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 4:25 pm
Not just physical impossibility, but also moral impossibility excuses from the Sunday obligation. Of course, the level of liturgical abuse necessary for moral impossibility will differ from person to person. I might assist at such a Mass myself, but I would never bring my children to it.
October 20, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Didn’t he invalidate it by changing the words of the eucharistic prayer?
No, only by making a substantial change to the Words of Institution could one invalidate the Mass – assuming his intention is at least to do what the Church does (and I must admit, his references to “ordinary bread” give me pause – yes, before the consecration it is just bread, but since it has already been set aside for God at the Offertory it is no longer ordinary).
October 20, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Any help from anyone would be greatly appreciated.
There are certain correspondences between the prayers of the old Missal and those of the New. I don’t know how one could really follow along, though, because (for example) the introductory rites are so compressed in the Novus ordo. I suppose one could simply ignore the N.O. prayers and just pray from the older Missal.
October 20, 2008 at 4:52 pm
I use a little hyperbole in my own post, a letter to Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos after he complained about all the petitions he gets from those ungrateful traditionalists. After all, the NO has been officially declared abuse-free,and the reform of the reform was ever so successful, and ever so over! The continuing abuses one can see, however, at daily mass at every church within walking distance from my house are certainly on par with this one,and our cardinal is far too distressed with the on-going sex scandals to listen to concentrate on ‘minor’ abuses. Check it out at http://thewhitelilyblog.wordpress.com
I don’t think you should retreat from your healthy initial response, and I think you should go to the closest SSPX chapel until the Church cleans up the mass and the unorthodoxy that went–and still goes–with it.
October 20, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Patrick,
I have to admit, watching your video made me a little squeamish. You probably should hit confession when you get a chance, but then again, it is important to expose that liturgical abuse does truly exist and it isn’t just a bunch of reactionary anecdotes.
Our family has travelled upward of 45 minutes for Mass in order to avoid liturgical abuse and scandal. A Mass may still be valid but the distress caused by these mockeries can become a near occasion of sin!
October 20, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Is he using the right kind of bread (unleavened hosts) or is he actually using ordinary bread? That would invalidate it.
Anyway, I would have skipped. This “mass” is so disrespectful and absurd that I would feel that I lended credibility to it by attending. Sorry Lord, I will get to confession ASAP for my failure to prioritize and make a morning mass. (Soccer games on Sunday morning? Another reason why I don’t subscribe to organized sports for little kids.)
As far as the video and putting this on YouTube, I’m okay with that. He is clearly proud of these performances, he shouldn’t have any problem with them being shared on the internet. Not sure if the clever captions and musical background are exactly charitable, but this doesn’t deserve to be taken seriously.
October 20, 2008 at 5:33 pm
I have the same difficulties in my local parish, where the 7pm Mass is usually said by a priest who has his own little version of the Mass. It can be very distracting and not very prayerful.
That said, this video isn’t terribly charitable to the priest in question. Even when someone else is obstinate in their sin, we’re still called to treat them with dignity and respect.
October 20, 2008 at 5:49 pm
You probably should hit confession when you get a chance
For what reason?
October 20, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Is he using the right kind of bread (unleavened hosts) or is he actually using ordinary bread? That would invalidate it.
No, it would be illicit but not invalid.
October 20, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Mau,
What would he say?
“Bless me Father for I have sinned. I made Mau squeemish”
Is pointing out the elephant in the room and laughing about it a sin now?
October 20, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Believe me, it would be far more effective to lodge a formal, canonically correct complaint with the Bishop and failing that with the Congregation for Divine Worship.
Proper heading
Phone number
Dear Bishop Apostolos,
I am writing concerning the Holy Mass celebrated Sunday, October 19 2008 by Fr Whatshisname, priest of St. Holyrood parish, 225 Elm St, Anywhere USA 22222. Father’s phone number is 222-222-2222.
At this Mass Father said or did x, which is contrary this canon or liturgical law.
And he also said or did y, which is contrary to this canon or liturgical law.
This represents a continuing pattern of conduct by Fr Whathisname and we request that you instruct him to follow the liturgical law of the Church or supply us with a priest who will do so.
Yours,
Fidelis
cc: Congregation for Divine Worship
Pope Benedict XVI
Bishop Apostolos will either respond or not. If not, lodge a complaint against him with the Congregation for Divine Worship and send copies of your original letter.
Notice, this correspondence is all business. No rhetorical flourishes, no prophetic discourse or laments. Cite the deed, cite the law, ask for a remedy, sign it, send it and be done.
This is not politics btw, no need to turn it into a petition signed by 400 other parishioners. One signature will do it.
