The impact of priests on a parish

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GangGreen

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I went to a Mass last night at a different church about 10 minutes away. I had actually never been there, never thought to actually go. Anyway, I went for Confession and ended up staying for Mass (although I originally wasn’t planning on it). The thing that really amazed me was the priest. This was an OF Mass, but the priest was really great in everything.

Since it was the vigil for Corpus Christi he of course talked about the Eucharist. It was refreshing to actually hear a priest talk about the Eucharist in the way he did, talking about the Real Presence, that we should confess our sins, the importance of the Eucharist in our faith, the fact that belief in the Real Presence is essential to our faith and that the consecration before us is a miracle, things I don’t hear all too often.

Then came the Liturgy of the Eucharist. He used prayers that I feel like other priests must skip over, very beautiful stuff. He did the consecration exactly like it would be in the EF Mass, didn’t show the host around the room or anything, very reverently did it. The bell then sounded for a good 5 seconds and after he never separated his fingers (something I’ve never seen in an OF Mass!)

I noticed all throughout he was very careful not to let any particles touch the ground, very reverent in everything. You could see the faith and belief in this priest! He didn’t look like someone just going through the motions.

Then when he started to give Communion the alter servers all received on the tongue and then the people in the parish about 75% (from my glances around) received on the tongue (was probably about 100 people there). It was amazing to see the impact of such a priest. It goes to show that reverence and how the people approach Mass come first from the clergy. I was truly thankful to God for such a man to be representing Christ 👍.
 
🙂

I hope the faith, reverence & leadership he displayed is extended to any clergy & other members of the church struggling with their faith.
 
It sounds like the priest I have just found…thanks be to God. In confession, I made a point of telling him how much I appreciated his reverence when celebrating the Mass. Priests need to hear these things.

You know what else my priest said last night that you never hear? That not ALL get to receive the Eucharist. That those who have mortal sin on their souls need to go to confession first, etc etc.
 
GangGreen said:
Then came the Liturgy of the Eucharist. He used prayers that I feel like other priests must skip over, very beautiful stuff. He did the consecration exactly like it would be in the EF Mass, didn’t show the host around the room or anything, very reverently did it. The bell then sounded for a good 5 seconds and after he never separated his fingers (something I’ve never seen in an OF Mass!)
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(1) To be fair, I would bet that there were special prayers because it was Corpus Christi. Chances are, all priests said them last night and will today.

(2) What do you mean by never separating his fingers? I am unaware of this difference between OF and EF?
 
I completely agree that the priest can change the focus of a parish. not just in the way the liturgy is celebrated, but in the leadership role he shows. I find this quite sad because we are becoming like the Protestants who attend church solely based upon the pastor.
I noticed all throughout he was very careful not to let any particles touch the ground, very reverent in everything. You could see the faith and belief in this priest! He didn’t look like someone just going through the motions.
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Then when he started to give Communion the alter servers all received on the tongue and then the people in the parish about 75% (from my glances around) received on the tongue (was probably about 100 people there). It was amazing to see the impact of such a priest. It goes to show that reverence and how the people approach Mass come first from the clergy. I was truly thankful to God for such a man to be representing Christ
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Someone may read this and scorn, but sometimes reverence is tangible when it is so discernible to the senses. If worship is authentic and priestly function given particular attention surely it must flow from the celebrant to the congregation with special blessings. And before the argument comes that receiving on the tongue is no more pious than receiving in the hand, I would say that many receive on the tongue to show a measure of humility and respect that comes directly from the heart.

We have been unable to find and attend a parish in our area now such as the OP describes, but have been blessed in the past to participate in something so sacred, words cannot begin to define it, nor can those understand it who have not been so touched with the extraordinary.
 
Tigg said:
I completely agree that the priest can change the focus of a parish. not just in the way the liturgy is celebrated, but in the leadership role he shows. I find this quite sad because we are becoming like the Protestants who attend church solely based upon the pastor.
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To be fair, I think what is sad is that we don’t find the same reverence and clarity in Catholic teaching in any priest we meet.

My priest asked that I pray for him after I thanked him for his reverence. I was brought to tears when we proclaimed “You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek”. I prayed for him as we said that.

As for receiving on the tongue, this priest puts out kneelers for us. So, not only can we receive on the tongue, but we can receive on our knees.
 
Sounds like a really good priest. We have 2 priests in our parish. One is very unapproachable, arrogant and very unpopular! He has upset so many people. So sad.
 
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My Parish Priest said one of the Most Beautiful Masses this evening and Oh! to hear his beautiful voice and singing at Eucharist time awakens Parishioners who may have been asleep before attending Mass! The Gospel (this was a Corpus Christi Parish) was right on the Mark for my daughter who attended (Jesus flowed His Divine Love and Wisdom through Father yet again) and I was rewarded with one of my five old Favourite Hymns “One Bread One Body” with a Guitarist and Band.

The other Priest who says Masses every other week, over the years from another Parish I used to attend, is magnificent! True believers both Priests and highly Reverant in the way they do things during Mass.

What is not Reverant are when my Brothers and Sisters in Christ (Parishioners) leave Mass before the Priests walk down the aisle and out into the Foyer to greet Parishioners as they are leaving. I feel there should be a little sign on each Foyer door that states “Out of Respect, could Parishioners please wait until Father concludes Mass and walks out of the Church” etc. This makes me feel extremely sad and has always made me feel sad over the years.
 
