What's something positive that has shocked you at a Mass?

[michaelArc]

I went to this small parish for the first time, since I wanted to have confession and knew they offered it before mass. There was maybe 40 people in the church and I was the only caucasion person there. Nearly everyone, excluding the priest were immingrants from Africa.

But what shocked me is when it came time offer a sign of peace, everyone left their seats. Literally everyone shook each other’s hands! Young or old, no one stayed within the vicinity of their pew. I shook hands with everyone in the church. I really enjoy offering a sign of peace but this was just overwhelming for me.

 

[StudentMI]

They were not drilling during Mass. They drilled outside of Mass so that they could beautifully serve Mass. I think about that experience a great deal when I see young servers struggling in the sanctuary because no one has ever taken the interest or made the investment to properly train them, or when someone is trying to “direct” them from the front row for the same reasons.

In the end this father and his sons did their very best to serve the priest who was celebrating the Mass. To suggest that’s an “obsessive compulsive ritual” is highly offensive and incorrect.

Offensive? Please.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

They were militarily precise without being severe in any way. They were so good, they were shocking to me. I’m used to far less.

The celebration of the Eucharist should not have any overtone of military rigidity by those in the sanctuary…it is not a military exercise.

In the end this father and his sons did their very best to serve the priest who was celebrating the Mass. To suggest that’s an “obsessive compulsive ritual” is highly offensive and incorrect.

What you describe is abhorrent. If people were to act in that fashion where I was Presider, they would be directed to leave the sanctuary forthwith.

It is you who are “highly offensive and incorrect.”

 

[Phemie]

She gifted me with one of her brother’s AWESOME cassocks. It was way over the top lacy, but the look in her eyes mandated a wear it. The day of the Heritage Mass came, I put on all the garb, and went outside to pray a decade or two of the Rosary before Mass.

Must admit I’ve never seen a lacy cassock.

 

[Wesrock]

The celebration of the Eucharist should not have any overtone of military rigidity by those in the sanctuary…it is not a military exercise.

What you describe is abhorrent. If people were to act in that fashion where I was Presider, they would be directed to leave the sanctuary forthwith.

It is you who are “highly offensive and incorrect.”

Father, did he say there was rigidity? The poster praised the execution by the servers but did state it wasn’t “severe”, which I understood to mean not rigid. Abhorrent seems an extreme word choice for something we haven’t actually seen. Should they not practice at what they do during mass?

 

[Don_Ruggero]

Father, did he say there was rigidity? The postwr praised the execution by the servers but did state it wasn’t “severe”, which I understood to mean not rigid. Should servers not practice at all if they’re interested in doing so? Abhorrent seems an extreme word choice for something we haven’t actually seen.

The phrase used was “They were militarily precise”. Abhorrent is exactly the word to respond to such in the liturgy. It is grotesque. Such mannerisms are, by their very nature, rigid.

When I am master of ceremonies for our bishop, we do a rehearsal to go through the elements…making sure that the gestures of the servers are devoid of any of these sorts of regimented gestures or comportment that in any way looks like it is derived from, for example, a review of troops. Cardinal Noe, Archbishop Marini and Monsignor Marini give a wonderful indication of the methods to be employed that are completely devoid of stiffness or drilll like mannerisms.

 

[Wesrock]

Thank you, Father. That wasn’t the impression I got, but I never saw it, so I can’t speak for the poster who described it. Certainly we don’t want that type of military form you describe, and I understand your point.

 

[Solomonson]

Must admit I’ve never seen a lacy cassock.

Surplice, but I suspect you already knew what I was talking about.

 

[Solomonson]

I find it fascinating how some denigrate the hard work of others. Hard work done by others to help ensure the celebration of the Mass is as smooth, beautiful and reverent as possible.

I wonder how this man’s and his son’s efforts would have been attacked if he had used the term"practice" instead of “drill”, which in this context differ not? I’m sure another angle would have been found in which to attack.

I’m not certain if this behavior derives from envy or simply just being ashamed of one’s own efforts, but it’s one or the other, that much is certain.

