My Midnight Mass Experience

[awyers]

Merry Christmas Everyone 

I had a very odd experience at Midnight Mass. It started with a group of dancers carrying candlelit globes in front of the priest who was carrying baby Jesus. They stayed in the sanctuary waving the globes in circles for a few verses of Silent night until the Church broke into Joy to the World, which the dancers danced to. They continued to stay in the sanctuary and dance throughout the Gloria. Finally they took their seats for the readings. There was no sign of the cross to start Mass and no penitential rite and no opening prayer. The dancers continued to dance at various points throughout the Mass including the Sanctus. During the consecration the prayer after the offshore and before the washing of the hands was omitted (sorry not sure what it is called). Finally, for Holy Communion, the priest came to my side of the Church which he never does and hence why I sat there, refused me Communion on the tongue, and put a tiny fragment of the host he used for the consecration into my hand with all sorts of crumbs. I was horrified and tried desperately to consume every last crumb but it was terribly distracting and upsetting.

So, all in all it was quite 'odd' to say the least. I don't mean to turn this into a liturgical dance debate but surely there were some serious errors in this Mass with no sign of the cross, opening prayer, penitential rite etc. Was this still a valid Mass and am I supposed to sit back and pray about the situation or make a complaint?

[holly.o]

I once went to an "odd" Mass and after that had to research what makes a Mass valid/invalid.

I think if you read #4 on [url="http://www.ourladyswarriors.org/articles/badliturgy.htm"]this site[/url] you'll understand what makes the Mass valid. Pretty specific things, and those requirements were probably fulfilled. If you read the entire page, you'll find out that, as far as I can tell, what you experienced was really illicit.

In my opinion, you should write the bishop. I think usually you're supposed to talk to the priest first, but the fact that he refused (if that was his intent) to give you Holy Communion in the manner that's the norm for the Church makes me think he might not listen. It also makes me think there are probably other areas where people are being led astray, as the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is of highest importance, so it's very important that something be done. You could try writing and sending the same letter to both the priest and the bishop. If that doesn't produce a change, write to Rome. That site I linked to has the address to send it to.

It sounds like you've been there before. Is this the first time things like this have happened?





p.s. I can't vouch for everything on that site I linked to since I haven't looked at it too much, but I think the part I referenced is in accordance with official Church teaching.