Are we too casual at Mass?

Michie

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Angeldove97

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One of the reasons I've been avoiding my parish and going to Mass. It just seems to be lacking the sanctity, holiness, awe, and reverence He deserves. (All of my near by parishes were involved in sexual abuse cases over the last few decades... I'm not on "friendly" terms with being Catholic right now tbh.) Looking into the Byzantine Catholic church near by me, but don't think that is necessarily the answer that I need. I grew up Russian Orthodox - I kind of miss that way of worshiping - but I have issues with the priests and how it was run in my area. Feeling kind of lost in this modern world.
 
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anna ~ grace

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One of the reasons I've been avoiding my parish and going to Mass. It just seems to be lacking the sanctity, holiness, awe, and reverence He deserves. (All of my near by parishes were involved in sexual abuse cases over the last few decades... I'm not on "friendly" terms with being Catholic right now tbh.) Looking into the Byzantine Catholic church near by me, but don't think that is necessarily the answer that I need. I grew up Russian Orthodox - I kind of miss that way of worshiping - but I have issues with the priests and how it was run in my area. Feeling kind of lost in this modern world.
Be the light they may desperately need, friend. Show up in a blouse, long skirt, and veil. God be with you. Please, don't deprive yourself.
 
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Gnarwhal

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I can't speak for everyone, but I feel like my parish has gotten more casual over the past few years since I first started going there. I think it started when our choir director left, she was a classically trained soprano so she had our choir really well whipped into shape and they sang actual Catholic hymns and polyphony. Now since she's gone it's smaller in size, and they incorporate a lot of protestant hymns. It seems like a lot of other aspects of the Mass I go to followed suit once that happened.

Since our really orthodox priest left last fall, the parochial vicar who took over seems to be letting some things go a bit. He's only a few years older than me, and he's been a priest for 3-5 years maybe, but he definitely seems to have a more progressive approach than our last priest (which honestly kind of surprised me given that every other Millennial Catholic I've met so far has been very orthodox and traditional—they like Latin Masses, the women wear veils, they dress very formally for Mass and if they're married they already have lots of kids). Our new priest though, he already discontinued our Saturday morning Confession and Mass because he said he needs that time to prepare for the weekend Masses. There are six other Confession times throughout the week but that's the only one I really could've attended. I don't know, maybe it's true that he needs to prepare, right now he's running the parish alone, save for a few retired priests who are sent on occasion to help out. But I worry that it'll lead to a chipping away of other things, like our perpetual adoration and stuff.

I think I may have been lulled into it a bit for a while. A few weeks ago I started trying to dress better for Mass and I think it helped my mindset a little bit. When I genuflect, my knee touches the ground, and I remain kneeling until all of the clergy have sat down following communion. It's the little aspects of discipline that can start to correct our posture, IMO.
 
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