Why are people so against life teen mass?

[Dchsknight]

Dchsknight,

It might interest you to note that the Church has a different view on the matter. Pope John Paul II, the founder of the World Youth Day movement, wrote this in an official document of the Church, his Chirograph on Sacred Music:

Now, read what the former Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger wrote in his book, the Spirit of the Liturgy:

While the Spirit of the Liturgy is not an official document, it points the way to what the now-Pope Benedict XVI wrote in Sacramentum Caritatis.

What i am about to say and read from might offend some people but it must be said.

Taken from a Song Called “Achillies, The Back Breaker”

"We are too Old to Cry, Too young to Die. Bound to the promise of Better lives. We’re are bought and sold content to know. That we will never have to fight if we do what we are Told. We are Warrior Sons but, we run from a Cause that Brings Freemdom and Purpose and Hope to us all. We would rather be a product of the world and it is Whims, then have the world be a product of the Force of our wills.

RISE, and at the sound of our standing the Earth will Groan. RISE, and we will break their backs.

And we will strech for days, miles and years. Pulled across the fabric of our hopes and fears. we will pay the price, the Sacrifice of Rebels and Angels, A Storm of white light. Earth Shakers, Life Takers, Passion and Purpose makes men of us all. The Slow rotting, The Cancerous Fear. The Corruption, we put a stop to it here. Brothers in arms to me!

RISE, and at the sound of our standing the Earth will Groan. RISE, and we will break their backs.

Give us Insurrection, Give us something to say, Give us thirst for Vengeance and we will break their backs with the weight of our wills."

This world is a taken and shackled place. It is the Domain of the Devil and every day war goes on in the hearts of People. And the church is losing that War. Because no one will stand and fight back. IF i had to Choose to be an Alter Boy or William Wallace, I choose William Wallace. We don’t have any more Wallaces because the Church has said that we men have to be quite and calm and subdued and Clean cut. Well i say that is wrong. The Church has done something terrible to the hearts of men and that has chased us into cages and made us OBEY. Christ fought back, he yelled and beat people out of the temple. He fought against the very Darkness of this world. I will For ever fight against the darkness of this world. I will be brutal and wild. Ferocious and dangerous. You say that Rock music is a shackle that bring us down. shame on you and the Popes that said that. It is a good thing that the Pope is infailable on Faith morals, and not music. That Song that i Wrote down. talks about us men standing and Fighting against the Prince of Darkness. Achillies in the story of the Iliad is Famous for Standing against the wrong and evils of Agamemnon. If you want peace in the church and a unified Church, You had best be prepared for Warfare, and it starts in the hearts of our youth. because if we can not get our young men to stand and fight, Become priests that speak the word, Become Deacons that service with out hesitation and husbands, that love their wives as much as christ loved the Church, then they need to be brutal, wild, Dangerous men like William Wallace and siege the Fortresses of Satan.

 

[benedictgal]

Dchsknight,

I read in your profile that you are not Catholic. Perhaps that is why you may not understand why the Church does what she does.

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the Church’s most sacred treasure, received directly from Christ, Himself. Protestant ecclesial communities have the Word, but, we have both the Word and the Sacrifice. The music used for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass must accurately reflect the Church’s liturgical, theologicial and dogmatic teachings. Furthemrore, it must be composed in a style that presents and enhances the salvific mysteries that unfold before us every time we go to Mass.

At Mass, it is no less than Jesus, Himself, through the action of the priest, who becomes just as present for us as he was 2,000 years ago. The Church takes Jesus at His word when he says, through the actions of the priest, “This is my Body; This is my Blood.” Each Mass makes present for us the Sacrifice of Calvary. We are just as present at the foot of the cross as were the Blessed Mother and Sts. John and Mary Magdalene.

When the music becomes more of a performance and a show and does not enhance the Sacrifice, then it should not be used during the Mass. It becomes, as Pope Paul VI noted, something that is not fit to cross the threshhold, so to speak.

 

[Philomeena]

The whole system of catechesis that teaches kids all the “answers” early on allows them to think that by the time they complete confirmation that they’ve got it all down and that they are now “officially” Catholic and the work is over. Nobody tells them that the journey has just begun or gives them any direction to make their faith relevant to the world. Worse, since they think they already have all the answers it never occurs to them that they would have a need to ask any questions. You end up with “God in a box” that you pay your weekly dues to and go on about your life.

