I think you need to write the the Archbishop and issue a complain. You can even go to the Congregation of Divine Worship and Liturgy.

I also prefer Gregorian Chants, and Latin style music. I went to the one in King of Prussia, and they sing Latin and I had chills running down my back…
 
I live in Conway, about 20 mins inland from Myrtle Beach. I would advise you to attend Mass at Our Lady Star of the Sea in North Myrtle Beach on HWY 17. I had the same experiences that you are having now, but when I found OLSS, I knew I found home. Our pastor is an orthodox, holy priest, and the Masses are reverent. We are having a Traditional Latin Mass on Nov. 2 at 6pm. You should join us. If you like, you can EM me privately if you need more information.👍
 
As a recent Catholic convert, I can empathize somewhat with what you feel. You have listed many of the reasons I “lost faith” in evangelicalism. The deviations from a traditional norm, a drift into something other than a total reverance for that which is Most High. A serious lack of awe in the grandness of the mystery of faith. In my case, as a Baptist I felt I was attending a show and less of a celebration of Christ. And in coming home to the Catholic Church I found that reverence and awe for which my heart was asking. And from my perspective, I believe I have Vatican II to thank for my conversion.
I think the culprit in this deviation in the Catholic parishes is evangelical relativistic easy-believism. A superficial and less cerebral faith which has infected baptist and presbyterian denominations over the past 100 or so years. The hope, and the reason I was driven to Catholism, is that there is an authority in place that can regulate deviations such as these, a Magisterium that other denominations lack.
On the other hand there may be greater perspective to be had by observing Mass in foreign cultures such as China or India, perhaps an African Mass can illustrate the Mass in a new light. That is an advantage Catholics have, the world-wide aspect of the faith. Some traditions may be unfamilar but the substance of the Eucharist remains the same.
 
BostonMyrtleBea said:
Wow. I never thought of reporting anything. In what document would I find the list of things that are official so that I can write a proper letter? I have to admit that the issues seemed wrong out of a ‘gut feeling’ and not from any official knowledge of abuses.
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As I understand it the GIRM (General Instruction of the Roman Missal) and CB (Ceremonial of Bishops) are the official texts for this and that things not listed as permitted are forbidden.

Sacrosanctum Concilium #22 indicates:
    1. Regulation of the sacred liturgy depends solely on the authority of the Church, that is, on the Apostolic See and, as laws may determine, on the bishop.
  2. In virtue of power conceded by the law, the regulation of the liturgy within certain defined limits belongs also to various kinds of competent territorial bodies of bishops legitimately established.
  3. Therefore no other person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority.
As I understand it, all changes made by the USCCB would need to be approved by Rome before they could take effect
 
I agree the liturgical abuses must be reported to the Diocese Bishop.

Good luck.
 
In general, those who are interested in helping the renewal of the liturgy in the Church might be interested in Adoremus, an organization dedicated to that:

adoremus.org/

They are very orthodox and in line with the Vatican.
 
Arnobius said:
As I understand it the GIRM (General Instruction of the Roman Missal) and CB (Ceremonial of Bishops) are the official texts for this and that things not listed as permitted are forbidden.
Sacrosanctum Concilium #22 indicates:
    1. Regulation of the sacred liturgy depends solely on the authority of the Church, that is, on the Apostolic See and, as laws may determine, on the bishop.
  2. In virtue of power conceded by the law, the regulation of the liturgy within certain defined limits belongs also to various kinds of competent territorial bodies of bishops legitimately established.
  3. Therefore no other person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority.
As I understand it, all changes made by the USCCB would need to be approved by Rome before they could take effect
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You understand it wrong. In canon law, as well as any Church documents, things that are forbidden are specifically mentioned - things not mentioned are not forbidden. Silence is not condemnation - it is just that: silence.
 
Steeltemplar said:
In general, those who are interested in helping the renewal of the liturgy in the Church might be interested in Adoremus, an organization dedicated to that:

adoremus.org/

They are very orthodox and in line with the Vatican.
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Yeah, right.

Except for the fact that the Vatican promotes and demands that we abide by Vatican II.
 
Not that this is an easy solution, but… that would be enough for me to think seriously about moving.
 
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