Weird Mass

[Annabelle_Marie]

Ok…I’m not one who usually complains about Masses…and in the case…it’s not so much complaining…but thinking it’s weird…never had anything like this happen before. So…most of our priests right now in the diocese are on retreat. So the church where near my work (not my home parish) had a different priest that I’ve not seen before. I tried so hard to be patient…but lost that battle. He took FOREVER…fumbling through the books…flipping back and forth… And then here are some other things

At the pentitental right…after “I confess” he did not lead us into Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy.

No homily…just read the gospel and moved to prayer…

He said…“let us proclaim the mysteries of faith…” But didn’t actually lead us in one…

When he said “Behold the Lamb of God” He just sort of flung up the Eucharist…



All and all it was odd…

First time I really meant it when the priest says…“the Mass is ended”
“Thanks be to God!”

What do you guys think?

 

[paperwight66]

I take it this was a weekday Mass? A sermon is optional at a weekday Mass, as not everyone has the time if they have popped out from work.

 

[Whitacre_Girl]

Was this a weekday mass? As the above poster mentioned, homilies are optional (IIRC).

Secondly, it sounds like the priest was likely filling in from another parish where things might be a little different. Let me break this down with a few thoughts I had as I read it:

At the pentitental right…after “I confess” he did not lead us into Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy.

Some churches sing the Kyrie. He may have been from a parish where this is the norm. If that is the case, he was probably thrown off guard and his mind skipped a beat. I’ve seen this happen in our own parish with new or visiting priests. They of course led the congregation in it in future masses, but that first time was awkward for the poor guy.

No homily…just read the gospel and moved to prayer…

May have been optional if a weekday mass. Also, he may have been called that morning to do something and didn’t have anything prepared.

He said…“let us proclaim the mysteries of faith…” But didn’t actually lead us in one…

Again, in my parish the mystery is sung not spoken. He may have been waiting for a cantor or musician to take it away and there wasn’t one. When this didn’t happen, the awkward silence fell and he got befuddled.

When he said “Behold the Lamb of God” He just sort of flung up the Eucharist…

This isn’t explicit enough for me to draw a conclusion and seems really subjective. Given that he probably showed (in your eyes) a lack of reverence due to his being new, this may be a biased interpretation of what happened.

At any rate, it must be exceedingly difficult to be a priest. There is such a shortage and every parish varies slightly on their celebration of the Mass. It must be considerably confusing for these priests and I am sure most of them are doing the best they can to keep up. We Catholics are just so picky sometimes!

 

[CB_Catholic]

I have seen such things in situations like yours (fewer priests available for some reason). Sometimes priests will come out of retirement to help and they are not used to saying Mass in front of a large congregation, or they may be forgetful.

The elderly priest that sometimes substitutes for ours when they are both away usually takes longer, isn’t in “tune” with the musicians, and usually slips up somewhere, so things can get awkward. His homilies are usually decent, though. He is very likeable and we are grateful to him for coming to say Mass, and he is well-like by the congregation.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

Ok…well let me just say…this priest I’ve never seen before but he was not elderly…so probably not retired.

And I’m used to some nuances being different…and usually give them the benefit of the doubt…but I didn’t seem to be the only one in the congregation that this threw off…all of us regular folk that go to daily Mass seemed confused/befuddled as well.

But…you are right…he spent so much time fumbling around…that a homily would have made me late for work…

 

[Stylites]

I once heard a priest during his homily talk about when people complain about their priests. He said: “For anyone who wants to complain about the state of vocations today, then perhaps you ought to consider a vocation yourself.” I think the idea was: “If you think you would do better then please step forward.” I understand that would not be an option for you, Annabelle Marie; I just mention it in general terms.

 

[Suspicious_Mind]

He’s clearly conspiring to take the Church down from within, you should immediately let the bishop know and send a letter A.S.A.P to the Holy See just incase the bishop is in on it, the only real remedy for this is a nightly vigil followed by self-mortication before having any rest, only then will this error be corrected.

 

[juno24]

When he said “Behold the Lamb of God” He just sort of flung up the Eucharist…
What do you guys think?

