This Is Jesus?

[photosynthesis]

I went to Mass today at a local university's Newman Center. I'd heard some interesting stuff about the Newman Center from some of my Catholic friends (like how their communion has [b]cinnamon[/b] on it) but since I slept in this morning, I thought I'd check their 6pm Mass out for myself.

so...first of all, the priest doesn't wear his clerics. he was in blue jeans. When he put on his vestments, they had like...butterflies on them and stuff. it was kind of weird

second, the musical selections sounded more like the kind of songs you'd sing at a Girl Scout camp, not hymns of praise. they didn't really have much to do with God.

during the consecration the congregation did not kneel. everybody just continued to stand from the Nicene Creed until after receiving communion. and as my friends told me, the hosts were covered with cinnamon AND sugar. They had the appearance and texture of pita bread, with a delightful cinnamon taste... except...I don't go to Mass to eat pastry. I go there to praise God and receive Jesus.

so (after complaining and beating around the bush) my question is:

what are the requirements for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass? Are we allowed to add stuff like cinnamon to the hosts? what about pita breads? Are priests required to wear their clerics all the time? What about music?

is there something wrong with this picture or should I pull the hanger out of my shirt?

[dUSt]

From the recently released document "Redemptionis Sacramentum" from the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments:

[i][48.] The bread used in the celebration of the Most Holy Eucharistic Sacrifice must be unleavened, purely of wheat, and recently made so that there is no danger of decomposition.[123] It follows therefore that bread made from another substance, even if it is grain, or if it is mixed with another substance different from wheat to such an extent that it would not commonly be considered wheat bread, does not constitute valid matter for confecting the Sacrifice and the Eucharistic Sacrament.[124][b] It is a grave abuse to introduce other substances, such as fruit or sugar or honey, into the bread for confecting the Eucharist. [/b]Hosts should obviously be made by those who are not only distinguished by their integrity, but also skilled in making them and furnished with suitable tools. [125]

[123] Cf. Code of Canon Law, can. 924 §2; Missale Romanum, Institutio Generalis, n. 320.

[124] Cf. S. Congregation for the Discipline of the Sacraments, Instruction, Dominus Salvator noster, 26 March 1929, n. 1: AAS 21 (1929) pp. 631-642, here p. 632.

[125] Cf. ibidem, n. II: AAS 21 (1929) p. 635.[/i]

[BLAZEr]

My recommendation is that you not go to that mass ever again. I would say that the sacrament was doubtfully valid (meaning that you probably just went to have some bread, Jesus was not present). It may have been merely illicit, but either way, that's not a mass you want to take part in in the future.

I recommend that you write a letter to your bishop and tell him about your concerns. I also recommend you avoid the Newman Center for spiritual formation.

Priests do not have to wear clerics all the time. Though its kinda sketchy for a priest to NEVER wear clerics.

Music is a whole other issue, and I recommend you post that question in the Debate table for more opinions on the matter. However, there are not any hard and fast rules about what the music in mass should be.

[dUSt]

Continuing regarding the vestments...

[i][123.] “The vestment proper to the Priest celebrant at Mass, and in other sacred actions directly connected with Mass unless otherwise indicated, is the chasuble, worn over the alb and stole.”[213] Likewise the Priest, in putting on the chasuble according to the rubrics, is not to omit the stole. All Ordinaries should be vigilant in order that all usage to the contrary be eradicated.

...

[126.] The abuse is reprobated whereby the sacred ministers celebrate Holy Mass or other rites without sacred vestments or with only a stole over the monastic cowl or the common habit of religious or ordinary clothes, contrary to the prescriptions of the liturgical books, even when there is only one minister participating.[216] In order that such abuses be corrected as quickly as possible, Ordinaries should take care that in all churches and oratories subject to their jurisdiction there is present an adequate supply of liturgical vestments made in accordance with the norms.[/i]