AMEN!!!

 

[Dchsknight]

Dchsknight,

I read in your profile that you are not Catholic. Perhaps that is why you may not understand why the Church does what she does.

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the Church’s most sacred treasure, received directly from Christ, Himself. Protestant ecclesial communities have the Word, but, we have both the Word and the Sacrifice. The music used for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass must accurately reflect the Church’s liturgical, theologicial and dogmatic teachings. Furthemrore, it must be composed in a style that presents and enhances the salvific mysteries that unfold before us every time we go to Mass.

At Mass, it is no less than Jesus, Himself, through the action of the priest, who becomes just as present for us as he was 2,000 years ago. The Church takes Jesus at His word when he says, through the actions of the priest, “This is my Body; This is my .” Each Mass makes present for us the Sacrifice of Calvary. We are just as present at the foot of the cross as were the Blessed Mother and Sts. John and Mary Magdalene.

When the music becomes more of a performance and a show and does not enhance the Sacrifice, then it should not be used during the Mass. It becomes, as Pope Paul VI noted, something that is not fit to cross the threshhold, so to speak.

Dont preach to me about Catholicism. I am not catholic here because Easter has not come yet. When Easter vigil Comes I will be catholic. And quite frankly, not bragging, but i have had to learn a lot more about catholicism then most catholics. because i was raised baptist. I have learned and studied so much over the past years when easter comes i will have the fullness of the word of God. What is not fitting to cross the threshold of our holy building are cowards not willing to stand up for the word of God.

 

[Ame]

When I have attended Life Teen Masses, I just feel sorry for the kids. They are seeking a feeling or a movement in their hearts from the music. They are looking for a connection with God outside of themselves. They see some of the religious programming on TV where people have their hands raised with tears streaming down their faces, as they sway to the beat of the music, and they feel depressed because they don’t get that in their Catholic Church. They feel like they are missing out.

During a mandatory Confirmation retreat when I was 16 years old, a young seminarian led us in prayer. He told us to close our eyes and think the words, “Come, Holy Spirit.” He told us to believe in our hearts that the Holy Spirit dwells withint us. In all my years as a Catholic school student, no one had ever said that to me before. That’s what young people need. They need to be taught how to pray, how to read Scripture and use it as a map for their lives. They need to learn to say the Rosary and meditate on God’s Word. We see this huge movement in our country toward yoga and meditation - why not Rosary and meditation? If Life Teen isn’t working, let’s take it in a new direction - a new, quiet, peaceful, meditative direction.

 

[benedictgal]

Dont preach to me about Catholicism. I am not catholic here because Easter has not come yet. When Easter vigil Comes I will be catholic. And quite frankly, not bragging, but i have had to learn a lot more about catholicism then most catholics. because i was raised baptist. I have learned and studied so much over the past years when easter comes i will have the fullness of the word of God. What is not fitting to cross the threshold of our holy building are cowards not willing to stand up for the word of God.

The words I quoted were not mine, they were from the various Popes, all of them in the Vatican II and post-Vatican II era.

If you, once you are received into the Church (and this is indeed a blessing!), wish to engage in music ministry or to learn more about the liturgy, it would certainly be beneficial to read what the authoritative documents of the Holy See have to say on the subject.

Contrary to what some Catholic parishes may believe, the Mass is not some sort of free-form exercise in creativity. The Church protects her greatest treasure, guarding its integrity.

I would suggest that you might want to read the Spirit of the Liturgy by Pope Benedict XVI. We can never learn enough about the Church. The RCIA program is not the end; it is the beginning. Just like we don’t get the whole wallup about the Faith once we hit Confirmation. The Church is an ongoing journey of Faith.

 

[DallasCatholic]

Dont preach to me about Catholicism. I am not catholic here because Easter has not come yet. When Easter vigil Comes I will be catholic. And quite frankly, not bragging, but i have had to learn a lot more about catholicism then most catholics. because i was raised baptist. I have learned and studied so much over the past years when easter comes i will have the fullness of the word of God. What is not fitting to cross the threshold of our holy building are cowards not willing to stand up for the word of God.

