What Can I Do About This Kind of Mass?

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hamburglar

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I go to a Catholic college, but there is no permanent Priest, so we have different Priests come, many of which are retired.

Anyway, the Priest tonight committed SO many liturgical abuses. Well, I think they are liturgical abuses. I cringed so many times my face hurts.

The worst was the Eucharistic Prayer. HE MADE ONE UP!!! He closed the Missal, and whips out this other sheet of paper. He apparently thought it would be okay to make up his own Eucharistic Prayer.

Among other things, the Priest also seemed to add bits and pieces to different parts of the Mass. Something as simple as “peace be with you” or “let us pray” was turned into paragraphs that lasted 30 seconds.

He also didn’t genuflect after the consecration. I don’t know if this is an abuse, but it just showed his lack of reverence and respect to the beautiful liturgy.

Although he is free to speak about whatever he wishes during the Homily, I’m not quite sure his was appropriate. Today is Mission Sunday, and he starts out by talking about how our country, the United States, has needs as well. So I was kinda excited. But he goes on to say how our country is obsessed with war, we have a huge gap between the rich and the poor, our country doesn’t care about people, only money, how Bush is evil, etc. He can think whatever he wants, but this is a Homily at a Roman Catholic Mass, not the Democratic debate on CNN!

I feel I need to take action. I don’t want to see this kind of mockery happen again on campus. Should I contact the Bishop, or what?
 
Contact the office of the Bishop for your diocese and just lay out the facts as you witnessed them. Leave out any opinions.

Avoid attending mass with this priest because you will be too distracted to worship appropriately.

Get the information to the diocese and pray for God’s will. Then move on with your life.

(I’ve been there my friend.)
 
Be sure that he didn’t make a copy of a liturgical prayer that might not have been available on campus. There are not only 4, you know.

The rest of it- contact the bishop. Be sure to cite exactly what concerns you.
 
hamburglar said:
Among other things, the Priest also seemed to add bits and pieces to different parts of the Mass. Something as simple as “peace be with you” or “let us pray” was turned into paragraphs that lasted 30 seconds.
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We had a visiting priest (also retired) who did the same thing. Although I do not wish for the return of the mass in Latin, one of the good points of the old mass was that the priest was facing the same direction as the people. When they got turned around for the new mass, it seems that many suddenly discovered that they had an “audience”, and decided to become entertainers instead of priests.

In the last 3 weeks (all visiting priests, all retired), we had the incident above, then we had a priest who forgot to wash (can’t think of the right term) the chalice, etc. after communion - he just left it on the altar and after mass was over somebody took care of it (at least I hope they did).

Then yesterday (Saturday evening), the priest totally forgot the Lord / Christ have mercy (Kyrie). At that same mass, there was a row of EDIT women behind me who refused to use “him” in the mass prayers. “for the praise and glory of GOD’S name…it is right to give GOD thanks and praise.” They virtually SHOUTED out GOD instead of “his” and “him” but were pretty restrained for the parts of the mass that didn’t call God “him”.

So…count your blessings. It can always get worse 😦
 
REMINDER:

The question introduced in the thread is:
I feel I need to take action. I don’t want to see this kind of mockery happen again on campus. Should I contact the Bishop, or what?
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He’s an older, retired priest, from what you implied. Do I have that correct? In which case, you’re probably not going to be able to do anything to change him and his ways which he is set in.

Does he regularly have one of the Masses on a rotating basis? If that is the case, then perhaps there is someone in University Ministry or administration who would be the more appropriate person to contact than the bishop, as they are the ones who ultimately have to take action in this regard, anyway. (The most the bishop could do, were he to even get involved, is to appeal to them to do so.) Your direct appeal to them would probably be more meaningful, therefore.

I think that you need to assess how serious the situation is. As someone else already noted, is he really using his own Eucharistic Prayer? If it is entirely made up or unauthorized, that would be a problem. But it may well be an alternative option which he brought along (perhaps in large print which is easier to read, even?) Or it could, feasibly, be a translation of an approved one in another langauge. Which wouldn’t be right to use, but wouldn’t be exactly the same as just pulling it out of who know where. I think that making sure one which is legitimate gets used is a reasonable request which ought to get accomodated, ideally.

The other stuff, if it is not so serious, you may just have to let go under these circumstances. You can certainly ask and hope and pray that they will change, but if such freelancing isn’t ultimately harming much, it isn’t particularly likely to get corrected, either, even if it is inappropriate.

Honestly, the best you could feasibly hope for will most probably be that another priest is found to take his place who will celebrate Mass somewhat more faithfully. But, even if those in charge are open to such a thing, recognize that there has to be a graceful way out of this. It won’t be overnight. (It may not be till next semester or next year.) And it probably has to let the problematic priest move on in a polite manner which is thankful for his service and looking forward to this giving him more time for something else, which giving another generous priest who has kindly volunteered (perhaps because you recruited him) an opportunity to use and develop his own unique skills in ministering to the student population.