 

[DeniseNY]

I find it fascinating how some denigrate the hard work of others. Hard work done by others to help ensure the celebration of the Mass is as smooth, beautiful and reverent as possible.

I wonder how this man’s and his son’s efforts would have been attacked if he had used the term"practice" instead of “drill”, which in this context differ not? I’m sure another angle would have been found in which to attack.

I’m not certain if this behavior derives from envy or simply just being ashamed of one’s own efforts, but it’s one or the other, that much is certain.

I think most here find it fascinating (or maybe perplexed or frustrating would be better words) that the hard work and dedication from our clergy is so openly and easily denigrated.

 

[Solomonson]

I think most here find it fascinating (or maybe perplexed or frustrating would be better words) that the hard work and dedication from our clergy is so openly and easily denigrated.

In direct response to your stated belief, not all Catholic clergy is hard working and/or dedicated – not that this thread had anything to do about that.

No clergy was being denigrated here. This thread was about positive things. You might interpret it as denigration, but in all honesty, that’s based on defensiveness that you bring to this thread.

 

[OraLabora]

Here’s a positive, though I wasn’t shocked by it, it was fully expected. Yesterday for the feast of Saint Benedict, I accepted the invitation of the chaplain (and a monk of the abbey I’m associated with) of a monastery of Benedictine women, to go to Mass there and have lunch with him and the deacon afterwards (a unique case, a professed Benedictine monk who is also a permanent deacon, a rarity).

The Mass was entirely in Latin and sung in Gregorian chant, except for the readings which were in French, and the bilingual homily (French/English, as they have a program there for the nuns to learn English). Very beautifully done. Moreover it was in the Ordinary Form. The Roman Canon was used, entirely chanted in Latin.

I normally would have sung along with them but those nuns sing a full octave higher than this dude!

 

[StudentMI]

In direct response to your stated belief, not all Catholic clergy is hard working and/or dedicated – not that this thread had anything to do about that.

No clergy was being denigrated here. This thread was about positive things. You might interpret it as denigration, but in all honesty, that’s based on defensiveness that you bring to this thread.

So you insult Don Ruggero and then passive aggressively claim ‘well not all clergy is hard working. Not that this thread is about that.’ Come on, man. And your previous post basically ended with saying ‘you’re either envious or a loser.’

 

[Phemie]

Here’s a positive, though I wasn’t shocked by it, it was fully expected. Yesterday for the feast of Saint Benedict, I accepted the invitation of the chaplain (and a monk of the abbey I’m associated with) of a monastery of Benedictine women, to go to Mass there and have lunch with him and the deacon afterwards (a unique case, a professed Benedictine monk who is also a permanent deacon, a rarity).

The Mass was entirely in Latin and sung in Gregorian chant, except for the readings which were in French, and the bilingual homily (French/English, as they have a program there for the nuns to learn English). Very beautifully done. Moreover it was in the Ordinary Form. The Roman Canon was used, entirely chanted in Latin.

I normally would have sung along with them but those nuns sing a full octave higher than this dude!

Sounds lovely. What monastery, if you don’t mind my asking?

 

[OraLabora]

Sounds lovely. What monastery, if you don’t mind my asking?

Ste-Marie-des-Deux-Montagnes, just northwest of Montreal on Lake of Two Mountains (hence the name!). They are Benedictine nuns (i.e. papal enclosure) of the Solesmes Congregation, the same congregation of the abbey I’m attached to and that you know!

 

[DeniseNY]

So you insult Don Ruggero and then passive aggressively claim ‘well not all clergy is hard working. Not that this thread is about that.’ Come on, man. And your previous post basically ended with saying ‘you’re either envious or a loser.’

Exactly

 

[OraLabora]

The phrase used was “They were militarily precise”. Abhorrent is exactly the word to respond to such in the liturgy. It is grotesque. Such mannerisms are, by their very nature, rigid.

