The Easter Vigil was very disappointing

[JReducation]

JReducation, I am SOOOOO glad that the Lord has preserved your health and given you another Easter on earth with all of us! Happy Easter, friend.

Thank you so much. I know that I’m living on borrowed time. But I think the Lord wants me to finish the project that we have started, the erection of the Franciscan Brothers of Life. I was telling my superior the other day, “You know, I’m not going to die until that new community is erected.” He just laughed and said, “I’m beginning to believe that you may be right. However, with you or without you, the Franciscans of Penance will erect the Brothers of Life, because it is God’s will.”

I was happy to hear that. When that happens, then I can say as Jesus did, “It is finished.”

Fraternally in the Risen Lord,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[ljubim]

Really sorry to hear that. Perhaps you, and your priest, could benefit by praying to St. John Vianny, just look at what he did in Ars! (although it did take over 10 years to see any progress…)

That’s some good advice!! I don’t know, our parish is not a very appealing community to join. The only thing that gets me through the whole experience every week is the Eucharist. Nobody sees a problem with it though… perhaps it is a good thing that converts are joining other parishes so that ours can fizzle out. (I know that’s an awful thing to say… but these people will not change!) We’ve always hoped that another priest or a deacon would join us and keep things in line, because I wonder if having just one priest is part of it… I would try and get something done, but I’m gone in a few months and my efforts couldn’t do a thing in such a short time.

I’m very sorry to bring such negativity into the conversation it’s just a very sad situation.

 

[JReducation]

That’s some good advice!! I don’t know, our parish is not a very appealing community to join. The only thing that gets me through the whole experience every week is the Eucharist. Nobody sees a problem with it though… perhaps it is a good thing that converts are joining other parishes so that ours can fizzle out. (I know that’s an awful thing to say… but these people will not change!) We’ve always hoped that another priest or a deacon would join us and keep things in line, because I wonder if having just one priest is part of it… I would try and get something done, but I’m gone in a few months and my efforts couldn’t do a thing in such a short time.

I’m very sorry to bring such negativity into the conversation it’s just a very sad situation.

Not every parish is ideal. But the good thing is that you do have the availability of the sacraments. Sometimes we have look at things from another angle. Maybe we should ask, “What consolations does the Lord give me in this difficult situation?” We often find that there are many consolations. Even offering up our sufferings and concerns can be a consolation, because God provides us with an opportunity to do charity for souls.

Fraternally in the Risen Lord,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Nick_in_MB]

The only thing that would not be the norm in the evangelical Protestant church is to have the kids with you. Evangelical Protestants send their children to a nursery. So they’re not used to having their kids with them during “church,” and they may not know all the “quiet” tricks that some of the Catholics moms and dads use.

Same thing at my parents’ church. The only children the pastor wants in the auditorium is if they are in 6th grade or higher. And for some children, all that means is they get to play in an inflatable ball pit. So church on a Sunday is play time for them.

 

[JReducation]

Same thing at my parents’ church. The only children the pastor wants in the auditorium is if they are in 6th grade or higher. And for some children, all that means is they get to play in an inflatable ball pit. So church on a Sunday is play time for them.

You’re not allowed to do that in the Catholic Church. Canon law is very explicit that every Catholic has the right to the sacraments. Children who are baptized are part of the faithful as much as any older child. How do the younger children receive Holy Communion?

Is this a Catholic parish?

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Lepanto]

You’re not allowed to do that in the Catholic Church. Canon law is very explicit that every Catholic has the right to the sacraments. Children who are baptized are part of the faithful as much as any older child. How do the younger children receive Holy Communion?

Is this a Catholic parish?

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

And yet the Mass is routinely interrupted as the children are trotted out for the CLOW, (to be typically “preached” by a layman).

And then interrupted as the kids return.

 

[kage_ar]

Have you ever attended a full-gospel, Pentecostal worship service? Or an African-American church?

There’s a constant din of noise and lots of movement. Very little silence. If there is a silent time, the music starts up.

And this is considered reverent and worshipful in those fellowships.

Travelled nationally as a speaker in them for about two decades, so - yeah, I’ve been to a couple.

During “praze-n-worshup” there will be din and movement.