Don’t be so touchy. BenedictGal was just responding to your (at least in what I read) disregard for the teachings regarding music that have been offered by the two most recent Popes. I’m not sure who or what your final sentance is directed towards. If you are coming into the Church at Easter then you would do well to learn even more about what the Church teaches and not be satisfied that you “had to learn a lot more about Catholicism than most Catholics”…corrrect punctualization and capitalization are my small additions to your quote. Welcome to the Church.

 

[psr13]

I am not a fan of talioring Mass to a specific age group. Mass is only an hour. If teens can’t pay attention for an hour, there is a problem. I agree with others who say that youth group would be a better option. Have teens go to Mass on Sunday and youth group some other day of the week. I know that Catholics aren’t Protestant, but Protestants win the youth by youth group. They don’t do it by Sunday services.

 

[Dchsknight]

People Miss understand my Zealotry. That is the Baptist in me. I am sorry if I did not Explain my self very well.

What i mean, is simply this. The Church as a whole is dropping the ball on the youth. Music does not matter. Tradition, can be done away with, Because that is all that is to some. (Bare with me here) I say get rid of Mass, get rid of all Traditions, When people have no idea why they are doing it. I know why i am going to Confession tonight. I know when i go up during Communion and i have to cross my arms and i cant take it, My Heart hurts. People come in to the church and go to confession go to Communion, go to mass in general and they have no idea why they are there. They are there because someone told them they had to be there. That Trend cause a lot of people to stop going, because they sit there thinking “Why am i here?” and the answer is, No reason. so they leave. And for young people they are not being told why the Mass, in all it’s tradition is so beautiful and wonderful so they have to add stuff to make it better. That is the problem. The church is just sending them to Confirmation and that is it. Kids are not being told to read the bible and grow and see why the mass is the way that it is and that creates a bunch of Robots. The problem is not with the kids or the music. The problem is with us s, not sharing with them why things are the way they are. They are getting a force feed doctrine that most don’t even understand and no one is willing to help them. when i said “What is not fitting to cross the threshold of our Holy Buildings, are Cowards not willing to stand for the word” i was referring to people who just go to go, who just go cause mommy and Daddy told them they had to when they were kids, because those parents are gonna have a lot to answer for. What i am fighting against, what i will not stand for, is people who get so up tight and say oh this way of worship is wrong or no you have to do this, some of them are the same people who don’t know what they have. They don’t know that the very savior of our world is there on the Alter. WE HAVE OUR CHRIST! Gosh I don’t want to be silent or well behaved when that is said, I want to dance in the streets as David did when the Ark of The Covenant was returned.

So when people add things to the Mass, When people are doing things to help liven up the mass, and you sit there and complain and whine and argue. think what could you do to help the next generation see why the mass is Beautiful in all it’s traditions, in all it is Liturgy. STOP complaining about one way of Worship. Stop complaining about Rock music and get down to the real issue. Our church is going to die if we don’t grab the hearts of the next generation. if we dont stop bickering and fighting about music and about how we look we are going to let our youth fly by and they will never know the grace and power of our lord Jesus.

Do you catholics even know why you go to Mass, Where just told to go? or do you go with the heart to learn and Grow? Do you take Communion, just because some one said to or that every one else does? Or do you take it because that is our Savior, that is our Power and forgiveness. That wafer and that Cup is our passover, it is our Love or strength it is our Jesus, and with out it we have no life in us. Do you say the Creed just because every one else stands and does, or do you say it knowing what it means for you. That someday some one might kill you because of it. That by saying it you are Declaring War on Satan and his Kingdom. When you go to Mass do you go for something to do on a Sunday, or do you go to be ready for battle through out the week against the Dark forces of this world.

Because to be catholic, means you are an enemy of the Devil. You are a knight in the Army of God and most of us don’t know how to use our Swords. And when the Devil comes most of us don’t know how to fight back against him and send him back to the pit and kill his minions with the power of our faith. Most cant even tell when Satan is at their Door Step.

