WWYD if your parish had liturgical dancers?

[Sam88]

Some years ago, I was in a wonderful parish, which experimented with liturgical dance on a few feast days, back in the days before clear directives existed prohibiting this practice. Later, when this changed, liturgical dance was quietly dropped and I never knew why until years later. Thank God for my holy pastor who quietly and promptly complied with the new instructions.

For non-Catholics who have a hard time understanding this thread, Catholics do not believe that there is anything wrong with dance. It is a matter of what is appropriate in the particular context of the sacred liturgy. Dance is fine in appropriate settings. If David were around he could dance before the Lord all day long – except during mass.

 

[Eliza10]

And here they are at our Cathedral, with our Bishop presiding:

photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/1252/546/320/361876/RochesterCathedralDance.jpg
Members of the Nazareth Academy Dancers prepare the worship space
before the Chrism Mass at Rochester’s Sacred Heart Cathedral April 11, 2006.

What can one do? There is no where to run.

To offer what defense I might muster of my Bishop, dancing at Mass is not a weekly affair - it is generally reserved for “special occasions”.

I see him as being conservative and cautious in such Mass offenses. Although, steadfast. Such caution, I think, gives him staying power.

The following article in Catholic Exchange talks about our Mass dancing, as well as our Cathedral “wreckovation”.
catholicexchange.com/vm/index.asp?vm_id=2&art_id=28739&sec_id=

It is very interesting the way this author describes the look. Because the architecture of a place has a message. The architecture of our Cathedral is consistant with all the other wreckovations throughout our diocese, and other new buildings under our Bishop’s direction. I have observed a certain consistency of style, and this author words it well. He says,

"Like the chairs for the congregation, it too is padded and, like everything else in the place,** entirely lacking in sacramentality**. As I explained to my son, the chair represents the seat of a bishop’s authority in his diocese. Somehow Bishop Clark’s chair is a particularly fitting image of his tenure. "

---

Like this author, I, too, have reflected on what this bishop’s architecture communicates about himself, and his tenure. They ressemble comfy auditoriums. To me, my impressions of the man and his architectural legacy have always been consistent. Pleasant, appearing somewhat conservative, comfortable, and spiritually void.

 

[Karin]

And here they are at our Cathedral, with our Bishop presiding:

photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/1252/546/320/361876/RochesterCathedralDance.jpg
Members of the Nazareth Academy Dancers prepare the worship space
before the Chrism Mass at Rochester’s Sacred Heart Cathedral April 11, 2006.

What can one do? There is no where to run.

You can run here…
Cardinal Arizne…
**Mailing Address: Palazzo delle Congregazioni, 00193 Roma, Piazza Pio XII, 10 **
**Telephone: 06.69.88.43.16; 06.69.88.43.18 **
**Fax: 06.69.88.34.99 **

**
To offer what defense I might muster of my Bishop, dancing at Mass is not a weekly affair - it is generally reserved for “special occasions”. **sorry there is NO defense for this !

 

[H_Opey]

Members of the Nazareth Academy Dancers prepare the worship space
before the Chrism Mass at Rochester’s Sacred Heart Cathedral April 11, 2006

What do they mean by PREPARE?

 

[FiremanFrank]

Leave the Roman Catholic Church and join an Eastern Catholic parish.

That’s what I did.

My Roman diocese is so heterodox, I literally couldn’t take it anymore.

From preaching theological errors from the pulpit, to radical feminist nuns/ex-nuns running the diocese, to multiple violations of liturgical abuses abounding everywhere, etc.

I had enough.

In Eastern Catholicism, the Divine Liturgy is treated with the utmost of respect, and it does not easily lend itself to abuses of ANY kind.

Pretty much bullet proof.

 

[maryjk]

Look for another parish.

In my personal case, I would start attending Mass at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament. I can guar-awwwwwn-tee that there won’t be any liturgical dancers there

DaveBj

Somehow I can not even picture the nuns doing any type of dance.

Since our Religious Education Director doesn’t see anything wrong with liturgical dance it could have been an issue. But we got a new priest about a year ago. It would shock me if he put up with any type of liturgical dance.

 

[OldAgeGuru]

How come no one has suggested laughing loudly and vigoursly and mocking them mercilessly?

 

[az_4_faith]

Liturgical dance is forbidden within the Mass.

That doesn’t stop some parishes from using liturgical dance before or after Mass begins and ends.

That’s following the letter of the law, but I still find it tacky nonetheless.

 

[Teakafrog]

First, I would

Throw up.

