We had a full schedule with soccer games and whatnot yesterday and so I found myself in a tough situation. The only mass still available last night was the 7PM at a local church. So it was either go to the 7pm or miss mass. I went. I think I made the wrong choice.
I assiduously avoid my local parish because, well because of Fr. Frank. Fr. Frank drives me crazy. Why? Well, as it happens I had a camera in my pocket from soccer and I took it out to shoot some video during mass. It is a little grainy, but no matter. Just listen to the audio and it will all make sense. I added a little music just for fun.
So watch the video and tell me if going or missing was the greater sin.
October 20, 2008 at 7:24 am
Patrick,
I’m a little uncomfortable with this post.
I agree that the changes to the liturgy are unwarranted, unauthorised and wrong. But it’s still a Catholic Mass. It still has the essentials of the sacrifice of the Mass. Its still the body and blood of Jesus after the moment of consecration.
So should we ridicule it and put it out on the internet? Shouldn’t we rather approach the pastor in good faith and charity to seek to correct the abuse. And if that doesn’t work go to the local Ordinary.
As alway, I love your work at CMR.
The more satire of the abuses within the church the better.
I just have this thing about taping broadcasting the liturgy in this way.
October 20, 2008 at 7:24 am
Since when are we supposed to stand during Consecration? Anyway, this video is a prime example of the latest trend in liturgical abuse: embellishing the Communion Rite and Consecration. Almost every week I hear a different rendition of this part of the Mass and it makes me sick. I’m real tired of hearing, “… happy are those who are called to this table/meal/banquet/etc.”, instead of “supper”. Are some of these priests trying to impress us with their excessive wordiness and ad libs? Also, Father Frank needs a haircut.
October 20, 2008 at 7:33 am
I was trying hard not to laugh, pray for his conversion that he say the black and do the red.
If there is going to be a complaint filed, best to have recorded evidence of abuse.
October 20, 2008 at 10:34 am
Indeed. Anonymous, a contemporaneous record should be kept in any event, if one wanted an Ordinary to take action.
You stand for the EPs in the Novus Ordo in the States? I think most places in this country we still kneel from the Sanctus onwards…
October 20, 2008 at 11:42 am
We had a priest who made similar changes to the liturgy. He also dropped the word “men” from the Creed, saying “for us and for our salvation”. It was distracting as all get out. He was a very good-hearted man and I always thought he was trying to reach those who found the Mass too ritualistic, just so many words – those that didn’t “get” it. Unfortunately those of us who DID get it had to suffer through this for two years. Then Father had a major stroke at age 57, and will now spend the rest of his life in a nursing home. What a coincidence, eh?
October 20, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Dear Anonymous,
I appreciate your concerns so perhaps a little background is in order. First, I make no claim of invalidity, just abuse. As to the question of whether we should ridicule it in public or not? My answer is and emphatic, yes to mockery.
Truth is, Fr. Frank is rather notorious for these shenanigans. This is has been brought to the attention of Pastors and Bishops for years and nobody has ever lifted a finger to do anything about it. In fact, since this is actually my geographic parish, I personally brought this to the attention of the Pastor and the diocese some 7 years ago. For my effort I was told I should probably just find another church, which I did. So all efforts toward fraternal correction have been made and ignored.
Further, his actions are not private. They are public and persistent, so I think taping it is perfectly appropriate.
October 20, 2008 at 1:17 pm
What struck me was the thought, “This wasn’t too awful. I’ve heard much worse in some of the parishes I have been to in our military postings.”
I’ve learned when attending the NO to sit in the back, follow along with my 1962 missal, and kneel when appropriate ignoring all the glares during the “hug-fest” Passing of the Peace. It might not be “proper” but I can ignore most of the nonsense and focus on good prayers.
October 20, 2008 at 1:39 pm
How can this possibly be valid; there were no clowns or giant puppets, and the priest was not “vested” as Barney!
I drive an hour, through several parishes, to get to an EF Missa Cantata. It’s worth it to not have to see or hear this sort of thing.