People Argue and Argue and get so legalistic and say you cant listen to this you cant listen to that, and we get so caught up in our Arguing that we miss the very core of our hearts. We miss the very core of Jesus, and that is Proclaiming his name in the streets. Carrying his name like a Shield to War and our Children are paying for it. Because we are not on fire and living what the bible says and what our Priests presents us every Sunday.our children try and make Desperate cry for us, to show them Why Mass, is something I am willing to Die for. Are you willing to Die for the Masses said through the world and help protect the church? if you are you had better Get ready to fight for the hearts of our youth, and equip them and tell them why Mass is beautiful, instead of sticking them in some Confirmation and then throwing them to the wolves. because as i have said in other posts Children need Jesus just as much as s do, and when we don’t share or do the bare minimum we are agents in their . And Christ said IF any one leads one of my little ones astray, it would be better for them to tie a millstone around their neck then to stand on Judgment day.

 

[psr13]

Your rant is not necessary. I am a former Protestant, too. I come from a long line of very religious Protestants. Changing Mass to include rock music is not going to get teens and keep them there. They have to go anyway, so they just choose to go to that one. It changes nothing. I will say it again, youth groups are how Protestants get the youth and keep them. Trust me, they don’t do it by changing their services.

 

[trokll]

Thanks for all the posts everyone

Well I going to say that the church needs sometihng like lifeteen. I personal would not mind if we droped some of the stuff like gathring around the alter and holding hands ( things that we do at the parish). I really do seek christ and I guess i am one of the teenagers who acutly was helped a lot by lifeteen. Preatty much before I got confiremed I was not raised catholic . I was born catholic (baptised, first commion etc) but not raised it. I personal; feel that lifeteen really gave me way to get into the faith. I do understand however why many people would be made at it though. OOh also on the sbject of dress at mass I realy do enjoy how it is more freestyle. I do dress up for stuff like christmas mass but what I nocted is that people often seen to be more concered with how then are dressed then with mass. Take for example my parnets only go to easter and christmas mass and then seem to get overell concered about how I dress like then would be ashamed of me. Yet I honestly feel that there getting way into dressing for mass that then really dont get into it. I have to state it again these views might only be coming from the fact that I am a teenager and I despise dressing up

Sorry for the long post and i also have to say you all are asome.

 

[Sarabande]

Thanks for all the posts everyone

Well I going to say that the church needs sometihng like lifeteen. I personal would not mind if we droped some of the stuff like gathring around the alter and holding hands ( things that we do at the parish). I really do seek christ and I guess i am one of the teenagers who acutly was helped a lot by lifeteen.

I’m sorry you didn’t have the guidance and support growing up.
You are one of those teens that probably needed something like this to bring you back to the Church. And as you continue on your faith journey, you may one day find yourself needing to go to the next level.

I do have to say, though, I thought that LT was supposed to have stopped doing the gathering around the altar? They used to do that at the LT masses when I was a teen and that was a while back. You probably should mention this to the leaders of the LT that it isn’t supposed to be done. I know that there are a few people on these boards who really love LT and would probably have the documents to give to you in order to prove that it is not permitted.

 

[Fludgecow101]

The main thing that annoys me with Lifeteen masses is the music. At my church the music is great but very loud andeveryone is dancing and swinging their arms(or at least swaying their bodies to the music). They’ll have little guitar solos. It’s just a lot more distracting in my opinion. The music is so good though, everyone stays after mass has ended and the last song has been played, and then they clap and cheer as if it was a concert(not kidding). A lot of people seem to only go for the entertainment and to see people(which is fine after mass). Maybe this is only one of the churches here, but other lifeteen masses but the music is still at least distracting. It really seems to be all music though, like when at my confirmation classes last year, the teachers will say you should come to the lifeteen mass. It’s got music you’ll like. Thats all, nothing about things like how we need the graces and it’s the greatest form of prayer. I just rather be more focused on God while at mass, not things like what kind of drum technique was the drummer just using there. I guess it’s just not for me, but they really should fix some of these problems.

 

[IrishDude45]

Alright let me say first that I am 17 and have been to MORE than my fair share of Lifeteen masses. I only went to that mass because I was trying to be more involved with Lifeteen. I hated it. I love to go to mass, but when I go to mass I want to go to mass not some “lets hold hands”, “clap like some protestant”, loud, distracting, maddening, pseudo-baptist fest!
But beyond the obvious, the worse affects are with the spiritual lives of the teens attending. Very few that went to Lifeteen mass believed in the Real Presence, or even understood the mass for what it is because Lifeteen masses are far too often about “socializing” and “being with friends” rather than participating in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. I have witness some of the worse irreverence at Lifeteen masses. It just is far too “open” and seems a free for all.

