Proper Mass Activity

[christopher]

I want to talk about doing what is right in the Catholic Church even when the American heirarchy doesn't care. We ARE to genuflect upon entering and leaving the church even though about only 1 % do it at my church and others. It is in humility before our Lord WHO IS PRESENT. We are to pat our left breast during the "confession of sins" three times(Through my own fault). We should be properly dressed according to our state in life. We should take the Body of Christ by mouth, not by hand. We should ACTUALLY grab one of the hymnals on the way in so that we may sing along in praise of the Lord instead of just standing there. And MOST OF ALL WE ARE TO KNEEL DURING THE EUCHARIST!!!! If Catholics want to be lazy and Protestant that's their own choice but as far as I'm concerned I'm going to be an example of acting like a Catholic for a change. Anyone else care to support their faith or shall we abandon it, defame it, and blaspheme it by lack of repect to the Lord? Dominus Verbiscum.

[phatcatholic]

I want to talk about doing what is right in the Catholic Church even when the American heirarchy doesn't care. We ARE to genuflect upon entering and leaving the church even though about only 1 % do it at my church and others. It is in humility before our Lord WHO IS PRESENT. We are to pat our left breast during the "confession of sins" three times(Through my own fault). We should be properly dressed according to our state in life. We should take the Body of Christ by mouth, not by hand. We should ACTUALLY grab one of the hymnals on the way in so that we may sing along in praise of the Lord instead of just standing there. And MOST OF ALL WE ARE TO KNEEL DURING THE EUCHARIST!!!! If Catholics want to be lazy and Protestant that's their own choice but as far as I'm concerned I'm going to be an example of acting like a Catholic for a change. Anyone else care to support their faith or shall we abandon it, defame it, and blaspheme it by lack of repect to the Lord? Dominus Verbiscum.

woh, killer. deeeeep breaths. count backwards from 10. :D

if you're looking for people to support their faith, u have come to the right place. i will let those more familiar w/ the particulars of the GIRM respond to this. as for me, i'm gonna run along and work on my reference section!

holla,

phatcatholic

[foundsheep]

I like your attitude.

I dont know all the rules but one I will hit on is

We should be properly dressed according to our state in life

Last summer I couldnt believe people actually wearing shorts to church, with a T shirt. I find it very disrespectful for someone not to look thier best(within thier means) for christ.

[jrndveritatis]

I completely agree that we need to get back to genuflecting and demonstrating reverence in the presence of the Holy Eucharist. The bishops definitely need to emphasize this. To overcome the irreverence in our churches I think we need to know what causes it.

I think that the major cause was the whole spirit of the 70s in which liberal activists hijacked many parishes and claimed to be acting in the "spirit" of Vatican II. Obviously anyone who reads the documents of Vatican II, especially on the liturgy, knows that these ligurgists were flat-out speaking falsely. Maybe even they didn't know it and were just caught up in what they believed what was happening, but they were still wrong. The main emphasis of these "liturgists" was community at the cost of worship. They thought individual worship excluded people or made them feel unwelcome. Perhaps slightly, but they took their concerns way too far. Personally, when I hear any of their catch-phrases, like "We are Church" or hear any of the hymns from the 70s onward, it makes me sick. They all speak about community and inclusiveness, and ignore God. They are horizontal, not vertical. This is the problem.

I think many bishops are too afraid of offending anyone to do anything. That or even some bishops have fallen prey to the faulty interpretations of Vatican II. The Church should always act charitably of course, but in the way Christ acted charitably. Christ offended most of the people who came into contact with them, and never avoided speaking the truth because it was "exclusive" or "divisive". Rather, he said that he came to bring the sword and division, because many would refuse to accept the truth. Rather than giving in and leaving the truth behind, Christ openly spoke it and sacrificed His life for it. This is the model that both we as the laity and bishops as the leaders of the Church should follow.

[foundsheep]

I was thinking about it a little more, A lot of this stuff should be taught in CCD class but I dont think they hit on it as much, I know I do. Thats why folks should really volunteer at thier churches so you make sure the kids are learning.

[EcceNovaFacioOmni]

Our Church is pretty laid back I must say. I've worn shorts to Mass. I wore jeans today and some Caterpiller boots. Everyone here does, is that odd? Of course when visiting another Church I do not do this.

Edited January 19, 2004 by thedude

[Anna]

Yeah, and let's not forget bowing during the words, "He came down from heaven, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, he was born of the Virgin Mary and became Man."

Oh, and I do genuflect, and tell my kids to do so also. I also kneel to receive the Body of Christ, on my tongue, but that is no longer a requirement, but rather, an option, as I understand it. Kneeling is practically forbidden!!!

However, when we are absolutely certain that this is the One and the Same Jesus Christ who was born in Bethlehem and died on Calvary for us, Who will come again to judge us one day, how can we not drop to our knees?

While the American bishops have made it the norm in the U.S. to stand to receive Holy Communion, the Vatican has left us a loophole, whereby those of us whose "sensibilities dictate" that we kneel, are free to do so, without reproach from priests, deacons, or lay ministers.

(Viva el Papa!!!!!!!!!!!)

