Visual Aids & Homily Photos

[TableServant]

buffalo:

I don’t think there is anything in the GIRM preventing cartwheels during the homily either. Common sense is in order here.

I would tend to agree that common sense is the order here, but we can go too far on both ends of this debate, in my opinion. In my own preaching (3-1/2 years as a permanent deacon), I have not found the need or had a desire to use visual aides, props or “gimmicks”. However, in reflection as I read this thread, I must say that if the occassion presented itself, and the situation (including the community) were right, I can see myself using something other than just my God-given voice to make a point in my homily.

I can think of several points on the matter - that we (homilists) are human, and we are doing our best (inspired as it may be) to reach a human congregation, some of whom may respond or be touched by, or benefit from, some (name removed by moderator)ut other than the spoken word. That we, as homilists, struggle to find the best way to express the inspiration that we receive, and sometimes we, too, get “writer’s block”.

Now, of course, I am not endorsing a “theatrical production” for the homily, or a video taped instruction. Even though I’m a geek at heart, and a programmer by profession, I’m not looking for pyrotechnics and holographic displays. I believe that the best storytelling device that we have is the human voice. But I do know the struggle that it is to prepare a homily every week or more. I know the “blank stare” that some of you have referenced, or the “nodding-off parishioner”, not to mention the person who actually answered their cell-phone during Mass and started a conversation (not to start a whole other discussion)!

While we shouldn’t use visual aides and props as a crutch or become dependent on them for our homiletics, everything in God’s creation has it’s proper use, and if there is an item that, as used during a homily to illustrate a point (a mustard seed here or there), brings people closer to God, then I cannot, faithfully, argue against it.

 

[paramedicgirl]

YinYangMom:

oh, ok. Thanks for taking the time to clear the matter up, I really appreciate it.

We have Adoration every Wednesday from 7am - 7pm, but the tabernacle is accessible from sunrise to about 10pm daily.

The Mass always has been a communal event. We are always able to be alone with God the rest of the day, week, month, year, but it is through the Mass the community of believers gather to rejoice in the Good News and celebrate the Resurrection.

It’s a family gathering, not an private engagement between you and Jesus alone. If you weren’t introduced to the Mass in that light perhaps that’s why you are bothered by the ‘distractions’. Certainly if you were expecting the Mass to be something you observe but don’t participate in you’d be disappointed with all the commotion, but if you were expecting the Mass to be a homecoming of sorts, Jesus inviting all of us to come over to his house for dinner, you’d probably be better able to appreciate that hour with others.

The entire liturgy is designed with this ‘coming over to the feast’ theme…

We gather in song and welcoming prayer.

We then apologize to our host and everyone around us for anything we may have done since we last gathered which may have offended anyone else (not just Jesus, everyone else in His family). All differences are set aside so that we can enjoy this time together.

We sit down to hear stories from our past and of our host so we can remember why we are one family, how we fit into the family tree.

Then before we move into the dining area we offer our petitions and prayers, each member of the family sharing their concerns and asking for our help and support.

And then we come to the table where the host invites us to eat and drink, but we take time out to prepare ourselves (kind of like washing our hands before we sit down at the table).

Afterward, we thank our host for inviting us, for the wonderful meal, we wish him well, he wishes us well - until we meet again.

Our parish has the problem of not having an adequate reception area en route to the church so the socializing does pose a distraction for those trying to prepare themselves for the Mass to begin. We are trying to find a way to get the reverence for the tabernacle and Mass back without losing the spirit of the gathering because our priests want to see the hour before Mass become a silent one of reflection, so I really like the way your church has the exposed Eucharist an hour before Mass. I may suggest that to our liturgy committee next week. It may really make the difference we are seeking.

Thanks for explaining the way things are in your parish. I do have a question, though. Since I don’t have access to a Tridentine Mass, I’m not able to know if what you said also describes the Tridentine Mass. I’m curious to know if that is also the way the Tridentine Mass is viewed. Do you know? I ask this, because that is the Mass I would love to attend - the closest one is over 300 KM away, so I never get to go.

 

[YinYangMom]

paramedicgirl:

Thanks for explaining the way things are in your parish. I do have a question, though. Since I don’t have access to a Tridentine Mass, I’m not able to know if what you said also describes the Tridentine Mass. I’m curious to know if that is also the way the Tridentine Mass is viewed. Do you know? I ask this, because that is the Mass I would love to attend - the closest one is over 300 KM away, so I never get to go.

I don’t know. I haven’t attended one since V2. I was very little back then and have only vague snippets of recollection.

But certainly this is not the way I was trained in 8 years of Catholic education. I suspect the teaching of the Mass as a family meal came from JP the Great, as I began hearing it described that way through my children’s religious ed training.

The Mass is the Mass though, so whether Old or New the purpose is the same, I would expect. Reading New Testament though it is very evident that the celebration of the Mass was a gathering around a meal where the entire community present socialized during that time. The Old and New seem to be different ways of conveying the same message to me, but I could be wrong.

I hope our Tridentine Mass friends on the boards see your question and can answer it for both of us!

