Posted on 08/02/2014 10:31:19 AM PDT by Steelfish
Vatican Urges Priests To Clamp Down On Excessive Emotions During The Sign of Peace
By Josephine Mckenna | August 1 VATICAN CITY — In an effort to insure a more sober ritual, the Vatican has urged bishops to clamp down on singing, moving around and other casual expressions of affection when the sign of peace is exchanged during Mass.
The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments led by Spanish Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera, has sent a letter to bishops around the world expressing concern about what it considers to be ritual abuses.
Among them, he said, were turning the sign of peace into a “song of peace,” the priest leaving the altar during the interlude, or use of the ritual to offer congratulations at weddings or condolences at funerals.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
What does who want?
Agree. I simply fold my hands.
2 Samuel has some interesting takes on such "displays"
14 Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, 15 while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.
20 When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”
21 David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord. 22 I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.”
23 And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.
Trying to maintain personal decorum when worshiping the Lord is a fools errand and diminishes the value of the worship. Not all can allow themselves to let awe of God to take them to special places of worship - no sense in curbing those who do.
I am suspicious of the citations to fragmentary pieces of Scripture. Scripture must be taken as as a whole with tradition, ritual, and revelation. While the inculturation of local customs and practices into liturgical worship is understandable, the central point of the Catholic Mass, is the Eucharist. The very presence of Christ- body, blood, soul, and Divinity. No Eucharist, no Church. Hence reverence and decorum are indispensable to worship. This is not a form of “Joel Osteen” entertainment.
I have to admit I'm a bit surprised. Many here won't hesitate to quote the Old Covenant. I guess when David asserted that he would worship God with all he had, even if it was perceived as undignified by those who watched, he was just getting in touch with his inner clown. Perhaps you should go and read the whole bit to keep it from appearing to be a "fragmentary piece of Scripture. On the other hand, Jesus did berate the Pharisees for trying to appear to be way too pious for "show and decorum".
If you feel the Holy Spirit moving you to worship, I say you should follow where it leads you. One must assume that, being the most loving Father imaginable, God wants us to rejoice in body and soul when we honor Him. Those who think different either miss the message of His Grace, or take themselves way too seriously.
Just my opinion - not a Theologian, but I have been through Scripture - both in-whole and in fragments (like those who have some favorite pieces of Scripture to keep them company while walking past the graveyard of Satan's domain we live in.). I've been known to toss out the occasional "AMEN!" and to raise my hands in praise and worship myself - my early Catholic upbringing made me feel self conscious at first, but I got over it. Won't be rolling in the aisles or speaking in tongues, but I find an unabashed (ala David) rejoicing during worship to be refreshing and uplifting.
Context matters. The Mass is a re-enactment of the Last Supper. The eve of His death and Crucifixion. There is nothing to suggest backslapping festivity in commemorating this Divine sacrifice.
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