...regarding your post today entitled “Doing ceremonial things unceremoniously.”
I refer to Masses where the priest does such things as the “Father So-and-So Show.” It absolutely infuriates me. We’ve had two priests at our parish that insist upon singing everything—and I mean EVERYTHING. The reason this infuriates me is because I do not see it so much as piety and reverence, but that they are being a performer and the altar is their stage. Fortunately our parish publishes the next week’s schedule of Masses in the bulletin and I will make a point from now on of avoiding the current offender’s Mass.
She gets it exactly right. A priest can chant or sing the Mass reverently. But there’s a habit in a generation or two of priests (and bishops) of giving performances at Mass, of playing to the crowd. That’s one aspect of what Lewis is saying about the inability to forget oneself in the rite. Perhaps it is caused by priests now facing the congregation instead of the tabernacle and cross.
We live in an informal age
Technorati Tags: behavior, bishops, Catholic, liturgy, Mass, priesthood, ritual
I am certainly with you on this Dom. Also involved with this nonsense is calling the celebrant a “presider”. The Church teaches that the priest acts in “persona Christi” Is Christ a presider?
I am not to go any further with the Old Rite vs the NewRite, only to say, I hope that enough of the faithful have had “enough”.
Hopefully, Benedict 16, if he goes with an Apostolic Admin for the Old Rite will help move the NewRite towards where it needs to go.
I too agree. As someone who used to attend Tridentine Rite Masses regularly (and still does occasionally), I often notice the lack of informality at Mass celebrated in the newrite.
I won’t go as far as some of my traditional friends in their critique and say that the newrite by design let in this informality and liturgical abuse, but I will say that the Tridentine Rite Mass itself precludes the kind of informality and liturgical abuse we see today. The rite itself with its exacting rubrics, priest facing ad orientem (to the East facing the direction of Christ’s second coming), and the contemplative Gregorian chant make it almost impossible to abuse the Mass and to bring in the informality we’ve all seen.
What’s the solution? Well, I see several necessary steps:
1) Bishops should fire liturgical “experts” who advocate such informality from seminary faculty
2) Bishops should hire and promote liturgical experts who encourage seminarians to say the newrite of Mass according to the rubrics and in Latin
3) Pope Benedict will hopefully lead a clean-up effort of newrite liturgical abuses
4) A universal indult should be granted to say the Tridentine Rite of Mass so that it can flourish alongside the cleaned-up newrite of Mass
I don’t think the Tridentine rite intrinsically prevents such abuses. The fact that it’s in Latin and few priests have the facility in Latin to fiddle with things helps. But nothing prevents the priest from being flippant or off the cuff in his homily or before the opening rite or what have you.
The last time the Tridentine rite was in general use we were just on the cusp of this new informal era. I think that somewhat instinctively those who are attracted to the TLM are also attracted to the formality.
If the TLM were brought back into general use, I don’t think all priests and laypeople would suddenly treat the Mass with the gravity and formality it deserves. It’s a partial solution, but not the whole thing.
It’s an attitude problem, not just a ritual problem.
The orientation of the altar is part of the problem. There would be less temptation to engage in the “let me entertain you” mode if the priest were facing the Lord with the rest of the congregation once the liturgy of the Word is over. It’s not perfect no rite is because if there is a defect in the disposition of the priest anything can be trivialized and abused. I am old enough to remember raced-through Masses of the old rite with mumbled Latin etc. But we have lost a lot as the Pope pointed out in previous books the implementation of the decree on the liturgy from the Council was less than perfect. For example there was no call to trash the old offertory rite or abandon Latin completely, or face the people.
I’ve always counted myself blessed that my Catholic lifetime embraces both the pre- and post-Conciliar liturgy, Vatican Council II having taken place while I was a high school student. I was in the seminary as the liturgical changes began to take place. I remember hoping, along with many classmates, that once the liturgy was in English and the priest was facing the faithful that those priests who had celebrated the older rite in a careless fashion (and many did) would celebrate now more carefully. ‘Twas not to be the case: those careless with the old rite were just as careless in the new.
Your reader, with whom I sympathize completely, aptly writes:
I refer to Masses where the priest does such things as the “Father So-and-So Show.”
To carry the analogy further, the “Father So-and-So Show” hosts his “guest stars”…the emcee, the readers, the altar servers, the (shiver) “Eucharistic Ministers,” ad nauseum.