October 20, 2008 at 1:43 pm
What’s wrong with the Lord’s prayer? “For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory” is a more proper ending than “For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours.” The latter disrupts the Elizabethan language of the rest of the prayer that came before.
October 20, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Eo,
The point is that it violates the rubrics. The GIRM clearly calls for an intervening embolism between the “deliver us from evil” and the “for the kingdom…”
The GIRM says “The embolism, enlarging upon the last petition of the Lord’s Prayer itself, begs deliverance from the power of evil for the entire community of the faithful.”
Fr. Frank deliberately left it out. It is rather obvious ploy to be more in line with our protestant brothers and sisters.
As for the language, who cares what he or you prefer, there is an approved missal and translation. His job is to stick to it. Period.
As for his hair, I really like it. My sister has the exact same coiffure.
October 20, 2008 at 2:05 pm
What’s wrong with the Lord’s prayer?
Perhaps that it is the very same version that is used by Protestants.
October 20, 2008 at 2:13 pm
I should add that I believe this same version is used by Eastern Christians but of course this isn’t an Eastern-rite parish; Latin Catholics should still to their own traditions and not seek to import things, whether from other traditions (let’s not have any ikons apart from Our Lady of Perpetual Help and perhaps Our Lady of Czestochowa if the parish is Polish) or from Protestant customs.
October 20, 2008 at 2:45 pm
I am at least grateful that he genuflects at the Consecration and doesn’t just nod his head as I’ve seen all too often.
Sad Patrick that you were pushed out of your own parish through no fault of your own but because of the priest’s abuse of the Holy Mass.
Many rosaries are in order.
October 20, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Why in the world are you not kneeling during the consecration?
October 20, 2008 at 3:17 pm
It’s ALWAYS better to go to a sloppy but valid Mass than to skip Mass…. after all, you’ve still got the Consecration!
The fact that you even CONSIDERED skipping was probably just demonic temptation… “It’s better to stay home… after all, Father is so showy, and the church is just UGLY.”
When faced with a valid, but crummy, Mass, just grit your teeth and give thanks to God that he deigns to be phtysically present even in such circumstances!
October 20, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Dierdre,
I must admit that my expressed temptation to skip mass is actually just a bit of dramatic license.
What is a lil’ hyperbole among friends?
October 20, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Brian,
It likely will come as no surprise, but not a kneeler to be found in the joint.
October 20, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Patrick,
As for your original question–would it have been better for you to miss Mass than go to this one? NO! Regardless of the level of abuse, as far as I can tell, the Mass is still valid. Besides, we are there entirely to receive the Body of Our Lord. Having said that, we have suffered through similar abuses at our local Mass the entire 4 years I have been here. With CCD, we have found it difficult to travel during the school year to attend Mass at other parishes. In the summer, we travel 2 hours each way to attend an EF Mass. During the school year, each Sunday we head to Mass knowing full well the abuses we’ll face. And each Sunday I pray for renewal. This week the Church sang loudly as the choir lead us in “Sing a New Song.” as our processional hymn. I wanted to walk out. But I stayed only to receive Jesus in the Eucharist. In the words of St. Peter, “Master, where would I go?” My heart ACHES and often I cry. In my heartache for the Church, I can only imagine how Our Blessed Mother must have felt holding Our Lord in her arms at the base of the Cross. What else can we do? Our parish priest is retiring in April and our Church is closing it’s doors. We will be combining 3 parishes into 1. After 4 years of this abuse, I welcome it—but many, many are protesting loudly. I hope we get a young priest dedicated to the Church and willing to bring about much needed change. Pray for us, please.
October 20, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Sorry to go off topic but Kat, how do you follow the N.O. Mass with a ’62 missal? Is this possible? I’d love to know because I just scored a new Baronius Press ’62 missal on ebay last week and was wondering if using it at an Ordinary Mass was possible. Any help from anyone would be greatly appreciated.
October 20, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Didn’t he invalidate it by changing the words of the eucharistic prayer? Or is it technically valid because he accurately quoted “Take this all of you…”?
I like the dramatic lighting too… What the heck is that all about?