 

[paramedicgirl]

YinYangMom:

I don’t know. I haven’t attended one since V2. I was very little back then and have only vague snippets of recollection.

But certainly this is not the way I was trained in 8 years of Catholic education. I suspect the teaching of the Mass as a family meal came from JP the Great, as I began hearing it described that way through my children’s religious ed training.

The Mass is the Mass though, so whether Old or New the purpose is the same, I would expect. Reading New Testament though it is very evident that the celebration of the Mass was a gathering around a meal where the entire community present socialized during that time. The Old and New seem to be different ways of conveying the same message to me, but I could be wrong.

I hope our Tridentine Mass friends on the boards see your question and can answer it for both of us!

I have not been taught the same as you. That the Mass is a meal and a gathering sounds very modern to me, much like what I would expect a Protestant to say about their Sunday service. My understanding is that the Chuch has always taught that the Mass is a true sacrifice, where the Victim is offered up for the purpose of reconciling God to man.

At the Last Supper, when Our Lord caused His passion and death to enter into the institution of the Mass, he joined the two as one. My understanding is that the Mass is the same sacrifice as the Last Supper, that was consummated on Calvary, being the living renewal of the sacrifice of the cross.

I also understand from Catholic teaching that the Mass is not a mere remembrance of Calvary, but that it actually renews, in the consecration of the bread and the wine the death of the Lord. I am aware that the manner of the sacrifice is different; the sacrifice of Calvary was bloody, while the sacrifice of the Mass is unbloody, because Christ can die no more. The merits that Christ gained for us with His death on the cross are applied to us in the Mass. This is my understanding of the Catholic Mass.

 

[yinekka]

People have been chiming in with ‘it isn’t specifically forbidden in the GIRM’ therefore it’s ok. The GIRM and Lectionary specify the gestures etc which are to be performed, if it isn’t mentioned then it isn’t part of the Mass. Those so inclined will always be able to find a loophole in the regulations; it isn’t possible to list every conceivable deviation.

 

[YinYangMom]

paramedicgirl:

I have not been taught the same as you. That the Mass is a meal and a gathering sounds very modern to me, much like what I would expect a Protestant to say about their Sunday service. My understanding is that the Chuch has always taught that the Mass is a true sacrifice, where the Victim is offered up for the purpose of reconciling God to man.

At the Last Supper, when Our Lord caused His passion and death to enter into the institution of the Mass, he joined the two as one. My understanding is that the Mass is the same sacrifice as the Last Supper, that was consummated on Calvary, being the living renewal of the sacrifice of the cross.

I also understand from Catholic teaching that the Mass is not a mere remembrance of Calvary, but that it actually renews, in the consecration of the bread and the wine the death of the Lord. I am aware that the manner of the sacrifice is different; the sacrifice of Calvary was bloody, while the sacrifice of the Mass is unbloody, because Christ can die no more. The merits that Christ gained for us with His death on the cross are applied to us in the Mass. This is my understanding of the Catholic Mass.

This is still true, you have specifically described the liturgy of the Eucharist - that part of the mass after the homily and petitions are offered through when we sit down after receiving communion. But as you’ll notice there is much activity leading up to that section of the mass and then there is a smaller bit of activity afterward. The format of the Mass in it’s entirety (three parts) is a gathering of the faithful to offer the sacrifice - the same sacrifice you described with that same significance you noted.

I can’t remember which part, but I believe in the Acts or afterward we get glimpses of how the gatherings took place during the time of the Apostles and you can see the Catholic Church developed the form of the Mass from those revelations.

 

[beckyann2597]

Call me a heretic, but I find nothing wrong with these images. I remember one time at a mass I attended, our priest preached on the greatest commandment being love. He had gone to college before seminary and had a degree in fine arts, so he siad he was going to paint a picture while saying his homily. His easle was turned away from us so we couldn’t see what he was painting. At the end of his homily he turned it around for everyone to see. It was a simple red heart shape representing… love. I thought it was sweet and well done. Lets not assume someone is doing something wrong without knowing the situation. There has beena lot of jumping to conclusions on the forums lately.

 

[JKirkLVNV]

I have to say, I don’t usually come all over with indignant vapors, but I don’t like this. I agree that it is more appropriate in a classroom setting, not at the foot of the sanctuary. However, I suspect Jesus thinks differently…can’t prove it, obviously, but I do. Everyone should read a children’s book by Tomie D’Paulo called The Clown of God. It will break your heart.

One more ultra mod, uninspiring church house. As Netmil(name removed by moderator) said, at least they have a crucifix…I quite like the crucifix.

 

[Joan_M]

Deacon Ed:

I’d sure like to see some authentic teaching from the Church regarding the use of visial aids during the homily. There’s nothing in the GIRM that prohibits it.

Deacon Ed

As far as I know, the GIRM does not prohibit anything, it merely tells us what should be done - it is pre-scriptive, not pro-scriptive.

 

[BayCityRickL]

yinekka:

I found the link to these pictures on a Radical Traditional site and so thought that maybe the photos were a fake. sigh they weren’t.