All that being said. I do know some of my friends are only Catholic now because of Lifeteen and its masses. But I wonder how truly Catholic they are? I was talking to a friend the other day, cradle Catholic, loves lifeteen masses, and he didn’t believe me when I said that Our Lord was truly and actually present in the Eucharist!

I’m staying far away. Enjoy it if ya fancy that type of thing.

Give me Gregorian Chant, Latin, Tridentine Liturgy any day. God spare me from ever having to attend a Lifeteen mass ever again as long as I live. Amen.

Pax Vobiscum

 

[benedictgal]

Thanks for all the posts everyone

Well I going to say that the church needs sometihng like lifeteen. I personal would not mind if we droped some of the stuff like gathring around the alter and holding hands ( things that we do at the parish). I really do seek christ and I guess i am one of the teenagers who acutly was helped a lot by lifeteen. Preatty much before I got confiremed I was not raised catholic . I was born catholic (baptised, first commion etc) but not raised it. I personal; feel that lifeteen really gave me way to get into the faith. I do understand however why many people would be made at it though. OOh also on the sbject of dress at mass I realy do enjoy how it is more freestyle. I do dress up for stuff like christmas mass but what I nocted is that people often seen to be more concered with how then are dressed then with mass. Take for example my parnets only go to easter and christmas mass and then seem to get overell concered about how I dress like then would be ashamed of me. Yet I honestly feel that there getting way into dressing for mass that then really dont get into it. I have to state it again these views might only be coming from the fact that I am a teenager and I despise dressing up

Sorry for the long post and i also have to say you all are asome.

My young friend, even though you have found some good fruit at LifeTeen, the Mass itself, I am afraid to say, doing you a disservice. The Mass is the Holy Sacrifice. At every Mass we are just as present at the foot of the cross as were the Blessed Mother and Sts. John and Mary Magdalene. It is the moment when the veil between heaven and earth and time and space is lifted. I do not know if they teach y’all this, but, at every Mass, it’s not just you and your friends in attendance. You are surrounded by the angels, the saints and the souls in purgatory. The entire Church comes together at every Mass: the Church Triumphant (the Church in Heaven), the Church Militant (those of us here on earth) and the Church Suffering (the souls in purgatory).

The issue of holding hands is a serious abuse. No one but the priest and those assisting him should be at the altar. It’s not a matter of your not minding if this practice stopped, the Vatican has already said that it needs to go.

Regarding dressing for Mass, let me give you an example. If the Holy Father were to come to your city and you were chosen to be one of the youngsters to meet him, how would you dress? You would wear your best clothing, right? My friend, every Mass is a special occasion. You are in the presence of the Almighty. Exterior preparation (clothing, grooming) is important because it demonstrates that you consider Mass as something that is something for which to get all spiffy.

You have a good head on your shoulders in that you are doing the best that you can to get yourself to Mass, despite the situation at home. It does worry me, though, that you may not be receiving the best formation to help strengthen you on your journey.

 

[benedictgal]

What i mean, is simply this. The Church as a whole is dropping the ball on the youth. Music does not matter. Tradition, can be done away with, Because that is all that is to some. (Bare with me here) I say get rid of Mass, get rid of all Traditions, When people have no idea why they are doing it.

Dchsknight:

I hope that I am not reading that it is your intent to dispense with the Tradition of the Church. The Church has two pillars, Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. In fact, even St. Paul exhorts us to hold fast to our Tradition. He even says that what he has handed on to the Churches he wrote to he received from Christ (as well as conferring with St. Peter and the Eleven when he met them).

They are getting a force feed doctrine that most don’t even understand and no one is willing to help them. when i said “What is not fitting to cross the threshold of our Holy Buildings, are Cowards not willing to stand for the word” i was referring to people who just go to go, who just go cause mommy and Daddy told them they had to when they were kids, because those parents are gonna have a lot to answer for. What i am fighting against, what i will not stand for, is people who get so up tight and say oh this way of worship is wrong or no you have to do this, some of them are the same people who don’t know what they have. They don’t know that the very savior of our world is there on the Alter. WE HAVE OUR CHRIST! Gosh I don’t want to be silent or well behaved when that is said, I want to dance in the streets as David did when the Ark of The Covenant was returned.

