The Unprofitable Servant: More Liturgical Abuse Chat

Saturday, July 16, 2011

More Liturgical Abuse Chat

Can't we all just get along?

Sure, if you SAY THE BLACK AND DO THE RED!

Sorry, Father Z, I had to borrow your catch-phrase, but I tell you, I've had it. I want to go to Mass and hear what I'm supposed to hear and see what I'm supposed to see.

I already carried on about the Mass on Monday where the priest completely ad-libbed the entire Mass. On Tuesday, thankfully, I was at the Shrine of Our Lady of Czesthochowa with Father Frank Pavone and no liturgical abuse took place, aside from the clapping.

Wednesday, the priest did not lift the chalice for the consecration. He left it sitting on the altar while he said the words. He also did not add water to the chalice after Holy Communion, which, although it did not contain enough to drink on its own, still held the Precious Blood. Rather than purify the vessel, the priest stuffed a purificator in it and left it on the altar.

Next day, my bad luck to get the same priest. This time he lifted the chalice, but he did not bother to properly see to the remnants of Precious Blood after communion, same as the day before.

Unbelievably, though I went to another Mass, thinking I knew this priest's schedule and could avoid him, I got him again, and once more, the chalice sat neglected. I know he's already been told about this. I have no desire to dime on a priest, but Our Lord is being neglected and I cannot continue to watch it happen.

This same priest often ad-libs parts of the Mass. He makes up his own prayers for the English version of the Kyrie. He always leaves the line "and the love of God" out of the introductory rite. And he came out for Mass all three days in shorts, which his alb and chasuble were not long enough to disguise. I blame the pastor for this because this is a recently ordained priest who obviously needs a little more supervision. But the pastor can't be bothered to stick to the rubrics either, so what do I expect? The pastor can't be bothered to lift the Host more than 2 seconds during the consecration. Yet there are other very fine and orthodox priests at this parish who know and do the right thing. One wonders how much, if any, they have spoken up.

I have concluded that if this is my only option certain days for daily Mass, it would be better to miss and go to Adoration instead. I don't want to be part of this kind of outright laziness and neglect for Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament.

10 comments:

DanielJuly 16, 2011 at 11:51 AM
I'd recommend against missing Mass and going to adoration. Painful though the actions of these priest may be, your patience and reception of Our Lord will give you far more grace than adoration will.
ReplyDelete
Replies
PatriciaJuly 16, 2011 at 12:28 PM
But Joyce, think what a consolation you are to Jesus at this Mass where He is not treated with the respect and adoration He deserves. Besides, would His Heart not break if you went elsewhere rather than where He could experience the love He thirsts for in you, at least?

If you were absent, would He not be even less honored and adored in that place?

Adoration is wonderful, but a lifetime of Eucharistic Adoration cannot replace even one Holy Communion.
ReplyDelete
Replies
TLWJuly 16, 2011 at 12:44 PM
Daniel and Patricia, thank you for your advice, you are of course right. I have written to the pastor for whatever good it will do. At least I can say I tried.
ReplyDelete
Replies
AnonymousJuly 16, 2011 at 3:47 PM
Joyce

I have been struggling also--w/ noise, screaming children, priests that refuse to advise people that Church is the holy house of God, you know, the usual. I agree w/ Daniel. We have to persevere. I was just mentioning this to another person on a blog who stopped going for similar reasons. As I told her, I think that this is exactly what the enemy wants. He wants us to give up. I persevere because I believe it is reparation for my sins and sins of all mankind. Lord knows it is reparation for these abuses you describe.

I have started speaking up, as I have told you, to the folks making noise before, during and after Mass. They don't like it; however, I think that it is our responsibility. I wrote to my Monsignor about the noise level w/ suggestions—along letter. The National Shrine. He blew me off. His response? Thank you for your note. If we don't care, who will? You, me, this other woman –we are not alone....we just can't give up. Say something to your Pastor. The other thing is --I think, for me, when I am reverent and respectful in Church I can set an example for others--not that I am some sort of paragon of virtue, but you know what I mean. We have lived so long w/ abuse that I forget that there is, by now, probably two generations that are so acclimated to it, they don't even know that this abuse exists. I didn't, at one time.

Keep fighting the good fight. We have to encourage one another and be Christ to each other when we are discouraged. Some days you are up and some days I am down. We either work toward heaven together or we hurry to hell together, as St. Catherine of Sienna would say.

