Sisof8 said:
im sorry y'all... but i have to ask
Why is everyone so upset? Why is one mass where they have a "theme" in order to give them a association for their journey of Lent wrong?
I realize Mass is The Eucharist and we are to treat it with reverence and respect... but is one Mass where they dress up and do all of this decorating and stuff to connect it all...wrong?
Why? Where is it stated this would be wrong?
Would it be wrong if they decorated the lobby of the church, but it never entered the chapel?
confused....
My take on this: the Mass is a continuation of Christ's sacrifice on the Cross for our salvation.
So, should we have pictures in our churches or homes with Mary standing at the foot of the Cross, dressed as Dorothy? St. John beside her as the Cowardly Lion? Maybe some flying monkeys overhead, as angels? The Centurion can be the Tin Woodman, the two thieves can be Munchkins, and Jesus on the Cross can be the Wizard.
See why such things are not appropriate for Mass?
As for trying to change the way the priest does things, I only tried that once, at an abuse-ridden parish I was attending at the time. I was given a smirking, condescending attitude with the comment that "Well, you know, we have paid
liturgical experts, with
degrees in liturgy who attend to our liturgies, and you, of course are a (sniff, sniff)
police officer, and I don't know whether you have any kind of degree...."
"I have a Bachelor's degree."
"Yes, well, laymen do have opinions, of course, but perhaps you might do better to try to get into the spirit of what we're trying to do here, rather than complaining about it. Vatican II did call for much reform...."
"Can you show the specific document from the council which authorizes this, Father?"
(immediate hardening of the look on the priest's face, automatic defensive posture---replies are shorter and terser)
"I have several appointments this afternoon, so you of course understand that I do not have time to sift through every document from the council to find what you think you're looking for. Thank you for coming in and voicing your concerns,
(walking me to the door) and we'll definitely put your suggestions to prayerful consideration."
Me out, door closed, seeya, come back some time when you can't stay so long.
And from that point forward, coolness on the part of the priest, since I was an obvious troublemaker, and outright hostility from both the "liturgical musicians" and the head of the "liturgy and worship committee".
So,
hasta la vista, Padre, I went to a different parish.
(shrug) Sometimes there is nothing else you can do.
Wrong.
