Odd(?) Mass Attendence Requirement

[EmilyAnn]

I was talking with an acquaintance of mine who is discerning religious life and she mentioned something I thought was odd, so I'm hoping some VSers with more experience in this area might be able to explain it more.

 

This woman was very interested in a community that celebrates the EF Mass. She attends both the EF and OF Mass, but was told by the community that they were not willing to consider her unless she started attending the EF exclusively. This just isn't possible for her - she likes to attend daily Mass and the only weekday Masses near her are OF.

 

Is this normal for EF communities? She feels she would prefer a community which celebrates the EF (or one with both forms), but this experience has made her very nervous about approaching other communities.

[PhuturePriest]

Not even the FSSP require this. I would be very wary of this community, if it were me.

[truthfinder]

I'd ask her to really check out the standing of the community. The only communities I have ever seen require this are SSPX, SSPV, and autonomous sedevacantists.

[SilentJoy]

I like to go to the EF sometimes and was told by a community that I ought to attend only the OF Mass, but it wasn't necessarily a requirement. I think they were concerned that I might be potentially schismatic, or that I was drawn to a form of the Mass that would never by offered by their community.

[chrysostom]

I think there's a place where this might be an issue for me were I to apply - they're all right, but I'd just rather not deal with it.

[chrysostom]

I think they were concerned that I might be potentially schismatic

 

:( :( :( :( :( gahhhh whyyyyy.   I know why but whyyyyyyy

 

 

Or that I was drawn to a form of the Mass that would never by offered by their community.

 

I can understand this one.  I wonder if they would say the same to an Eastern Rite Catholic seeking to join their community, though.

[SilentJoy]

:( :( :( :( :( gahhhh whyyyyy.   I know why but whyyyyyyy

 

 

:rotfl2:

 

Well, they didn't know, maybe!
 

[blazeingstar]

Yeah I'd be very wary of schismatic thinking.  To completely ban one form of Mass is incredibly wrong, to ban the Ordinary form, is outside the rules of the church, or just skating them.

 

To also deny that one attend any valid Mass (even if it had illicit functions) is VERY, VERY, VERY wrong.  One should NEVER be directing someone to avoid a valid Mass, EVER.

 

Besides that, the lack of understanding of spiritual needs highlights this order's priorities.  Their priority is the EF, not spiritual wellness.  Tell your friend to keep looking.

 

(and if you know the order, report it to the dioceses, it's an embarrassment that they'd do and say that.)

[OnlySunshine]

I was talking with an acquaintance of mine who is discerning religious life and she mentioned something I thought was odd, so I'm hoping some VSers with more experience in this area might be able to explain it more.

 

This woman was very interested in a community that celebrates the EF Mass. She attends both the EF and OF Mass, but was told by the community that they were not willing to consider her unless she started attending the EF exclusively. This just isn't possible for her - she likes to attend daily Mass and the only weekday Masses near her are OF.

 

Is this normal for EF communities? She feels she would prefer a community which celebrates the EF (or one with both forms), but this experience has made her very nervous about approaching other communities.

 

I have a feeling this community is not in communion with the Church.  This is much like a Carmel community in Colorado that I emailed early in my discernment, and I later found out they were a schismatic order.  An order cannot require you to attend one Mass over another as both of them are legitimate, even if a community has a certain liking for one over the other.  I suggest she look into other communities like the Sisters of St. Benedict Center, Carmelites in Valparaiso (or one of their foundations), Benedictines of Mary, etc.  Something about this community sounds fishy to me.

[reminiscere]

The community is irregular yes, schismatic no. And yes there is a difference.

 

However the response that the original poster's friend doesn't sound like it would've come from one of the approved TLM communities. 

 

This is much like a Carmel community in Colorado that I emailed early in my discernment, and I later found out they were a schismatic order.

 

[OnlySunshine]

The community is irregular yes, schismatic no. And yes there is a difference.

 

However the response that the original poster's friend doesn't sound like it would've come from one of the approved Traditional Latin Mass communities. 

 

Not many people know which community I'm talking about and I'm pretty sure dUSt wouldn't want me mentioning it by name here.  I don't know all the lingo but I know the community is not in Communion with the Church.  ;)

[Benedictus]

They may have valid reasons for asking her to do this, so I wouldn't jump to conclusions. It may simply be that they want those joining to be committed and very familiar with the EF form. It saves problems down the line with someone complaining that they don't like the form (or seeking changes). But I would advise her to check them out a bit more and to ask them their reasons. It may alleviate some speculations about their motives.  But they can ask this of her, even if it's irregular, in the same way they can refuse her to join. Their request may only apply to Sunday obligation, not midweek masses. So she could explain her situation to them, and see what they say. If they would rather she not attend mass at all midweek to aviod the OF  mass then I would be more cautious of them. Anyone who thinks it preferable to not attend mass midweek when someone is able and willing, regardless of the form, would kick start my alarm bells.

Edited April 11, 2014 by Benedictus

[marigold]

They may have valid reasons for asking her to do this, so I wouldn't jump to conclusions. It may simply be that they want those joining to be committed and very familiar with the EF form. It saves problems down the line with someone complaining that they don't like the form (or seeking changes). But I would advise her to check them out a bit more and to ask them their reasons. It may alleviate some speculations about their motives.  But they can ask this of her, even if it's irregular, in the same way they can refuse her to join. Their request may only apply to Sunday obligation, not midweek masses. So she could explain her situation to them, and see what they say. If they would rather she not attend mass at all midweek to aviod the OF  mass then I would be more cautious of them. Anyone who thinks it preferable to not attend mass midweek when someone is able and willing, regardless of the form, would kick start my alarm bells.

 

So many props! That's exactly what I was thinking as I read down the replies. Since they 'do' the EF, they might require candidates to try and attend it exclusively for a time in order to get to know it. I don't think that's unreasonable - or illegal in your canon law (I mean it might be - what do I know - but I don't see immediately why it would). Ask for reasons. If they start talking about how other forms are invalid, that would be the time to back off.

[EmilyAnn]

Thank you all for your replies! I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought this was a very odd requirement. I fully understand that communities which celebrate the EF regularly need to know that a prospective applicant is familiar with the form. What seemed fishy was that she does attend attend the EF on a regular basis but they still said she should stop attending daily Mass because it's OF. 

 

I've since done some research on the community and have gathered that they are sedevacantists! We were both totally shocked, because aside from the odd Mass requirement they gave no indication of being fishy. But she was glad to hear this requirement wasn't normal and is looking at other communities...and double checking that they're in communion! 

[Anselm]

Gosh! Are they in the UK?