[Catholic Caucus] The Ancient Mass in “House Churches” Was Not as Informal as Many Think

Archdiocese of Washington ^ | 03-26-19 | Mark Rothe

[ThanhPhero]

In Việt Nam the men sit mostly on the right and the women mostly on the left in the nave. A few are beginning to s.it in family groups. Fifteen years ago the men and women sat entirely separate.

[RitaOK]

I find that fascinating, given our touchy feely conduct today.

The “formality” that this column describes, and also your interesting example, defy the openly casual atmosphere that I see, composing the NO Mass of today, but the Asian culture somehow continues to exemplifiy respect and revere it’s great Value, in the family and in community, and their duty to task at hand remains phenomenal.

I can therefore appreciate that the Vietnamese Catholic, among all the devout faithful, would likely be among the last to appreciate the NO Mass with its free and easy style and focus on *us*, rather than deliverance of our very soul up to Almighty God, as in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass of the ages.

That separation of the men and the women, in the ancient Mass and old tradition, must have been a teachable vision, a fundamental witness of God’s own creation of Male and Female, and what it means to be Male and Female, a teachable vision on so many levels.

Honored to draw your reply.
Rita