What constitutes "serious embarassment"?

[HomeschoolDad]

Other distinctions of that era during the lifetime of Pope Pius XII include the utter silence and concentration upon the Mass, with thoughts centered upon the altar and the ultimate consecration of the sacred host, followed by prayer and meditation, usually with bowed head, until after all communicants had received—much in contrast to today’s environment in which people look around while singing during the entire distribution of communion. The entire duration of Mass involved oneness with Christ with no opportunity to think of other things, whereas today’s procedures allow much opportunity for extraneous thoughts.

This sums it up. Oh, brother, does this ever sum it all up!

This is a huge reason why I much prefer the TLM.

In more contemporary congregations, when Mass has ended, when the priest has processed out of the nave and people start making moves to leave, the chatter starts like a wave and ends up sounding like a murder of cacophonous crows! Contrast this at the TLM where people leave solemnly and quietly, with not a few people staying behind a few minutes to give thanks to their Eucharistic Lord.

I never, ever, heard the term “scruples” as meaning anything else until after arriving at CAF in 2008. I’m always appalled by the horrid manner in which overly conscientious and genuinely good Catholics who are striving to attain holiness are spoken to extremely harshly, as though they are guilty of having plotted and perpetrated a particularly heinous sin.

Scrupulosity, i.e., the morbid fear of sin where there is no sin, or the fear of sins being greater than they are, has been well-known far prior to the existence of CAF. It is similar to, but not the same thing as, “religious OCD”. People can become literally immobilized by it. Scrupulosity absolutely requires total obedience to a single priest-confessor who is utterly loyal to the magisterium in all things, and may require psychiatric help and even medication, on top of that. It’s not a modern invention, nor is it a contemptible way to make fun of those who are simply seeking to please God completely in all things. It goes beyond that.

HomeschoolDad:

I can envision a scenario where, without being conscious of mortal sin, and even having fasted, someone might just not see themselves as in the frame of mind, or recollected enough, to receive communion. This would say nothing about the state of their soul, just “not being in the mood”. I’ve done this myself. I know there is such a thing as ex opere operato grace, but still, there are times when “it just doesn’t feel right”. I hope nobody would ever develop scruples over something like this.

Well this is the whole thing isn’t it… somewhere in his magnificent Three Ages of the Spiritual Life, Garrigou-Lagrange explains the need for a growth in charity between receptions of Holy Communion… or else it is like one is confirming his own backsliding…

Extremely well-put. Thank you.