When I am master of ceremonies for our bishop, we do a rehearsal to go through the elements…making sure that the gestures of the servers are devoid of any of these sorts of regimented gestures or comportment that in any way looks like it is derived from, for example, a review of troops. Cardinal Noe, Archbishop Marini and Monsignor Marini give a wonderful indication of the methods to be employed that are completely devoid of stiffness or drilll like mannerisms.

Indeed. When I watch the monastic liturgy, I’m impressed by the fluidity of it all. It is by no means rigid, each element simply flows into the other. And being human they do make little mistakes from time to time. I’m occasionally amused when I hear a mistake in the psalmody at the Divine Office such as garbling a word, singing off key, or putting an accent on the wrong syllable, and I look up from my antiphonary to see who made the mistake, because as per the Rule they must satisfaction by kneeling for a moment. And it can be anyone from the most junior monk up to the choirmaster or prior; last week it was the choirmaster, this week a brother (I work at the abbey library every Wednesday so have the opportunity to say the Divine Office with the monks).

Once when I was a young oblate-in-training, the monk doing one of the readings at Vigils made a mistake and took the reading from the wrong year (they use the 2-yr cycle of readings). I asked my oblate master “why did Fr. So-and-so use the reading from year X when we are in year Y?” The answer was as straightforward as the monks themselves “because Fr. So-and-so made a mistake”. No other explanation necessary, no attempt to blame or excuse, and certainly no “liturgical abuse”, words on CAF that I have simply come to abhor. That moment was pivotal for me in understanding monastic life and realizing that monks are above all men with all their qualities and flaws, seeking God like the rest of us.

 

[pianistclare]

I find it fascinating how some denigrate the hard work of others. Hard work done by others to help ensure the celebration of the Mass is as smooth, beautiful and reverent as possible.

I wonder how this man’s and his son’s efforts would have been attacked if he had used the term"practice" instead of “drill”, which in this context differ not? I’m sure another angle would have been found in which to attack.

I’m not certain if this behavior derives from envy or simply just being ashamed of one’s own efforts, but it’s one or the other, that much is certain.

I know you think you’re pretty slick, you can put “spin” on everything, but we have read enough of your threads to know that you have great disdain for liturgy that doesn’t meet your “high standards”.
Which is pretty rich coming from a person who won’t even identify as Catholic on his profile.

Those of us who are employed as Liturgists are not impressed with your constant criticisms, and even less so in your disregard for Father’s remarks.
No bueno. :nope:

I’m unsubscribing, I’ve had enough. I’m sure there will be some new complaint tomorrow, anyway .

 

[pianistclare]

Indeed. When I watch the monastic liturgy, I’m impressed by the fluidity of it all. It is by no means rigid, each element simply flows into the other. And being human they do make little mistakes from time to time. I’m occasionally amused when I hear a mistake in the psalmody at the Divine Office such as garbling a word, singing off key, or putting an accent on the wrong syllable, and I look up from my antiphonary to see who made the mistake, because as per the Rule they must satisfaction by kneeling for a moment. And it can be anyone from the most junior monk up to the choirmaster or prior; last week it was the choirmaster, this week a brother (I work at the abbey library every Wednesday so have the opportunity to say the Divine Office with the monks).

Once when I was a young oblate-in-training, the monk doing one of the readings at Vigils made a mistake and took the reading from the wrong year (they use the 2-yr cycle of readings). I asked my oblate master “why did Fr. So-and-so use the reading from year X when we are in year Y?” The answer was as straightforward as the monks themselves “because Fr. So-and-so made a mistake”. No other explanation necessary, no attempt to blame or excuse, and certainly no “liturgical abuse”, words on CAF that I have simply come to abhor. That moment was pivotal for me in understanding monastic life and realizing that monks are above all men with all their qualities and flaws, seeking God like the rest of us.

:clapping:

 

[Entwhistler]

This usually only happens in small churches but what is really awesome is when the Incense is at such a volume when the sanctuary is slightly foggy. Seeing the priest lift the Eucharist during the consecration within all of this is heavenly. And when the servers are reverent and bowing…Lovely.
The smells and bells may not be necessary but they do add something.