LA Masses
LA Religious Education Congress 'Mass'
Did Mass at your parish this Sunday leave you incensed?
posted by Quintero at 12:33 AM
Jan 16, 2006
LA Religious Education Congress 'Mass'
Did Mass at your parish this Sunday leave you incensed?
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- Location: East L.A., California, United States
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15 Comments:
That photo looks so creepy.
I did not have any negatives thoughts or emotions with Mass, BUT a family sat two rows in front of mine and the young teenager had an IPOD attached to her ear. I turned away as Mass started refusing to focusing on the scandalous behavior.
I was visiting St. Francis' in Ann Arbor, Michigan, a rather modern and cavernous building that replaced the astroturf carpeting with stone tile some time ago. That would have been an improvement, except for the fact that the stone combined with the domed ceiling amplified every little sound, so it was rather deafening the entire Mass. As I was contemplating the somewhat aesthetic but poorly planned interior, I was hopeful that the Mass itself would be good and orthodox (always doubtful in ultra-left Ann Arbor) because we had a non-American priest.
My hopes began crumbling when he had to interupt the beauty and flow of the Mass by prefacing each of the readings with an explanation and comments (Hey Father, didn't anyone tell you that's what homilies are for???). Then they decided to dispense with the "Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ" response after the Gospel. Then came the homily, which began with Father pulling out a cell-phone and pretending that he was getting a phone call from God. By now, my Marge Simpsonesque grumbling was really kicking in. Yeah, I really love gimmicks and theatrics at Mass. And doing your own thing is so much more appealing than being in actual communion with the rest of the Church. (sarcasm off)
Speaking of Communion, it reminded me of the "Big Salad" episode on Seinfeld. Why? Because they brought out a really big salad or punch bowl (glass of course) filled with the unconsecrated communion hosts. With that, they brought out several glass wine goblets and several glass bowls. Now, of course they had all the Eucharistic ministers gather up there behind the priest as some kind of co-concelebrants.
At this point, the hosts were still unconsecrated in the Big Salad bowl. After the consecration, the priest stuck each small glass bowl into the Big Salad bowl and used them to scoop out the Hosts, as if it were a bowl of potato chips or pretzels. Of course, I could see that a few spilled onto the altar, which did not have the extra linen spread out. I cannot recall who poured the wine into the goblets, but it could very well have been one of the EMs because after they went out into the crowd, one of them ran out and I saw some woman grab the pitcher from the altar, which still had some of the Precious Blood left in it, and go out to the crowd to give a refill.
Going up for Communion myself, I happened to be in the priest's line. When I said "Amen" with my hands folded down and mouth open, he just stood there, and I had to wet my tongue, reach my head over, bend my neck down, and take it with my tongue from his unmoving hand, careful to get it in my mouth and not let it fall to the floor. By now, I was thoroughly irritated, praying that God should forgive me for all the uncharitable thoughts I was having.
After Communion, the lack of respect and reverence continued. The EMs with the goblets brought them back up to the altar, which had a big tray on it to carry them away. Nearly all of them stuffed their purifiers in the goblets as they would any plain old napkin, and at least one of the goblets that I could see was still a quarter full of the Precious Blood. Without anyone bothering to consume it, some EM came by like a bus-boy and carried the tray over to some table by the side.
With the Blood of our Lord sitting there like some abandoned refuse at the end of a party, they again interrupted Mass for a couple to give a long discussion about marriage encounter weekend. Then the priest had some silly comments and announcements to make before bringing the Mass to an end. All the while, the Precious Blood continued to sit there.
So, does this qualify as an L.A. Archdiocese type of Mass? Some protestant-type, do your own thing, treat the Body of Christ like a bowl of potato chips and the Blood of Christ like some cheap Gallo wine at a party, liturgical abusive kind of Mass? Pray that God forgive me for any undue outrage that I felt and feel towards the folks who run St. Francis parish in Ann Arbor.
That's LA, all the way.
Give me the basics....bells at the Consecration, Priests who stay at the lectern when they give their sermons,heck..sermons, not homilies. Incense is cool, but should be reserved for those special times that make us reflect on Christ's ultimate sacrifice.
I GOTTA TELL YA!!!
Where I went to Mass this past Sunday SCARED ME!!!!
Four priests total and they sang the entire Mass in a language that sounded alot like Italian... but wasn't.
The priest who said the Mass itself was SO RUDE! He had his back to us the entire time and faced this little box in the middle of the table.
And all the kneeling!! Shessh... why should I kneel? And while I'm at it, no Sign of Peace! Everyone around me had their eyes closed and they seemed so far away... like they were concentrating on something other than me. Know what I mean? Hey, I just wanted someone to talk to!
Well, I don't think I'll go to Mass there anymore. Someone said the priests carried guns. I overheard somebody say that they all had Birettas.
Bender,
That linen under the chalice is called a "purificator." Of course, maybe the only use it when on those special holy days when they break out their gold chalice!
Tom,
It might look like a lectern where you attend the New Mass, but the proper name is an "ambo."
I have known some people in what is termed the "Wiccan" community and have attended some of their religious ceremonies - and this looks too much like one. The colors are "off" - they are not any liturgical colors that I have seen.
I had a strange experience, similar to the Caveman's, this week.
I thought the "Biretta" part referred to the priest's pet cockatoo, though...
Nonsumdignus,
Indeed, that sounds scary. My Mass sounds like yours.
My priest had a gun called a Biretta, and it was white. He took it out about 3 times.
The language did sound like italian too me. His back was to me and facing the little box and the crucifix.
There was a fence that did not allow lay "participation" infact evenone kneel at that fence for communion.
Too bad I was not the center of attention. Instead of the sign of chaos I mean the sign of peace, they concentrated what was going on on the altar, that is soo rude. I wonder why they did not focus on me.
I guess everyone was focusing on God more than me.
"My hopes began crumbling when he had to interupt the beauty and flow of the Mass by prefacing each of the readings with an explanation and comments (Hey Father, didn't anyone tell you that's what homilies are for???). Then they decided to dispense with the "Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ" response after the Gospel. Then came the homily, which began with Father pulling out a cell-phone and pretending that he was getting a phone call from God. "
Wow! My priest did the same homily, but it wasn't in Michigan. It must be some kind of conspiracy... you know, modernist kinda stuff.
I don't think that picture is of a Mass, surely that must be a screenshot from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom?
Looks to me like they're serving a piping hot bowl of grits.
Just don't forget the hominy...
...After the homily...
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