A Catholic Living with L.A.
posted by Quintero at 11:51 PM
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21 Comments:
I'm interested to know how many other Catholics "in the pews" notice cantors and other liturgical musicians doing things that show they're not really engaged in the action taking place -- unless, of course, they happen to be performing their music. I have noticed cantors and pianists flipping through music during the reading of the Gospel, chatting and drinking bottled water during Mass. I think it's easily obvious when a musician is more interested in performing than in serving the community's worship, and I submit that there are far too many performers who consider the sanctuary their stage. Anyone else?
What are those goofy women carrying as they dance their way down the main aisle of the church? Are those baskets containing unconsecrated communion hosts?
Gotta love the incense burner behind the altar too. Is this a Catholic church?
Obviously, as the caption says, they are carrying bowls of incense. And since when is incense out of place in a Catholic church?
C'mon, people, there is a difference between things that are matters of doctrine, and things that are merely matters of practice. Just because a liturgical element does not meet *your* personal taste does not mean that it cannot be a reverent expression of prayer and adoration.
And using words like "goofy" to describe another person's form of worship is as uncharitable as it is unkind.
On a positive note, the liturgical dancers are dressed instead of half-dressed.Please, someone tell me,why do we not see men doing this? Just wondering.
Margaret
JOSEPH D'HIPPOLITO SAYS...
This is a dedication of Catholic worship space? I thought somebody had brought back a snapshot from Olympia about 600 B.C. ;)
What are they doing incenseing the 'worship space'? Shouldn't a Priest be doing that? And also, Liturgical dancing was a heresy in like the 3rd century.
I think it is perfectly valid to confront and call this goofy... because it is!
This picture just goes to show how grossly the Mass is viewed there. Instead of mediating upon what is going on the Priest is simply watching them play with smoke.
At least there is the satisfaction of knowing that people like this are all old and will be out of the picture soon enough... well maybe not soon enough but eventually.
KC Monet-
Actually, goofy was the most charitable word I could come up with.
BTW, there already is incense billowing from the hibachi sitting on the altar (which looks like something one would purchase from IKEA). And the containers held aloft by the oddly clad, short haired females appear to be wrapped in cloth. This is why I thought that perhaps they were transporting something other than burning coals. But perhaps the caption is correct after all.
It’s still gooooofy.
wow, you keep suprising me with these pictures, and it frightens me. This just looks evil. not goofy but EVIL.
Skeetor-
You're right ... spooky, not goofy.
To answer someone's questions: there are places where the men have donned the leotards too. For example, St. Monica's in Santa Monica, on Holy Thursday. One guy and one girl sashayed up the main aisle during the processional - doing a kind of waltz or something.
The most disturbing thing was seeing them get ready in a side chapel at the rear of the church before hand - they were joined in a moment of silent prayer. For some reason, it was one of the creepiest things I had every encountered. Obviously they have good will. Which just goes to show you that good will isn't everything.
that altar looks like something elijah might have destroyed back when he was battling the priests of baal.
look at the blank stone wall behind the altar. no crucifix no tabernacle,it just looks creepy and evil. do you think jesus really is there at all?
JOSEPH D'HIPPOLITO SAYS...
Hey, gang, I just figured out what was missing...
THE HUMAN SACRIFICE!
And Dathan said to Korah, "Bind the sacrifice with cord!"
The Ten Commandments, film circa 1955.
Clayton: You saw me mediating in the side chapel before my St. Monica aisle waltz? And you didn't say hello?
Are these pot smokin' mamas the same as the ones who appear here?: http://www.the-tidings.com/2001/0831/dedication8.jpg
Patrick,
Hey, didn't want to interrupt that moment of divine intimacy.
Are these two married?
... to each other?
Clayton: Well, I 'preciate that. My dance partner and I DID feel we were being insensitive in not being a same-sex pair of liturgical dancers. As we know, only gay people -- esp those with dignity and a spirit of justice for all the anawim -- are capable of divine intimacy.
Speaking of St. Monica's and all things inclusive, Msgr. Torgerson for Cardinal!!!! Woohooooo!!!
Patrick,
That really was heartless, making it a hetero venue. All that did was reinforce those negative stereotypes about the traditional family as the plan of God for human love. What partiarchal poppycock!
Also, don't you know the first principle of performance? Know your audience.
But a couple of your co-performers took care of the gay angle, when those two young women dance-enacted during the psalm about the suffering servant. It was part domestic-abuse awareness, part sado-masochistic exploration, part volatile lesbian relationship. It had so many different dimensions... I am sure it spoke to everyone somehow. I know it spoke to me: find the exit, and do it now!
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