So when people add things to the Mass, When people are doing things to help liven up the mass, and you sit there and complain and whine and argue. think what could you do to help the next generation see why the mass is Beautiful in all it’s traditions, in all it is Liturgy. STOP complaining about one way of Worship. Stop complaining about Rock music and get down to the real issue.

Do you catholics even know why you go to Mass, Where just told to go? or do you go with the heart to learn and Grow? Do you take Communion, just because some one said to or that every one else does? Or do you take it because that is our Savior, that is our Power and forgiveness. That wafer and that Cup is our passover, it is our Love or strength it is our Jesus, and with out it we have no life in us. Do you say the Creed just because every one else stands and does, or do you say it knowing what it means for you. That someday some one might kill you because of it. That by saying it you are Declaring War on Satan and his Kingdom. When you go to Mass do you go for something to do on a Sunday, or do you go to be ready for battle through out the week against the Dark forces of this world.

People Argue and Argue and get so legalistic and say you cant listen to this you cant listen to that, and we get so caught up in our Arguing that we miss the very core of our hearts. We miss the very core of Jesus, and that is Proclaiming his name in the streets. .

It’s not that we are getting legalistic; however, what would be helpful for you to understand is that the Mass, as the Church’s greatest Treasure and Prayer, is not some sort of free-form exercise in creativity. I am happy that you understand the value of the Holy Sacrifice and that you are zealous.

Perhaps you have not heard the saying, lex orandi, lex credendi. We pray as we believe. We are not called to “liven things up” during the Mass. To do that misses the entire point of what is happening at the Altar. Jesus did not have to liven things up at the Last Supper, nor at Calvary. What we are doing is something totally-Other. It is distinct and extraordinary.

Furthermore, the music does matter. The Church takes her worship at a deeper, more penetrating level because something totally different is happening.

Unfortunately, the catechesis that the kids are receiving both at home and in some of these movements is not helping, not in the least. Sadly, they don’t get it at home and what they do get is watered down or, worse, incorrect and gravely deficient. If they want excitement, have at it at the Youth Meetings; however, when it comes to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the gears need to be switched.

Pope Benedict said that the reason why we are experiencing an ecclesial crisis has to do with the state of our liturgy today. I urge you to read his words and his books.

By the way, we do not “take” Holy Communion, we receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ.

 

[benedictgal]

My young friend, even though you have found some good fruit at LifeTeen, the Mass itself, I am afraid to say, doing you a disservice. The Mass is the Holy Sacrifice. At every Mass we are just as present at the foot of the cross as were the Blessed Mother and Sts. John and Mary Magdalene. It is the moment when the veil between heaven and earth and time and space is lifted. I do not know if they teach y’all this, but, at every Mass, it’s not just you and your friends in attendance. You are surrounded by the angels, the saints and the souls in purgatory. The entire Church comes together at every Mass: the Church Triumphant (the Church in Heaven), the Church Militant (those of us here on earth) and the Church Suffering (the souls in purgatory).

The issue of ***gathering around the altar ***is a serious abuse. No one but the priest and those assisting him should be at the altar. It’s not a matter of your not minding if this practice stopped, the Vatican has already said that it needs to go.

Regarding dressing for Mass, let me give you an example. If the Holy Father were to come to your city and you were chosen to be one of the youngsters to meet him, how would you dress? You would wear your best clothing, right? My friend, every Mass is a special occasion. You are in the presence of the Almighty. Exterior preparation (clothing, grooming) is important because it demonstrates that you consider Mass as something that is something for which to get all spiffy.

You have a good head on your shoulders in that you are doing the best that you can to get yourself to Mass, despite the situation at home. It does worry me, though, that you may not be receiving the best formation to help strengthen you on your journey.

I didn’t realize that I had made a mistake in my original post. My Jack Russell died about an hour ago. :crying: I rescued her nearly seven years ago from the shelter’s death row and she was a good little gal.:crying: and I am going to miss her terribly. She was about nine years old.

I was typing to not get too upset. It is only now that I realized that I typed the wrong thing.

