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March 14, 2005
Oh.
Pulled from the comments below.
Sister Teresita is an undeniably charismatic speaker. Her homily analogized our fears, addictions, wants and isolation to Lazarus's death. As Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, so is He there to lift us out of our fears, troubles and anxieties. Sister closed her homily with a modified chorus of "Day By Day." Sister has a lovely voice.
Oh, and the Gospel was proclaimed by the presiding priest as well as two lectors. The priest read the opening and closing sentences, and the lectors then took turns reading most of the Gospel. A tinkling piano accompanied most of the Gospel reading, and, at various points, one of the lectors would stop reading, the piano would pound and the whole congregation would chant, "Take away the stone! Come out! Come out!" Then one of the lectors would resume reading.
As I said above: Oh.
(If you go to the post, RP explains the Gospel deal. )
Posted by Amy Welborn | Permalink
Comments
Sounds just like my parish.
Which is why I go to a monastery :)
Posted by: Zhou De-Ming at Mar 14, 2005 11:31:42 PM
I went to a Mass where the pastor "invited" a lady friend, who had some degree or another in pastoral studies to offer her thoughts on the Gospel. She spent the first five minutes telling us how rude it is when people mistake her name as "Karen" when it is really spelled Karyn.
I sent the priest an angry letter along with recently published rules on who may deliver a homily (from the National Catholic Register) and received the reply that I was a destructibe force in the Christian community.
But Sr. T. is hard to beat.
Posted by: John Hetman at Mar 15, 2005 12:00:04 AM
How long, O Lord, how long...
You know, these people and I are in the same church, but have different religions. I wonder how much longer the Church can handle this kind of thing without flying apart. Is it better to have a showdown, or just muddle through? Is it getting any better? I haven't been Catholic long enough to know, and frankly, I don't have any clear idea what a strong, vibrantly orthodox parish looks like.
Posted by: Rod Dreher at Mar 15, 2005 12:08:59 AM
Speaking of my parish, my bishop recently wrote in the Diocesan Administrative Weekly:
[block quote]
After discussing the matter with the Presbyteral Council, I have decided to move the deadline on which I will expect the GIRM to be implemented in all parishes and institutions of the Diocese of ... from Labor Day to the First Sunday of Advent, 2005. Some of the priests felt they would need more time to do a thorough catechesis. Since I believe it is important that we not only follow the directives of the GIRM but do our best to understand them, I have granted this extension.
[end block quote]
Sounds nice enough.
But this is how the Pastor put it in the parish bulletin:
[block quote]
The US Bishop's[sic] have agreed upon standards for general implementation, with each Diocesan Bishop responsible as moderator and promoter of worship in his respective diocese. Parishes in the Diocese of ... are bound to "fill-out" these norms as we discern the directions put forward by Bishop .... When I say "fill-out," I do not mean a mere application; I want our parish to digest these norms and make them our own all the while paying respect to the organic nature of local customs. Concretely, the implementations for our parish will be varied--some norms will be easy to apply, others will require far more study and demographic analysis. What I do not wish is a haphazard application without careful consultation with our worship committee and the surrounding parishes with their pastors in order for well thought approaches and best practices, including formation.
[end block quote]
Can somebody explain to me what my Pastor is saying? What is "fill-out" the GIRM? Why demographics? How many "local customs" need to be respected in a suburban parish that was formed only 40 years ago?
Posted by: Zhou De-Ming at Mar 15, 2005 12:12:06 AM
What is so difficult about the GIRM? It is clear to me and I have no special training.
While they are doing "catechesis", I hope they will explain what the sanctuary lamp means and instruct those who want to chat to remain in the vestibule until they've finished visiting with each other. This sign of respect for the tabernacle, with the long history of respect for the ark of the covenant and now the tabernacle, would help move things in the right direction.
