Devoted to the Past
More and more I get upset with the lack of reverence I am seeing in Mass. There is a somewhat famous quote (don't have it on me) from a Protestant that says that if he believed in the Real Presence of the Eucharist he would be in Church on his knees on a regular basis. Now it seems people are content to come to Mass ill-dressed to see the Lord, chit-chat loudly before Mass in the Church about the most mundane of things while others sit quietly hoping for some peace and quiet with the Lord before the Liturgy starts or just go through the motions of Mass making it nothing more than a compulsory dance of sorts. While I am tired of this kind of behavior (and the lack of participation by the spiritual heads of the family, meaning all of you Dads out there who are too lazy to take your family to Mass but that is a different post) I am happy to see trends like that below. My family will be attending Latin Mass here in Memphis. Dominus Vobiscum.
At St. Stephen, the Latin Mass and other Catholic traditions are attracting young families
It's Sunday morning at St. Stephen, the First Martyr Church in south Sacramento. As usual, the hard wooden pews are packed 15 minutes before Mass. A mother near the front whispers to her four attentive children. A little girl of about 8 adjusts her white veil.
The parishioners begin reciting the rosary, and the haunting sounds of the mysteries fill the chapel. Somewhere, a bell rings. The Latin Mass begins.
St. Stephen, a new church in a struggling neighborhood off Fruitridge Road, officially opened in December and already has about 700 members. They come from all over Northern California to worship because this church, which celebrates the Latin Mass and promotes traditional church teachings, gives them what they want.
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posted by Anonymous at 8/07/2005 03:17:00 PM
2 Comments:
The Sanctus is what you are referring to with respect to singing. That an many other parts were traditionally sung in a Gregorian chant (latin) not the cheesy style you find often today.
The hand holding is another one of my issues as well. There is nothing saying you have to hold hands (My family does not) but the American Bishops haven't forbid it either. Liturgically it makes no sense. During the Pater Noster (Our Father) the Priest extends his arms on behalf of the whole congregation. If a Deacon is present, he is to keep his hands in a prayer pose. Why then would the rest of the parish mimic the Priest and not the Deacon?
You also mention bells. In leading the altar servers at my last parish I was successful in bringing them back. No stopping you from doing the same at your Church.
Ahhh BJ, but the bells do serve a purpose as they still do accentuate that part of the Mass when something miraculous is taking place. A point that many still need reminded of.
Latin Mass, or the Tridentine Rite, is permitted anywhere that the Ordinary permits it and of course for any priest who wishes to have private Mass. Therefore you are seeing many Bishops giving an indult for these Masses to take place all over the country. It's really quite a phenomenon. Contrary to the liberal notion, Vatican II never forbid the Tridentine Rite and never called for latin to dissapear from the Mass. (It also never called for the celebrant to face the congregation.) Thus you are hearing the calls from the Pope, who wrote much of the Vatican II documentation, for Catholics to memorize many of our prayers in latin as well as bring more latin back to our worship. In doing so, the Mass becomes more universal the world over as it should be.
While I firmly believe the current Mass is valid, I have found that the Tridentine Rite, which is not a cure all, lends itself to a more reverent Mass with fewer opportunities for liturgical abuses or other questionable liberties that priests and laity seem to now take. We could discuss these but I suspect you know the type of things I am talking of.
I am not perfect. In fact I will say I am a wretched and miserable sinner. Regardless of that or maybe because of that, I want to attend Mass that is the best possible. I don't want to "half-ass" it since to me it is the most important thing I do every week. Fortunately we have the Tridentine Rite here in Memphis for both me and my family. Check your local listing as I think you will see it being offered in more and more places.
GLORIA Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
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