I emailed the photographer and he replied ’ …
‘…Fr likes to use visual aids as part of his homily.’!! I wonder what he does at the Consecration and is the photographer busy taking photos while he does it.

It seems to me that in most churches the Mass today is like a Beethoven symphony played by a High School band.

francisandclare.org/imagegallery/html/page_two1.html

I saw the photos and I would just walk out. What’s next at the Mass, a toilet? I would also be in favor of the priest being naked, because, technically, that’s what Jesus was on the cross. Then, next, we could all get naked, too. We could also go back and dredge up ritual sex on the altar – it’s been done before.

 

[Eileen_T]

paramedicgirl:

Thanks for explaining the way things are in your parish. I do have a question, though. Since I don’t have access to a Tridentine Mass, I’m not able to know if what you said also describes the Tridentine Mass. I’m curious to know if that is also the way the Tridentine Mass is viewed. Do you know? I ask this, because that is the Mass I would love to attend - the closest one is over 300 KM away, so I never get to go.

I can’t answer for everyone who goes to the TLM but for me it is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and is what I would describe as Vertical Worship where the priest and people are focused on Jesus’ Passion, Death at Calvary and His Resurrection. The Mass is about God, not about ourselves.

Does that help?

 

[YinYangMom]

Eileen T:

I can’t answer for everyone who goes to the TLM but for me it is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and is what I would describe as Vertical Worship where the priest and people are focused on Jesus’ Passion, Death at Calvary and His Resurrection. The Mass is about God, not about ourselves.

Does that help?

But are there distinct segments of the Mass as there are in the NO?

I thought there were three, but according to Catholic Pages there are two: Liturgy of the Word, and Liturgy of the Eucharist

The Liturgy of the Word consists of:
The Entrance
The Penitential Rite
The Litugy of the Word
The Offertory Rites

Those are the ones I relate to welcoming the guests, gathering in the front room where we catch up on what’s new in everyone’s lives, finding out what they need help with or are especially thankful for, and listening to stories from our mutual past which remind us of why we are gathered at this time.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist is all about the actual Sacrifice at the Altar of Jesus Christ.

This is where I relate to being invited to the dining room…time for socializing is over, it’s time to prepare the meal, offer it, and partake of it.

Then it says there are concluding rites, and this is where I relate to the meal being over, we start dispersing, thanking our host for inviting us, saying goodbye to the others until we meet again.

 

[paramedicgirl]

Eileen T:

I can’t answer for everyone who goes to the TLM but for me it is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and is what I would describe as Vertical Worship where the priest and people are focused on Jesus’ Passion, Death at Calvary and His Resurrection. The Mass is about God, not about ourselves.

Does that help?

I actually have the opportunity to attend a Tridentine Mass in Calgary on November 27. It will be the first time for me, as an adult, so I’m really looking forward to it! There is so much I dislike about the way the NO Mass is run (mostly because of the laity, people are always forcing their way on the poor priest).

Yes, I’m really looking forward to it!

 

[Eileen_T]

paramedicgirl:

I actually have the opportunity to attend a Tridentine Mass in Calgary on November 27. It will be the first time for me, as an adult, so I’m really looking forward to it! There is so much I dislike about the way the NO Mass is run (mostly because of the laity, people are always forcing their way on the poor priest).

Yes, I’m really looking forward to it!

I have a book (haven’t finished it yet) How Christ Said the First Mass. It goes into great detail about the OT Temple worship and when I read it I was stunned by how many elements of the OT Temple worship were retained in the Tridentine Mass.

One think struck me in particular. When the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies to offer the sacrifice on behalf of the people of Israel, who were on the other side of the Veil facing it, he would have had his back to the people and they were all facing the direction of Golgotha where Christ would be crucified (Sacrificed).

In the Latin Mass, priest and people are all facing the Crucifix (and tabernacle).

I was speaking to a Protestant friend about it. I told him that God laid down explicitly how He wanted the people to worsip Him in the OT. I asked him if he thought God would leave it up to Christians to devise their liturgies according to how it suits them, or according to how He wants it done? He saw the logic in it because he knows his OT.

We have quite a few young couples and families attending our LM, who come from other parishes, which is quite encouraging. It is beautiful how well-behaved the children are. For some reason there is little or no fidgeting.

 

[YinYangMom]

Eileen T:

I was speaking to a Protestant friend about it. I told him that God laid down explicitly how He wanted the people to worsip Him in the OT. I asked him if he thought God would leave it up to Christians to devise their liturgies according to how it suits them, or according to how He wants it done? He saw the logic in it because he knows his OT.

Do you not acknowledge that God left instructions on how He wanted the people to worship Him through Jesus? Remember that Jesus came to fulfill the Old Covenant and enter into a New Covenant with His people.

Did Jesus turn his back toward the apostles at the last supper?
Did the apostles turn their back toward the disciples as they met for the Mass after the ascension?
Can you see where and why the Catholic Church came to develop the NO based on the New Testament, blending the Old with the New to develop a more comprehensive sacrifice?