Posted by: Eliz. J. at Mar 15, 2005 12:21:59 AM
The Church is an organic entity, in many ways, and experiences both growing pains and course corrections. The church will handle the diversity just as it has since the beginning. Some parts of the "family" will become more marginalized; others will become more central. But somehow it will all hold together, not exactly muddling through, but not flying apart either. Growth is a messy process and as God's children, we are still growing. (And, no, I don't mean that growth implies changes in dogma or doctrine. Just that we as 21st century Catholics don't look or act the same as 1st century Christians, but we are still God's children.)
Posted by: Radactrice at Mar 15, 2005 12:58:46 AM
Elizabeth,
I agree completely about chatting before Mass. The other week, I went to the church on Saturday afternoon because I just wanted to be in the presence of My Lord. I chose the middle of a pew, just behind a woman sitting by herself. Unfortunately, a few minutes later, another woman came up, and they started talking. I moved after woman #2 started going down the list of sins, I think a post confession review (of what she didn't do).
Then, (with God probably grinning down on me) after being alone in the side section of the church, a pair of talkers (not as noticeable because there was more people coming in) decided to sit in the pew in front of me.
sigh
Posted by: Anna at Mar 15, 2005 6:02:20 AM
If we complain about crap like this we're told we're "Right Wing Liturgy Police." If we leave our parishes to find normal Catholic liturgy, we're told we're "separating ourselves from the mainstream." If we sit and endure this crap then countless of our fellow co-religionists think that nothing's wrong with it, and hey, it feels good and is entertaining.
As others have commented though - thank God for the younger generation of priests and bishops coming down the pike, hopefully we won't have too many more years of this tripe.
Posted by: Tim Ferguson at Mar 15, 2005 6:36:40 AM
I'm surprised anyone got through that "homily", without breaking forth in helpless laughter. As describe, I've seen lounge acts with more dignity and reverence. This is why the attempt to remake the Church in the image of the Sixties reformers is doomed to failure: among other criticisms so much of it, liturgical dance, clown masses, this monstrosity, etc., is just deeply silly.
Posted by: Donald R. McClarey at Mar 15, 2005 6:44:30 AM
Coincidentally, Bishop Edward Braxton was today named bishop of Belleville, Illinois. Bishop Braxton, years ago, had been named pastor of St. Catherine's parish in Oak Park, Illinois, and dismissed Sr. Teresita Weind, who had been in the practice of preaching at that parish. It caused quite a ruckus at the time.
Also - "Day by Day"? C'mon! Does anyone else think that the liberals aren't even TRYING to be relevant any more?
Posted by: Tim Ferguson at Mar 15, 2005 6:58:38 AM
Tim,
Thanks for the update on the new B-ville bishop. That is my hometown to which my husband & I talk about moving now that we have little ones. I'd sure like some assurances of reasonably decent liturgy if we make that move.
Posted by: Peggy at Mar 15, 2005 9:04:33 AM
John H.--did you inform your bishop of this pastor's depredations? Granted, there are many places where the bishop would either do nothing or denounce you as a troublemaker. Even so, he should be told. It's a ticket that has to be punched.
Posted by: Hunk Hondo at Mar 15, 2005 9:09:42 AM
John H.--did you inform your bishop of this pastor's depredations? Granted, there are many places where the bishop would either do nothing or denounce you as a troublemaker. Even so, he should be told. It's a ticket that has to be punched.
Posted by: Hunk Hondo at Mar 15, 2005 9:10:14 AM
Sorry about the double post; this machine's acting strange today.
Posted by: Hunk Hondo at Mar 15, 2005 9:43:28 AM
Is it better to have a showdown, or just muddle through?
To quote a friend of mine, "there's something like 65 million Catholics in this country -- maybe that's 20 million too many."
What is so difficult about the GIRM?
It's about 125 pages. You could read it in one night if you chose to do so.
