What do traditionalists think of LifeTeen Masses' appeal?

[DustinsDad]

When I say “traditional classic hymn”, I’m thinking along the lines of something like this (this has been the recessional hynb the last two weeks where I attend…awesome!)
(THE STRIFE IS O’ER, THE BATTLE WON)

The strife is o’er, the battle done;
The victory of life is won;
The song of triumph has begun: Alleluia!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

The powers of death have done their worst;
But Christ their legions hath dispersed;
Let shouts of holy joy outburst: Alleluia!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

The three sad days are quickly sped;
He rises glorious from the dead;
All glory to our risen Head! Alleluia!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

He closed the yawning gates of hell;
The bars from heaven’s high portals fell;
Let hymns of praise His triumphs tell! Alleluia!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Lord, by the stripes which wounded Thee,
From death’s dread sting Thy servants free,
That we may live, and sing to Thee: Alleluia!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Man, I don’t see how anyone can help but join in this refrain!!!

Peace in Christ,

DustinsDad

 

[holdencaulfield]

Being a Teenager. I think that the “LifeTeen” Mass is a bunch of garbage.

 

[muffinmojo]

Likewise, I am a teenager, and I became a Catholic to ESCAPE the irreverant, unsacred worship I saw at non-denominational churches, thinking that all parishes were like the one I attend. Once I’m here, however, I find that I stumbled on the only 100% loyal-to-Rome parish within an hour’s driving, besides the TLM community which is delegated to an apartment building’s chapel, and too far away to get to easily. It is horrible for me to think that the LT liturgy style could possibly become somewhat normative of the Roman rite. I don’t know what I’d do, because Masses like that don’t just leave me dry, they hurt my spirituality probably more than anything else.

 

[holdencaulfield]

@muffinmojo:

That’s so sad. You really have to drive an hour away for a TLM? Do you have any Eastern Catholic parishes around you?

 

[muffinmojo]

@muffinmojo:

That’s so sad. You really have to drive an hour away for a TLM? Do you have any Eastern Catholic parishes around you?

Yeah, its a tiny chapel with a low Mass. The only other TLM’s are a CMRI an hour and a half away, and an FSSP parish in Idaho(300 miles).

Idk about EC parishes, but I’m not a fan of the Divine Liturgy. I appreciate it’s beauty, but it doesn’t do anything for me. I do like the parish I attend, and presume I will continue to unless we get assigned a new priest( )

 

[holdencaulfield]

@muffinmojo:

Well that’s good.

 

[jfmcneil]

Before I went to a church with lifeteeen, I was told how much it distorted the traditional mass. I have since moved to a lifeteen-practicing parish and have found quite the opposite. The lifeteen mass is filled with Latin, tradition, reverence to Mary, and lots of other very orthodox elements. The teens from lifeteen are regulars at adoration, stations of the cross, the rosary, etc. The music is a little more modern, but by no means loud and irreverent. I’d call it peaceful and find that the repetitive nature helps in calling me to meditate more on Jesus, especially after communion. It seems less distracting to me than singing a complicated song out of a hymnal. Maybe not all lifeteen masses are the same, but I can say I have been plesently surprised.

 

[ethelzguy]

Before I went to a church with lifeteeen, I was told how much it distorted the traditional mass. I have since moved to a lifeteen-practicing parish and have found quite the opposite. The lifeteen mass is filled with Latin, tradition, reverence to Mary, and lots of other very orthodox elements. The teens from lifeteen are regulars at adoration, stations of the cross, the rosary, etc. The music is a little more modern, but by no means loud and irreverent. I’d call it peaceful and find that the repetitive nature helps in calling me to meditate more on Jesus, especially after communion. It seems less distracting to me than singing a complicated song out of a hymnal. Maybe not all lifeteen masses are the same, but I can say I have been plesently surprised.

Exactly

I think some people get so hung up on the musical aspect of things that they obliterate any opportunity to see the good in LifeTeen. When was the last time you saw teens freely giving hugs to a middle aged priest? I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…the reverence shown by the teens at our LifeTeen Mass would put some of their elders to shame.

 

[Patrick2340]

I think LifeTeen Masses are standing room only in our city because our priest won’t allow the kids to be confirmed if they don’t attend the LifeTeen Masses. Sort of like driver’s ed being packed - its a means to an end.

