The Universal Church and less than Universal Liturgies
From time to time you see some Catholic bloggers ask about a location of a good parish in a city they will be visiting or talk about finding one good parish in their area. This is a sad indictment about the state of liturgy in a universal church. Many liturgists always talk about community to justify their fiddling with the liturgy at a local church, yet this very act reduces the liturgy to the local community. I doubt that progressive Catholic bloggers experience the same problem from their point of view. It seems that that majority of liturgies have gone down that same path of Masses with some local improvisation or quirk added to them. I know that in my own experience of about six churches in my area that only one of them is one hundred percent faithful to the GIRM and it also happens to be the only one that has music that doesn't give me flashbacks of being in an elevator. There is really just no reason that the rubrics of the liturgy should be different from diocese to diocese within the same rite of the Church. Now there will always be variances in liturgies to some extent. Some priests are more gifted homilists than others and some choirs are more talented than others.
By the way speaking about gifted homilists have you ever noticed that many Protestant Church's the name of the pastor is prominently displayed on a sign in front, whereas in my limited experience I have never seen this associated with a Catholic Church. I think this is because in the Catholic Church the emphasis is on the Mass and not just the homily. Of course in non-liturgical churches it follows that all the attention is paid towards the pastor.
I was fairly impressed with the document Instrumentum laboris and the issues that it brought up in the celebration of the Eucharist. This document is the working copy produced for the Bishop's synod that deals with "The Eucharist: Source and Summit of the Life and Mission of the Church." Obviously from the submissions made for this document many other bishops see some of the same problems in the Church's liturgical life. It will be interesting to see the final document produced, but more importantly whether any of the suggestions made will be instituted by the Church. I am too much of a cynic to believe that most Vatican documents have much effect on local liturgies. Though I have seen some corrections made to certain liturgical abuses that were addressed in Redemptionis Sacramentum in some local churches. Bishops and priests who are willing to ignore and downplay some of the Church's teaching are not going to be worried about following liturgical laws. The document addresses such topics as to whether moving the tabernacle from the center of the sanctuary to less prominent places has deemphasized the role of the Eucharist and other church architecture related topics. Gregorian chant was also addressed and the suitability of some musical instruments for sacred music and also the uses of a Church for purposes other than the liturgy (note to Cardinal Mahony). The document has a good grasp as to the problems, but mostly does not address what to do about them so we will need to see how this will translate into something more easily understood at the local level. It also address some of the more positive movements in the Church such as the increase of Eucharistic adoration. As much as I might gripe about the liturgy - God stills brings people towards himself despite our flaws.
Known as 
The "concerts in the Church" item is an oldie--and there was a document issued about that little problem (IIRC) during the reign of Paul VI.
A friend who was at the time, VERY well-connected in Rome advised that the immediate cause of the document's issue was that a number of Roman churches had essentially rented out their naves on a year-round basis for operas. Not a good thing.
Ironically, should Rome once again re-state the position that churches are not entertainment venues, it will severely constrict the places that Catholic Church music is heard--because in a lot of the US, the best Catholic stuff is done by the secular choirs.
The worst garbage is done during Mass.
Whadda country, eh?
'I think this is because in the Catholic Church the emphasis is on the Mass and not just the homily.'
My youth group had a renewal and reunion weekend about a month ago, and one of the talks (all done by members of the group) was on the mass. He told how for a while he wouldn't go to Sunday Mass; our weekly youth group meeting won hands down on the fellowship aspect. It was only later that he realized that the point of the Mass is that it's a sacrifice, and it's about God. That's why he goes to Mass. If it weren't for the sacrifice, he wouldn't go because all it would be is a bunch of old ladies and bad music (I think he was talking about weeek day Mass then).
Let's take a longer view. As the number of priests decline (though the number of faithful ones are on the rise) the Mass, sadly, will become for a time even more of a community event ("see, we didn't need the priest after all!"). How will faithful orthodox Catholics keep the flame alive as many parishes accelerate their spin into oblivion? Any practical suggestions?