October 20, 2008 at 6:34 pm
dcs said…
“You probably should hit confession when you get a chance”
“For what reason?”
dcs,
I had always been taught that criticizing a priest or bishop can be a sin against charity. What is the purpose for posting this video? Correction of Father Frank, or exposure of this abuse? Granted, I agree liturgical abuse should be exposed and corrected. I question whether doing it in this way (posting for all to see and ridicule on YouTube) is the most charitable.
October 20, 2008 at 6:38 pm
It is NOT ok to go to the SSPX instead of an annyoing Mass in union with Rome!!!
Sheesh. This is exactly what I was talking about…
Wasn’t there something in the Screwtape Letters about using petty annoyances to drive people away from God?
However, I would recommend the following–
If possible, when choosing where to move scout out parishes as well as schools. Try to choose a home in a good, orthodox parish. I know sometimes this isn’t a choice, but if you have the option, move somewhere with a good Mass. It will save you grief in the long run!!!!
(heck, when my DH is applying to jobs, one of the things we look at is the quality of the local bishop and the local vocations program!)
October 20, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Mau,
Is pointing out liturgical abuse an offense against charity? Actually I think being quiet about it might be considered more of an offense.
Further, I didn’t see anything in this video that was uncharitable. Is call liturgical abuse by its name uncharitable? No. Is saying that Fr. Frank wants to be “different” uncharitable or just a statement of the obvious?
Or is the lighthearted tone of the piece the uncharitable part? If Patrick were dreadfully serious, I am certain that others would criticize him for that.
As can be seen from Patrick’s previous comment, he already went to the pastor and diocese and was told to go elsewhere.
So again, I ask in all sincerity, what is uncharitable about this video?
October 20, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Dolby,
I watched the video again. I still think it’s uncharitable. The full name of the priest is posted. A picture of the priest is posted. It may just me calling in uncharitable. That in itself does not make it so.
I love CMR. I’m a regular reader. I usually get the humor and I always get the frustration. I just didn’t get the humor this time.
If Patrick doesn’t feel it was in anyway uncharitable or sinful, then by all means he can disregard my advice to hit confession. I’m a mom of six, I’d have said the same thing to one of my kids if they had posted the video. It was just the mom in me.
In all things, charity.
October 20, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Mau & Dolby,
Interesting discussion, really. I certainly did not intend the video to be uncharitable nor do I think that it is.
I am not exposing some hidden foible or sin of Fr. Frank's. Hardly. For many years, Fr. Frank has regularly, consciously, and publicly offered liturgies like this. He does it unabashedly and is quite known for it.
Many, many more people have seen this and probably worse from Fr. Frank in person than will ever see this snippet on this blog. He has never been embarrassed by it before, I can't imagine he would be now. So I see no issue there.
My reason for posting this is to counter the view that liturgical abuse is a rare commodity to be found only in the dark and rare clown mass.
Not so. This type of liturgical abuse is very common, too common. This is the abuse next door, not some clown mass that you hear about but never experience. No, this is the real every day abuse that millions of Catholics deal with every Sunday. It is real, common, and very detrimental to the faith and should be pointed out. I just chose to do so with a little music.
If Fr. Frank is not embarrassed to do this week in and week out, I don't think he would be embarrassed or chagrined in any way by my post.
For these reasons and more, I don't think that it is uncharitable. I hope you will consider my point of view.
October 20, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Addendum:
Let me just add that years ago I took this issue through the proper channels of pastor and diocese. I was told I would not be happy at that Church and should look elsewhere.
I have spoken with many priests throughout the diocese as well and they all know about it is as well. I once spoke with a priest and pastor whom I hold in high regard and he told me that he wasn’t even sure if some of those masses are valid.
Truth is, nobody wants to do anything about it. I don’t think it is wrong in this case to shine a light into the darkness.
October 20, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Okay fine. Illicit but not invalid. I still wouldn’t receive it.
So, are we excused from our Sunday obligation if there is no licit mass to attend? Do I HAVE to go to a mass that I know to be illicit?
October 20, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Do I HAVE to go to a mass that I know to be illicit?
That’s a good question. I guess it’s one best posed to a confessor or spiritual director.
October 20, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Let me just add that years ago I took this issue through the proper channels of pastor and diocese. I was told I would not be happy at that Church and should look elsewhere.
Of course, you also have the right of recourse to the Holy See:
“Any Catholic, whether Priest or Deacon or lay member of Christ’s faithful, has the right to lodge a complaint regarding a liturgical abuse to the diocesan Bishop or the competent Ordinary equivalent to him in law, or to the Apostolic See on account of the primacy of the Roman Pontiff. It is fitting, however, insofar as possible, that the report or complaint be submitted first to the diocesan Bishop. This is naturally to be done in truth and charity.” [Redemptionis Sacramentum #184]