I think if he violently threw the Eucharist in the air (which is what “to fling” means), then he should, indeed be reported. If, on the other hand, you just don’t believe that he moved slowly or gracefully enough while elevating the Host, give him a break.
It sounds like the visiting priest may have been nervous or just not used to doing the liturgy the way your parish normally does a daily mass. I know when I am reading aloud and am nervous about it, I tend to lose my place, too. Especially when I am required to read word for word exactly what is written while also frequently looking up from the text.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Please say a prayer or two for this priest. In thanksgiving that he was available to say Mass that day. Sounds like he missed the diocese retreat to be there for you. Also be grateful that there is a daily Mass that you can attend regularly close to your work. We have so much to be thankful Whenever I am tempted to complain about a priest, I try to stop and say a prayer instead. Perhaps you can say a novena for vocations in your diocese.

 

[whaleheadking]

Please say a prayer or two for this priest. In thanksgiving that he was available to say Mass that day. Sounds like he missed the diocese retreat to be there for you. Also be grateful that there is a daily Mass that you can attend regularly close to your work. We have so much to be thankful Whenever I am tempted to complain about a priest, I try to stop and say a prayer instead. Perhaps you can say a novena for vocations in your diocese.

This seems like very sensible advice.

 

[minkymurph]

Ok…I’m not one who usually complains about Masses…and in the case…it’s not so much complaining…but thinking it’s weird…never had anything like this happen before. So…most of our priests right now in the diocese are on retreat. So the church where near my work (not my home parish) had a different priest that I’ve not seen before. I tried so hard to be patient…but lost that battle. He took FOREVER…fumbling through the books…flipping back and forth… And then here are some other things

At the pentitental right…after “I confess” he did not lead us into Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy.

No homily…just read the gospel and moved to prayer…

He said…“let us proclaim the mysteries of faith…” But didn’t actually lead us in one…

When he said “Behold the Lamb of God” He just sort of flung up the Eucharist…



All and all it was odd…

First time I really meant it when the priest says…“the Mass is ended”
“Thanks be to God!”

What do you guys think?

In my Parish, this is similar to the way the Mass would be said during the week. There is no homily and Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy is not said, and the profession of faith is not said. However, every Wednesday you can receive the host under both species.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

Thanks everyone…it’s not that I thought he committed any liturgical abuses…I certainly don’t think he was malicious…careless yes…but not willful about it. It was just…WEIRD. Never have I encountered anything like that…and I’m used to several different priests coming through this parish. Unfortunetly it was too weird for me and I won’t go there on Thursday…it’s not good for my patience…something that I always have to work on…

 

[MarkThompson]

Thanks everyone…it’s not that I thought he committed any liturgical abuses…I certainly don’t think he was malicious…careless yes…but not willful about it. It was just…WEIRD. Never have I encountered anything like that…and I’m used to several different priests coming through this parish. Unfortunetly it was too weird for me and I won’t go there on Thursday…it’s not good for my patience…something that I always have to work on…

Maybe something has been lost in the communicating, but what you describe really doesn’t sound particularly weird at all. It sounds like there were a couple of goofs or moments of confusion (the missing Mystery of Faith, e.g.), but like the commenters above I’m really not picking up on the supposed wacked-out bizarreness of this Mass that you seem to have sensed.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

Maybe something has been lost in the communicating, but what you describe really doesn’t sound particularly weird at all. It sounds like there were a couple of goofs or moments of confusion (the missing Mystery of Faith, e.g.), but like the commenters above I’m really not picking up on the supposed wacked-out bizarreness of this Mass that you seem to have sensed.

Whoa…not wacked-out bizarreness…just wierd…and seemed to have no sense of sacredness… That and the fact that he took so long to even do things here and there… I wondered if he was new but he’s not one of the newly ordained priests here. So…then it just seemed like he didn’t care enough to prepare…

 

[quiet52]

My pastor does all the “page-flipping” before Mass in the sacristy, and marks the pages in the Missal he’ll be reading from with the ribbons. If a priest doesn’t have sufficient time before Mass to do that, he needs to do it during Mass.
The priest might have been delayed by traffic or any number of reasons.