When somebody—as happens often in my parish—enters the sacristy just prior to the entrance procession and tells everybody to “break a leg”…well, that tells us something.
All this stuff, while well-meaning, I’m sure, serves to deflect the focus from where it belongs. On Jesus.
Thanks for the post.
I want to offer these comments in the right spirit—not of quarrelling, but of offering, perhaps, a different “take” . . .
Let me say I agree, fundamentally, with the point: the priest needs to lose himself, to be transparent, so that Our Lord is made present.
Let me say, also, that that can be very hard to do. At least, for some of us; or, shall I say, for me?
I am not an introvert; perhaps, if I were, this might be real easy—or not; I can’t know. What I do know is that God chose to give me an outgoing personality, and that is a very handy thing to have, as a priest.
But when I offer Mass . . . well, that’s a different thing, of course, as discussed above. It is very appealing to want to interact with the people who come to Mass; there’s something so special, so wonderful, about the experience of offering Mass, with God’s People. With all the crying babies, and coughing at the worst times, and cell phones, etc.—it’s still a wonderful thing. I am so privileged.
But I say it again: it’s very hard to submerge oneself, to say, with St. John the Baptist: “I must decrease, that he may increase.” But that’s what we must do.
May I say, it can be hard to know whether one is “doing it right.” “Good Mass, Father,” someone says, exiting: was it good for the right reasons; or for wrong ones?
The other day, at Sunday Mass, I had some servers who, like many servers, got confused, and didn’t do their jobs very well. I looked over, just after the prayers of the faithful. They were supposed to prepare the altar. They didn’t move. I motioned with my eyes, and my head, as if to say, “go put the book on the altar, etc.”—I watched as the younger brother indicated, “we should do that” and the other said, “no, not yet.” After unsuccessfully trying to send them the message, I just started laughing; I’m sorry but it was just funny. Then I went to the altar and provided more direct guidance.
Was I wrong to laugh? Was I wrong to be frustrated, later?
I’m just saying . . . it’s hard.
Try to let your priest know what you think, in all charity and humility. If no one tells him, how will he know? (Good or bad?)
Just a different perspective…
One of our pastors always begins his homily with 2 or 3 one liners.
I don’t know…an ice breaker is a good rule in public presentations in general, but I am not expecting an entertaining homily at Mass…I want be be challenged and encouraged to live our faith more openly and fruitfully.
I agree that were the Latin Mass to be ubiquitous tomorrow it would not solve the problem of ‘reverence in Church’. I also believe that while the Tridentine Mass does evoke more reverence, quiet prayer, God-orientation and reflection, there may be an aspect of ‘novelty attraction’ to it for some people who didn’t grow up with it.
The vernacular and the versus populum aspects of the Novus Ordo have contributed to the more casual attitude at Mass and in church generally. Priests taking liberties with the language and rubrics have also had the effect of desacralizing it. Over-emphasis of the ‘meal’ aspect and the ‘celebration of community’ have also detracted from the sacrificial nature of the Mass.
But underlying all of it is, I believe, a lack of appreciation for the Real Presence in the Mass itself and in the reservation of the Blessed Sacrament. How we dress and how we comport ourselves in church says a lot about our understanding of Who is Really Present there.
Yes, we have become more casual. Think of how we would dress or behave if we were invited to the White House or to Buckingham Palace. Should we do or be any less in His Presence? As the Rector of my Minor Seminary said to me many years ago when – as sacristan – I was giving instructions to the altar servers in a normal tone of voice in church: “Never take the Blessed Sacrament for granted”.
Fr Martin, I’m so glad you wrote in.
Let me be transparent and say that sometimes Dom and Kelly disagree with me on liturgy but we’re all faithful, orthodox and truth seeking and I have high regard and respect for them.
I’m glad you wrote in because I too am an lively extrovert and while I don’t say Mass (obviously) I know the value of ineracting with those who come to Mass-and I don’t believe it is inherently wrong.
I believe that reverance can look differently to different people. I might get creamed here, but I’m going to say it anyway: When I attend a Charismatic Mass am I less reverant? Because we pray out loud and sing contemporary praise songs are we less holy-is the community less well served? Is God not present? Have we retained all those parts with a sense of holiness and awe? I believe we do-it just looks quite different than a Tridentine Mass.
