The Easter Vigil ruined

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tad said:
On Holy Thursday everybody gets their hands washed
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Oh, not that one again! They did that in this parish too, when I first got here. I remember at a Liturgy meeting I said, “I thought the only mention of hand washing during these times is of Pilate washing his hand of the responsibility for what happened to Jesus.” As I recall, that was the year we went back to washing feet, much to many people’s displeasure. They felt that took away from everyone “doing something”. That’s also when I found out that the washing of feet had been discontinued because people found it too elitist since only the KofC had their feet washed and the perception was that nobody else was good enough.
 
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I’m trying to imagine using a Weber grill to start a fire in a church… then thinking about the hole that got burned in the church carpet due to dropped coals for the thurible. Seems like more of a means to start a church on fire. Sounds like a Swamp Castle moment…

At long last, we know how all of those church fires got started.
 
tad said:
I persevered for three years like that, but last year I gave up and went to three different churches for Holy Week. I skipped the Easter Vigil. It kind of hurts since the Vigil is the best night of the year for me, but the liturgy at my church is so bad, I barely recognize it. I actually have had my doubts that’s a valid mass. It was very upset about. Currently I’m a tad jealous of everyone who gets to go to a well celebrated Vigil at their home parish.
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Remember in a Vigil, be “vigilant.” Or, “Vigil” “Lent.” Apart from word games, Jesus asked Saint Peter and the other Apostle: could you not stay one hour with me? They gave into sleep. The persistence and vigilance to stay awake, ceased. They grew tired. Same thing for you. You became tired of the same rehearsed celebration without meaning, and without depth. But one must remain/stay vigilant.

Thus, go to Mass this Easter. Be not afraid. Saint Peter even denied Jesus three times. He not only grew tired when Jesus was faced with agony in the Garden. Saint Peter also gave up for fear that the priest’s maid servant recognize who he was: an Apostle of Christ. And yet, denied Jesus. Denied knowing Him, who He was.

And the other Apostle’s also fled. It happens. During Lent, it’s a trying time and period in the Church’s calendar. But we must remain "Vigil"ant.

Happy Easter, I pray.
 
BoyGenius said:
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tad:
I persevered for three years like that, but last year I gave up and went to three different churches for Holy Week. I skipped the Easter Vigil. It kind of hurts since the Vigil is the best night of the year for me, but the liturgy at my church is so bad, I barely recognize it. I actually have had my doubts that’s a valid mass. It was very upset about. Currently I’m a tad jealous of everyone who gets to go to a well celebrated Vigil at their home parish.
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Remember in a Vigil, be “vigilant.” Or, “Vigil” “Lent.” Apart from word games, Jesus asked Saint Peter and the other Apostle: could you not stay one hour with me? They gave into sleep. The persistence and vigilance to stay awake, ceased. They grew tired. Same thing for you. You became tired of the same rehearsed celebration without meaning, and without depth. But one must remain/stay vigilant.

Thus, go to Mass this Easter. Be not afraid. Saint Peter even denied Jesus three times. He not only grew tired when Jesus was faced with agony in the Garden. Saint Peter also gave up for fear that the priest’s maid servant recognize who he was: an Apostle of Christ. And yet, denied Jesus. Denied knowing Him, who He was.

And the other Apostle’s also fled. It happens. During Lent, it’s a trying time and period in the Church’s calendar. But we must remain "Vigil"ant.

Happy Easter, I pray.
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Huh? Where did the OP say he wasn’t going to attend mass on Easter? One doesn’t have to attend the Easter Vigil you know. It’s one option, but not the only option.
 
Gertabelle said:
Huh? Where did the OP say he wasn’t going to attend mass on Easter? One doesn’t have to attend the Easter Vigil you know. It’s one option, but not the only option.
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Thought the Vigil was at the Mass. Either way, remain "Vigil"ant.
 
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@tad

Readings being turned into reader’s theater… been there, done that. Sorry this happened to your home parish’s Easter Vigil. I grew up in the 1970s, and I cannot list all the liturgical abuses I witnessed and participated in over the years without knowing it was wrong. We replaced worship with drama. :cry:

I was just telling my son tonight about how, one Easter Vigil, we replaced the Responsorial Psalm after the Exodus reading with a three-part round – song leaders were placed strategically around the church to lead the congregation in their parts. He laughed at my reference to a campfire sing-along… but he was also a bit sad and confused.