Pax Christi. <><

Edited January 19, 2004 by Anna

[christopher]

Our Church is pretty laid back I must say. I've worn shorts to Mass. I wore jeans today and some Caterpiller boots. Everyone here does, is that odd? Of course when visiting another Church I do not do this.

Laid back is good I guess, and I have worn jeans to Mass a lot, but still, genuflecting, must be done always, no matter what you wear, it's about humility. Peace. It's also important to fast for an hour(Mass-no gum, etc.).

[jmjtina]

Sometimes I really don't understand the logic. I mean, your supposed to be on your knees, genuflecting. I mean this is God, present, truly present among us, not a Piggly Wiggly checkout line.

(Viva el Papa!!!!!!!!!!!)

Amen. :cheer:

[EcceNovaFacioOmni]

I follow the 1-hour fast thing. Nobody at my Church dresses up. I dunno, its a university church so its a different experience. The priest seems to be orthodox, yet seems to bore the masses.

[Wynd]

I don't see how it would be hard to follow the one-hour fast rule. 99% of the times I've been to church, the parts of the Mass leading up to that point (mainly the homily) take about an hour anyway. Though I suppose if the priest gave a short homily that day and you were eating as you walked into the church you could pull it off, but otherwise, it seems an easy rule to follow.

[jasJis]

umm.

Read the GIRM for real.

Your Bishop dictates how we are to receive communion. Where does it say in the GIRM, Communion must not be by the hand??

[dUSt]

I want to talk about doing what is right in the Catholic Church even when the American heirarchy doesn't care.

I'm sure they care, and are doing their best to make sure the Church survives and flourishes in this country.

We ARE to genuflect upon entering and leaving the church even though about only 1 % do it at my church and others. It is in humility before our Lord WHO IS PRESENT.

I agree when the tabernacle is present, but a lot of churches do not have the tabernacle inside the Church anymore. A lot of churches now have it in a separate chapel or room (which I don't like).

We should take the Body of Christ by mouth, not by hand.

In the US, we can receive communion by hand or mouth. By mouth is how I receive, but I don't think any less of people who receive it by hand, because it's accepted by the Church.

And MOST OF ALL WE ARE TO KNEEL DURING THE EUCHARIST!!!!

Do you mean kneel during the concsecration or as we are receiving? I totally agree that we should all be kneeling during the consecration, as the GIRM instructs us to, but it's acceptable to receive communion while standing up. If you do stand up, you should bow before receiving.

[Jake Huether]

umm.

Read the GIRM for real.

Your Bishop dictates how we are to receive communion. Where does it say in the GIRM, Communion must not be by the hand??

I was going to say the same thing.

While a like your enthus. and I totally agree on the matter of respect for our Lord in the Eucharist, don't get swept into the stream of "Traditionalism" and become more Catholic than the Pope (or in this case, your Bishop).

We are called to obedience first and formost. We are the sheep, remember. The Bishops are the shepherds.

If they do anything intentionally to put a stumbling block before us, "it would be better if they had a millstone around their necks and were cast into the sea."

There are instances where one might be called to disobey, when for example, the Bishop orders us to do something that is forbidden by God himself, or the Pope.

But in matters of discipline, (i.e. recieving Communion in the hands), we must obey no matter how bad we feel. Christ knows our thoughts, our concerns, our wants, and our needs.

[DojoGrant]

I have a problem with a lot of the genuflecting I see today. Kids do it because they learned it from the parents. Many parents experienced the Mass where the tabernacle was behind the alter. In MOST cases, it is not there anymore, but to the side or in a special chapel. However, many people still genuflect kind of "wherever," most often towards the altar though. Is it inappropriate to genuflect toward the altar? No, because Jesus will be made present there (and HAS been made present there), but He is ACTUALLY present in the tabernacle. I hardly ever see people genuflecting, though, who are doing so TOWARDS the tabernacle or even looking in its general direction. It's a habit, not a devotion.

This is what I perceive, anyway. I always make a point to know where the tabernacle is, face it and genuflect. Furthermore, my priest (who is pretty good; we have almost no liturgical abuses in the parish) has always said that it is a private devotion to genuflect before sitting down. I'm getting the feeling that you are calling it manditory.

When I go to pray in front of the tabernacle, I get down on my knees, though. I refuse to let these actions lose their meaning in my life. It pains me to see it happen in others lives because they feel they are "supposed to do it" but don't even know why (re: genuflecting just to genuflect).

As for dressing, I see some pretty sad attire (from people I know have better), and while I've gone to the student evening Mass we have here in school clothes, my school clothes are suitable clothes (occasionally jeans, but with a nice shirt). If I'm serving at the alter (which I almost always am), I make sure to be well dressed.

And I have never received from the Eucharist on the tongue. It's not something I did in my Lutheran faith (we received by hand), and its the most common thing here, so it was how I was most comfortable with it. I am very reverant with the Eucharist, making sure nothing drops and that I have received it all from my hand.

And for the beating of the chest, I've never seen anyone do it...ever, even though I see it in the Missal.

Edited January 19, 2004 by DojoGrant