Ever notice how some priests and many (if not most) bishops act during Mass as if they’re performing at the Apollo? They crack jokes, seek applause, and even say things that give the impression they’re saying, “Hey, let’s not all take this Church stuff too seriously.”
What brings this to mind is an emailer who says that Archbishop Timothy Dolan of Milwaukee had a recorded message played during Masses this week (in place of the homily) to kick off the annual fundraising appeal for the archdiocese. The message was full of folksy camaraderie and such and ended with this statement: “Okay, I’ll shut up now and let you get back to the Mass ...” Does that sound like an appropriate way to speak of celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass?
Another friend tells about his bishop who, when he appears at a parish for Mass, ends by processing down the aisle, not in a dignified manner, but by seeking out young boys to high five. This calls to mind a C.S. Lewis quote that yet another friend sent around:
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.”
A better way of putting it than anything I could come up with. If priests and bishops want to see an example of the proper way to conduct themselves at Mass, may I suggest they look to our Holy Father, Pope Benedict? You won’t see any of that stuff from him. He is an example of humility and dignity.
Humility is not false dignity. It is knowing your correct place and taking it. It’s opposite is self-aggrandizement and calling attention to yourself.
Technorati Tags: behavior, bishops, Catholic, liturgy, Mass, priesthood
Americans are never comfortable with ritual—one of the effects of being a fundamentally low-church Protestant culture. Just get a look at your local high school graduation. In this country only the military (a sub-culture with faint traces of an aristocratic sensibility among the brass) comes even remotely close to getting it right.
When we accompanies our duaghter to freshman orientation at Seton hall University ( a “Catholic” university – so called, any way, run by the Newark dicecse) the priest ib charge of student life worked the room like Phil Donehue with his mike, and did an opening monologe that made fun of Catholicism and his collar : “I only where this for the effect – haha,”. The audience ate it up – he got more laughs than Jay Leno !! He went on to tell us to expect our children to experiment sexually, and not to be surprised if they bring home a boyfriend, a girlfriend—- or “one of each” This got a huge laugh from the audience, yet I was so offended I pulled him aside after the “show” and told him so. He obviously thought I wsa a “fanatic” because our oother daughter was at Steubenville at the time. He gave me the party line about “inclusiveness” and “tolerance”.
Armchair psychoanalysis: the rise of clerical gluttony for attention is inversely proportional to the fall in fasting and other ascetical practices.
Re: Doing ceremonial things
There are Americans who know how to do ceremonial properly – and to celebrate properly.
If you ever have a chance to attend a graduation ceremony at the Fraternity of St Peter’s St Gregory’s Academy in PA, you’ll know what I mean.
The Mass, the banquet, the talent show – everything is first class.
Americans used to get graduations and other ceremonies right. I’m old enough to remember. We have lost that along with our respect for ourselves and everything else.
The priest as entertainer.
Am I reading too much into this in thinking that this is a natural consequence of turning him around to face his “audience” when celebrating Mass?
The natural tendency is to interact with those whom one is facing. This means chat, witty remarks and even jokes. Furthermore, one is constantly aware of the “mood” of one’s “audience” and naturally this in turn leads to attempts to lighten that mood or to grab attention if one perceives it to be wandering.
Fine for entertainers, politicians, teachers, comedians and anyone who addresses an audience in the secular sphere, but a sure road to trivialization of the sacred mysteries for a priest.
Lex Credendi Lex Orandi
As we believe so we pray. By saying this I don’t mean to call in to question the belief of an entire generation of priests, but maybe they need to reconsider seriously how seriously they take what they believe. You can learn and believe all sorts of things academically without letting it take shape in you actions.
The systematic problem that we have in the Church today is not just orthodoxy but orthopraxis. If we believe academically that the Liturgy is the source and summit of our Catholic lives how then do we show it? By driving a Benz or providing beautiful appointments for the Altar? Likewise, if we are called to love our nieghbor, if indeed your nieghbor is Christ in disguise how do you react to this academic belief?
This problem can be seen across the board in the Church’s various ills. E.g. “I am a bishop I believe that I have been sent by Christ to preach the good news and celebrate the sacraments, to save souls” so what do you do? Do you create bureaucracy and levels of protection? Do you coddel priests who are placing souls in grave peril? Or do you put the Episcopal slipper into use and kick ass?
There’s a good deal of difference between the ritual behavior of liturgical ministers at a funeral liturgy and the military representatives who fold and present the flag to the family of the deceased at the cemetery. The military ritual is perfect and smooth – and military in its execution. While I think we’d be wrong in expecting “military” excellence in liturgical rites, it’s certainly appropriate to expect that the rites be carried out smoothly and perfectly – liturgically. Too often, those charged with carrying out the liturgical rites do not understand them or underestimate the weight they are intended to bear.
On the other hand, it’s unfortunate that the military reps at the cemetery have taken to “playing” Taps on a boom box or -worse- from a device shaped like a trumpet and held to the lips, but filled with techno-guts that pump out a recorded version of the tune!
To the post: AMEN, AMEN!!! To Margie (2nd comment) I’m appalled!! And to Aplman, I think that was an excellent comparison. My Dad’s military interment ceremony was breathtaking in it’s conveyance of awe, dignity and respect!