“Sometimes I just can’t believe the things people did at those masses you talk about.” He’s only 14, but he seems to really understand that mass isn’t something you mess around with.
 
No, they don’t have the right to rearrange things. But the Easter Vigil is only ruined for you if you allow it to be. Don’t allow it to be ruined. Speak to Father and then , if it gets to that point, your Bishop about your concerns.

If you absolutely can’t stand it, find another parish to worship in.
 
Thank you for understanding. I’m always interested in Catholic tales from the past. Being a fairly recent convert and having had no religious background it’s fascinating hearing the stories of those who grew up with the faith.

It sounds like you got a great kid there. 😃

Have a blessed Holy Week!
 
My pastor is retiring in June. I imagine that the retired priest who has filled in most of the sacramental duties at my parish for the past five years won’t be needed and can pursue his other ministries like he wants to. We’ve actually been fortunate to have him and I’ve enjoyed serving with him, with the one exception being the Easter Vigil.

So,things are changing anyway. I’ll stick around and see what happens and I’ll get back on the liturgical schedule as a server while we make the transition. It’s so consistent with my. Lent this year. It has been a season of loss and of change.

As is my custom, I’ll watch the televised Vigil from Rome or D.C., I can’t tear my eyes away from it, and Saturday I’m going to go look for birds with my mother.

Thank you for your kindness, and have a blessed Holy Week.
 
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You’re welcome, tad.

In my experience, things do change a bit when a new priest comes in, whether as a temporary fill in, a replacement or new parish priest. I remember thinking to myself, “If Father retires or dies, I’ll never attend Mass again!” We’d had a few priests before Father, of course. But there was just something special about him that made me want him to be our parish priest forever.

And sadly, I haven’t been able to attend as many Masses as I’d like since Father retired. But it’s been for health reasons as well as being my mother’s caregiver rather than the fact that Father retired.

Like you, I enjoy watching the televised Easter Vigil Mass on TV.I also love seeing the Stations Of The Cross from Rome. It makes me feel like I’m there.

You and your family are in my prayers as you await the Holy Spirit’s Voice letting you know what to do.

God love you. A blessed Holy Week to you and your family.
 
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OP, if I were you, I’d get a copy of the GIRM and give it to him and say “look, Father, this is what you signed up for. This is what you’re to do. You’re a Catholic priest and this isn’t cut and paste. Either you obey the commandments of the respectful offering for liturgy, or you don’t.” See what he says. If he doesn’t, take it to the bank…the bishop.
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Um, bad advise. Never shove the GIRM in a priests face and tell him he’s wrong. He won’t say anything, but take the copy and do something with it you won’t like!
 
I would like to know more or what is being done Tad speaks about. According to what I read, the new fire, blessing and preparation of the candle and anything before the Procession can be omitted, “Any or all of the preceding rites may be used, depending on pastoral circumstances.”
Tad, I can see that Romans should not be omitted, but are you also upset because all 7 old are not read? Rule is at least 3 (or in some cases only 2), with Exodus always.
 
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Huh. I never knew there were fires lit at church. Never saw this sort of thing or even heard about it in my lifetime.
 
on_the_hill said:
Huh. I never knew there were fires lit at church. Never saw this sort of thing or even heard about it in my lifetime.
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I’m assuming you haven’t been to the Easter Vigil then?

The first time I attended the Easter Vigil I was just 12 or 13 and was part of the small group of singers leading the music. I was completely unprepared for the beauty of this most solemn mass of the entire Church year! We weren’t outside for the lighting of the new fire. But we had a prime spot to see the Easter candle being brought in, and to see the light of everyone’s candles spread throughout the church building.
 
The Easter candle must be lit every year from living fire, of some variety.
 
What? You’ve never seen the Easter fire in which the LIght of Christ comes into the dark /world/church?
It’s the biggest HolyDay of the entire year!
It’s beautiful!
GO!
 
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I just looked up “Liturgical Braziers.” One was almost $1,000, another almost $2,000. For an implement used, once a year, outside, for 3 minutes, that doesn’t seem like an appropriate use for scarce parish funds - for us, 2-4 weeks’ collection. We have a small hibachi saved for Vigil. It isn’t used for “cooking brats.” Seems to me the appropriate focus is the new flame on the Paschal Candle, not the crumpled paper used to kindle the fire.
 
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