Posted on 03/03/2003 5:35:48 PM PST by Salvation
Expected? Yes. Required? No.
One should certainly be in quiet contemplation the entire day, certainly from 12-3. But there is no canonical requirement that I am aware of to attend any service or to "visit" the church.
SD
True, Good Friday is not listed as a Holy Day of Obligation but the obligation of fasting and abstinence applies. The importance of attending the solemn liturgies of the Easter triduum is, sadly, downplayed in most dioceses.
Certainly.
The importance of attending the solemn liturgies of the Easter triduum is, sadly, downplayed in most dioceses.
Is this true? That is sad.
Yes, people should attend as many liturgies that week as possible. Chrism Mass, Mass of the Lord's Supper, Good Friday service, Easter Vigil. Not because you "have to," but because you want to.
SD
Mistake. I hadn't been to an N.O. "Mass" for a very long time and as soon as I entered I knew it was a mistake. First, I felt like I was entering some kind of rock concert or something. Everyone was chatting as they found their seats. When they got to their seats they continued talking. Laughing, Joking. Out loud. Very loud. Cell phones went off. People chatted. A young boy in front of me had an earring. No one genuflected upon entering the pew. At most there was a half-hearted nod. People were laughing and chattering. I looked up at the barren altar and saw a jug of wine, in a carafe like I was in an Italian restaurant. Then there were several 1960s looking ceramic trays, which I assume were to hold the Body of Christ.
The chatter continued. Someone genuflected to get in to the pew in front of me and the young woman sitting at the end of the pew glared at him and spat "there are plenty of empty seats, why are you trying to sit here!"
Then a horrid cow of a lady grabbed the microphone on the altar and began announcing the Mass as if it were a sporting event. "First we will be singing the blah blah and then we will blah blah, your server this afternoon will be blah blah."
The priest sauntered out and began going on about the meaning of Ash Wednesday. One problem: there was no mention whatsoever of the main point: pennance, self-denial, focus on Christ's death. Instead we were told that "this is a great opportunity to improve our personal relationship with Jesus."
And oh sweet Lord, I have forgotten the banality of the new "Mass." The hollow responses, as the masses bark out "and also with you" "thanks be to God" blah blah blah. It is like some kind of revival meeting.
And the "readings"? Good Lord! Some old dude with long hair slunk up to the podium to read the first reading. Talk about dramatics...Someone looking to break into showbiz? Then the maitre d'host lady waddled up to the microphone to sing out the "responsorial psalm." Something trite and banal.
Finally Father bothered to get up and do something. Reading the Gospel, only to have the crowd call out "praise to you Lord Jesus Christ!!!" as if we are in some kind of baseball stadium. "Batter UP!"
I completely missed the consecration. I wonder whether it even happened. All of a sudden he was thrusting the jug of wine in the air and saying the dreaded "for all men." I did not get a feeling of the moment of consecration and wondered if I had lost my place at Mass. Anyone who has ever been to a real Mass knows exactly what I am talking about: you know when the consecration has taken place. Also you can hear a pin drop. Not even a cell phone, if one can imagine that.
Then came the Vegas-style glad-handing. The roar of "peace be with you" rose above the crowd. I closed my eyes and folded my hands in prayer. I am not at a used car dealership, I am in the Presence of our Lord (or at least am supposed to be). It is not about welcoming my neighbor -- it's all about God.
Then, to my horror, an old dude with grey hair to his shoulders and that lesbian-looking maitre d' lady waddled around to the priest as the priest dug his hand into the chalice and pulled out a handful of hosts. Some spilled all over the altar. He snatched them up in a non-chalant manner as if one had dropped a cookie or something. Then he handed he funky ceramic dishes to the hippie and the maitre d' lady who proceded to pass them out. A few other "extraordinary ministers" held cups of wine. They were singing "taste and see the goodness of the Lord, taste and see." It sounded like an advert for communion: hey, come on up! Taste it and see! This wine is good! When I saw the hippie digging his hands into the platter of hosts I turned and left. It was absolutely DEPRESSING.
My opposition to the new Church became even stronger, if that is possible. Simply put: it is not Catholic. End of story. Thank God my chapel is having Ash Wednesday tonight. What on earth was I thinking!!!
Rather than trashing each other's Masses, let's focus on responding to the Holy Father's call for prayer and penance to avoid more bloodshed and war in the world, particularly the Middle East.
That was not my intent. I flagged you personally based on several posts I noted where you made good arguments. I select each person I flag individually. That is why I take so much time deciding who to flag. I am sorry if I have annoyed you with the flag. I will heretofore cease to do so.
let's focus on responding to the Holy Father's call for prayer and penance to avoid more bloodshed and war in the world, particularly the Middle East.
I agree with you completely. Fast Thursday for peace.
It may be old hat to those who have been in the NO recently and who usually attend the Traditional Mass, but I hadn't been in years. It is not that it has changed. It is just that it in NO WAY resembles the Mass of Ages. I really felt myself in a protestant worship service. I also felt sorry for all the people there who are deprived of the glory and beauty of the Traditional Mass. If only they knew what they were missing...
What a gruesome afternoon! Can you imagine: a dykey looking lady and an aging hippie thrusting their grubby hands into the platter of Hosts? I groaned out loud. And then rushed the door.
Thank God my chapel is having Ash Wednesday tonight.
Unfortunately, we do not have ashes at any traditional church that I know of. We are planning to go to the NO at the parish where we attend the indult. This will be our first NO Mass since last October (which was a funeral).
You've said it all! I honestly -- and I am not just trying to rag on the N.O. -- felt that I was attending at a different religion. I went to a wedding in a protestant church a few years ago. It felt the same way strange. A previous poster commented that Lent was not the time to criticize other Catholics for going to N.O. I disagree. Now more than ever we must pray to our Lord for a restoration of the Catholic Faith and the Catholic Mass. I think all the ills in the world would begin to turn around if this happened. Sounds naive, but I am convinced.
ASH WEDNESDAY " Dust thou art, and into dust thou shalt return." |
Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God. (Joel 2:13)
Ash Wednesday is a day of both fasting and abstinence. |
Gospel
Mt 6:1-6, 16-18
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms,
do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
"When you pray,
do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room,
close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
"When you fast,
do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast,
anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you."
I can't disagree with you.
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