I went to my RCIA parish last night and the celebrant was a guest priest. Most had to ask his name; we had never seen him before. There was no Deacon either. Unusual. And his homily was fantastic regarding the Eucharist. Afterwards, I asked someone if he knew the priest’s name. “He told me, but I didn’t quite get it. But he is a religious.” But he also added, “At least they found someone to do it.” 🤷
It’s too bad I am obligated to go to another parish this morning, because I am wondering if there has been a ‘change of command.’ There have been rumors that the current priest has little to no positive impact on this parish, and I would agree. So it will interesting to watch.
 
It’s almost as if you were in church last night (the church I cantor in at 5PM Mass)! You are describing the pastor of that church perfectly!

It is a wonderful blessing and a gift from God to have such a priest in one’s life. He is “love” itself, I think of him as a living saint. The effect of his appointment to this parish has resulted in its literal resurrection: the diocese was considering closing this church. I’ve never known a priest like this, he has had an enormous influence on my life and on the lives of so many others. It is especially touching to see how the children of this parish love him! Once you’ve found such a place, such a special soul, well you’re STUCK there lolol.
 
What is EF and OF ?? Having asked this , I think it is very important to see and know that your parish priest shows reverence especially during Mass because people do notice these things and respond in like manner.
 
Frenchman44 said:
What is EF and OF ?? Having asked this , I think it is very important to see and know that your parish priest shows reverence especially during Mass because people do notice these things and respond in like manner.
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OF is the Ordinary Form of the Mass (post Vatican II Mass)
EF is the Extraordinary Form of the Mass (think Latin Mass)

There is probably more to it than that but that’s the basics.
 
Sounds like a really good priest. We have 2 priests in our parish. One is a bit more traditional than the other one and finde tht he says mass reverently than the other priest
 
GangGreen said:
Then came the Liturgy of the Eucharist. He used prayers that I feel like other priests must skip over, very beautiful stuff. .
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Do not be quick to cast judgment and presume that other priests “must skip over” some of the prayers. Priests have the option of saying the Offeratory prayers (i.e. “Blessed are you Lord God…”) silently. Some others (“By the mystery of this water and wine…,” “With humble spirit and contrite heart…,” “Wash me, O Lord…,” the prayers after the Angus Dei, the priest’s communion prayers and the prayers while cleansing the vessels) are required by the rubrics to be said inaudibly.
 
Lucky7 said:
To be fair, I think what is sad is that we don’t find the same reverence and clarity in Catholic teaching in any priest we meet.
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👍

I couldn’t agree more, Lucky. I have often wondered if the education they received from their seminary was lacking, and even more disconcerting is that our shepherds do not always speak with a united voice.
 
We were spoiled for a while with an incredible priest. He was incredibly gripping and very funny, yet very conservative in his beliefs and very serious about Mass. He had no problem, for instance, telling people before Mass to stay in their seats if they missed Mass the week before and didn’t get to Confession. He ended up leaving after a short stay to teach at a well-known and respected Catholic High School, which he is perfect for. Many miss him, and some actually stopped going to the Church after He left because they were so mad the diocese moved him.
 
Lucky7 said:
(2) What do you mean by never separating his fingers? I am unaware of this difference between OF and EF?
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In the EF the priest is required to not separate his fingers at any time after touching the consecrated Host (I assume that doing so above the chalice or other areas that would catch the particles is allowable) until after distributing Communion and then having his fingers washed over the chalice and then drinking.

This is done to ensure that no particles fall to the floor where they may be stepped on, etc. As we believe that each part is the whole when it comes to the Eucharist, then even one particle is the whole of Christ.

For whatever reason, it is not a requirement in the OF, probably because most people receive on their hands. However, in the EF it is done like this and as an extension the laity don’t touch the Host with their hands.

Having a priest do the same in an OF Mass IMO draws more attention to the reverence of the Real Presence and that even a little particle is the same as a the whole. I think that the average person doesn’t quite grasp that these days. In either way, seeing in this church that most of the people were receiving on the tongue goes to show how much a priest can influence the laity. It was quite interesting to observe and can be applied in many other aspects besides just liturgy.
 
GangGreen said:
In the EF the priest is required to not separate his fingers at any time after touching the consecrated Host (I assume that doing so above the chalice or other areas that would catch the particles is allowable) until after distributing Communion and then having his fingers washed over the chalice and then drinking.

This is done to ensure that no particles fall to the floor where they may be stepped on, etc. As we believe that each part is the whole when it comes to the Eucharist, then even one particle is the whole of Christ.

For whatever reason, it is not a requirement in the OF, probably because most people receive on their hands. However, in the EF it is done like this and as an extension the laity don’t touch the Host with their hands.

Having a priest do the same in an OF Mass IMO draws more attention to the reverence of the Real Presence and that even a little particle is the same as a the whole. I think that the average person doesn’t quite grasp that these days. In either way, seeing in this church that most of the people were receiving on the tongue goes to show how much a priest can influence the laity. It was quite interesting to observe and can be applied in many other aspects besides just liturgy.
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Thank you. That makes absolute sense and it makes me wonder, yet again, why the Church ever changed receiving our Lord on the tongue where there was no chance of particles falling to the floor… to our hands (where there is always a chance that particles remain on our hands, etc, etc).
 
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