Maria
ReplyDelete
Replies
TLWJuly 16, 2011 at 3:58 PM
Thanks Maria, but just to clarify - this stuff never happens at my own parish - I wish I could get to my own church for Mass each morning but it's too late for work-day mornings and sometimes a little too early for days when I'm off! Today, I made the effort to get to my own parish to take a break from watching Mass a la Anything Goes. My pastor would never let anything let this happen at our parish.
ReplyDelete
Replies
MannyJuly 16, 2011 at 8:45 PM
Some of those lapses are quite serious Joyce. I'm with Maria. You should write to the his Monsignor or to his Bishop. He's playing with fire. And if he takes his job so lackadaisically then I would question if his calling to be a priest is serious. In my past two years of going to mass regularly, the only times I've seen a similar procedural error is because of a new music director playing the music at the wrong time and screwing things up.

What does "SAY THE BLACK AND DO THE RED" mean? I don't get it.
ReplyDelete
Replies
TLWJuly 16, 2011 at 9:23 PM
Manny
In the Missal, the words that are to be said are in black, and the rubrics which direct the gestures and postures adopted by the priest and congregation during the Mass are in red. So if the priests says what's in black and does what's in red, you should have a liturgically correct and valid Mass, not Sunday morning at the Improv. Hope that helps.
Joyce
ReplyDelete
Replies
Mindy GoorchenkoJuly 16, 2011 at 9:28 PM
I just want to offer my prayers and encouragement. I agree that your presence there must be a consolation to our Lord.
ReplyDelete
Replies
TLWJuly 16, 2011 at 10:03 PM
Thank you Mindy, both are much appreciated
Joyce
ReplyDelete
Replies
MannyJuly 16, 2011 at 10:38 PM
Thanks for the explanation Joyce.
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment

Comments which reflect true Christian charity are always welcome. Comments which attack the Pope, the Church, priests or other bloggers will go in the dustbin, especially if they are anonymous. Thank you and God Bless you!

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Mary, Queen of Peace

Ever glorious and blessed Mary, Queen of Virgins, Mother of Mercy, hope and comfort of dejected and desolate souls, through that sword of sorrow which pierced thy tender heart whilst thine only Son, Christ Jesus, our Lord, suffered death and ignominy on the cross; through that filial tenderness and pure love He had for thee, grieving in thy grief, whilst from His cross He recommended thee to the care and protection of His beloved disciple, St. John, take pity, I beseech thee, on my poverty and necessities; have compassion on my anxieties and cares; assist and comfort me in all my infirmities and miseries, of every kind whatsoever. Thou art the Mother of Mercies, the sweet comforter and only refuge of the needy and the orphan, of the desolate and afflicted. Cast, therefore, an eye of pity on a miserable, forlorn child of Eve, and hear my prayer; for since, in just punishment of my sins, I find myself encompassed by a multitude of evils, and oppressed with much anguish of spirit, wither can I fly for more secure shelter, O amiable Mother of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, than under the wings of thy maternal protection? Attend, therefore, I beseech thee, with an ear of pity and compassion, to my humble and earnest request. I ask it, through the bowels of mercy of thy dear Son; Through that love and condescension wherewith He embraced our nature, when, in compliance with the divine Will, thou gavest thy consent, and whom, after the expiration of nine months thou didst bring forth from the chaste enclosure of thy womb, to visit the world, and bless it with His presence. I ask it, through that anguish of mind wherewith thy beloved Son, our dear Saviour, was overwhelmed on the Mount of Olives, when He besought His eternal Father to remove from Him, if possible, the bitter chalice of His future passion. I ask it, through the threefold repetition of His prayers in the garden, whence afterwards, with dolorous steps and mournful tears, thou didst accompany Him to the doleful theatre of His death and sufferings. I ask it, through the welts and bruises of His virginal flesh, occasioned by the cords and whips wherewith He was bound and scourged, when stripped of His seamless garment, for which His executioners afterwards cast lots. I ask it, through the scoffs and ignominies by which He was insulted; the false accusations and unjust sentence by which He was condemned to death, and which He bore with heavenly patience. I ask it, through His bitter tears and bloody sweat; His silence and resignation; His sadness and grief of heart. I ask it, through the blood which trickled from His royal and Sacred Head, when struck with the sceptre of a reed and pierced with His crown of thorns. I ask it, through the excruciating torments He suffered, when His hands and feet were fastened with gross nails to the tree of the cross. I ask it, through His vehement thirst, and bitter potion of vinegar and gall. I ask it, through His dereliction on the cross when He exclaimed, "My God! my God! why hast Thou forsaken me?" I ask it, through His mercy extended to the good thief, and through His recommending His precious soul and spirit into the hands of His eternal Father before He expired, saying, "It is consummated." I ask it, through the blood mixed with water, which issued from His Sacred Side when pierced with a lance, and whence a flood of grace and mercy has flowed to us. I ask it, through His immaculate life, bitter passion and ignominious death on the cross, at which nature itself was thrown into convulsions, by the bursting of rocks, rending of the veil of the Temple, the earthquake, and the darkness of the sun and moon. I ask it, through His descent into hell, where He confronted the Saints of the old law with His presence, and led the captivity captive. I ask it, through His glorious victory over death, when He arose again to life on the third day, and through the joy which His appearance for forty days after gave thee, His blessed Mother, His Apostles, and the rest of His Disciples; when in thine and their presence He miraculously ascended into heaven. I ask it, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, infused into the hearts of His Disciples, when He descended upon them in the form of fiery tongues, and by which they were inspired with zeal in the conversion of the world, when they went to preach the gospel. I ask it, through the awful appearance of thy Son, at the last dreadful day, when He shall come to judge the living and the dead, and the world, by fire. I ask it, through the compassion He bore thee in His life, and the unspeakable joy thou didst feel at thine assumption into heaven, where thou art eternally absorbed in the sweet contemplation of His divine perfections. O glorious and ever blessed Virgin! comfort the heart of thy supplicant, by obtaining for me, (Mention your prayer intention here...) And as I am persuaded my Divine Saviour doth honour thee as His beloved Mother, to whom He refuses nothing, because thou asketh nothing contrary to His honour, so let me speedily experience the efficacy of thy powerful intercession, according to the tenderness of thy maternal affection, and His filial loving heart, who mercifully granteth the requests and complieth with the desires of those that love and fear Him. Wherefore, O most blessed Virgin, beside the object of my present petition, and whatever else I may stand in need of, obtain for me also of thy dear Son, our Lord and our God, a lively faith, firm hope, perfect charity, true contrition of heart, unfeigned tears of compunction, sincere confession, condign satisfaction, abstinence from sin, love of God and my neighbour, contempt of the world, patience to suffer affronts and ignominies, nay, even, if necessary, an opprobrious death itself, for love of thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Obtain likewise for me, O sacred Mother of God, perseverance in good works, performance of good resolutions, mortification of self-will, a pious conversation through life, and, at my last moments, strong and sincere repentance, accompanied by such a lively and attentive presence of mind, as may enable me to receive the last Sacrament of the Church worthily, and die in thy friendship and favour. Lastly, obtain through thy Son, I beseech thee, for the souls of my parents, brethren, relatives and benefactors, both living and dead, life everlasting, from the only Giver of every good and perfect gift, the Lord God Almighty, to Whom be all power now and forever. Amen.

