Saying Mass In Front Of The Abortion Clinic

[cmotherofpirl]

Father says its time to pull out the "big guns".

[url="http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/denver-priest-pulls-out-the-big-guns-on-planned-parenthood-says-mass-on-the"]http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/denver-priest-pulls-out-the-big-guns-on-planned-parenthood-says-mass-on-the[/url]

[Autumn Dusk]

Mass should be said in a sacred place. Period. This is an invitation for mockery and desicration. God gave us holy tradition and churches to pray in...God is outside of time and space.

I believe prayer is the answer, but subjecting the Eucharist to evil is unaccptable. The priest could of easily been shot, and there could of easily been posers in the crowd (moreso than at a Church). Lets not forget there HAVE been times when priests were shot during Mass...even Mass in church.

A benediction and adoration, to me, would of been much better...1) becuase if the priest was harmed a laymen could take over his duty. 2) the chance of the Eucharist falling into the wrong hands would be impossible.

Edited April 24, 2012 by Autumn Dusk

[MIKolbe]

I'm a bit sixes and sevens about this.

On the one hand, I agree that the Mass should be said in a sacred place, away from ridicule, descration, etc.

On the other, while I can agree that, "subjecting the Eucharist" to evil is unacceptable...But then, wasn't our salvation won by Jesus being subjected to evil? Is this life not a spiritual battle against principalities and powers? Could (not should necessarily) not then in front of an abortion clinic be a physical, identifiable place to wage this battle? Perhaps, I assume. I know Masses have been said on the physical battle field as well...(there are some very moving pictures to the effect in the LB)

Further, I assume to do this special permission from the Bishop would be needed. I assume, and hope, he received that.

Edited April 24, 2012 by MIkolbe
spelling

[Basilisa Marie]

[quote name='Autumn Dusk' timestamp='1335275203' post='2422647']
Mass should be said in a sacred place. Period. [b]This is an invitation for mockery and desicration.[/b]
[/quote]

^ That. Mass doesn't always have to take place in a Catholic Church, especially if circumstances don't include a church. But I personally have a hard time understanding how acts like these are effective against those who would commit abortions. Yes, yes, obviously there is much worth in praying a Mass for the intention of the conversion of those who support abortion. But those who understand the Mass are already pro-life, and those who do not will see this as nothing but obnoxious, self-righteous grandstanding. I don't believe for a second that this second opinion is correct. But why in front of an abortion clinic? It's the same as those seminarians that got all dressed up in cassocks, lined up outside a clinic and prayed a rosary. How is that going to help those women going into the clinic that day? I feel like they'd be more intimidated than feel Christian brotherly love. Furthermore, the picture looks like the mass is in the Extraordinary Form...there's nothing wrong with the EF, but to me it seems like that would be one more step removed from those witnessing the celebration but not participating in it.

Look, I'm pro-life. We should pray, and pray lots for the unborn and those who would conspire and act to kill the unborn. But public acts of devotion such as these...well, I just don't really understand how they truly further the pro-life cause. If it's the prayer that's effective, then the place of prayer shouldn't make much of a difference. If it's to inspire the faithful...aren't the faithful who would be inspired by such an act already inspired to pray for an end to abortion? How will this action stop even one abortion from happening that day? Maybe I'm thinking too practically.

I'm not trying to be a jerk or anything. If someone can try to help me understand, I'd appreciate it.

[Brother Adam]

[quote name='Autumn Dusk' timestamp='1335275203' post='2422647']
Mass should be said in a sacred place. Period. This is an invitation for mockery and desicration.
[/quote]

Stay away from the Archdiocese of Military Services with that comment.

[Tab'le De'Bah-Rye]

this is a wonder beyond my scope, but i must say(and not saying such is right or wrong.) i have been to an outdoor mass before if i recollect, and mass @ an open big tent in the country for a big gathering. But than i believe mass is best done inside a church building but under extraordinary circumstances i gather can be said outside or in a big tent. Or even a hall. But honestly i don't know if it is valid or illegitimate in this circumstance.

Edited April 24, 2012 by Tab'le Du'Bah-Rye

[Autumn Dusk]

[quote name='MIkolbe' timestamp='1335276359' post='2422656']
I'm a bit sixes and sevens about this.

On the one hand, I agree that the Mass should be said in a sacred place, away from ridicule, descration, etc.

