There have been some suggestions as to how we should engage the Neo-commercials inserted into the Mass. (Mass is not truly over until the priest has left the sanctuary). Some say that we should stand up and protest, others say we should immediately be allowed a rebuttal, and others say we should just walk out.
The following person proposes an alternative, and in reply, I propose an additional alternative:
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AnonymousSeptember 2, 2014 at 6:47 AMWell, no, I won't walk out before the final blessing. In my opinion, if you do that, you just let someone come between you and Jesus whose real and true presence has just been celebrated is in fact now staring in the face of that person giving their 'testimony'. I want to spend some time with my Lord after receiving him. We are all made one in the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ. We become his eyes, his voice, his hands and his feet as the song goes and if we walk out before the final blessing, aren't we in effect saying that we are not what we eat? We would be no different than those who walk out right after they receive Communion thinking they got Jesus now and they have more important things to do. I don't like the testimonials either, but that is for the presider to correct and make sure that whatever the testifier is going to say is not nonsense or disrespectful to our worship. The 'presider' has control of this whether he knows it or not. Each presider is ultimately responsible for what is allowed in mass. They review and approve whatever announcements are made, don't they? So why don't they review and 'approve' the testimonies as well? Most of the time it's glaringly obvious the testifier didn't prepare well beforehand. But they are not going to keep me from worshipping my Lord because of their ignorance and ineptness. I would suggest that for those parishes which allow these testimonies, the pastors require them to be reviewed and approved beforehand, just like they do for wedding and funeral songs. The integrity of our Sunday worship is of the most urgent importance, it is the central act of our faith and the utmost care should be taken to ensure that every part of it is done well and gives glory to God.
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At 6:47. Your sentiments are understandable. I myself have sat through more than one neo-commercial at the end of Mass for the same reason, though I was revolted by what I saw and heard. It is a crime though that our Archbishop co-opts our faithfulness and our desire to spend time with our Eucharistic Lord (by not walking out after communion) to insert his neo-commercials.
The Eucharistic Lord is still present within us in those last moments of the Mass (See CCC 1377). In fact, this is why the Church is so adamant about those last moments of Mass NOT being abused with announcements etc., unless for "serious reason". (RS 74)
As an aside this is why it is also critical that we “regular” Catholics maintain an attitude of prayerful respect at the end of Mass and as we exit the Church. Our bodies, so long as the “Eucharistic species subsist” (CCC 1377) are the temporary tabernacles for the God of all Creation. The Church does not give an exact amount of time for this, but a biological estimate is at least 15 minutes.
Yet, we see, almost every Sunday, those sacred moments erupting into hand-shaking, back-thumping, grandma-kissing, happy birthday-singing, and the general din of ordinary conversation while Jesus cries: “Let me spend these few minutes with you.” The Neos are not the first to show irreverence to those moments. We started it.
I can also understand your believing that the “presider has control”. Sorry to disappoint you. He does not. When it comes to the Neocatechumenal Way he has no control. These people come in the name of the bishop and say “the Archbishop says”, or the Archbishop wants”, etc. And seeing how the Archbishop has treated any priest who has stood in the way of the NCW, these “presiders” know that it is death to resist.
Yet, while this is a grave injustice and a horrible abuse of power, the real crime is the rude intrusion into the most precious moments Jesus has with us. But if we are serious about our objection to the Archbishop’s allowing this, then let us first get serious about protecting those moments ourselves. Stay behind after Mass. Learn some “prayers after communion”. Jesus Christ, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity is truly within us in those moments. He is “in us” in the most intimate sacred way he can possibly be with us, and us with him, this side of heaven.
Restore the sacred and the “lost” who the Neo’s say they are here to rescue, won’t want to go anywhere else.
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the only time i've ever seen someone walk out during a homily was on the mainland. it was in the mid-2000s, when the u.s. was still deeply in iraq and afghanistan. an older man didn't like the anti-war slant of the homily during one sunday Mass, so he got up and walked out, taking his wife with him.
