Worst Liturgical Abuses?

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Got you beat, where to start:

Glass chalices and cups for the wine, including consecration.

Liturgical Dancers.

The Holy Spirit refered to as “She” in the intentions.

Matter that was probably illicit, or at worse invalid for consecration.

Lay Woman giving the Homily.

Good Friday – The Passion reading was edited (both subtractions, additions from other texts, and rewordings).

Hmm, when I can think of more, I’ll let y’all know.
 
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patricia:
This sounds scarey to me as a Protestant on my way to Catholicism. I guess it means I need to be very careful what parish I choose to go to. :confused:
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Tradition! The Latin Mass, find one, and fall in love!
 
Hmm, I’ll try to leave out the run-of-the-mill stuff.

How about:

*Directing the people to sing “Happy Birthday” to the man serving daily mass, immediately after the entrance/sign of the cross.

*Rearranging the Mass to perform a sort of penitential rite (blessing of water at the very beginning in the back of the church where the holy water font is, then sign of the cross, then entrance hymn, then directly to “let us pray” and the readings
  • In previous years, at daily mass between Easter and Pentecost, a bowl of holy water would be passed by the priest to the last person on each aisle who was to dip & pass the holy water on to the person adjacent before blessing himself with it
  • Special rite of thanksgiving after communion where the people are to respond: “We thank you Lord” after each of the things we ar directed to thank him for.
*Directs his gaze and that of the altar boys to the choir when they are “performing”

*Occasionally uses a dumbed down version of the Eucharistic prayer that is meant for children’s masses at the Sunday mass where the youth choir sings

*Instead of lifting the host/chalice at the “This is the Lamb of God…,” he points to the altar where they have been placed and says it.

*Lacking one altar boy last Sunday, guess that they decided to leave out out the sanctuary? The crucifix!

Does not appear to have any intention to comply with Redemptionis Sacramentum, and my diocese liturgical person was quite vague about when there might be some follow-up on this.

We’re not permitted a single Tridentine mass either, though if I’m willing to drive a bit I can find masses with fewer anomalies.
 
Many of these stories are very sad and hard to read - my heart goes out to all who, though no fault of their own, must put up with such rediculous distractions while gathering to worship our Lord. I’m presently doing all that I can to put an end to the abuses that my parish priest and DRE are up to, such as:
  • Attempting to change the Our Father to an inclusive language version by a singer by the name of Joe Wise ('Our Father, Our Mother, Our Sister, our Brother…)
  • Priest receives communion LAST with the rest of the EMs in the santuary.
  • EMs and Lectors are not trained - if anyone volunteers, they are placed on the schedule (hey, the ‘People of God’ have the right to participate right?) They’re proud to mention how many more ‘active’ members the parish has now that they have this great new priest, compared to that dull old (orthodox) priest that used to be there.
  • Many people (pseudo EMs I guess), chosen randomly at many tables throughout a large hall, in which Holy Thursday Mass was celebrated, were asked to RAISE the Host and Chalice with the priest during the consecration - the Body of our Lord was then distributed at each table by passing from one person to the next.
  • At a ‘healing service’, everyone was encouraged to write down their sins on pieces of paper (provided) then everyone threw their ‘paper sins’ into a canister in front of the alter where they were burned! (See, sins really do burn). The priest of course gave general absolution. He also justified all this by explaining that the early Church never had private confessions, and that general absolution was the norm, and that there were only 3 sins - murder, adultry, apostasy, and that Irish monks ruined the sacrement of confession, yada yady, and a slew of other stories that tried to show that private oral confession does more harm than good. (He’s well loved by many ;))
  • Omits Creed (instead recides his ‘own’ in the form of a baptismal promise - i.e. ‘do you believe…I do’)
  • Omits penitental rite and ALL prayers (he makes it all up, oh sorry, he recites them ‘in the Spirit’), save the Eucharistic prayers, which says occationally (otherwise, it is a sung responsorial).
  • ‘This mass has just begun’, instead of the proper ‘This mass has ended’. He even has his words hanging on the wall in the back of the church.
That’s just the beginning. I’m almost too ashamed to mention that he actually admits that the 12 step program is the ‘greatest thing since the Gospel’ and that it is ‘truly of the Holy Spirit’. Now, don’t get me wrong, its a wonderful way to reach out to those in need, but lets get real, the Gospel is infinitely greater than any of the ‘mere straw’ and of us could think of.

Thank you for your time, and any prayers if you so feel inclined.
 
During a mass a few years back in Detroit a Priest was wearing a vestment with a hockey team insignia on it, and had a neighbor hold up the score of the game in the back of the church, whenever the score would change it would be read aloud by the Priest. The Priest did less then apologize for his actions, you can see a pic and read about it hear sportsbybrooks.com/wingandaprayer.html

Chris
 
Once, I attended a Latin Rite Mass in Philadelphia, the priest “forget” to say the Creed one Sunday in July. I asked why? He replied" Its too hot" (The church is air-conditioned). I replied:“I know a place where its hot all the time, and they don’t receite the Creed down there either”

I’ve seen a priest offer hosts in a glass bowl that looked like a mixing bowl, then distribute the hosts in what looked like doggie bowls.