So, my essential recommendation is “patience.” Combined with kindly positive action and perseverence, it should pay off in the long run. But don’t hope for any quick fix as there probably isn’t one which will be forthcoming.
 
chicago said:
As someone else already noted, is he really using his own Eucharistic Prayer? If it is entirely made up or unauthorized, that would be a problem. But it may well be an alternative option which he brought along (perhaps in large print which is easier to read, even?) Or it could, feasibly, be a translation of an approved one in another langauge.
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Seeing the grammar and language he used during the Homily, I think that he might not have written it by himself. It might have been a little too elegant for him to write it.

The Eucharistic prayer had a few parts in it that I can remember that I will post here so maybe someone will recognize it.
  • “we chose the forbidden fruit”
  • “a land flowing with milk and honey”
  • It said something about how God urged the people to break the “chain of idolatry” and how these idols cannot hear or understand
  • “liberated us from selfishness”
  • “so that we may not be chained to status, honor, or money”
  • “freeing ourselves and others from the bondage of oppression and injustice”
The Priest also decide that instead of the Nicene Creed, we should “renew our baptismal promises.” Except these weren’t the typical renewals, he instead decided to say stuff from the Nicene Creed such as:

“Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father.”

Oh, and thanks for the moderator that changed the title. I guess the new title fits the topic a little better.
 
Leave it!!. Find a “Traditional” Catholic parish near the school, if you can, and hope they offer the old Latin Mass, with a good Catholic priest. 👍
 
hamburglar said:
The Priest also decide that instead of the Nicene Creed, we should “renew our baptismal promises.” Except these weren’t the typical renewals, he instead decided to say stuff from the Nicene Creed such as:

“Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father.”
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My parish does that, and our priest is very orthodox… so… I guess it’s not wrong.

The Eucharistic Prayer sounds a bit wacky, though.
I’d write the bishop.
 
he Eucharistic prayer had a few parts in it that I can remember that I will post here so maybe someone will recognize it.
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Code: 
* "we chose the forbidden fruit"
* "a land flowing with milk and honey"
* It said something about how God urged the people to break the "chain of idolatry" and how these idols cannot hear or understand
* "liberated us from selfishness"
* "so that we may not be chained to status, honor, or money"
* "freeing ourselves and others from the bondage of oppression and injustice"
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This was what I remembered from the Eucharistic Prayer, and I really want to make sure this was not valid before I take action. Thanks.
 
The priest is not allowed to change the words in the Mass. You should definitely contact your Bishop.

Here is a link to an excellent article about liturgical abuse and what constitutes it. I think you will find that the priest celebrating your Mass is in violation.

ourladyswarriors.org/articles/badliturgy.htm

One quote from this article:

"5.1 Changing the Prescribed Texts of the Mass; Ad Libbing; Inclusive Language

All the texts of the Mass - prayers, responses, Epistles, Gospel - must be according to the norms approved by the Church. Under no circumstances can anything be changed outside of the rules laid down by the Church. This is clearly stated, even in Vatican II! The modernist usage of inclusive language is getting more widespread.
Code: 
Sacrosanctum Concilium #22: (1) Regulation of the sacred liturgy depends solely on the authority of the Church, that is, on the Apostolic See, and, as laws may determine, on the bishop. (2) In virtue of power conceded by law, the regulation of the liturgy within certain defined limits belongs also to various kinds of bishops' conferences, legitimately established, with competence in given territories. (3) Therefore no other person, not even a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority.

Canon 928 The eucharistic celebration is to be carried out either in the Latin language or in another language, provided the liturgical texts have been lawfully approved.

Inaestimabile Donum #5. "Only the Eucharistic Prayers included in the Roman Missal or those that the Apostolic See has by law admitted, in the manner and within the limits laid down by the Holy See, are to be used. To modify the Eucharistic Prayers approved by the Church or to adopt others privately composed is a most serious abuse."
Be aware that it is possible to invalidate the Mass if the key words of the Eucharistic prayer are not properly performed as previously described. (“This is My Body” and “This is … My Blood”)"

You are to be commended for being aware and sensitive to this abuse.

Mary
 
Dear Hamburglar,

I would say your first order of bussiness, would be to contact the priest that presided at the Mass that you felt contained liturgical abuses. And ask that priest the questions that you posted here.

You also posted your concern over the homily that the priest gave concerning, I assume the US presents in Iraq. And you felt that it was not appropriate…I would refer you to read what Pope Paul II and Pope Benedict has to say concerning this issue and you will realise that those two popes do not sound like the National Republican Party.