ReplyDeletethat incident made me think to myself, would i ever feel like i had to do something like that? i said to myself, for me, it would take quite a bit more than a politically disagreeable sermon. i imagined that, for me, it would take a homily expressing a deliberate, major attack on Catholic doctrine--say, denying the divinity of Jesus Christ, or preaching in support of abortion.
thankfully, i've never encountered anything like that. given st augustine's fight against the donatists, and our belief in ex opere operato, i'm inclined to give the priest the benefit of the doubt as to his disposition. and, given that, it's still the Mass.
I guess you didn't see me. For many years while I lived on the mainland and even fro a few years here in Guam, I regularly walked out during the sermon. However, when the sermon was over, I returned for the rest of the Mass, hoping at least that the priest at least intended "what the Church" intends, despite what he had said during his sermon.
DeleteMy first thought was to eliminate the NOISE of drama, invest in a good pair of ear plugs.
ReplyDeleteMy second thought was WOW! What a amazing teaching moment.
Think for a moment what an impact it could make
A Roman Catholic Parishioner Who Is Feeling The PRESENCE,
Who Is Truly One With The Presence There and Then
Slowly, Calmly, With Great Feeling and Humility, Speaks, Up Lifting Words Of Gratitude
In Total Reverence for Absolute Joy, In Their Heart And Mind
From That Place Of Real Humility
For Partaking Of The Presence Of The Most High There And Then
Honoring That Most Glorious, Spiritual Oneness, The Holiest of Holies
The Sublime when NOTHING Else Exists
Could this kind of recognition possibly be the tipping point
to show the power of the One True Apostolic Roman Catholic Church teachings
in ALL Her Glory for us here on earth.
We spend time in Prayers and Blessings
to turn over our hearts and minds over to God
What more powerful time to do it in Gratitude for this great teaching
we have been so blessed to embrace.
As a lay person uneducated in the deep liturgy of the church
but filled with deep humility and love for it.
I am reminded how even ex-Catholics will say "Once a Catholic Always A Catholic".
I believe as Catholics we are given true gifts as blessings with our faith.
Last night I looked at my holy communion pictures, and the little missal and rosary beads I still have from 1957. I remembered the sweetest love and faith embedded in my heart that the Roman Catholic Church had already instilled in me.
I remember my silence for reverence when setting the priests vestments,
in a very special and particular way.
I remember getting the the hosts ready,
filled with Awe of the Body and Blood of Christ.
These moments were holy for me, nothing else entered my mind.
Tim is right, we do experience Holy Moments. Our church is Holy.
Let us take steps to keep our Holy Church the Holy Place it is for all to experience.
God Bless Us All and Show Us How to Meet These Painful Challenges.
On the one hand, you make a conscientious choice to attend mass and worship as all good Catholics should. Your reason for being there in the first place should not be distracted or detracted by these testimonies which have nothing to do with the Eucharistic celebration. I applaud your conviction.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, these testimonies inserted into the mass are a gross abuse of your trust and an exploitation of your faith. They are secular marketing strategies employed to leverage what the NCW considers a captive audience. However, unlike the trailers at the movies or commercials on television networks, you do not go to mass with the expectation that you will be targeted. You should be outraged!
This is just another reason why the neos have to go and another notch in the archbishops growing list of failures. Enough is enough. If the archbishop will not raise a finger to protect the sanctity of the mass or respect the faith you hold dear, then you must do it yourself. But you won't stand alone. Good Catholics are everywhere.
So what should we do?
ReplyDeleteIt pains me to know that priests live in fear so much that they would not attempt to correct these abuses in the Mass. I continue to pray for them. But I,too, ask what do we do? I feel like maybe singing out "Biba Kristo Jesus! Gi langhet siha yan gi tano'-mame umagofli'e hao, Santos na Hostia, yan umatuna hao, Sainan-mame!" or the any Hymn magnifying the Blessed Sacrament if they're invitation crosses scandalous boundaries.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDelete12.23pm. Do what is right according to conscience and natural law for this is the will of God manifested through scripture and tradition of the church.