Here is what Adoremus reported back in 2004 regarding the practices that LifeTeen was supposed to stop:

Life Teen’s Liturgical Reform
Life Teen, the Phoenix-based Catholic youth organization, announced in July that it will cease its idiosyncratic liturgical practices. Monsignor Dale Fushek, Life Teen’s founder and former Vicar General under Bishop Thomas O’Brien, sent a letter July 2, saying that he confirms “our adherence to the new GIRM, and as always, our obedience to our own local Bishops”.

The letter asked that “all parishes that implement the LIFE TEEN model” make these changes. The teens will no longer surround the altar during the Eucharistic prayer; they will cease saying, “The Mass never ends, it must be lived”, at the end of Mass; the rock-party atmosphere before Mass will be toned down to “make sure there is a period of silence to begin the liturgical celebration”; and they will “make sure the music does not in any way detract from the action at the altar, ambo or chair”.

“I am sure these issues will be hard on some parishes and teens”, Monsignor Fushek wrote. His letter said that Phoenix Bishop Thomas Olmsted met in Rome with Cardinal Francis Arinze, of the Congregation for Divine Worship, about Life Teen.

It is most disconcerting that some parishes are still employing this ilicit practice.

 

[Aramis]

Hello all

I have a question about why many people dislike life teen mass. I personal see no problem with it but I understand a lot of people on this forum are not found of it. This may be beacuse I am a acutly teenager but it has lead me to being trying to seek christ. I am not saying that my faith is toatly based on lifeteen, (I go to normal mass sometimes and still find it asome). But I really have to ask why do some people really disapporve of Lifeteen is there one thing in particluar or is more of how a particluar parish does it.

Any imput would be helpful

I’ve never seen one.

However, there have been issues with innovations being implemented without episcopal oversight, and in some cases, direct violations of the General Instructions of the Roman Missal. They have been documented and ordered stopped by Rome.

 

[trokll]

Thanks for the posts Benedictga

I will see into talking to my youth directer about gathring around the altar thing. I would need an exact source were I could find the documents saying we cannont do that so that I have prove so if anyone could link it for me that would be great. I am not sure I can do anything about the music however cause we current use guitar and an electric drum set and some other proction insturments. I am not sure what all I can do but I ight raise a concern about it. I probly will still go to life teen mass but I will probly dress in my school uniform ( uniform is what I would call church clothes). I also might try and talk to my friends at lifeteen (who I persoanl think are good Catholics) about this but how do I talk to them about this kind of thing. Any help would be appractaed.

 

[palmas85]

Hello all

I have a question about why many people dislike life teen mass. I personal see no problem with it but I understand a lot of people on this forum are not found of it. This may be beacuse I am a acutly teenager but it has lead me to being trying to seek christ. I am not saying that my faith is toatly based on lifeteen, (I go to normal mass sometimes and still find it asome). But I really have to ask why do some people really disapporve of Lifeteen is there one thing in particluar or is more of how a particluar parish does it.

Any imput would be helpful

I would say several things.

One is the fact that Lifeteen itself appears either unable or probably more accurately unwilling to reign in the abuses that take place in their Masses. Even after the Vatican stepped in and told them to stop, they sent out a letter telling the various groups not to commit the prohibited acts again and essentially said that everyone immediately and obediently stopped committing the abuses.

We know that didn’t happen because the abuses continue unabated. The kids still encircle the altar, the Masses are still to a great extent ab libbed and the music booms on as loud as ever.

Second the Lifeteen Masses are notorious in some respects because the entire emphasis often is on the social aspect. Plenty of hugging and kissing and extended signs of peace, lots of swaying to the music, yes the music often seems to be the main reason for being there with the Mass itself becoming secondary and plenty of good old fashioned flirting going on.

Third is the almost slavish devotion that many in the movement have for the movement itself. They can see no wrong in the movement and will accept no criticism of the movement at all from anyone. There are posters on this forum who literally go berserk in their support of the movement and in their attacks on those who don’t share their devotion.

I have no doubt that some good has come out of the program. Statistically, I don’t see how it could not be so. But overall, I think the movement is just another flash in the pan and it’s time for usefulness is probably pretty much long gone. I think one only needs to look at the founder of the movement and see what direction he has gone in to see what he actually envisioned for Lifeteen when he organized it.