 

[ethelzguy]

I think LifeTeen Masses are standing room only in our city because our priest won’t allow the kids to be confirmed if they don’t attend the LifeTeen Masses. Sort of like driver’s ed being packed - its a means to an end.

I’d love to see this documented.

 

[CassiusLonginus]

When was the last time you saw teens freely giving hugs to a middle aged priest? …the reverence shown by the teens at our LifeTeen Mass would put some of their elders to shame.

The dignity is in the office. It would not be appropriate for a teen to run up to the president of the US and give him a hug. Any parent would insist that their child stand up straight, speak when spoken to, give a firm hand shake and wear their very best. Seeing as the dignity of the priest’s office is much higher than that of the president, I don’t feel that it would be at all appropriate to hug one (especially a possibly scantily clad budding teenage girl) considering that this could put the priest in the near occasion of sin.

I think some people get so hung up on the musical aspect of things that they obliterate any opportunity to see the good in LifeTeen.

Nobody is denying that God can have good come of anything, and the LT is no different. In regard to the thread title, there is no appeal to me in the LT whatsoever. BUT NEITHER IS THAT TO SAY that some (or even a lot) of good wouldn’t come, in some form or another (by the grace of God) from me attending. At the same time, however, having been immersed solely in traditional practices for the last several years, I dare say that I could easily be scandalized at one. I mean, after all, the LT movement is somewhat based on a ‘feel-good’ notion. There’s no denying that. Would kids rather hang out in a ‘fun’ environment, or in one where their knees hurt at the end? 'nough said.

our priest won’t allow the kids to be confirmed if they don’t attend the LifeTeen Masses.

We were required to go on a weekend retreat or else we wouldn’t have been confirmed about 10 or 11 years ago.

God bless!

 

[ethelzguy]

Would kids rather hang out in a ‘fun’ environment, or in one where their knees hurt at the end? 'nough said.

The kids at our LifeTeen spend their kneeling time on the hard floor in front of the altar, while the rest of us are on padded kneelers in the pews. Don’t sell the kids short, they’re probably a lot more reverent in their hearts than some of the oh-so-holy posters found here.

We were required to go on a weekend retreat or else we wouldn’t have been confirmed about 10 or 11 years ago.

A weekend retreat is far different than allegedly requiring attendance at a certain style of Mass.

God bless!

 

[Matt33]

The kids at our LifeTeen spend their kneeling time on the hard floor in front of the altar, while the rest of us are on padded kneelers in the pews. Don’t sell the kids short, they’re probably a lot more reverent in their hearts than some of the oh-so-holy posters found here.

I am a CORE Team member at our Parish and I must say that if the kids are gathering around the altar and Kneeling than they are breaking LT rules and the request of the Bishops. That being said lets not get into a who is more holier because they are in more pain kneeling match.
As an oh so holy poster, I agree that some kids are very reverant. We have about 150 kids in our Life teen EDGE and Afterlife Programs, maybe 20 of them want to be there. They are the reasons that we work so hard. they are also however the ones who like to raise thier hands and wiggle them around during the Alelueiha and clap and dance to the songs. These kids while good intentioned NEED to be instructed in the proper way to worship at mass. While their hearts are well intentioned they need to be formed… That is the whole purpose of LT programs and the like.

 

[CassiusLonginus]

The kids at our LifeTeen spend their kneeling time on the hard floor in front of the altar, while the rest of us are on padded kneelers in the pews. Don’t sell the kids short

I’m not selling them short (after all, have I not also been in their position?), rather, I’m just making a point based off of my experiences.

At the same time, it’s easier to kneel and remain motionless when all your peers are, and also when you feel that you have the entire congregation staring at you. It’s a distintcion of sorts to be up around the altar, and nobody wants to be the ‘screw up’, or the one who looks like he has to use the restroom in that situation etc. It is very different to be just another person kneeling in the pews (for a much longer duration) during the TLM. That’s basically the whole point. The LT may BE good, but it also FEELS good, and therefore it’s easier to make a sacrifice. The TLM IS good even though it may not FEEL good, and the sacrifice one makes in kneeling can be united to Christ’s own suffering.

[the LT kids are] probably a lot more reverent in their hearts than some of the oh-so-holy posters found here.

Care to name any (screen) names?

