C
cmeisenzahl
Guest
We live in a parish in the North East US and have noticed a bunch of things we’re not thrilled with. I would love to know the stance of the Vatican on these matters.
1.
Praying the Our Father. In our parish everyone holds hands and raises them when the priest does. My wife, children, and I still fold our hands as I was taught 30+ years ago.
2.
Sometimes an announcement will be made, such as when an adult goes through RCIA and converts to Roman Catholicism. The priest asks everyone at Mass to raise their hands with him and bless the person. I had no idea we lay people now had the power to bless?!? What is this all about?
Everyone raises their hands and “blesses” the person along w/ the priest.
3.
Applause at Mass? Sometimes the priest will announce it’s someone’s birthday and have the entire church sing happy birthday and then provide applause for the person.
4.
My oldest daughter received First Communion at a parish church one town over. The music I heard behind me seemed odd. I turned around to find a folk guitar, tambourine, and maracas!
5.
In a move very controversial with devout Catholics, the diocese tore apart the cathedral and moved the Tabernacle, and did all of the usual “modernist” renovations. Meanwhile at least two local Catholic schools are closing.
6.
Our local diocesan paper, recently showed some pictures of a Mass at the cathedral that showed “liturgical dancers”.
A few recent quotes from our diocesan newspaper:
"After his homily, Bishop ******** will perform a ritual anointing of the cathedral’s altar with chrism. The 12 priests who serve as regional coordinators of the diocese will assist the bishop in anointing the walls, Bruney said. They will be escorted by liturgical dancers.
The bishop will then place a bowl of incense on the altar while he continues to lead the assembly in the prayer of dedication. The dancers will take up additional bowls of incense and move throughout the cathedral, incensing the building and all present within its walls."
“******** ******** added that liturgical dancing was his way of “making God happy.” And God is a forgiving audience, added Ashley. 'You’re doing this for God,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if you mess up or not”
“Bishop *********said he believes Pope Benedict XVI will stay on the conservative course his predecessor set, but cautioned that no one can know for sure exactly what he will do. “You just don’t know. He has been what he has been, but it’s a strange thing. Sometimes an office and the grace of office changes people. There have been lots of surprises in the course of church history about what a newly seated pope has done in relation to the expectations of him,” the bishop said.”
7.
I seem to remember learning that Communion under either form is considered to be both the Body and Blood of Christ. If so, we are so many determined to receive Communion under both forms?
As an aside, we were devastated at the loss of John Paul II. But we have been fans of Cardinal Ratzinger or many years and are thrilled to have him as our pope.
Thanks very much in advance and have a great day,
Chris
–
amateureconblog.blogspot.com/
1.
Praying the Our Father. In our parish everyone holds hands and raises them when the priest does. My wife, children, and I still fold our hands as I was taught 30+ years ago.
2.
Sometimes an announcement will be made, such as when an adult goes through RCIA and converts to Roman Catholicism. The priest asks everyone at Mass to raise their hands with him and bless the person. I had no idea we lay people now had the power to bless?!? What is this all about?
Everyone raises their hands and “blesses” the person along w/ the priest.
3.
Applause at Mass? Sometimes the priest will announce it’s someone’s birthday and have the entire church sing happy birthday and then provide applause for the person.
4.
My oldest daughter received First Communion at a parish church one town over. The music I heard behind me seemed odd. I turned around to find a folk guitar, tambourine, and maracas!
5.
In a move very controversial with devout Catholics, the diocese tore apart the cathedral and moved the Tabernacle, and did all of the usual “modernist” renovations. Meanwhile at least two local Catholic schools are closing.
6.
Our local diocesan paper, recently showed some pictures of a Mass at the cathedral that showed “liturgical dancers”.
A few recent quotes from our diocesan newspaper:
"After his homily, Bishop ******** will perform a ritual anointing of the cathedral’s altar with chrism. The 12 priests who serve as regional coordinators of the diocese will assist the bishop in anointing the walls, Bruney said. They will be escorted by liturgical dancers.
The bishop will then place a bowl of incense on the altar while he continues to lead the assembly in the prayer of dedication. The dancers will take up additional bowls of incense and move throughout the cathedral, incensing the building and all present within its walls."
“******** ******** added that liturgical dancing was his way of “making God happy.” And God is a forgiving audience, added Ashley. 'You’re doing this for God,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if you mess up or not”
“Bishop *********said he believes Pope Benedict XVI will stay on the conservative course his predecessor set, but cautioned that no one can know for sure exactly what he will do. “You just don’t know. He has been what he has been, but it’s a strange thing. Sometimes an office and the grace of office changes people. There have been lots of surprises in the course of church history about what a newly seated pope has done in relation to the expectations of him,” the bishop said.”
7.
I seem to remember learning that Communion under either form is considered to be both the Body and Blood of Christ. If so, we are so many determined to receive Communion under both forms?
As an aside, we were devastated at the loss of John Paul II. But we have been fans of Cardinal Ratzinger or many years and are thrilled to have him as our pope.
Thanks very much in advance and have a great day,
Chris
–
amateureconblog.blogspot.com/