Why Don’t Priests Follow Rubrics? Fr. Z Cheerfully Rants.

[Apotheoun]

Wow, this thread certainly went all over the place.  It was a true chore to read.

[NonNovi]

With both FSSP priests I have had the pleasure of meeting, both do a thing I really appreciate during Mass. At the moments where they are instructed to turn around, to say "Dominus vobiscum" or "Orare fratres", they never look at the congregation. They keep their heads bowed and eyes cast downwards. The more I notice it, the more I appreciate what they are trying to do. They are trying as little as possible to insert themselves in the Mass. They do not want that temptation to try to 'interact' with the congregation. And at the same time it lets us as a congregation remember that the priest there on the altar is not there as himself, but as Christ. That his personality while he is up there means nothing.

 

They're not 'trying' to do anything, they have to do that, it's in the rubrics :hehe2:

 

"...tum, junctis manibus ante pectum, demissisque oculis ad terram,..."

 

" ... then, with the hands joined in front of the chest, and the eyes lowered to the floor..."

 

Yay rubrics!! (by the way, your explanation shows us exactly why there are rubrics and why it's necessary for priests to follow them)
 

[Nihil Obstat]

They're not 'trying' to do anything, they have to do that, it's in the rubrics :hehe2:

 

"...tum, junctis manibus ante pectum, demissisque oculis ad terram,..."

 

" ... then, with the hands joined in front of the chest, and the eyes lowered to the floor..."

 

Yay rubrics!! (by the way, your explanation shows us exactly why there are rubrics and why it's necessary for priests to follow them)
 

Yeah, I did not mean to imply that they were doing it on a personal whim, but that is how it ended up sounding. :hehe: I have noticed it often enough to realize that it must be instructed somewhere.

[Starets]

I wish they would. The "Novus Ordo" Mass can be a beautiful thing when done properly, and I have seen it offered reverentially and beautifuly literally hundreds of times. It can be done, boys and girls.