On the other, while I can agree that, "subjecting he Eucharist" to evil is unacceptable...But then, wasn't our salvation won by Jesus being subjected to evil? Is this life not a spiritual battle against principalities and powers? Could (not should necessarily) not then in front of an abortion clinic be a physical, identifiable place to wage this battle? Perhaps, I assume. I know Masses have been said on the physical battle field as well...(there are some very moving pictures to the effect in the LB)

Further, I assume to do this special permission from the Bishop would be needed. I assume, and hope, he received that.
[/quote]

Yes, there are masses on the battlefield, but the Eucharist is still protected.
Spiritual battles are are different....and looking at them as a physical battle is detrimental to what's actually going on. In a physical battle we must rely on our wits and our phyiscall strength. In a spiritual battle we must directly appeal to God becuase He literally is the only one strong enough to fight.


[quote name='Brother Adam' timestamp='1335276873' post='2422665']
Stay away from the Archdiocese of Military Services with that comment.
[/quote]

Ironically, I'm not opposed to outdoor Mass. I've been hiking with a priest and he's said Mass (he's obligated to). However, his concern for the Eucharist was of the utmost. He nearly got himself stuck in a thunderstorm becuase he HAD to continue to say Mass.

Not far from me there's summer beach masses. They have an (covered) alter set up and are careful about everything. They make it clear only Catholics can recieve but offer ample time for confesson so those away from the church can reconsile...it's more of a ministry than anything else.

My concern is that the Priest (and people) were more caught up in how wonderful it was and how good they were, rather than being humbled by the sacrifice of Mass and God's love.

Edited April 24, 2012 by Autumn Dusk

[Groo the Wanderer]

oh yeah! he's an FSSP priest too. dubble-smackdown on the devil!

booyah!

[cmotherofpirl]

Sometimes to combat great evil you need to respond with great holiness. A place becomes sacred because the Mass is said there, not because it was holy to start with. There is nothing wrong with creating Holy Ground in the face of the enemy.

Ephesians 6: 12 [color=#001320][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][background=rgb(249, 253, 255)]For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and power, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places.[/background][/font][/color]

Think of it as a public exorcism

[Basilisa Marie]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' timestamp='1335278340' post='2422686']
Sometimes to combat great evil you need to respond with great holiness. A place becomes sacred because the Mass is said there, not because it was holy to start with. There is nothing wrong with creating Holy Ground in the face of the enemy.

Ephesians 6: 12 [color=#001320][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][background=rgb(249, 253, 255)]For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and power, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places.[/background][/font][/color]

Think of it as a public exorcism
[/quote]

Huh. Interesting.

[Autumn Dusk]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' timestamp='1335278340' post='2422686']
Sometimes to combat great evil you need to respond with great holiness. A place becomes sacred because the Mass is said there, not because it was holy to start with. There is nothing wrong with creating Holy Ground in the face of the enemy.

Ephesians 6: 12 [color=#001320][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][background=rgb(249,253,255)]For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and power, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places.[/background][/font][/color]

Think of it as a public exorcism
[/quote]

But its not a public exorcism, and there are better ways of doing things that wouldn't put a priest and the Eucharist in harm's way.

Yes, a place becomes Holy becuase Mass is said there, but with such a huge political and emotinal show, I can't seem much good comming. What if a wiccan next decides to use the place to perform a spell? Mass is not a protest tool.

[Groo the Wanderer]

can one REALLY harm the Eucharist? no. can one attempt to defile it? yes. will this priest and the altar boys do everything in their power to prevent that? yes.

[Papist]

This makes me uneasy, but that doesn't mean there is a problem.

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='Autumn Dusk' timestamp='1335278795' post='2422693']
But its not a public exorcism, and there are better ways of doing things that wouldn't put a priest and the Eucharist in harm's way.

Yes, a place becomes Holy becuase Mass is said there, but with such a huge political and emotinal show, I can't seem much good comming. What if a wiccan next decides to use the place to perform a spell? Mass is not a protest tool.
[/quote]

There were 150 people there I doubt if the Eucharist was in danger, the Mass is better than an Exorcism since you have Jesus Christ present. No pretend spell can abrogate the power of God.

[Slappo]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' timestamp='1335280195' post='2422709']
There were 150 people there I doubt if the Eucharist was in danger, [b]the Mass is better than an Exorcism since you have Jesus Christ present[/b]. No pretend spell can abrogate the power of God.
[/quote]

I think the bolded is akin to saying that carrots are healthier than broccoli. The Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the exorcism of demonic spirits have two completely separate purposes. I don't think you can hold one above the other in being "better".

The mass isn't better at exorcising a demon than an exorcism is, and an exorcism surely isn't better at making the sacrifice of calvalry present than the mass is. Now of course mass is a higher form of prayer than exorcism, but that does not make it better. Contemplation is a higher form of prayer than vocal prayer, but vocal prayer is absolutely necessary for the prayer life.


I don't know what I think about mass on the sidewalk in front of an abortion clinic. It reminds me of the controversy I have within myself at the idea of a eucharistic flash mob. I just don't know if I think it's a good idea.