If something does not really fit the headings, then I will post it here. I suspect some of my commentary and opinion pieces might find a home under the “Various” tag.
There are a few sub-pages here about the black experience, a subject that must interest any pastor who lives and works in a mostly African-American environment.
Given that I went to Catholic University, I have been critical in a couple of sub-pages about Bernstein’s blasphemous MASS performed there and the presence of the NAACP on campus, given that the national organization has pledged itself to work for continued liberalized abortion against the pro-life message of the Church and the Gospel.
I hope to write other opinion pieces and book reviews if time allows.
This page has the following sub pages.
- Innocent Man Released After 22 Years
- Institution & Church
- Anti-Catholic MASS at CUA
- EGYPT Encourages Moslems to KILL Christians (2004)
- Popes Opposed Slavery Against Dissenters
- Letter to Senator Currie on Prayer in State Senate
- Ecumenism & Dialogue
- Fallen TV Priests
- The Passing of the Pope on TV
- Papal Cats and Possible Posers
- Every February is BLACK HISTORY Month
- REVIEW: A Scriptural Catechism
- Catholicism & the Black Experience
- Agent Intellect & Possible Intellect
- SAINT ANN, MOTHER OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Father, speaking of Mass, I have comments and questions. The Mass in my church is now unrecognizable from when I was younger. We sing nearly everything. We sing so much, we might as well be Lutherans. Now, our priest has decided to include a song in between the readings. My criticism is not based on time, it is based on the ability of a single priest to change the content and structure of post Vatican II Mass. I actually think we should go back to a time when Mass was said in Latin and the priest did not face the congregation. ( I speak Spanish and had Latin beaten into me so a pre-V-II service is fine with me). However, V-II changed all that. But how can a priest change the service at will? There are other churches in our dioceses that have not changed the service at all. Also, the hand holding during the Our Father and the raising of the hands when we say, ‘The Kingdom power and glory are yours’ For God’s sake we look like evangelical protestants in a Pentecostal tent revival. Is nothing sacred? I was mad when the bells were removed when the priest raised the Eucharist. And I have been losing it ever since.
I would like to get your take on this? Is what I described familiar to you? If it is, intellectually, I just do not understand it. And since my children also attend parochial school at this church, they only know the ‘new and improvised’ service, not the Mass I was taught when I was grade-school age.
I welcome your words in response to this post.
Pax Vobiscum
Thank you so much for your response. Several more ‘accidentals’ I failed to mention is that we now stand after we are supposed to kneel the second time when the Priest consecrates the Eucharist. We are also bow before taking the Eucharist. This one I have no problem with. It’s m ore of an irritant than anything else as a symbol of change for lack of an explanation. But removing the the second time we kneel is beyond the pale. I refuse to do it. Someone asked me one Sunday why I did not stand and why I did not hold and raise hands during the Our Father. My response was, ‘Well, kneeling and not holding hands was working just fine for over two thousand years…I guess I am a bit slower to change.’
Thank you for your words. The Mass is central to our faith as Catholics. And the human inventions to the service are minor as my belief system and world view is not predicated on the whims of one or several priests who continue to modify the Mass.
Father Joe,
Lately at my parish, instead of singing Holy, Holy, Holy…etc, in the english version of the Sanctus….the choir has replaced it with the modern praise and worship hymn “Hosanne in the Highest”….cool song, but I don’t think it is appropriate for that part of the Liturgy, cuz it doesn’t have the same words, as the Sanctus.
Same thing with the Lamb of God, sometimes the second line is replaced with Prince of Peace, Ancient Cup….etc.
This last Palm Sunday, during the gospel reading….the priest read the narrative, and someone from the laity read the part of Jesus.
During Holy Thursday, the gospel reading was stopped at the point of where Jesus washes the feet of the disciples, and everyone was invited to wash each other’s feet…..then after that was finished, the gospel reading continued…and then we had the homily.
When I raised objections, I was told that I don’t understand tradition, and what is esstential and non-esstential. :(
There are rubrics for these parts of the Liturgy, so I don’t understand how they can be altered at the whim of a priest or pastoral council. I am in right, or just making a mountian out of a molehill.
I mean, like golly….I never know what to expect during Mass anymore…which is really a distraction.
Peace be with you.
Fr. Joe,
I have been attending the same parish for 8 years. I live in a rural area, so there is only one RCC in my town. I am a convert 9 years now. In all the time I have been at my parish, I really did not connect with the people. My oldest child is 13 and involved in the Life-Teen program. It seems that the kids are very disrespectful, to the point of laughing while drinking the precious blood, the teen Eucharistic minister rolls her eyes and flips her hair. It is very frustrating to watch. I really do not like switching churches because my family did this constantly when I was growing up and I just have tried to stay around so that my kids could be in a parish in the same community as their school (public school-no Catholics schools close by). I wondered what your opinion on changing churches. The distance is a big factor due to the gas prices, but since I live in the country, there is a church in another town that is a little closer, just a different community but it is much smaller and less programs for the teens, etc. My best friend is also leaving and moving away, so this was the only person there that I really connected with. I know that Church is not about the people, but it seems in general that there are a lot of snooty people in Catholic churches (in my experience) and this makes it hard on the blue collar folks, like us. My husband is Baptist and would love for us to come to his church with all the warm fussy friendlies, but I could never leave the Truth in a million years. Should I talk to my priest? I don’t know what to do. Thanks.
Father Joe,
Thank you for your time. I value your opinion greatly and as a former protestant never considered alot of the points you made. I am still praying and discerning and do not want to make the decision lightly.