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To: Romulus

Which further illustrates the extremely tenuous connection between faithful Christianity and good taste. Great examples of the Faith, all those royals.


25 posted on 03/02/2009 1:50:02 PM PST by Tax-chick ("There are more enjoyable ways of going to Hell." ~ St. Bernard)
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To: Tax-chick

Please don’t be obtuse. We’re not discussing private behavior, of royals or anyone else. We’re discussing ceremony and the visible Church’s historical sense of propriety in how things ought to be done.


26 posted on 03/02/2009 2:21:57 PM PST by Romulus ("Ira enim viri iustitiam Dei non operatur")
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To: Tax-chick
While good taste per se isn't necessary for good liturgy, it's very helpful. Perhaps rather than good taste, I should have said "appropriate ceremonial behavior".

What you do affects how you pray. Reverent, somewhat formal behavior helps put you into the proper frame of mind to appear before Christ Himself. The more of a difference we draw between our everyday actions and our conduct in worship, the more we remind ourselves that we are in a special and holy place that demands more of us.

On the other hand, jumping around high-fiving each other at the Peace, waving our hands in the air, holding hands and hoisting them high for all to see, and generally behaving as if we are at a party or a rock concert changes the focus from what's happening on the altar to what WE and OUR BUDDIES are doing.

The English have always done ceremonial better than anyone else, and they have an instinctive understanding of what "works" on formal occasions. The apex of that was Queen Elizabeth's coronation, but you can see it even in the House of Commons (as rowdy as that joint gets from time to time) or just an ordinary service even according to the New Prayer Book.

In the case of many (not all) Episcopalians, it's become as a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal . . . because they no longer believe. But at least their conduct in church isn't detracting from worship.

Of course the silliest Catholic service (as long as the Mass is valid) is superior to the non-worship of the loony Episcopalian contingent. But how much better to have BOTH a valid Mass AND a reverent congregation focussed on Christ instead of their silly selves.

32 posted on 03/02/2009 7:38:43 PM PST by AnAmericanMother (Ministrix of ye Chasse - TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment))
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