A priest-friend keeps what he calls the “vile” file, a file of clippings that illustrate the most absurd aspects of the post-Vatican II Catholic culture. He’s been emailing some of them around and I thought I’d share them. I’ve put thumbnail clippings here with the full-size scans on the second page following the “More” link.
This must be what they mean by alter clownus. How condescending is it to think that old people will be entertained by clowns as if they were children? Is that Gandalf saying Mass? Faith-filled fools… hey, they’re the ones who said it. Remember that old 1980s silliness of declaring your home a nuclear-free zone as if Reagan was planning on parking a Minuteman in your backyard? I thought this was the stereotype.
I have been to an outdoor Mass before—the Pope does it all the time—and it was held on a beach (on Martha’s Vineyard), and there’s nothing wrong with the location per se. But using surfboards as an altar was a bit too much of “throwing pearls before the swine.” It’s just not appropriate.
I think I mentioned once that when I was in high school on a CYO trip to Florida, our priest celebrated Mass on a moving bus using a cooler as an altar. If I recall it correctly, we were driving through Arlington, VA, at the time, going past the Pentagon. I think that goes beyond the pale of good liturgical practice.
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The “Vile” File
A priest-friend keeps what he calls the “vile” file, a file of clippings that illustrate the most absurd aspects of the post-Vatican II Catholic culture. He’s been emailing some of them around and I thought I’d share them. I’ve put thumbnail clippings here with the full-size scans on the second page following the “More” link.
This must be what they mean by alter clownus.
How condescending is it to think that old people will be entertained by clowns as if they were children?
Is that Gandalf saying Mass?
Faith-filled fools… hey, they’re the ones who said it. Remember that old 1980s silliness of declaring your home a nuclear-free zone as if Reagan was planning on parking a Minuteman in your backyard?
I thought this was the stereotype.
COMMENTS
I have been to an outdoor Mass before—the Pope does it all the time—and it was held on a beach (on Martha’s Vineyard), and there’s nothing wrong with the location per se. But using surfboards as an altar was a bit too much of “throwing pearls before the swine.” It’s just not appropriate.
I think I mentioned once that when I was in high school on a CYO trip to Florida, our priest celebrated Mass on a moving bus using a cooler as an altar. If I recall it correctly, we were driving through Arlington, VA, at the time, going past the Pentagon. I think that goes beyond the pale of good liturgical practice.
Posted by Domenico Bettinelli on 06/8/03 at 02:48 PM
Comments are being moderated. After you submit your comment it could take up to a couple hours, but usually only a few minutes, before it will appear. Thank you for your patience. If you have any questions, you may contact Domenico Bettinelli.