Read “Where have you gone, Michelangelo?” by Thomas Day. Also he is the author of “Why Catholics can’t Sing”
 
The Worst Liturgical Abuses are those that are breaches of Holy Tradition that was observed universally between the East (Byzantine and Orthodox) and West (Latin etc).

(1) Girl-altar-boys…I profoundly hate this abuse.
(2) EME’s or whatever they are called
(3) Priest ALWAYS facing the congregation and not leading us to God
(4) No Chant
(5) tabernacle not in the sanctuary
(6) No separation from the santuary to the rest of hte church “altar rails”. East used the iconostasis
 
I am not sure but I believe that there may be liturgical abuses in my Church. How do you know? Some of things I noticed and questioned:
  1. girl servers
  2. extraordinary ministers behind altar to receive commuion (after priests receives)
  3. no cross is carried in when service begins and incense is only used on holidays
  4. women distribute Eucharist (extra ordinary ministers)
  5. tabernacle off to side not near altar (modern build church)
 
Here’s one for you all!
On Good Friday the Priest insisted that the Altar servers (female) prostrate themselves in front of the Altar with him and the other priest:bigyikes: . The Instruction says:

***The altar must be completely stripped. The procession comes through the church to the altar in silence. When they come to the altar, the celebrant and the sacred ministers lie prostrate whilst the rest kneel, bowing deeply: and all pray silently for a short time. ***

I train the Altar servers at our Parish and I was present at the ceremony. I was never even told that any practice had taken place. This was pre practised without my knowledge. The Altar servers did tell em afterwards that they were very uncomfortable with it. I couldn’t even answer them from the shock.
I will be ready next year!

I still twitch from time to time but am receovering nicely!!!

Fergal
Naas
Ireland
 
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George789:
I am not sure but I believe that there may be liturgical abuses in my Church.
  1. girl servers
  2. extraordinary ministers behind altar to receive commuion (after priests receives)
  3. no cross is carried in when service begins and incense is only used on holidays
  4. women distribute Eucharist (extra ordinary ministers)
  5. tabernacle off to side not near altar (modern build church)
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  1. Is not a violation, unless the Bishop in your diocese hasn’t allowed them.
  2. As long as they are approaching the altar AFTER the priest receives and getting the host from the priest AFTER he recieves this is allowed.
  3. Allowed as long as you have a crucifix in your church, not just a cross or a cross with the risen Christ on it.
  4. Also allowed
  5. Allowed, you even see this at the Vatican and the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception but they are in side chapels not just on the side.
These things are found in numerous locations, the primary one being the GIRM.
Link
 
Worst Abuses I have seen:
  1. During Good Friday, having female kid reading the part of Jesus during the Liturgy.
  2. Liturgical Dancers
  3. Children’s Liturgy during Masses that weren’t primarily kids.
  4. Bringing kids up to the altar during major sections of the Mass.
  5. Neutering or Feminization of the Liturgy of the Word (thankfully not at our parish but one I visited.)
and the worst of them all was:
6) Instructions from the Liturgy committee approved by the Pastor to wash the sacred vessels after communion with normal towels that were washed normally. Luckily after I brought this to the attention of one of the Orthodox priests in the parish this was fixed, but a lot of the EMHCs that were trained by the Liturgist still try to do it.

I know I have seen others but I can’t remember them right now. Thankfully all of the above things were corrected when we got a new Pastor.
 
Marauder said:
1) Is not a violation, unless the Bishop in your diocese hasn’t allowed them.
2) As long as they are approaching the altar AFTER the priest receives and getting the host from the priest AFTER he recieves this is allowed.
3) Allowed as long as you have a crucifix in your church, not just a cross or a cross with the risen Christ on it.
4) Also allowed
5) Allowed, you even see this at the Vatican and the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception but they are in side chapels not just on the side.

These things are found in numerous locations, the primary one being the GIRM.
Link
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#1 is always an abuse. Inaestimable Donum. Altae Sunt. For 2 sources of information. Its an evil practice. Its a liturgical lie, and if it continues much longer my family will not be attending Novus Ordo Masses much longer.
 
Agomemnon said:
#1 is always an abuse. Inaestimable Donum. Altae Sunt. For 2 sources of information. Its an evil practice. Its a liturgical lie, and if it continues much longer my family will not be attending Novus Ordo Masses much longer.
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Sorry dude, the Vatican has allowed female altar servers as long as the local Bishop has allowed them. It isn’t an abuse if the Vatican allows it. It can be your opinion that it isn’t appropriate, but it is only that.