I’m not saying it’s ok for Fr to do a clown act in the middle of his homily or that high-fiving going down the aisle is appropriate. I wouldn’t want to see Mass look like an open house and it does bother me that in many parishes jeans is the normal Sunday attire. BUT why does reverance have to look all the same?
AND if you have priest who just can’t wait to engage the people in the Holy Mysteries of the Mass using his God-given personality, I say, Do it! Esp when you have someone who knows the value of “I must decrease, He must increase” I think your kind of personality might open up others to the joy and passion of our most holy of Celebrations. There can be a kind of authority in that you are not showing yourself, but saying “Look what God is doing for us! I, as in persona Christi want to bring you to the alter of the Lord who is in the Word and the Body and Blood!”.
Ok-let the beatings commence…;-)
Think of how we would dress or behave if we were invited to the White House or to Buckingham Palace.
That hits the nail on the head. We live in such a casual society. Kids show up to meet the president wearing flip-flops, show up to a papal audience wearing jeans. People show up to court—as jurors, witnesses, or even defendants—wearing sweatpants, t-shirts with derogatory statements, etc.
We no longer know how to behave in formal situations.
Even with formal clothes… I had a terrible time finding a modest wedding gown with sleeves and that didn’t show off too many of my “assets.” If you look at what most kids wear to prom…
I don’t think the phrase “Sunday best” means anything anymore.
But it goes beyond the clothes we wear. It’s our attitudes and behavior. The clothes are a symptom, the most visible sign of a cultural change. Most people don’t even sit down together for dinner. They grab a meal on the go, they plop down in front of the television while they eat.
The attitude I felt from my college students towards the president was the one they have picked up from television: he’s the butt of jokes, an inept comical figure not a man worthy of respect by virtue of his office. Most of them invited to the White House I am sure would not know how to dress or act.
I am all for treating our clergy with respect and grace, but our policiticians? That is a different story.
Our previous President used his office like a brothel; Our Illinois Governor leads off his speeches with Elvis impersonations, spends hours on his hairdo, and likes to drive around fast with State Policemen; One of our Illinois Senators degrade American servicemen, and the other is co-sponsor of the Bridge to Nowhere.
These guys should get more respect than they deserve. I have 100x more respect for a plumber, gardener, or ditchdigger than I would ever have for these politicians.
JBP
John,
Which brings us right back to the point that started this whole discussion:
The modern habit of doing ceremonial things unceremoniously is not proof of humility; rather it proves the offender’s inability to forget himself in the rite, and his readiness to spoil for every one else the proper pleasure of ritual.”
Those who should be deserving of respect should act like they deserve it, not for their own sake, but for the sake of their office, and in the case of politicians, for the trust placed in them by the people.
Someone should assure Cardinal Arinze that, as far as the priestly ranks go, we have all the turkeys we need.
All,
Great discussion! I hope that orthodox Catholics of all kinds—Tridentine indult Catholics, Adoremus-style “reform of the reform” Catholics, charismatic Catholics, Eastern rite Catholics, etc—can join together and help further the cause of liturgical reverence, properly formed priests, modesty, and proper dress. After all, it’s all for Him, right?
I aggree with melanie. We do not know how to behave in formal situations. She is also right in the fact that society now needs a major attitude adjustment. There is simply no respect for any figure in authority…be it parents, teachers, Priests or anyone else.
It seems the only thing that is respected is fear.
David, THAT was funny!
I recently went to a lunch with Steve Kellmeyer, the Catholic Author. Steve has some radical ideas; one of the most illuminating is his assertion that the more wild intrepretations of Vatican 2, and much of the crisis in vocations has been caused by giving too much obedience to authority.
He brought up the riots in the streets in response to proposals put forth at the Council of Trent, the revolutions occuring during Vatican 1, and the common practice of firing corrupt/incompetent Priests and Bishops pre-1900.
The Church was only able to maintain orthodoxy by being disobedient (or disrespectful if you will) to figures of authority.
I am not with him 100% on this, but the thought is very interesting. Would we today physically lock out a Bishop that was throwing away the Church’s money? Skinny dipping with young boys? Holding American Indian ceremonies in a Church?
Maybe we need some more disobedience to authority, and more respect for the Church.
JBP