:bigyikes: :nope: :tsktsk: :banghead:

Then I would

I would make a big stink when it happens and leave. Then I would inform the Bishop and ask for and investigation and removal of the ones that approved it. If I get no satisfaction I would escalate it until I get that satisfaction.

In the mean time, I would go to another parish, but still send in my envelopes with a not that the money earmarked for the parish are being goven elseware

 

[dkoinzan]

In the past when there has been abuses in my presents, I have instantly dropped to my knees and drawn my weapon, the rosary. I then go to the priest during communion and drop to my knees to recieve on my tongue in reparation for the abuse.

 

[kaj3]

I would approach it as humbly as possible, however irritating it may be. Before leaving, which I would probably do if it were a reasonable possibility, is speak to the pastor with my Church documentation in hand.

If that does not bring about an end to the abuse, I would inform the pastor that I will be escalating it to the bishop. I would give the pastor a chance to correct the problem before going to the bishop, and I would give the pastor due notice that I was informing the bishop.

Here is a link from the AAA forum about reporting of abuses: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=55702&highlight=abuse

Good luck.

 

[DaveBj]

How come no one has suggested laughing loudly and vigoursly and mocking them mercilessly?

I like it

It has always been a precept of mine that people who intentionally dress/look/act like clowns should expect to be laughed at.

DaveBj

 

[Brenda_V]

My first introduction to Liturgical Dance was when I was in High School - once only did this happen at/before/after a Mass. I can’t even remember when. I do know I thought it was weird.

My next and last introduction was many years ago (15 or so - well before I had the internet and better resources) at this time it was during our Parish Fiesta and the Liturgical Dancers danced outside of Mass - not even in the Church proper and I talked to their director (the group or troupe was not from our Parish) and she told me that it was wrong to have Liturgical Dance during Mass but there are other Liturgies and it is appropriate for them.

My only other exposure to this is in the theoretical setting of a Native American or African Mass where it is cultural.

So, when you say Liturgical Dance I can only assume you mean at a Mass unless you, the OP, tells us otherwise, in which case I would do as others have suggested and do some reporting, nicely and with your name attached to it - anonymous stuff tends to get put at the bottom of the in basket and may never even be looked at

Brenda V.

 

[Veritas41]

Look for another parish.

In my personal case, I would start attending Mass at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament. I can guar-awwwwwn-tee that there won’t be any liturgical dancers there

DaveBj

I attended Mass there a few years ago, and it was the most beautiful Mass I’ve ever been to

 

[Saoirse]

And here they are at our Cathedral, with our Bishop presiding:

photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/1252/546/320/361876/RochesterCathedralDance.jpg
Members of the Nazareth Academy Dancers prepare the worship space
before the Chrism Mass at Rochester’s Sacred Heart Cathedral April 11, 2006.

At first I would’ve thought, why not? I mean, I’ve seen liturgical dance before and it actually was really cool (done at the right moment, with the right kind of dance-movements, it can actually add to the experience of worship)…

but no one was wearing skirts that… could they be called see-through, or just… I mean, those outfits look very sexually revealing, and I would not feel comfortable with one person dressed like that, let alone several…

I don’t mean to judge, but… that picture makes it look like a very sexual thing, rather than sacred (in those instances when people manage to seperate sexuality from it’s own true sacredness, that is…)

love
Saoirse

 

[st_ignatius110]

In the past when there has been abuses in my presents, I have instantly dropped to my knees and drawn my weapon, the rosary. I then go to the priest during communion and drop to my knees to recieve on my tongue in reparation for the abuse.

Awesome!! I love it!! Plus, it will shock the priest and all around you! Have you thought about crying out in a loud voice for all to hear, " How long O God?!!!"

 

[dkoinzan]

Awesome!! I love it!! Plus, it will shock the priest and all around you! Have you thought about crying out in a loud voice for all to hear, " How long O God?!!!"

I am luck to recieve Jesus. If I did that they may carry me out of the Church. I have angered Priest to just recieve on my knees and they have not been to kind to me after church. I offer that up to Jesus also, so that Jesus may soften the priest’s heart.

 

[st_ignatius110]

I am luck to recieve Jesus. If I did that they may carry me out of the Church. I have angered Priest to just recieve on my knees and they have not been to kind to me after church. I offer that up to Jesus also, so that Jesus may soften the priest’s heart.

This priest must have no clue he is in the presence of the all Holy Jesus.

 

[Sandi]

Try not to laugh too loudly.

 

[sbeck85]

Our parish has liturgical gestures during certain seasons. They are normally girls between the age of 8-12.