The Vatican is allowed to change practices within the church. The allowing of female altar servers is a practice, not a matter of faith and morals. The only way it would violate previous things would be if they allowed the ordained version of acolytes.
 
Where are all the Bishops who should be taking these priests and pastors to task? And, if they are, why aren’t changes happening? What has happened to the adherence by a priests to their vow of obedience? I have a feeling that the few priests we have left in the U.S. feel they are in the driver’s seat and will do pretty much what they want to do.
 
Because the Bishops are of the same ilk as the pastors, or they don’t care, or they try but can’t do anyting.

Remember in most cases its not the priest who is in charge, but the Liturgy committee. I served on one 27 years ago. A woman said to the priest at the weekly meeting about a Mass being planned, “Don’t worry Father, we’ll call you when we need you”
 
You mentioned in an earlier posting that the priest had left out the Creed. While visiting family in another part of the state the same thing happened while my wife and I were attending Sunday Mass at one of the local parishes. I asked the priest why he had left out the Creed and he said he felt it was a waste of time.I asked him what his Bishop said about it and he replied, “…he was pissed but he’ll get over it”. He turned, waved at a parishioner and walked away. What incredible arrogance.
 
The worst abuse I have ever seen was during the “sign of peace” that we give to everyone. Everyone on the altar left to roam about the church. People in the pews left their pews to roam about the church embracing each other. The noise level rose to a high because everyone was talking, shouting across the church to their friends, laughing as well. My boyfriend (now husband) and I were in shock and knelt to make reparation for this outrage. We timed it and it lasted for 20 min. It was the strangest thing to look at the altar with Our Lord in the cioraborm (sp) and the altar empty of everyone. We only went because we both worked and this was the only Mass available at this time of day. After this we couldn’t bear to go and see it happen again. The irony of this is the church was run by a religious order that shall remain nameless. After a rew years it was closed and the Legioneries Of Christ now occupy it:) With all these abuses it doesn’t surprise me that people don’t dress as if they are going somewhere special when they dress for Mass. Most would see nothing special in going to Mass, it’s just a place where clowns are and people dancing. Like a show…😦
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Agomemnon
#1 is always an abuse. Inaestimable Donum. Altae Sunt. For 2 sources of information. Its an evil practice. Its a liturgical lie, and if it continues much longer my family will not be attending Novus Ordo Masses much longer.

From Marauder:
Sorry dude, the Vatican has allowed female altar servers as long as the local Bishop has allowed them. It isn’t an abuse if the Vatican allows it. It can be your opinion that it isn’t appropriate, but it is only that.

The Vatican is allowed to change practices within the church. The allowing of female altar servers is a practice, not a matter of faith and morals. The only way it would violate previous things would be if they allowed the ordained version of acolytes.>>

Gee, Ago, I’m sorry you don’t like the approved practice of female altar servers so much that you would STOP ATTENDING MASS because of it. (Of course, if you have an indult parish and you prefer the Latin Mass there, you’re more than welcome to attend that). OTOH, if the SOLE reason you would attend the Latin Mass is because you have a hang-up on the APPROVED practice of female altar servers in the N.O., then you’re not attending Mass worthily, as you’re doing so more in DEFIANCE of Church teachings, as a “Protest”. Hmmm, Protest to Protestant, perhaps? Let’s hope not.

There are plenty of legitimate (so to speak) church abuses to worry about. Getting in a dither over NON ABUSES–I am sorry if you’re disappointed, but female altar servers are NOT a liturgical abuse–is completely unproductive. You’re focusing on a non issue and turning THAT into your own personal “grievance” with God through his representatives here, the Pope and bishops. “My way or the highway” seems to be your take on “female altar servers”. Well, last I knew you’re neither the Pope nor a bishop. You can disagree with them, but “unless this abuse stops we won’t be attending Mass any more” is NOT respectful disagreement, it’s a calculated attempt at emotional blackmail. The issue of altar servers (female) is NOT something that is up for discussion or debate as to whether it’s ALLOWED. It IS allowed. So, write to your bishop, tell him your feelings, make your points (respectfully, please), but in the end, you HAVE to abide by his decision, like it or not. Female altar servers are part of DISCIPLINE which CAN change, under the aegis of the HOLY SPIRIT. Discipline is not doctrine or dogma, which CANNOT. Attempting to make the issue doctrinal or dogma (which is what you are attempting to do) is specious, IMO.
 
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dutch:
I’ve also heard of clown masses and imagine this stuff happened during the 70’s.
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Try 1995. Been there, saw that. :rolleyes:
But that was a “special” youth function for our diocese.
On a regular, routine basis, we see EMHC’s blessing non-communicants in the Communion line.
During Holy Week, there are often women whose feet are being washed.

I’d say these are the biggies…

Pax Christi. <><
 
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