For the most part, this has been my experience too with the Diocese, but there are some where I have had issues, including one where the Pastor went off-topic to discuss why homosexuality was okay. One of the very few times I’ve ever had the desire to storm out, especially when he challenged that ‘some may report him to the bishop, but he had to speak his convictions’. It isn’t that homosexuality is wrong in and of itself, but the manner in which he presented it was quite alarming. I also had these issues at the Church on my college campus (it was a ‘Catholic’ institution).I would say as a whole, the Diocese of Arlington, VA does everything right. I’ve been to several parishes in the diocese, and there has never been an issue with liturgy.
I’ll also say that our priests don’t beat around the bush when it comes to bringing up the hard teachings (ie abortion, contraception, divorce) in their homilies.
As am I. I find it very edifying to watch many of these new, young priests celebrating Mass very properly and reverently. So much so, that it becomes a disappointment to see the comparative lack of care that some other priests take when celebrating Mass.And Preg, St. William is very by the book according to the GIRM, and I have seen the trend of younger priests getting much more traditional than they priests were 10, 15 years ago. I’m in full support of that trend!
I don’t really tend to encounter liturgical abuses so much as liturgical blandness, to be honest. That blandness is quite pervasive throughout the diocese in which I live. I don’t encounter much polish, grandeur, precision, or solemnity at Mass. Priests are generally very common in their approach; some decidely center the celebration on themselves. Some feel they need to keep you laughing from beginning to end. I hate that, I really do. But by and large, the celebration of Mass tends to be just plain lackluster, rather than abuse-riddled.I too am quite surprised and disturbed sometimes by what I read here. But I guess those who are enjoying good OF Masses are not speaking out as much as those complaining of abuses, so you get that impression that almost all OF parishes are abusive.
Other than the few priests at my alma mater who would change the words of consecration, cuss during the homily, or tell people it was okay to remain standing when we should all be kneeling, most of the priests at that particular university seemed very lethargic - there was no zeal, no passion. As you described them, they were lackluster. I only pray that these young, traditional priests never become complacent, and still express the love and awe for the Holy Eucharist.But by and large, the celebration of Mass tends to be just plain lackluster, rather than abuse-riddled.
With only a couple of exceptions I could have written the above words.…
I don’t really tend to encounter liturgical abuses so much as liturgical blandness, to be honest. That blandness is quite pervasive throughout the diocese in which I live. I don’t encounter much polish, grandeur, precision, or solemnity at Mass. Priests are generally very common in their approach; some decidely center the celebration on themselves. Some feel they need to keep you laughing from beginning to end. I hate that, I really do. But by and large, the celebration of Mass tends to be just plain lackluster, rather than abuse-riddled.
When I find myself at a Mass celebrated by a priest who really takes care to look, and act, and speak like a Roman Catholic priest offering the Holy Sacrifice at the altar, it truly is a breath of fresh air. And by reverently I mean correctly; I don’t mean a theatrical display of sentimentality.
I’ll be honest, there are times when I drive to the Episcopalian cathedral to get my solemnity “fix”. Between the architecture, the music, the vestments, and the ceremonies, the Episcopalians really do outdo the Catholics when it comes to projecting Catholic public worship. I only observe, of course; I don’t participate, but I do thoroughly enjoy it. To me, it has always seemed that the Episcopalian liturgical presentation represents what might have been for the Catholic Church had the reforms been more sensitively implemented.
I certainly hope you will encounter more solemn Masses at your parish in the future. Nevertheless, many of the ‘tolerated’ liturgical abuses have become quite ingrained throughout parishes in the U.S. Frankly, I abstain from such novelties while others around me may indulge in such practices. Overall, it’s minor task of proper catechesis in the scheme of things.With only a couple of exceptions I could have written the above words.
Our young pastor is a really nice guy who works very hard.He is doctrinally orthodox, yet lacks a full understanding of the Mass. I believe that exposure to the new translations (about which he is less than thrilled) may help in this understanding.
He initiates no liturgical abuse, except that which appears to have been directed by a higher pay grade. He does, however, tolerate liturgical abuse initiated by the congregation, (i.e. Hand Holding ritual, “eucharistic minister” meet and greet ritual, folks mimicking his gestures, joining in on the Per Ipsum etc). He has pretty much stopped the “music ministers” from performing some of the more hootnannyish music that they often performed before his arrival, however we only hear an authentically Catholic hymn about once every few months.
Unlike some previous pastors, I have not heard a word of heresy from his mouth during a sermon.
In short, he does the best that he knows how to do, especially considering the obvious weaknesses of his training.
I get my “solemnity fix” as often as I can by taking a day to travel to one of the three parishes in Ptld, where I know that I can count on a Mass to be offered with full attention to the rubrics and the solemnity that I expect at a Catholic Mass.
It really annoys me that my thread has been used for a thread split into “Good parishes that need improvement”. The person that did the split is just full of himself. I never did say that the parishes need improvement, I simply stated that they are not perfect. If I knew if and how the could be improved I would say so. Organic growth applies to the individual parishes as to the liturgy and other aspects of the Church. There is a big difference between saying that something needs improvement and organic growth. Does a child need improvement or he simply needs to grow into a man?I belong to a Latin parish and I also attend a Maronite/Byzantine Church. Are they perfect? No! Are the pastors and the priests striving to do God’s will as dictated by the Church? Yes! I keep counting my blessings for that. I keep observing changes in the right direction even when they are slow. Remember that parishes like the Church are battleships that need quite a bit of time and energy to change course.