Ticket to Mass

It has to be because we complained about the LA cathedral.

Maybe they are previewing that new liturgical dance group, "Albigensia", backed up by the "Chittister Five"? I mean, given His Eminence's reputation for devout orthodoxy, utter candor, and total openness, could one even possibly suspect...?

Did they have to pay for the tickets, or did they just want to know about how many were going to be there?

Not that I think it's a good idea, anyway, but...

They sure make it hard to answer Maria's question, "Did they have to pay for the tickets, or did they just want to know about how many were going to be there?" I scoured the cathredral website and in two places it notes the ticket requirement, with no further explanation, and no indication of how to obtain further information. I also searched Google's News area every which way and came up empty.

It strikes me as a very bizarre decision on the part of the Diocese, which at the very least has been inadequately explained.

Found this is from the diocesan newspaper:

"Due to a limited seating capacity in the Cathedral, we are not able to accommodate all those who may wish to attend. Admission into the Cathedral and Cathedral Plaza for the Ordination Ceremony is by invitation only. A representation from across the Archdiocese has been provided with tickets for the ceremony. There are no general tickets available.

"While Bishop Solis would love to include everyone at the Ordination Liturgy, it is simply not possible. In the future, he will be celebrating Regional Masses where greater participation will be possible. As information on these becomes available, it will be posted in The Tidings.

"Thank you for your understanding and cooperation."

at http://www.the-tidings.com/2004/0130/solistix.htm

although on closer inspection that refers to a Bishop's 2004 ordination and I could find no comparable article concerning the ordination at issue here. Sorry for gobbling so much bandwidth to end up like the Gilda Radner character, saying "Never mind."

Part of the reason I've interpreted this story as I have is because I used to serve on the bishop's committee for young adults for the San Fernando Valley. We were planning an event for young adults with the Cardinal, but plans changed when the legal situation with the lawsuits in the archdiocese worsened. We were told that the situation in LA threatened to make Boston look minimal by comparison. Plans still moved forward for the event, but it was suggested that we not extend an open invitation to young adults, but that we carefully select the participants [the implication was that this was to protect the Cardinal].

I actually sang through the words before I read on. I laughed. I cried. It's a part of me.

Gosh I feel like a second grader who wants to go tell on Cardinal Pinhead for his plan to have paid tickets to mass. But to whom do I go tell? and who will care?

Now, now, Lucy, he may be a difficult Cardinal to respect and follow, but he is still a cardinal, a prince of the Church, and therefore Christ's representative to the people of the Church of LA. He will have to answer for his shortcomings "when the Man comes around." Respect the office and pray for the man in it -- because in the grand scheme of things, not even John Paul II was "good enough" to be pope. But God put allowed John Paul to be in that position and gave him all the strength he needed to do it well, just as God allows Cardinal Mahony to remain, and He gives him all the grace he needs. We should pray that he does as much good with it as possible, and that God has mercy on his soul, as we pray he has on the soul of John Paul II ('cause he hasn't been canonized yet)

God bless

Keep in mind that LA ordinations, as in some other places, are beset by a phalanx of pro-abort/women's-ordination and sodomite protesters. Tickets may be a way to keep the screaming, frothing protesters outside.

I don't know...Our cathedral in Joliet may not be nearly as large as LA's, but it's still pretty big. Yesterday, we only had two men ordained and it was absolutely packed. If there had been just a thrid ordinand, tickets might have been necessary to ensure that the ordinand's families had a place to pop their squate.

Crowe, what you say is true...but being a cardinal doesn't make him a god, only respect asto his position is due to him. And even though he would be met with the utmost respect, (if I was ever in his presents,) I still have the mind to refer to him as a Pin head. (and that would be with the most love and charity I could muster)

What did they do in the old days when they had more than a couple of ordinands? I'm thinking the Bishop probably had to ordain that year's bumper crop of priests on a couple of dates. Wouldn't that be great?!