Posted by: Rich Leonardi at Mar 15, 2005 9:48:57 AM
John, don't trouble yourself about being labeled destructive. I just whipped out an e-mail to my associate pastor about his homily last Sunday. I have always found great comfort in the story of the raising of Lazarus and it's connection to the resurrection narratives. When the good A.P. managed to divert that wonderful Gospel Good News into a ramble about our duty as Christians to address things such as bride burnings in India, I had had it. My e-mail was respectful but quite to the point and I told him that this Easter I was forwarding my offering to a U.S. Catholic Worker community because their newsletters are more inspiring and Gospel centered than his homily was.
I got an irate reply. Oh well. We may be living in another one of those periods of Church history where the Sensus Fidelium will need to rear its head over, and over, and over. The fact that he also quoted from an Episcopal priest who "challenges us to rediscover Radical Christianity" sent me into a titter in the pews. I don't think the Episcopal Church is in a real good postion to lecture Catholics these days.
Posted by: Christine at Mar 15, 2005 10:02:52 AM
What is so difficult about the GIRM?
You want to hear something I heard at a parish once?
"Easy, its a hateful document which represses our rights to worship how we want."
And people wonder why I am praying about asking for a rite change and moving to a Byzantine Parish.
Posted by: John Gibson at Mar 15, 2005 10:07:58 AM
Where's our resident liturgist? Why isn't he here to tell us how this crap is okey-dokey? About how it probably took some poor overworked liturgist hours of hard work, preparation, and logistical blackflipping to pull off such a magnificent spectacle?
:)
Posted by: Jay Anderson at Mar 15, 2005 10:25:37 AM
I have wondered for years when some of these parishes are going to install mirrors on the ceilings of their churches so that the congregation can look us the see in themselves the wonderful "body of Christ" that is supposed to trump every other aspect of the mass. I once examined a document that that "vibrant" parish, Joan of Arc, in Mn put out about themselves. It had about 35 "us" and "we"'s in it and not one reference to Christ or even God.
Posted by: john hearn at Mar 15, 2005 10:47:53 AM
Where's our resident liturgist? Why isn't he here to tell us how this crap is okey-dokey?
Mind if I take a crack at an impression?
"Please people. There's more to liturgical life than making sure that a warm body in a cassock is standing behind the ambo giving the homily. I've lost count of the number of very influential liturgists and theologians who recognize that the GIRM, not to mention the endless subsequent clarifications we've gotten from Rome, is a complete failure because of its top-down, straightjacket approach. With all the problems facing the Church, perhaps the next Pope will recognize that he has bigger priorities than policing parishes in places like Fon du Loc and Rochester."
Posted by: Rich Leonardi at Mar 15, 2005 10:58:56 AM
"Mind if I take a crack at an impression?"
Rich,
Somehow I knew you'd rise to the challenge.
:)
Posted by: Jay Anderson at Mar 15, 2005 11:20:57 AM
I've since learned that I apparently saw the orthodox side of Sr. Teresita last Sunday. The website for St. Francis of Assisi parish states that she'll unfortunately be leading the parish mission this week. For a true taste of Sr. T's unorthodox style, check out the video clip linked on the site:
http://www.sfaraleigh.org/SFA/Home/Home.htm
And for anyone in the Raleigh area who needs to get their seven chakras in order for Lent, y'all be sure to head on over to the St. Francis parish mission.
Posted by: PMC at Mar 15, 2005 11:33:07 AM
But Rich, how could you possibly forget the requisite salutation?
Posted by: Mike Petrik at Mar 15, 2005 11:33:24 AM
Zhou, I believe it means this:
It is mere gobbly-gook and double-speak to say: "We're going to do whatever the Hell I want to do in my parish."
(and do so by whatever influences he happens to consult----probably not the Holy See).
Posted by: kevin at Mar 15, 2005 11:37:22 AM
"Easy, its a hateful document which represses our rights to worship how we want."
Ouch! Somebody sic the Iron Cardinal on this one.
To paraphrase the good Cardinal: God has a right to be worshipped in the way He chooses, not in the way that would make us most comfy.
Posted by: Mark Windsor at Mar 15, 2005 11:38:12 AM
