Lifeteen

[PedroX]

What does this refer to?

In order, however, to enable such a celebration to correspond all the more fully to the norms and the spirit of the Sacred Liturgy, certain further adaptations are set forth in this Instruction and in the Order of Mass and entrusted to the judgment either of the Diocesan Bishop or of the Bishops' Conferences.

Also this?

386. The renewal of the Roman Missal, carried out in our time in accordance with the decrees of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, has taken great care that all the faithful may engage in the celebration of the Eucharist with that full, conscious, and active participation that is required by the nature of the Liturgy itself and to which the faithful, in virtue of their status as such, have a right and duty.147

To me, no lay person has a "right and duty" to be standing around the altar. This would seem to say that therefore the Bishop can not make an adaptation regarding this. I'm not sure, but I do know that when the new procedures were released this spring, all of the sudden our EEMs were not allowed anywhere on the dais. This is a vast improvement. I don't see how LifeTeen allows this, and I don't see why we make excuses for them. Perhaps I'm just blind...

peace...

[geetarplayer]

LifeTeen was the catalyst of my major trip back to active Catholicism. Before LifeTeen I was lukewarm, but now I'd say I'm definately striving to be a better Catholic. Altar Gatherings are rare at my church anyway, so it's not a big deal for us. At the LifeTeen Mass, teens are encouraged to sit in the front pews and to sing and dance and worship Jesus with all their hearts, which I think is a good thing.

-Mark

[God Conquers]

Life Teen is great. It is orthodox, evangelistic, and brings kids back to Christ and His Church.

[JP2Iloveyou]

I am just kind of leary about Life Teen. Most of my information has come from EWTN.com. go to http://www.ewtn.com/vexperts/search.asp?so.../conference.htm then type in "Life Teen" and do a search. They don't have to many positive things to say about it. They do, however, say pretty much what we've said. It can be a good program if not abusing the liturgy. What they teach about the Eucharist is great. I'd really check out what EWTN has to say about it though.

[vianney]

Just because there are lifeteen masses doesnt mean kids gather around the altar. I have attended lifeteen masses and not once was there a gathering around the altar. I think that it might happen in other places and I am against it. But dont be dowing lifeteen based on ppl who dont follow what it should be about. Praise and worship and bringing kids to know jesus in an ORTHODOX and personal way.

[Mary's Knight, La]

first let me say i understand the need for rules and instructions regarding the celebration of the mass, it is in fact one of the reasons I love the church (falls somewhere after the reasons dealing with truth, real presence, fullness of life in Christ, etc...) but I would not disbelieve the 30% statistic and out of the remaining 70% I'd question how many really understand what it means.

however, I also think that the altar gathering (which at my church meant around the sides not actually at the altar can in fact inspire deeper love for Christ especially when it is taught and approached from the proper view when it does this it cannot be wrong

i think the worries spring from the fact that it *can" instead introduce a disregard for the celebration of the mass and the true presence. It seems to me to be a case of "the tree is known by it's fruits' in those parishes where it is evident it is inspiring love and devotion to Christ it should be encouraged with proper vigor. If however it causes distractions then adaptations to that should occur to fix those problems.

Just a personal thing but it was lifeteen that helped me to appreciate the "traditional" mass Once lifeteen helped me love Jesus Really Present then I could carry that love into less exciting (for lack of better word) masses.

[PedroX]

At the LifeTeen Mass, teens are encouraged to sit in the front pews and to sing and dance and worship Jesus with all their hearts, which I think is a good thing.

I have to say that the dance part of this kind of worries me. I appreciate the order that the Mass and liturgy brings to worship. Coming out of a protestant background, I grew sick of endless "variety" trying to spice up the worship. As a convert, I find tradtional (NO) masses to be very exciting. Where else can you see bread and wine changed into the actual blood and body of Christ? That is exciting. Where else can you worship in a way that has elements that reach back to the apostles? That is exciting! Watching people dance about, singing sappy songs with bad guitar accompiament? Thats annoying.

peace...

[dUSt]

I have to say that the dance part of this kind of worries me.  I appreciate the order that the Mass and liturgy brings to worship.  Coming out of a protestant background, I grew sick of endless "variety" trying to spice up the worship.  As a convert, I find tradtional (NO) masses to be very exciting.  Where else can you see bread and wine changed into the actual blood and body of Christ?  That is exciting.  Where else can you worship in a way that has elements that reach back to the apostles?  That is exciting!  Watching people dance about, singing sappy songs with bad guitar accompiament?  Thats annoying.

peace...

hahaha...