Feeling kind of schizophrenic right now. I've been reading some works of Cardinal Ratzinger/Pope Benedict (Ratzinger Report, Feast of Faith, homilies, remarks at Angeluses, etc.) and church documents on the liturgy/Eucharist: GIRM, Redemptionis Sacramentum, Instrumentum laboris. These represent Church authority, and they make such good sense. This is the Church. This is Truth, Beauty, and Goodness. This is the intent of Vatican II. Why is parish liturgy so chaotic? Why do some people raise their arms and hold hands and say "us" instead of "us men" and "God's" instead of "His" and others don't? Why do some bow (as the priest instructed them to several months ago) and others don't? If catechesis on the Eucharist were offered, would anyone come? Does anyone ever read any of the available good stuff? Does anyone care? Is there any way to shape this stuff up? I've "participated actively" at Novus Ordo masses that are not chaotic, but I also have noticed that Latin takes up a large part of those masses. Like the vernacular makes Mass a community gathering/party and Latin makes it universal/whole/cosmic/fit for a communion of saints, living and dead. But much mention of Latin gives many people in my neck of the woods a very sour face.
Our choir director recently had the ICL paperbacks replaced with the GIA Gather hymnals--hardly an improvement. Today we (the somewhat attenuated summer choir) met in the front pews, where the sound of chatter about the local heat wave and air-conditioning and "sermon" lengths ensued, making it impossible to concentrate on prayer. our "Gathering" song (no antiphon, of course) was "Sing a New Church" (like the one intended by VII doesn't meet our needs--but y'all know that). Well, the other "songs" were more or less the same. All very centered on "community." We stood at the front, by the piano, close by the altar to the right as viewed from the pews because, as the choir director said, "They like us up in front where they can see us." So we were the entertainment for the morning. The only person who turned to watch the altar--even during the Consecration--was me, so self-consciousness overtook any attempt to concentrate. After communion, when people are supposed to be "participating actively" by quiet thanksgiving and contemplation, the cantor told the parishioners to join in on a new "song" we were adding to the music. Don't know if they did or not; hope they ignored us and concentrated on the Gift freely Given. I don't want to quit the choir because when we're back up in the loft where we belong, now and then we do sing material that may aid in people's approach to the Mystery. Once in a awhile in Latin.
To be fair, the Responsorial Psalm, though in English, was sung well within a setting close to chant, and lately has been following the psalms authorized for the particular Sunday. Today it was quite beautiful and the words were striking.
And Father Bill and his altar servers do follow all the rubrics with devotion and reverence. What Happens on the Altar is about perfect. . . and, sadly, is attended by distractions brought about by the lay community. Thanks for letting me rave.
"First thing: let's kill all the liturgists!"
(The prescient Shakespeare, revised)
Last week I attended a special Mass for Our Lady of Mount Carmel. A group of six men provided the music for the mass, either sans instrumental accompaniment or with an organ only. Their entrance hymn (Salve Regina) and Kyrie were exquisite.
Then we got to the Gloria - I hoped against hope that they would sing it in Latin but alas, no, we were subjected to the same Gloria that we hear every Sunday. Perhaps you know it: it contains a horrifically scored chorus that, as far as I know, does not exist as a chorus in the original prayer - "Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people on earth". The word "peace" is on a high note (what first year music student doesn't know that you do not put a long "e" sound on a high note?!) and an extended one at that and no one but a professional soprano can sing it (trust me - I've been in the pews with people who had no business trying to hit that note and even less success in doing so) and then the word "earth" is also drawn out - "errrrthhhhhh" is not a pretty sound. Try as I might, I cannot get past the cacophony and concentrate on the worship of God as I am supposed to. You could tell the singers were having trouble singing it (who wouldn't?).
