The Easter Vigil ruined

[LoyalViews]

We did. We had a group. This same chap spoke out in support of same-sex marriage a short while ago. The old bishop silenced him, the new bishop was like “eh, I’ll talk to him.”

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

Except for the collection. A priest can skip that anytime with no consequences to the validity and licitness of mass.

 

[LoyalViews]

and the sign of peace. I love when they skip that.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

The readings were rewritten a

The reading from Romans was omitted

It’s permissible to skip certain readings; I think a minimum of three must be read and I think there are shorter versions; the part that may be omitted is in brackets in the newsletter.

and presented in an audience participation sort of way

This sounds irregular but the way you’ve described licit things as illicit I’m not sure what to make of it other than you want us to be as disappointed as you are.

 

[phil19034]

Is this on the Saturday night or Thursday night.

I think the Word Vigil is a point of confusion here.

The Easter Vigil is Saturday night, starting at 8PM

The Mass of the Lord’s Supper (Holy Thursday evening) is NOT considered a vigil mass.

 

[7_Sorrows]

Yes they light the Paschal candle, but I thought they also burned the palms.
I know there is always a large group of people standing outside to light the Paschal Candle and say the prayer.
I haven’t been to the lighting of the Paschal candle for a few years because we live in the mountains and it has been too cold to stand outside.
Now that I think of it, you are right they burn the palms before Ash Wednesday.

 

[thequeen]

I agree pianistclare. I think I am going to look for a My priest wonderful thread.

 

[Roseeurekacross]

What do you do after the Holy Thursday Mass.
We call it the Watch or the Vigil in the garden.

 

[paperwight]

Has anyone else been to an Easter Vigil where the fire is started inside the church some where in the middle of the service?

Yes, we always have the fire indoors in our parish. Actually, it’s a gas cylinder mounted in a brazier on the sanctuary in front of the altar. The deacon tiptoes forward to light it when the church is dark Vey dramatic and moving.

We have tried it outside, but after a particularly wet and windy night when it took a good 15 minutes to light, never again. We also find that it doesn’t work having people assemble outside and then come in - they like to get settled before the lights go out, not have a scramble to find a seat before the procession with the candle.

They light it outside at the Cathedral, but I noticed that by no means everyone went outside - the majority stayed inside and it was all rather sad. The only thing that moved me was the noise of the traffic - it struck me that this was how it must have been like the first Easter - most people going about their everyday life, oblivious to what was happening.

 

[yankeesouth]

I am sorry you have experienced this. I hope you are able to find another parish but I can understand how troubling this is for you. It seems this has been going on for quite some time, have you contacted your bishop?

 

[yankeesouth]

My take is that it would be a lot easier on everybody if we just did things the same way every other Catholic church was doing things.

Hmmm be careful what you wish for lol. There seems to be quite a few liberal parishes out there.

 

[pnewton]

I know change is not easy, but that does not make change wrong. The Easter Vigil has a lot of participation, the Exultet, the responsorials, and even the Gospel, potentially, plus a lot of the other interaction. The candle must be lit from a living flame, inside or out.

I agree a Weber might be sacrilegious. We use the Holy Hibachi.

 

[Phemie]

Today I attended mass and they had the same gospel as you talk about, with audience participation. Isn’t that licit?

It’s licit for the Passion, not for any other readings. I have to admit that I prefer how the Passion is done in our parish and in those where I’ve been since we in Canada got our new Lectionary: Passion is not done with the congregation participating but in only three voices, the narrator, the priest reading Jesus, and one other reader.

 

[phil19034]

What do you do after the Holy Thursday Mass.
We call it the Watch or the Vigil in the garden.

I’m not aware of the names “the Watch or Vigil in the Garden.” We have a procession to the the Altar of Repose (if I go to my parish or Cathedral, both have a Mary Chapel for daily mass that we transfer the Blessed Sacarment to after Mass).

And some people preform the Visitation of Seven Chuches* - where you go to at least seven Churches after the Last Supper to visit the Blessed Sacarment. Ideally, all on Thursday night, big if necessary, finishing Friday Morning.

Some places (like in India and the Philippines) visit 14 Churches and do one Station of the Cross at each Church. And in New Orleans, they visit 9 churches.

HOWEVER: I do know that in the United States, Holy Thursday customs are very regionalized, depending on which Catholic nationality primarly settled first in each area.

God Bless

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

I agree a Weber might be sacrilegious. We use the Holy Hibachi.

The issue with the Weber, I’d say, is that people get the idea that it’s safe to use indoors. Liturgically, there’s no issue at all.

 

[Phemie]

I’ don’t understand how they can have the blessing of the fire in the middle of the celebration in the Op’s parish. The blessing of the new fire is the first thing that happens at the Vigil and everything flows from that. Doesn’t matter where the fire is lit., well, except perhaps to the fire department.

 

[phil19034]

The issue with the Weber, I’d say, is that people get the idea that it’s safe to use indoors. Liturgically, there’s no issue at all.

Using a BBQ Grill is pretty JV though.

Purchasing a small fire pit would not be expensive - any parish should be able to afford one.

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

Xanthippe_Voorhees:

The issue with the Weber, I’d say, is that people get the idea that it’s safe to use indoors. Liturgically, there’s no issue at all.

Using a BBQ Grill is pretty JV though.

Purchasing a small fire pit would not be expensive - any parish should be able to afford one.

Perhaps they moved it indoors at the last minute. Not many parishes have the resources to have someone go running out…time, more than money, can be a prohibitive factor.

The fact that it’s not classy isn’t really an implication on its licitness. A chalice not made of a precious metal…that’s not licit. Albs so cheap that they can’t really be considered their proper color. That can affect licitness.

Lack of a classy place for the Easter fire—not so much.

 

[RandomAlias]

The readings were rewritten and presented in an audience participation sort of way (kind of like a dinner theater).

Are you referring to the musical adaptation, “Exodus Reading for the Great Vigil,” which is sung? The refrain includes a congregation response. For what it’s worth, I thought it was fine.

 

[7_Sorrows]

That is a very dramatic performance and is sung at our church too.