During the sermon, there will be “Amens” or other responses from the congregation, however, if a kid is sitting there playing video games - well, the parents would simply not permit it. They may be vocal in response to the “movement of the spirit”, but, yucking it up with buddies will get you a tap on the shoulder from an usher. Same for a howling baby, the usher will come and tell you to take the child out and show you were the “baby coatcheck” is.

 

[angelic06]

We had a very lovely and reverent Mass, from the time of the lighting of the candle in the baptistery (“On this most holy night…”) to the temple proper with Exultet (or for me, the choir loft), to the blessing of the water with the candle at the font put near the sancturay to the conclusion of the Mass with postlude (that is, you guessed it, “Hallelujah Chorus”).

 

[Imryl]

I went to the Dominican House of Studies in Washington DC. I even went to the Tenebrae service Wednesday evening.

My first for all of them. It was all terribly beautiful.

 

[JReducation]

And yet the Mass is routinely interrupted as the children are trotted out for the CLOW, (to be typically “preached” by a layman).

And then interrupted as the kids return.

That is actually allowed, if you follow all of the rules for children’s liturgies. But it is very difficult to pull it off smoothly. I was in another diocese where we did that, but it had to be very carefully orchestrated so that it was a smooth transition for the children and the congregation. The children always came in at the Offertory bringing up the gifts. It was the smoothest way to do it. They had reserved seats so they just slipped into their seats without disturbing anyone.

But if you don’t have it well orchestrated, it can become chaotic and disruptive to the adults and children.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[angelic06]

FYI, I went to my parish church, Our Lady of the Atonement, San Antonio, TX, for the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, the Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday, the Vigil (Saturday) and Solemnity (Sunday) of the Resurrection. It was all very reverent and beautiful.

I went to the Divine Liturgy and Rite of the Lamp at St. George Maronite Catholic Church, then went for the remainder of the Tenebrae service at Atonement, followed by a two + hour wait for my confession to be heard, on Wednesday.

 

[CatholicZ09]

All of this happened outside 30 minutes before the lighting of the New Fire?

The talking issue was before Mass began. The kid chomping on food was during the Liturgy of the Word, and the lady looking at her phone and her phone going off was all throughout Mass.

 

[ljubim]

Not every parish is ideal. But the good thing is that you do have the availability of the sacraments. Sometimes we have look at things from another angle. Maybe we should ask, “What consolations does the Lord give me in this difficult situation?” We often find that there are many consolations. Even offering up our sufferings and concerns can be a consolation, because God provides us with an opportunity to do charity for souls.

Fraternally in the Risen Lord,

Br. JR, OSF

Thanks, Brother, I will remember this God Bless!

 

[CatholicZ09]

Well, I have to say the 8 and 10am Masses today were SO much better. The person in charge of that Mass (whom I am very good friends with) put in the Chime and Vibraharp Easter Hymns tape in the carrolin, so the bells were playing Easter hymns before all the Masses. He kept telling me to press the start button when one hymn ended, because they only play one song at a time and then stop (I had to serve). So, I think he realized that the laity will have something to distract them and something to listen to before Mass begins so talking won’t be too much of an issue. I then pressed start after the Mass ended so they can have something to listen to outside.

I went to the 10am and he must’ve told the servers for that Mass to do the same. I’m assuming for 12pm too.

 

[benedictgal]

My parish’s Easter Vigil was not a joyful occasion. Although the lectors did an excellent job proclaiming the readings for the most part (we had all seven), the Exultet was slaughtered beyond recognition. Unfortunately, we have a sad custom of using bongo drums and chanting a paraphrase of the official text of the prayer. The bilingual Gloria was also a bad paraphrase that excised just about every reference to God that used “Father” and the pronoun “He”. The seven psalms and the Alleluia were whittled down to one verse each. The homily was only three minutes long and, sadly, really did not say much.

The readings were proclaimed in darkness, which runs contrary to the rubrics which state that the lights of the church should be turned on during the Exultet. The folks who did not understand English could not follow along in Spanish because they could not see the readings and vice versa.

My only consolation was the fact that I got to listen to the Exultet twice (both the Vatican broadcast and the one from the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception). The Exultet is the Church’s official prayer. It should not be paraphrased. It needs to be chanted as is. The only option is to use the short form as found in the Roman Missal.