Things improved, though, during the offertory where they sang a Gregorian chant and the Hosanna was also beautifully rendered in Latin (AMEN!). And lo and behold, they sung the Agnus Dei in Latin as well! Just as I was beginning to think that, aside from the Gloria, I was finally able to hear sacred music as it is meant to be, we got to Communion.
This time, we were subjected to a Hispanic "song" sung in English that sounded like something you'd hear at a Mexican restaurant, not in Church. Once again, the singers struggled mightily and unsuccessfully, to render it into something listenable. (Imagine Luciano Pavarotti singing "Sympathy for the Devil" and you get a good idea of how this came across.) Had it not been for the fact that after communion they sang Anima Christi in Latin (and exquisitely), I would have lost all hope.
I just have to believe that I can't be the only one who finds most contemporary Christian music used in Mass today to be distracting and discomfiting. It is either insipid at best (to wit "On Eagles' Wings - yechh) and borderline sacriligeous at worst. So few people join in the singing of most of this tripe (myself included) even when it is part of the prayers of the mass that you would think the music directors would get the hint. Truly, I'm embarrassed to ask non-Catholics to attend Mass with me ONLY because of the music. I'd gladly take anyone to a Tridentine Mass with traditional songs any day, but not the stuff that we are subjected to each Sunday (and don't even get me started about the Life Teen mass - what a stomp fest that is.)
Ah, well, like the other poster - thanks for the opportunity to vent.
"I doubt that progressive Catholic bloggers experience the same problem from their point of view."
It's true we do. My wife once reacted in horror on a trip once when St Robert Bellarmine turned out to be the schismatic parish. She was disappointed. I know that I look for parishes without the more fussy nonsense peripherals. Good music and preaching is important. But since I don't often worship without wearing a liturgist hat, I want to find a good experience of prayer and preaching, if possible.
"It seems that that majority of liturgies have gone down that same path of Masses with some local improvisation or quirk added to them."
The most obvious quirks are those of the parish priests.
"I know that in my own experience ... only one of them is one hundred percent faithful to the GIRM ..."
Doubtful. I went to a nearby parish in a nearby diocese noted for "faithfulness," and I noted a few minor departures. Many Catholics have their buttons pushed by different things, but I think there's a problem with the complainers once they get to the gnat stage.
"There is really just no reason that the rubrics of the liturgy should be different from diocese to diocese within the same rite of the Church."
Sometimes the departures aren't rubrical at all. And the personal strengths and failings of the people certainly make a difference. There's less of a reason that minor departures from the creature comforts of home should be more than a fleeting annoyance to Catholics on the road. Heck, I miss my own bed in a hotel, but I'm not going to demand the Red Roof Inn import the exact model mattress I use at home. Travel can be an inconvenience, and it can make fussy snobs of us. When I visit a friend's home, I don't bother with mismatched molding or a poor tile job in the bathroom. I'm not there for that.
" ... in my limited experience I have never seen this associated with a Catholic Church."
It's occasional, in my experience. Depends on the type of sign. Some pastors don't boether with the expense of changing a sign every six to ten years.
"Of course in non-liturgical churches it follows that all the attention is paid towards the pastor."
Or the priest in Catholic churches. I suspect it depends on the person's charism.
Two prisoners looked out their prison windows at the same scene. The first prisoner saw a beautiful sky, the second saw mud. The first prisoner was looking for a beautiful sky, the second was looking for mud.
I believe a lot of whining "traditionalists", bemoaning "the good ol' days", look for mud in every mass they visit. If you're looking for mud, I will guarantee you'll find it.
I heard this at a retreat years ago:
"Two men gazed through the prison bars;
One saw mud; the other saw stars."
Thanks for reminding us that we find what we seek, Tony.
What about the use of the Communion paten? If we really believe that the consecrated {wafer) host is the -Body,blood,soul,divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, then the paten -should- be used so that not even the smallest particle of our Lord's body should not be defamed,for fear of falling to the floor to be trampled upon