cappie Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 We are getting ever closer to an improved liturgy in the English-speaking world. The new Missal gives us a more dignified language that more closely reflects the Latin standard. The hippy-dippy rupturism of the past is finally giving way to a more settled and solemn appreciation of the intrinsic majesty of the Roman rite. A new generation of celebrants is moving past the politicized agendas of the past toward embracing the true spirit of the liturgy. Maybe it hasn’t happened in your parish but the trend is clear: better music, better vestments, better postures and rubrics. And yet, we all know that things are not what they should be. It is an interesting experiment to travel and attend Sunday Mass at a random parish. You might find wonderful things. Or you might find something else entirely. Having experienced many of the latter, and talking with many other people about their experiences, I here list the top five ways in which the presentation of the liturgy can ruin the liturgical experience. Article Here: http://www.crisismagazine.com/2013/five-ways-to-ruin-the-mass Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ContemporaryCaflicCrusader Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 Thing number 1. Have a band if you must, but but be resonable with playing time. I don't want the Our Father sung, there shouldn't be a prelude, simply an opening hymn. Our band did Let it Be by the Beatles as a prelude. Not cool song selection obvi. The musicians should not talk only sing. Our organist will talk literally 10 minutes prior to the mass regularly into the microphone about whatever and somehow include the preludethen introduce the priest and start. She chimes in talking in the mass occasionally too. What scares me is I think most of our parish likes it. I don't think the Mass should pause tween the collection and the liturgy of the Eucharist because the guitarist wanted a solo or they wanted to repeat a line or something lame. The music should not disrupt the pace of the mass. I am all for a long healthy mass with singing, but singing for the sake of singing is no good and frankly makes the mass a Bruce Springsteen concert. I have literally gotten up to leave for the parish library to pray prior to mass because that is where we have sacred silence not in the actual church. Number 2. Dress code. I don't wanna see Eucharistic minister in sandals... Ever. Or in Mobil (The company) coveralls complete with oil and grease stains. No shorts please. Ever. Really. I know I live up north but this has been the norm at my house my whole life and I don't think it would kill anyone. It still gets well over 100 degrees regularly here. Gum. I don't know what to say about this one don't go up to communion with gum in your mouth, most people are unfortunately smarter than that though so they take there wad and shove it under the pew so I can literally chisel it off months down the road. I don't know Ushers keep an eye and give out appointment cards that say so and so will be cleaning at Church at such and such a time... then they throw out the gum and may be seated. And who wants to sit next to someone chewing gum the whole mass? Really? Like there aren't enough distractions from the half naked teen lady in front of you and what not. i guess that is my point really cut down on distractions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apotheoun Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 Nothing ruins liturgy like liturgical dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nGFnxCcmyk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToJesusMyHeart Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 I will storm out of a parish if liturgical dance ever rears its disgusting head there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriela Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 Thing number 1. Have a band if you must, but but be resonable with playing time. I don't want the Our Father sung, there shouldn't be a prelude, simply an opening hymn. Our band did Let it Be by the Beatles as a prelude. Not cool song selection obvi. The musicians should not talk only sing. Our organist will talk literally 10 minutes prior to the mass regularly into the microphone about whatever and somehow include the preludethen introduce the priest and start. She chimes in talking in the mass occasionally too. What scares me is I think most of our parish likes it. I don't think the Mass should pause tween the collection and the liturgy of the Eucharist because the guitarist wanted a solo or they wanted to repeat a line or something lame. The music should not disrupt the pace of the mass. I am all for a long healthy mass with singing, but singing for the sake of singing is no good and frankly makes the mass a Bruce Springsteen concert. I have literally gotten up to leave for the parish library to pray prior to mass because that is where we have sacred silence not in the actual church. Number 2. Dress code. I don't wanna see Eucharistic minister in sandals... Ever. Or in Mobil (The company) coveralls complete with oil and grease stains. No shorts please. Ever. Really. I know I live up north but this has been the norm at my house my whole life and I don't think it would kill anyone. It still gets well over 100 degrees regularly here. Gum. I don't know what to say about this one don't go up to communion with gum in your mouth, most people are unfortunately smarter than that though so they take there wad and shove it under the pew so I can literally chisel it off months down the road. I don't know Ushers keep an eye and give out appointment cards that say so and so will be cleaning at Church at such and such a time... then they throw out the gum and may be seated. And who wants to sit next to someone chewing gum the whole mass? Really? Like there aren't enough distractions from the half naked teen lady in front of you and what not. i guess that is my point really cut down on distractions. Run, dude. RUN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriela Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 We are getting ever closer to an improved liturgy in the English-speaking world. The new Missal gives us a more dignified language that more closely reflects the Latin standard. The hippy-dippy rupturism of the past is finally giving way to a more settled and solemn appreciation of the intrinsic majesty of the Roman rite. A new generation of celebrants is moving past the politicized agendas of the past toward embracing the true spirit of the liturgy. Maybe it hasn’t happened in your parish but the trend is clear: better music, better vestments, better postures and rubrics. And yet, we all know that things are not what they should be. It is an interesting experiment to travel and attend Sunday Mass at a random parish. You might find wonderful things. Or you might find something else entirely. Having experienced many of the latter, and talking with many other people about their experiences, I here list the top five ways in which the presentation of the liturgy can ruin the liturgical experience. Article Here: http://www.crisismagazine.com/2013/five-ways-to-ruin-the-mass This article is truly excellent. Thank you so much for posting, cappie! This, especially: That’s because their style is borrowed from commercial jingles, TV show theme songs, power ballads from the 1970s, and so on. There's a hymn in my parish that sounds EXACTLY like one of the songs from Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. For months I thought, "What is WRONG here???" Then I looked at the date: 1970s. Now, every time the cantor starts a new hymn, I immediately look at the date below it in the hymnal. Invariably, the inane, artless, crappy stuff is post-1965. The truly biblical, God-centered stuff is the really old stuff, usually adapted from psalms. I CANNOT WAIT to move to Indiana!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriela Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 Nothing ruins liturgy like liturgical dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nGFnxCcmyk I guess some people really do go to Mass to be entertained. Where did this ridiculous idea come from, that "having fun" is an indicator of good worship? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 We should focus our energies on restoring the practice of chanting the propers at Mass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anastasia13 Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 We should focus our energies on restoring the practice of chanting the propers at Mass. YES!!! Do it! Do it! Do it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maggyie Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 I guess some people really do go to Mass to be entertained. Where did this ridiculous idea come from, that "having fun" is an indicator of good worship? I though it was actually kind of well done, should not have interrupted holy mass with it though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anastasia13 Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 I though it was actually kind of well done, should not have interrupted holy mass with it though! Exactly. Do it after Mass, do it in the evening and invite everyone to come fellowship after things like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fides quarens intellectum Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Now, every time the cantor starts a new hymn, I immediately look at the date below it in the hymnal. Invariably, the inane, artless, crappy stuff is post-1965. Ha ha - I do the same thing. Have you noticed that a lot of the bad songs have a copyright from 1997? What was it about that year?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papist Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Nothing ruins liturgy like liturgical dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nGFnxCcmyk But dancing is part of their culture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fides quarens intellectum Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 bwa ha ha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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