I agree.

[IcePrincessKRS]

Life Teen is great. It is orthodox, evangelistic, and brings kids back to Christ and His Church.

Not to be contradictory or anything, but SOME--possibly even ALOT--of LifeTeen Masses are great and orthodox and evangelistic. On the flip side others really DO have liturgical abuses. I have friends who attend a parish that has LifeTeen Masses and at their Church, unfortunately, they have several liturgical abuses.

[vianney]

Oh yah i totally agree that there are some lifteen programs that have liturgical abuses. And they are WRONG. BUT my own parish has many liturgical absues does that mean that all catholic churches are horrible. You cant draw conclusions on a WHOLE program based on things that are hit and miss. The teen mass i have attended had no litrugical absues and in fact drew kids to be more orthodox. It is alot like steubenville retreats.

[mp15]

My main question is why the need? Why do teenagers need some special mass for them to feel closer to Christ? It boggles my mind. Teenagers always complain that they are not treated like adults yet they have no problem with lifeteen masses, which are clearly not intended to be an adult (or community) mass. If you think you are an adult then worship as us adults do.

If the church is to ever get a handle on all the things that plague it then it must put a stop to all the abuses that are going on within it. That includes lifeteen.

Here are some question and answers from EWTN;

teens around the alterQuestion from andrea on 09-23-2003:

Dear Father, I have noticed that some priests are allowing the teens at lifeteen mass to come up to the alter right after the consecration. This doesn't seem right. Am I being picky? I feel we should all be kneeling before communion. What are the rules? Thanks, Maria

Answer by Fr. John Echert on 09-23-2003:

This is NOT in accord with the rubrics of the Mass and is contrary to the long-standing tradition that goes back even to the Old Testament Temple, that the sanctuary is the place of sacrifice and the domain of the priest, who is consecrated to function therein on behalf of the people. This common practice in such "Teen Masses" is one reason I will not participate in such a Mass. We need to bring our teens to a better understanding and practice of what the Mass should be, rather than make wrongful accommodations to what may be pleasing to some. Dumbed-down-Masses only go so far and last so long as a means of attracting the Faithful to Mass. We are already dumbed down too much and it has not worked, as is evident by the fact that a majority of Catholics do not even attend Mass any longer. Thanks, Maria Father Echert

Here is another;

Lifeteen Question from Marie on 03-11-2001:

Dear Fr. Levis: Our parish has recently adopted the Lifeteen program as a means of educating our highschoolers. After some time observing the Lifeteen mass, I wonder if this is the best option for us. I have an uneasiness inside about them gathering around the altar for the Eucharistic Prayer through communion. Also, they have some of the teenagers bring up the altar cloth and drape it on the altar just before the gifts are brought up. Sometimes the people who do this are not even Catholic! Also, the music is often that which is heard on the local Christian Radio station. The music ministry does a wonderful job but I wonder if there would be more suitable music for the mass. The team of young adults who lead the teenagers seem to use the few minutes before the mass to socialize, inside the church while others of us are preparing ourselves for mass and would appreciate some silence. I just wondered if you have heard of Lifeteen and what your opinion is on it. It is wonderful to see teenagers at mass but I'm not so sure that this is the best way to go about it. I would appreciate your input. Thank you so much. Sorry this is such a long request but it so rare to be able to get on this forum I had to try to get it all in at one time!

Answer by Fr. Robert J. Levis on 03-12-2001:

Dear Marie, Several months ago, maybe six months, we entertained several posts on this Lifeteen Program, pro and con. I suggest you try to find those posts in our Previously Answered Questions. Yes, it is great to see the kids at Mass but at what a price! 1. It is forbidden to have any but the officers of the Mass present in the sanctuary. 2. The music is sentimental, Protestant in origin, not our own Catholic music. 3. This draping of the altar is bizarre. 4. My question is this - when ever will the teens grow up and accept their adulthood sufficiently to worship with their parents and family in the body of the Church at a Liturgy approved in all respects by the Church? Lifeteens doesn't pretend to solve this problem and question. Fr. Bob Levis

I really like this one;

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass Question from Mark A. on 05-12-2003:

Pax Vobiscum!

Colin B. Donovan's Bin is always full so I thought I would ask you guys...

