Would you want Liturgical Dancers?

  • Thread starter Thread starter RBushlow
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Why on earth would one even ask the question since it is something not allowed in the US. I suppose it could be changed and then I would have “another” reason for Parish Jumping. Life gets difficult!!!
Dear Mary, Seat of Wisdom, pray for us.
Peace on earth to men of good will.
LaVada
 
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DAWNCUROLE:
Liturgical Dancers can be a very beuatiful and moving addition to a Mass or prayer service if done within guidelines, it is a shame that we don’t have that now.
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Dawn, I am over 60 but neither blind nor dead. When young shapely women did a liturgical dance several years ago in our church - even in flowing robes, I am sure I was not the only male totally distracted from praying. Thank God it only happened a few times. Newman60
 
Lots of parishs have dancing girls (or dancing matrons).
This sacrilige is well across the line which I will tolerate.
It is one of the “walk out of Mass” abuses which I feel that to tolerate is scandalous.
 
RBushlow:
Ok, she said. Was to point to “show” that most Catholics “agree” with Church teaching for the US or just to show that most do not like dancing in Church. What if the poll had shown that people like it and want it inspite of Church teaching. That is why I asked about a poll on a settled question.
Mary, Seat of Wisdom, pray for us.
Peace on earth to men of good will.
LaVada
 
I see no purpose for liturgical dancers. I have never actually been to a Mass that included these dancers, but I saw pictures of one and I was horrified. It looked like some sort of Broadway production. I always believed that the entire Mass should be very dignified and everyone in church should act with reverence, and having liturgical dancers is just pure entertainment and show and does not belong in the Mass.
 
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RBushlow:
To make a point. I think it’s made (look at the poll numbers).
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This is hardly a scientific poll of the greater Catholic population.

For another perspective, below are some comments I have received:

To watch and pray with Ms. M. as she unites her dance with the liturgy is truly a blessing. Her graceful movements tend to lift one’s spirit and enable a person to pray in a way that brings devotion and deep meaning to our quest for God.
  • Monsignor
It was like seeing God’s words transformed into motion before my very own eyes. It left me wanting to follow and participate because it had a deeper meaning that touched my heart and will remain in my mind.
  • parishioner
M. choreographed . . . a liturgical experience so moving and powerful that people in the comunity were literally brought to tears.
  • parish staff person
 
My question is, why are some people embarrased to give a profound bow before they receive the eucharist, embarrased to bow at the words “by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man” and yet they will put on these ridiculous flowing garments and prance around the altar for all to see them and call it “Liturgical Dancing”? Forget about the court jesters and do exactly as what is called for at mass. Liturgical dancing can in NO WAY be “beautiful, and a moving addition” to the mass. Well, I take it back. It can be a moving addition as in “move out of my way. I’m getting outta here !!!” Or, it moves my stomach to nauseam . And who would set up guidelines? Those women that dance around with an urn full of incense and “teaching” people the “proper way of inhaling incense”?
Hey, maybe us guys can do something alla Michael Jackson. Picture the priest processing up the isle doing the moonwalk and… uhh, well, we won’t go there…
 
Not part of my Culture…other cultures have it and if its okay with the Church…fine.whatever…doesnt mean I must believe in it or accept it HERE…it is VERY Foreign to my sensibilities and just evokes a sense of Paganism I dont have any interest in…whether to watch, celebrate, etc… NOT AT MASS…the Attention is drawn from the Eucharist… do the dance as a gift to God on special occasions and services when a MASS isnt being held

Wanna dance?

Go to the club on Friday or Saturday…leave your nasty bare feet and tom tom druns, etc… out of my MASS.
 
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rosarydancer:
This is hardly a scientific poll of the greater Catholic population.
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I think it’s accurate, but don’t take our word. If truly believe we’re off, put the question in your parish bulletin and tally the votes. I’ll bet you’ll be surprised.
 
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LaVada:
RBushlow:
Ok, she said. Was to point to “show” that most Catholics “agree” with Church teaching for the US or just to show that most do not like dancing in Church. What if the poll had shown that people like it and want it inspite of Church teaching. That is why I asked about a poll on a settled question.
Mary, Seat of Wisdom, pray for us.
Peace on earth to men of good will.
LaVada
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Because, in spite of Church teaching, people keep trying to promote it. The excuse, as with many of the liturgical innovations, is often given that it’s the wishes of the congregation. Well, it’s apparently not in concert with the wishes of the congregation. It is my experience that the vast majority of Catholics would prefer a reverent, orthodox Mass.
 
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RBushlow:
It is my experience that the vast majority of Catholics would prefer a reverent, orthodox Mass.
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The majority of people who identify themselves as Roman Catholic do not go to church regularly . . .
 
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RBushlow:
I think it’s accurate, but don’t take our word. If truly believe we’re off, put the question in your parish bulletin and tally the votes. I’ll bet you’ll be surprised.
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Actually, you might be surprised.