 

[ethelzguy]

I am a CORE Team member at our Parish and I must say that if the kids are gathering around the altar and Kneeling than they are breaking LT rules and the request of the Bishops. That being said lets not get into a who is more holier because they are in more pain kneeling match.
As an oh so holy poster, I agree that some kids are very reverant. We have about 150 kids in our Life teen EDGE and Afterlife Programs, maybe 20 of them want to be there. They are the reasons that we work so hard. they are also however the ones who like to raise thier hands and wiggle them around during the Alelueiha and clap and dance to the songs. These kids while good intentioned NEED to be instructed in the proper way to worship at mass. While their hearts are well intentioned they need to be formed… That is the whole purpose of LT programs and the like.

I think you misread my post.

The teens kneel “in front of the altar”, not around it. They are restricted to the floor in front of the front pew, at the same level of the pews. They do not advance to any step up on the altar area itself.

 

[ethelzguy]

The LT may BE good, but it also FEELS good, and therefore it’s easier to make a sacrifice. The TLM IS good even though it may not FEEL good, and the sacrifice one makes in kneeling can be united to Christ’s own suffering.

**I really don’t see how a teen that “feels good” attending LifeTeen is in any way, inferior, to someone who “feels good” about attending a TLM. Clearly from what is posted here, TLM attendees are driven by how they “feel” about the Mass itself.

And I haven’t seen anyone post here that they attend the TLM because is DOESN’T make them “feel good”.

This sounds a tad self-righteous on behalf of the TLM crowd.**

Care to name any (screen) names?

I was referring to the teens at our parish, not anyone posting at CAF.

 

[ILUVGSUS2]

When I was going to RCIA classes, the church I was attending started having a Life Teen MAss. I became involved and truly loved it. About 2 years after my conversion, I started going to mass at EWTN and from there, I found myself preferring mass there.

I do think it’s important to get young people more involved in the Catholic Church, I’m not sure what’s the best way to do it though.

 

[Matt33]

Ethylzguy,
I don’t think anyone here is talking about the TLM exept you. I know your frustration of some here is evident but please try not to let it seep into evey issue. The issue here is the sometimes irreverent and unothodox teen masses and the struggle to reach the all important youth without sacrificing our identity.

 

[Matt33]

ethylzguy,
You said,

Don’t sell the kids short, they’re probably a lot more reverent in their hearts than some of the oh-so-holy posters found here.

Which is cynical in nature then they said,

Care to name any (screen) names?

Then you said,

I was referring to the teens at our parish, not anyone posting at CAF.

You were refering to posters here not posters at your Church right??? Just because you inside quotes doesnt mean you aren’t held accountable for what you say it just means that anyone who wants to quote you hs to copy and paste a lot.
Please drop the innocent act and stop making so many backhanded comments. One may read a lot of your posts and come away with a different idea of you than you want to send out.

 

[agapewolf]

I’m not selling them short (after all, have I not also been in their position?), rather, I’m just making a point based off of my experiences.

At the same time, it’s easier to kneel and remain motionless when all your peers are, and also when you feel that you have the entire congregation staring at you. It’s a distintcion of sorts to be up around the altar, and nobody wants to be the ‘screw up’, or the one who looks like he has to use the restroom in that situation etc. It is very different to be just another person kneeling in the pews (for a much longer duration) during the TLM. That’s basically the whole point. The LT may BE good, but it also FEELS good, and therefore it’s easier to make a sacrifice. The TLM IS good even though it may not FEEL good, and the sacrifice one makes in kneeling can be united to Christ’s own suffering.

?

Teens go to LT because they feel like they belong and are loved. They are among their own community, just as teens tend to be independent on their own, having their own community to pray with is important. LT encourages the teens to bring prayer and faith into their families and become closer to them.

THe last part of your statement is just absolutely ridiculous… TLM sacrifice has more merit because it’s Mass doesn’t feel good? ARe you serious? really? TLM Mass has no emotion therefore it must be better? This is ridiculous. They can unite their “sacrifice” just as easy in either Mass. Maybe for some teens, easier in LT

Would kids rather hang out in a ‘fun’ environment, or in one where their knees hurt at the end? 'nough said.

Our teens pay $150 to live at the seminary for a week in June wihtout A/C to do hard physical labor at work sites for 6 hours during the day, have silent time every day, do morning LOTH, have a lifenight every night (night of catechesis/teaching, etc), adoriaton 2-3 times that week, reconcilation, pray a rosary daily, and have lack of good sleep all week. THeir bodies hurt and they JOYFULLY go. We have waiting lists to get kids into the experience.

THATS enough said.