Lifeteen

[marielapin]

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.

I feel the same way, and I'm one of those young people that is supposed to be targeted by this type of stuff.

To be quite honest, anything charismatic weirds me out. I do not like most praise and worship music during the mass, I do not like swaying about, I do not like shouting or clapping or speaking in tongues or anything like that. To me it all takes the focus off Jesus.

I had all those things when I was protestant.

I am not Protestant anymore and I want a traditional, reverent mass, daggone it!!

[vianney]

Well thank the good lord they have both so ppl who dont like to worship the same way you do have the oppurtunity to play the guitar and praise jesus. How is clapping and praising jesus by PRIASE and worship music taking ne focus off Jesus, and I wouldnt start to be a critic when it comes to speaking in tongues because the Vatican is in support of it. Watch yourself it is ok if you dont like to worship that way but dont judge others because they do.

[marielapin]

Who said anything about judging?

I said it makes ME unfocused on Jesus.

I said it makes ME uncomfortable.

Therefore I don't go.

Sheesh.

And by the way I LOVE THE GUITAR AT MASS.

In my post I said nothing of these things you accuse me of. I am not a critic of speaking in tongues but doggone it, it still weirds me out. So does that make me critical of the Vatican, NO!

I don't care what you like to do at Mass as long as it follows the GIRM.

Is it so wrong to have an opinion? Can I not have an opinion without being accused of judging others????!!!???

[vianney]

I see your point marie but at the same time when you say things like that it makes the ppl who do enjoy stuff like that which is approved by the Vatican seem like their faith is less important or not as valid. I dont like hearing the mass in latin but I see that it is a beutiful way for some ppl to connect with God. Maybe put it like that.

[marielapin]

Nowadays it seems like I can't say anything without it being taken wrong.

Maybe it would be better if I don't say anything at all...

I'm getting tired of sugar coating everything, and most of all I am tired of being attacked for things I don't think or say!

[BullnaChinaShop]

I see your point marie but at the same time when you say things like that it makes the ppl who do enjoy stuff like that which is approved  by the Vatican seem like their faith is less important or not as valid. I dont like hearing the mass in latin but I see that it is a beutiful way for some ppl to connect with God. Maybe put it like that.

Good to see that you get to be the judge of whether someone's opinion on a matter is "worded appropriately" so as not to offend anyone who may disagree. Anyone who gets their panties in a wad over someone else sharing how they personally feel about a subject needs to look at themselves a little harder.

Why do you find fault in someone stating that something you love makes them uncomfortable and serves as a distraction for them? Marielapin never judged anything or anyone in her post. She just plainly stated how she felt. If you took offense to this you should ask youself why you are so defensive about the subject matter that you put words in her mouth, making it sound like she had said much more than she did.

I admit that I am not unbiased in this discussion as Marielapin is my wife. Because of this fact I will not sit around and watch someone put words in her mouth. Yes, she was blunt about her own feelings on the matter but she never once said that any of what she listed as making her uncomfortable was wrong or not as valid.

Sorry if I am being harsh but I am getting tired of people in general getting offended so easily. Instead of reading something thinking it will offend why won't people take a deap breath and try and see what the other person may have been trying to say however imperfectly worded. Discussions on mesage boards require both writers that try to express their thoughts generously and readers that are willing to try and understand before taking offense. It is a two way street. The writer can't always be held responsible for the reader getting offended. Although this is often the problem sometimes people especially on subjects that mean a lot to them get offended when there is nothing to be offended by.

Please. Everyone try and not get too worked up over something until you question the person who wrote it and find out what they really meant.

[Donna]

Anna, I did remember you at Mass. I'm praying St. Joseph lead us out of Eygypt.

[Donna]

Everyone should be happy.

This is the unity in diversity.

Now we've hit nirvana.

