What to do when the structure of Mass distracts you from the Mass itself

[agp2176]

Over the past several months I have been attending Mass with my fiance in a new city. The parish that we have been attending is near her home. She has just moved to this new city, so it is not a parish that she is registered with (we are awaiting an immigration visa for her to come to the USA from Canada – so that is why she is not registered there).

Anyway, here’s my beef. Its not so much liturgical abuse, but I find the structure of the Masses at this parish to be a bit annoying, so much so that I am considering that we attend Mass at a another parish.

Allow me to give some examples:

1. Every Mass except the 8AM mass has a choir. 5PM is the Young Adults Choir, 9.30 AM is the Childrens Choir, 11 AM is the Adult Choir. They seem to use these choirs almost as entertainment instead of praise. The congregation doesn’t sing along, because the director a) chooses unfamiliar hymns, b) has them singing in too high a key (as in the case of the children), and c) while all hymns announced, a second hymn at communion is not announced and seems to serve as vehicle to display the choir’s talents, as it is done with the piano instead of the organ. The choir director, while not having a trace of an accent when speaking, over enunciates the words of the hymns when she sings along and throws a lot of body language into it, almost as if she is performing in a Broadway musical!
2. The service music (Gloria/ Responsorial/ Alleluia/ etc) is not announced and does not seem to be in the hymnals (the Canadian Book of Worship or Glory and Praise). I looked for the music to sing along with the alleluia (which was something like Allelluia alleluia praise to the Lord alleluia) and did not find it in either book. The congregation stood silent.
3. The alleluia is sung both before and after the Gospel.
4. When the Gospel is read, two servers holding candles stand along side the priest.
5. During the Mass today, all the children left the main church during the Liturgy of the Word, only to return after the Creed. They all gathered in a side chapel for separate instruction by a CCD teacher. The reason I know this is because I arrived late by about 3 minutes, and decided that rather than ‘disrupt’ the Mass by coming up the aisle, I’d just duck into this chapel (where Eucharistic adoration takes place) and sit with Our Lord while attending Mass. Right after all the opening prayers finished, all the kids streamed in and lesson sheets were handed to them as they entered. I decided to move out to the main church at that time. They later came out with a big poster they had made and presented it at offertory to the celebrant.

Lest anyone think that I have no knowledge about the first few issues I have, I am a cantor in my home parish, and endeavor at all times to make sure that the congregation can fully participate.

I guess I hate to see the Mass made into a ‘show’, something for entertainment, something to be watched as opposed to participated in.

Oh well, I guess I said my piece and feel better for having said it. Am I just nit picking or does the all sound distracting

In Christ’s Peace

Tony

 

[ricmat]

1. When the Gospel is read, two servers holding candles stand along side the priest.

I share your concern and have the same problems - distractions which are not necessary. I’ll just comment on the one item above.

I was at a Mass about a year ago, and noticed the two servers (young girls) with candles as you noted above. And something occurred to me that gave me goose bumps. Remember the Ark of the Covenant. It held the Word of God (10 commandments and etc.) as expressed to Moses on Mt. Sinai. The Ark has on top of it, facing each other, Cherubim. God’s mercy seat. And God also spoke directly from the Ark to the high priest, and thence to the people of Israel.

At Mass we have God’s representative, the priest, expressing the Word from the pulpit. What could be more appropriate than having an angel on each side facing each other, holding candles representing the light of Christ, the Word?

Anyway, I don’t actually know the REAL reason it’s done, but the above works for me - in the absence of any other information

 

[agp2176]

Remember the Ark of the Covenant.

What could be more appropriate than having an angel on each side facing each other, holding candles representing the light of Christ, the Word?

That’s very good. Thank you for that. It gave me pause for thought, and I can see the symbolism.

Oh – BTW – to everyone else – I meant to say Catholic Book of Worship not Canadian Book of Worship. The Catholic Book of Worship is standard issue in Canada.

BUT – whilst I have your ears – a new item. No Missals! One is expected to sit and just listen, or supply their own. This one irks me worse than all the others! The government of Canada actually subsidises printing of the Missals, and the publishing house sells them cheap – $5 a piece. There is no reason for this parish to NOT provide them.

In Christ’s Peace

Tony

 

[VAC]

1. The congregation doesn’t sing along, because the director a) chooses unfamiliar hymns, b) has them singing in too high a key (as in the case of the children), and c) while all hymns announced, a second hymn at communion is not announced and seems to serve as vehicle to display the choir’s talents, as it is done with the piano instead of the organ. The choir director, while not having a trace of an accent when speaking, over enunciates the words of the hymns when she sings along and throws a lot of body language into it, almost as if she is performing in a Broadway musical!

There are many threads about why people don’t sing at mass unfamiliar songs are a reason.

Annunciation is a component of good singing and speech. By opening one’s mouth as wide as possible while still being able to pronounce the words, one can be understood much more clearly. People who mumble and cannot be understood will barely open their mouths. As for the body languange, I don’t know what to tell you.

1. The service music (Gloria/ Responsorial/ Alleluia/ etc) is not announced and does not seem to be in the hymnals (the Canadian Book of Worship or Glory and Praise). I looked for the music to sing along with the alleluia (which was something like Allelluia alleluia praise to the Lord alleluia) and did not find it in either book. The congregation stood silent.

I have never been in a church where the service music is announced. I’d think people who were regular mass attendees would know where these parts fit into the mass. I agree that a simpler alleluia and standard wording on all the mass parts are easier to pick up than the one you describe.

1. The alleluia is sung both before and after the Gospel.

I think this is an allowed option, someone here will correct me soon if I’m wrong.

1. During the Mass today, all the children left the main church during the Liturgy of the Word, only to return after the Creed. first few issues.

I’ve seen this done, it can be distracting. have patience the kingdom belongs to such as these

 

[Pug]

1. When the Gospel is read, two servers holding candles stand along side the priest.

I have no expertise in the GIRM, but this cut may be relevant to your concern:

1. If the Book of the Gospels is on the altar, the priest then takes it and goes to the ambo, carrying the Book of the Gospels slightly elevated and preceded by the lay ministers, who may carry the thurible and the candles. Those present turn towards the ambo as a sign of special reverence to the Gospel of Christ.

This appears to be talking about servers with candles preceeding the priest over to the ambo. I’ve also seen a thurifer (that is, a boy with the incense thing (thurible)) by the ambo during the gospel.

The GIRM can be found here, but the site is really slogging tonight.

 

[blessedtoo]

Oh well, I guess I said my piece and feel better for having said it. Am I just nit picking or does the all sound distracting

It can be distracting the first time you witness these things. But in my neck of the woods, this is standard operating procedure.

The Cathedral in our city has a beautiful procession of altar servers with candles on either side of the priest as he prepares to read the Gospel. It is a beautiful part of the Mass and I really wish all Churches did this.

Several Parishes here dismiss the children during the Liturgy of the Word. In one, the priests asks the congregation to raise their hands in blessing. When everyone does this together, it looks exactly like the hiel Hitler salute!

Most of the Parishes here do not provide a Missel.