Comments for Mass and “The Holy” at http://www.thecatholicthing.org , comment 1 to 11 out of 11 comments http://www.thecatholicthing.org Fri, 24 May 2013 02:09:30 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/mass-and-the-holy.html#comment-4913 Thank you, Fr. Schall for a wonderful meditation. - Paul Boer Sat, 25 Sep 2010 10:18:13 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/mass-and-the-holy.html#comment-4912 Last Sunday I had the privilege of attending the Beatification Mass for John Henry Newman in Birmingham England. 60,000 people gathered on a rainy day to participate in this special celebration. Pope Benedict led the celebration. Not being a Roman Catholic, Latin is truly "Greek" to me, as I am certain it was foreign to many people in attendance. But we got plenty of Latin and no one complained. We followed our English translations of the Latin sections and the beauty of the occasion was magnified. The following morning at the Birmingham Oratory we got another does of Latin and of the holy mysteries of the Mass. On both occasions the central focus was on the primary purposes of celebrating the Mass. If Newman had been attendance I am certain he would have been in heaven. - AHR Sat, 25 Sep 2010 05:32:10 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/mass-and-the-holy.html#comment-4902 It´s refreshing to find a sound doctrinal opinion from a Jesuit these days. I humbly invite the readers of this commentary to pray for the Society of Jesus and its return to the genuine ignatian spirituality. If there is no return the Jesuits would simply vanish in about 40 to 50 years. More are dying than new vocations are admitted. And this decay has to do with the abandon of the sense of Holy as Fr. Schall rightly explains. Thanks to Fr. Schall. - Hiram Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:24:20 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/mass-and-the-holy.html#comment-4901 I was raised, not on the Roman Missal, but the Book of Common Prayer. One of my early disappointments when I first attended Bishop Foley High in the sixties was the prosaic tone of the "Peoples' Mass Book." My mother was Southern Baptist and after my father died we attended that denomination for a while before returning to the Episcopal Church. The Catholic kiss of peace is identical to a moment in the Baptist service of the 50s and 60s when everyone shakes hands. My own response to the kiss of peace is that it literally slams the mass to a halt. Some parishoners leave their pews to shank hands, hug, and kiss others throughout the congregation. During Lent of 2009 (the year I was confirmed a Catholic), I had the good fortune to attend several different Catholic rites practiced in Southeastern Michigan. The Chaldean mass in particular was shameing in its solemnity and seriousness. The Latin Rite Mass is still celebrated in this area at a couple churches by an 80 plus year old priest. I had the opportunity to attend that mass. I was struck by the similarities between the English translation of the Latin mass and my father's BCP (1929 edition). The pastor of my parish, a monsignor, has already begun speaking of the new ICEL translation with enthusiasm at mass. After hearing Bishop Trautman's vocal criticisms of it at a USCCB conference, I worry that many parishes will resist it. And with quiet episcopal support. In Britain last week, the Holy Father demonstrated his own support for the new missal. We'll see what happens next year. In the Detroit News, one elderly but "progessive" Catholic has called it "too Anglican." She also wanted bishops elected by the laity! A Jesuit priest was quoted as saying "we can't go backward!" And so it goes... - Graham Combs Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:00:45 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/mass-and-the-holy.html#comment-4895 Hi Very well written article, thank you! Regarding some of your points, the key for good liturgy to me is good guidelines, set out by the priest. I agree that hearing 3 or 4 bidding prayers with the same content makes us cringe, in our parish we have a team of writers to do them, and they are checked by the priest before they are used in Sunday worship Another major issue is appropriateness of music, it is perfectly possible, and I speak as one who sings/plays the guitar in a parish choir, to create a prayerful atmosphere and to enhance the liturgy In essence, in common with all human community events, it is vital that decent communication is provided. It is also vital that decisions about music, prayers of the faithful are done in a prayerful manner, and in keeping with the Order of the Mass. If this can't be done, drop the guitars and music accomp. if necessary. We need to remember we are all the body of Christ. - Clare Tue, 21 Sep 2010 23:59:54 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/mass-and-the-holy.html#comment-4894 I often despair at the state of the liturgy in most parishes. It would help things tremendously if there were simply an edict that prohibited the use of drums and electrified guitars and banned any song that one could imagine Lionel Richie singing. Once full compliance with that edict was achieved, the Church could move to eliminating guitars entirely. - Dan Tue, 21 Sep 2010 09:00:12 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/mass-and-the-holy.html#comment-4893 Incisive succinct. The simple answer? humility! Thanks Fr. Schall! - Achilles Tue, 21 Sep 2010 07:58:19 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/mass-and-the-holy.html#comment-4892 Thank you Fr. Schall for reminding me why I was attracted to the Catholic faith a few years ago. My conversion came not because of the Mass as practised in many parishes (with shorts,flip flops,guitars, et al)- but in spite of it. I long for the cultural roots,traditions and ideals to be on display on Sunday as they are in this piece. My check is in the mail! - Ray Hunkins Tue, 21 Sep 2010 07:27:21 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/mass-and-the-holy.html#comment-4891 Wonderful column. Thank you. It brings to mind Browning's "Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, Or what's a heaven for?" How refreshing. Remember that awful artifact from the '70s? "Meeting people where they are"? The problem was, they never got beyond "where they are", and I imagine that they are still there. Thank you so much. (Think "ephemeral". Bishop T., we know what "ephemeral" means.) - Louise Tue, 21 Sep 2010 06:54:10 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/mass-and-the-holy.html#comment-4890 "Catholicism is an intellectual religion to its very core." and "to be a Catholic is to belong to an intellectually challenging revelation..." How wonderful, but not at all surprising coming from Fr. Schall. Many Church documents are finally addressed to "... and All People of Goodwill" This gesture is based on the assumption that "All People" are intelligent enough to understand the oft intellectually challenging text. I love that about the Church, they expect us to use our God-given intelligence. One can never be bored with Catholicism... - Amy Joy Tue, 21 Sep 2010 04:22:34 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/mass-and-the-holy.html#comment-4889 As recovery from illness resulting from a powerful virus can be painfully slow, so also is recovery from a "virus" of false ideas. If God were not in charge, we might despair, but something new is happening - something small but powerful, like growth from a mustard seed. - Ars Artium Tue, 21 Sep 2010 03:40:07 +0100