The tally would depend on the parish. Different forms and types of worship are appropriate for different parish communities. I have found that liturgical dance and movement are very “context-specific.” What is appropriate for one community for one occasion in one church may not be appropriate for another. At most parishes where I have danced, the vast majority would tally “yes.” I don’t dance at churches where I am not welcome.

Also, the quality of liturgical dance and movement varies just as the quality of music and homilies varies. Please don’t disregard all liturgical dance because you had one negative experience.

And, if you think I’d be surprised, then that means you haven’t done dancers the favor (and courtesy) of telling us directly (in a polite and constructive way) that you found the dance distracting and why. I am always interested to hear what doesn’t work for people, what distracts rather than deepens their prayer.
 
Faithful 2 Rome:
NOT AT MASS…the Attention is drawn from the Eucharist… do the dance as a gift to God on special occasions and services when a MASS isnt being held

Wanna dance?

Go to the club on Friday or Saturday…leave your nasty bare feet and tom tom druns, etc… out of my MASS.
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Liturgical movement emphasized the beauty and power of the Eucharist at one of the most deeply memorable Masses I have ever attended. It was a Jubilee Mass. At the offertory, family and friends brought up the gifts and beaconed us all to join (metaphorically). They weren’t dancers: they were young and old, big, small, tall, awkward, and graceful. The point was made: we are all welcome at the table. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place. The Mass belongs to everyone. It is Christ’s gift to all of us. It’s OUR Mass.
 
Are you nuts? You might as well have dancers at your Grandmothers funeral! That’s just plain nuts!!!
 
Antonio B:
Code:
Well, I live here in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles where my bishop fosters the idea of liturgical dancers. I have suffered through the process twice and almost walked out of Mass. Not only is it distracting, but worse, some fat women wearing very tight clothes have “danced” in front of Our Lord (believe me, not a pretty sight) and I had to contain my laughter in the interest of charity.

Antonio :o
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I Went to th LA Congres last spring. I went to the “Hawaiian Mass”. I am a convert. My husband and son had gone to a mass in Africa the summer before and there was dancing and they said it was beautiful. So I was interested in a genuine cultural experience.

:bigyikes: What I got was two hours of quasi paganism. If my Protestant friends and family had seen that they would have been firmly convinced that the Catholic Church was the whore of Babylon after all–no matter what I had been telling them for five years.

A woman sat in the presidents chair the whole time. Beautiful young women and a few men danced the Hula several times on the altar in tight tops and midriff showing. But that was nothing.
I think it was the presentation of the gifts-- Four well-built young, shirtless men with oiled skin escorted a very rotund woman in a grass skirt and some sort of top that left her ample arms, oiled also, bare with a feathery headress two or three feet high.:rotfl:

I was ridiculous.:whacky: I have only been Catholic for 5 years. But there is no reason to be Catholic if you don’t believe the Pope and magesterium are worth obeying. Plus, the homily was booooooooring platitudes and mish mosh.:yawn:
 
Any WESTERN CHURCH and ANYONE who participates in dancing DURING or as PART of the LITURGY is in **DIRECT VIOLATION ** of Vatican RULES.

While a Bishop is a chief teacher and liturgist in his Diocese, he *cannot * Sanction something that has been **FORBIDDEN ** by the Vatican Congregation concerned with LITURGICAL MATTERS.

In its 1975 Document, Religious Dance, o*An expression * of spiritual joy, the Congregation said that dancing has NEVER been made an integral part of the OFFICIAL WORSHIP of the LATIN CHURCH, and that if it did take place, it was OUTSIDE of Liturgical Services, and that **Conciliar decisions ** *have often **condemned ** the * religious dance because it conduces little to worship and it could degenerate into disorder.

While religious dance is permitted in those cultures where it is still reflective of religious values and becomes a clear manifestation of them, the document said, such is not the case in the Western Culture, where dancing is tied with love, diversion, profaness and unbridling of the senses. For that reason it cannot be introduced into liturgical celebrations of any kind whatsoever.

Now…this may sound a little “Caveman-ish” and does sound like they are basically telling us (the West) we cant dance properly without bringing eroticism into it…it is STILL what our Church COMMANDS for the time being… and as such we as Catholics are REQUIRED, BOUND and OBLIGATED to ADHERE to.

**IF ** religious dancing is to be made welcome in the WEST, the Congregation said, it MUST BE FOUND (OUTSIDE) of the liturgy, in ASSEMBLY AREAS which are NOT (STRICTLY) Liturgical. MOREOEVER the Priest must ALWAYS be EXCLUDED from the dance.

This was addressed AGAIN in 1994 by the Congregation and essentially said Liturgical Dancing was a PERFORMANCE… and NOT a PARTICIPATION in the MASS.
 
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