Prayer of St. Bonaventure

Pierce, O most sweet Lord Jesus, my inmost soul with the most joyous and healthful wound of Thy love, and with true, calm and most holy apostolic charity, that my soul may ever languish and melt with entire love and longing for Thee, may yearn for Thee and for thy courts, may long to be dissolved and to be with Thee.
Grant that my soul may hunger after Thee, the Bread of Angels, the refreshment of holy souls, our daily and super substantial bread, having all sweetness and savor and every delightful taste.
May my heart ever hunger after and feed upon Thee, Whom the angels desire to look upon, and may my inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of Thy savor; may it ever thirst for Thee, the fountain of life, the fountain of wisdom and knowledge, the fountain of eternal light, the torrent of pleasure, the fullness of the house of God;
may it ever compass Thee, seek Thee, find Thee, run to Thee, come up to Thee, meditate on Thee, speak of Thee, and do all for the praise and glory of Thy name, with humility and discretion, with love and delight, with ease and affection, with perseverance to the end; and be Thou alone ever my hope, my entire confidence, my riches, my delight, my pleasure, my joy, my rest and tranquility, my peace, my sweetness, my food, my refreshment, my refuge, my help, my wisdom, my portion, my possession, my treasure; in Whom may my mind and my heart be ever fixed and firm and rooted immovably. Amen.

What You Read On This Blog....

You may use anything I have written on this blog. You do not need to credit me, though it would be nice if you did to increase traffic to this blog. Somewhere in "The Story of a Soul", St. Therese commented that she could not concern herself with whether someone took credit for one of her ideas or observations because, after all, everything that is good and holy is inspired not by ourselves but by the Holy Spirit. If you find something useful here that you'd like to print on your own blog or elsewhere, be my guest. It doesn't "belong" to me in the first place.

If you email me, rest assured nothing you send me will be used, unless you have explicitly granted me permission to do so.

Blog links which appear on The Unprofitable Servant may contain content with which I do not necessarily agree.

God Bless You!

The Unprofitable Servant

Saturday, July 16, 2011

More Liturgical Abuse Chat

10 comments:

Mary, Queen of Peace

St Michael the Archangel

St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi

St. Teresa Benedicta of The Cross