Oh and by the way the presiding priest does not have to genuflect after the elements are consecrated, but can also give a bow.

Br Mark, OSB
 
Br_Mark said:
You also posted your concern over the homily that the priest gave concerning, I assume the US presents in Iraq. And you felt that it was not appropriate…I would refer you to read what Pope Paul II and Pope Benedict has to say concerning this issue and you will realise that those two popes do not sound like the National Republican Party./QUOTE]

I was concerned that the Homily was just in poor taste. He was saying how evil America is, he did the whole thing about criticizing the presidency and the weapons of mass destruction, etc. And I don’t associate myself with either the Republican or the Democratic party. I said democratic debate not in reference to the democratic party, but to the debates that occur in a democratic country.
Oh and by the way the presiding priest does not have to genuflect after the elements are consecrated, but can also give a bow.
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Dear Hamburglar,
Again I must state again, if you have a concern regarding the so called abuses, the best person to ask would be the priest that presided at that Mass in question.

Regarding your concerns with the homily, it is indeed the role of the church to speak out propheticly. And unlike Fr Z I do know where the WMD are, they are here, in the good old USA. We have stockpiled more weapons ---- chemical, biological, conventional, or nuculear than all of the other countries in the world. And that my friend is a fact and not mere speculation.
You state that you do not assoicate your self with either the Republican or Democratic Party but lets be truthful, from your past posts it would not be hard to deduct that if not a card carrying Republication, you are at lest a neo-conservative.
Which is to say there is nothing wrong with but it would put a reason to your reaction to the homily.

I would recommend that you meditate on the meaning of today’s Gospel reading : Luke 18:9-14

Br Mark, OSB
 
Br_Mark said:
Again I must state again, if you have a concern regarding the so called abuses, the best person to ask would be the priest that presided at that Mass in question.
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The same priest was the celebrant today. He used yet another Eucharistic Prayer this evening. I ask him where he got that version. He said that he got it from the Chicago Consortium of Theological Studies. He said there are “thousands” of versions. He said that the versions were for children masses and masses for Universities. This further confuses me.
Br_Mark said:
lets be truthful, from your past posts it would not be hard to deduct that if not a card carrying Republication, you are at lest a neo-conservative.
Which is to say there is nothing wrong with but it would put a reason to your reaction to the homily.
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Br. Mark, I am sorry to hear that you have put a label on me. It is sad that you do not believe me when I say I have no political affiliation.

My reaction to the Homily, first off, is not the essence of this thread. However, now that you have called me a “card carrying Republican” I will now confront this attack. My reaction to the Homily was not that any war is justified. I believe war is just plain wrong. It really has nothing to do with WMD’s and the such. My reaction dealt with claiming certain people will go to Hell, not relating to the scriptures or the day of liturgical year (it was Mission Sunday)
Br_Mark said:
I would recommend that you meditate on the meaning of today’s Gospel reading : Luke 18:9-14
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I ask you to do the same. Humility is a very important virtue for a Benedictine monk such as yourself. I have been looking into the Benedictines recently, and I will be praying for you.

Pax tecum,
Brendan
 
Friends:

This is the Liturgy & Sacramets Forum. Please keep your politics in the appropriate place. Inferences and remarks about others in this vein is totally inappropriate to this discussion. If it continues the thread will be closed.

Thank you for your assistance.
 
we had the same Priest this week as well. He used yet another, different version from last week, and I did not recognize this one either.

After Mass, I decided to ask him about it. He said he got it from the Chicago Consortium of Theological Studies. He was saying there were “thousands” of Eucharistic Prayers and there were some for children and Masses for Universities.

I know a lot of other people were troubled by these past two Masses. It’s kinda like the hot topic right now with those that are really active in the Campus Ministry here. The Liturgical Organizer here also said that she was wondering if any of us noticed it, and I told her how I discussed this with the Priest. She said that those texts have been out of use for over thirty years. She was saying how things got a little “experimental” right after Vatican II and besides the 3 new Eucharistic Prayers that were other options than the Roman one, other people started making up their own.

What is everyone’s thoughts on this?
 
Illicit at best, and probably invalid at worst (if the words of Institution were not used properly).
There are a few choices (Masses of Reconciliation for example) but they are rare. As a matter of fact you almost never hear EP IV (due to it having its own Preface) really at all.
 
You have the right to complain to the bishop, though you should speak with whoever is in charge of the liturgy there first. If you do complain to the bishop, you should provide as much evidence as you can. Perhaps you could record his “eucharistic prayer” or at least write it down to send. Perhaps you can think of other thngs to put in as evidence. Perhaps it would help if you got several others to sign the letter if you can get their assistance?
 
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