[Guest KMC]

:D Hey if Lifeteen is creating this much dialogue it is doing something good. I was at St. Tim's in Mesa the home of Lifeteen and happened to notice that they have 7 people discerning vocations to priesthood and religous life. Did Lifeteen bring this about I don't know but to see that many vocations in one parish amazes me.

We gather groups around the altar for different occassions weddings, first communions, rcia masses, etc. to let teens know they are special and have a special place once a week is great.

I wish we would have had something like this when I was a teen in the 60's.

[cmotherofpirl]

Who gathers groups around the altar for what?

[jasJis]

The priest invites the teens to come stand nearer the Altar during the Consecration. Different parishes do it differently. Some Bishops allow the teens to come closer and they kneel. Some don't allow it. I have not heard of them coming as close as the priest(s), altar servers, or deacon.

In our parish, they stand kinda within the Sancturary area which is very huge. It's 5 or 6 levels and 400 people could comfortably stand there including the Altar. The closes anybody comes is about 5' when it's crowded.

The Pastor also does a short teaching about once a month wherein he reminds us that for 2,000 years the Church has taught that the bead and wine become the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ. It is Christ's Real Presence among us. He also says that all the Angels in Heaven become present to witness this miracle and to give worship and homage to God. This is the time for us to put aside all concerns and distractions and focus with our eyes of faith as God become materially present for us. All the lights in the Church are dimmed, except on the Altar itself.

Within the LT program itself, it is used to help teach about the Real Presence that comes to us despite our strenght of Faith, age, etc. Also to remind them that Christ is physically present in them and in their neighbor.

I understand the controversy how Bishops differ on interpreting the GIRM and how it is allowed or not allowed. They aren't gathered to help officiate or celebrate the Mass as a Minister or Celebrant. It is intended to bring to focus the Reality of the Real Presence. Given that most Catholics today don't know the Real Presence is true and that's what the Church teaches, I am comforted to know in my parish that would hardly be possible for anyone who attends any mass more than a few times a year.

[cmotherofpirl]

Jas I was curious KMC posting about people being around the altar other occasions.

Do you have any of these other occasions?

I know we don't.

[mp15]

We gather groups around the altar for different occassions weddings, first communions, rcia masses, etc.  to let teens know they are special and have a special place once a week is great.

Well let's see, they are special, but no more so then anyone else who goes to mass. Why must they be put on a pedestal? Why don't we all just gather around the alter. That whay everyone is included and then we can all feel extra special. Sheesh.........

Oh and by the way, weddings, first communions and RCIA are different. The same rules do not apply to these. They do apply to lifeteen mass however. A liefeteen mass is no different then an ordinary mass (in as far as the liturgy goes), at least it's not supposeed to be :angry:

Edited September 26, 2003 by mp15

[jasJis]

KMC,

I'd talk to your Youth Minister. It isn't supposed to be about the kids feeling special. It is a privilege they are allowed in order to teach them. They are older than children, but not quite adults. It is something that is allowed in order for them to develop in their faith. They aren't any less special when they graduate and are too old for Life Teen. It goes against the teaching the the real Honor is that Christ is present within all of us when we recieve the Eucharist. Comparing being able to see the top of the altar as being special with recieving the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of the Risen Lord is an crazy.

[dUSt]

I agree with mp.

I like Lifeteen, as far as the movement of getting teens to mass, making the music a little more upbeat, etc, but I do not like it when they change the liturgy.

Some examples:

- gathering around the altar

- playing background music during the consecration

- changing the words of the dismissal

I had always thought these things were adopted by the individual parishes, and not "officially" encouraged by Lifeteen, but was wrong. I was reading the Lifeteen website today and found in the "about us" section they openly encourage teens gathering around the altar.

This makes me sad. An otherwise amesome movement is tarnished by a few disobediences.

If anybody can show me where these things have been approved by Rome or the USCCB, please do. I plan on talking to the priest who encourages these practices in my diocese too. maybe he can shed some light on the issue.