 

[Nick_in_MB]

You’re not allowed to do that in the Catholic Church. Canon law is very explicit that every Catholic has the right to the sacraments. Children who are baptized are part of the faithful as much as any older child. How do the younger children receive Holy Communion?

Is this a Catholic parish?

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

No, not at all. It’s a non-denominational church . No children baptisms, only the believers-baptism. My parents converted away from Catholicism, while I reverted back.

 

[mick321]

Our Easter Vigil Liturgy was acceptable.

I arrived at about 9:30P. The Chapel seats about 500-600. Parishioners entered and maintained silence until the Rosary began at ten. By then, most pews were full. There were not many young children in attendance, but those I saw were suited-up in either jacket & tie or dress & mantilla, as were their parents. When the Rosary was finished, the pastor gave a briefing on the significance of the Liturgy that was about to begin.

The Liturgy started outdoors with the Blessing of the New Fire and Pascal Candle. The clergy and servers led the candlelight procession of the faithful into the darkened Chapel.

The Celebrant, Deacon and servers in the sanctuary, the Faithful in the pews, and the Choir in the loft, had all done this before. The entire liturgy was directly from the 1962 Missal and very reverent. From the Exultet through the Four Lessons, the Blessing of the Baptismal Waters and the Litanies, all went off without a hitch. The Renewal of Baptismal Promises was done in English.

During the Second Part of the Litanies, the servers quickly and silently prepared the High Altar and Sanctuary, uncovered the statues and took their places. At about 12:15A, the celebrant intoned the Gloria and the servers rang the bells that had been silent since Holy Thursday, to joyously announced the Resurrection of Our Lord.

The Mass of the Vigil ended at about 1:30A. When I stood for the exit hymn, I had been in the Chapel for the better part of four hours. I was very tired and a bit light headed from my Holy Saturday fast. I glanced to my right and left and saw that the young kids were on their feet as well, standing like altar servers. When the hymn ended, they knelt to offer thanksgiving, as did their parents.

I do not hear telephones ring during the Liturgy. I’m grateful to the Archbishop for that. I pray that someday I have the opportunity to thank him personally.

 

[Topaz1128]

Yes, our Easter Vigil had ringing cellphones, irreverent youths, and so forth. However, I think the most shocking was the women in their tiny dresses that looked like they were purchased in a Victoria’s Secret catalog. Don’t they realize how this makes us men struggle?

The evangelical Protestant church I used to attend, though, had a coffee bar, so people would sip and slurp their Frappuccinos while being entertained by the weekly multimedia extravaganza.

Anyway, I guess as long as churches are populated by sinful humans, we will have to tolerate this kind of stuff.

 

[seagal]

I know how you feel!!! Our Triduum Masses were not sooo bad as usual though, I think people sensed the liturgical importance and were slightly more reverent because of it. I waited for the telltale sign of who believes in the Real Presence - and I didn’t mean to judge, just observe who genuflected to the empty tabernacle. Hmmm, these are the ones who yell greetings to each other across the church every morning…

Thanks be to God, come college this fall I’ll be attending a beautiful Latin Mass on Sundays and a very reverent OF for daily Mass!! YAYYY

I believe in the Real Presence but I genuflected out of habit (I realized what I did after I sat down). I’m sure many of the people you observed did it out of habit as well. I couldn’t help but wonder why you were on the lookout for “telltale signs”. It certainly makes for a more reverent experience when the whole congregation is actually reverent, but it’s awfully easy to fall into the self-righteous Pharisee trap (Luke 18:9-14).

 

[marytk]

I believe in the Real Presence but I genuflected out of habit (I realized what I did after I sat down). I’m sure many of the people you observed did it out of habit as well. I couldn’t help but wonder why you were on the lookout for “telltale signs”. It certainly makes for a more reverent experience when the whole congregation is actually reverent, but it’s awfully easy to fall into the self-righteous Pharisee trap (Luke 18:9-14).

I caught myself genuflecting too and yes it is NOTHING to do with not believing in the Real Presence. I served as a sacristan on Good Friday so I was in the Church for quite a while so I did see people genuflect or START to as they came in or earlier when they were serving in the church.