At our parish I recently talked to the pastor about the teens going up to the altar at the "Lifeteen mass." We then concluded that it was not allowed and uncalled for during the liturgy even though teens have been begging and crying for it to be done. Just yesterday (May 11th) my pastor received an e-mail from the USCCB's liturgy team and they told him they are going to start allowing it once they make the revisions to the GIRM. He also added that the USCCB said "if they are allowed in weddings, we don't see why they shouldn't be allowed at Lifeteen Masses." Now the teens are having a field day up on the altar during mass.

Please verify if this is correct and please help me out in this situation. It does not seem I can find a decent solid orthodox liturgy within 2 hours from my home. If this rule gets "ok'd" by the USCCB then I fear most of our masses are going to be completely secularized and irreverant.

Thanks and God Bless.

-Mark +JMJ

Answer by Catholic Answers on 05-12-2003:

It is not licit to disobey the law in anticipation of a change in the law. Until the law is changed, it's still the law and is to be obeyed.

Also, it would seem that there are relevant differences between a Lifeteen Mass and a nuptual Mass. In the latter case, young people may be playing an official role in the wedding party (e.g., bridesmaid, groomsman). Liturgical law allows for those playing official roles in a proceeding to be in the sanctuary, and this potentially might be construed as including those with positions in the wedding party. However, the law does not allow an indiscriminate invitation to all members of a particular class.

In any event, a letter expressing the personal hopes, intents, or expectations of an individual who works at the USCCB does not constitute a change in the law and does not authorize deviation from established liturgical law. Compliance with the law is indicated until it is changed, in which case compliance with the new law is indicated.

Since this situation involves the attitudes of young people toward law keeping, it seems that parents in this situation should take an active interest in helping the children understand the importance of law keeping, even for those laws one does not personally like. Law and law keeping are what enable us to have the quality of life we do. Without these, society would be a very unpleasant place to live. Teaching the kids respect for the concept of law will serve them better in later life than fostering disrespect for the law.

Jimmy Akin

Catholic Answers

These are just a sample of what you can find. It's really pretty sad.

[vianney]

yah i read the same things and all the examples are BAD examples of lifeteen masses. I can give you lots of examples that arent like that. And by the way there are different masses for different things. Some ADULTS along with TEENS like the praise and worship style mass with some charasmatic feel to it. Some ppl like the more traditional latin mass, etc etc etc. That is why the church allows all of them provided they FOLLOW THE RUBRICS. I say if they follow the GIRM and Rubrics let them have teen masses. I wouldnt be in the seminary today if it werent for steubenville so before you go bashing teen life and programs like it I would be careful because alot of the seminaries now a days are filled with ppl who come from that background and alot of faithful ORTHODOX teens and adults have came back to the church through these programs.

[mp15]

You never answered my question. Why does it take a lifeteen mass for a teenager to feel closer to Christ or for that matter a good Catholic? Something is inDouche wrong if it takes all that flamboyance to get the so called desired results.

[mp15]

Also, I'm not sure what you mean by those letters being BAD examples. I'm sure the liturgical abusses that go on are far more common than you are willing to admit.

Edited September 23, 2003 by mp15

[vianney]

First off

Just beause one prefers a certain type of mass over another doesnt mean that one is bad or good. The sacrifice is still the same. For many teens they grow up in parishes that are weak and lacking true catholicism. Many parishes dont have a zeal that they need to have to combat society today. In my parish it was very hard growing up Catholic. Then one day they hired a youth minister who was charasmatic and started taking kids to steubenville retreats. We now have three seminarians and two more coming. We have the biggest youth group in the diocese. And by the way our youth group is very conservative and preach apologetics and goes to confession as a group etc etc. My point out of all this is that sometimes Jesus needs to hit us in a certain way for us to realize what he did for us. And sometimes these youth gatherings is a way for that to happen. Many Bishops and the Pope himself see this and are on board. Look a youth mass in my mind isnt necessarily a bunch of jumbo gumbo but rather different style of songs and a different focus of the homily. Otherwise everything else is the same. I am with you in the regard as teens shouldnt be gathering around the altar. And I am saying that I know it happens some places. But I dont want a thread started declaring how evil lifeteen and teen masses in general are when it is a hit and miss game. I said if they are within the rubrics there is nothing wrong with them...And the pope, USCCB, and the University of Steubenville happen to agree with me. The verdict is in on them i dont think it is in on you yet.