Many things in the Church have changed since I was a kid. There are things you see now that you would never have seen back then and vice versa. For good and for ill.
Altar boys wearing sneakers. This drives me nuts. When I was a kid, we weren’t even allowed to wear sneakers to Church. When we were serving at Mass, only shiny black pleather would do. Nothing but the best. Today, I see altar boys wearing ratty high tops or even sandals. Makes me wanna smack the parents upside the head. Big deal? No. In bad taste? You betcha.
Puppet Masters. This is actually an improvement. When I was a kid, I witnessed several priests condescend to Mass attendees with puppet-laden homilies. Thanks to AlGore’s invention of the internet and so many Catholic bloggers with a taste for puppet blood, most priests are wise enough to avoid such nonsense. They may not fear hell, but at least they fear youtube.
Communion Line Free-for-All. Boy do I miss the communion line free-for-all. When I was a kid, people still had enough rugged individualism to decide if and when they would go to communion. Now you go when big brother in the polyester jacket tells you to go, row by row. Back then, nobody knew if you didn’t present yourself for communion, now everyone knows so everyone goes. I say, bring back free-form communion.
Altar girls. I was an altar boy from 3rd grade until well …
August 26, 2011 at 1:27 pm
I can understand why you don't like altarboys wearing sneakers or flip-flops, but I don't understand why you would have any problem with an a.b. wearing some good quality sandels like some monks would wear. Please explain. Scotju
August 27, 2011 at 2:19 pm
The monks I know wear shoes, thank goodness.
Okay, here are my additions:
1. Men who wear those large, dragonfly-with-glaucoma sunglasses on top of their heads during funerals. This has become such a pattern that it is not an accident, this is deliberate costuming.
2. Amateur musicals, with drumsets and music stands piled in a corner at all times.
3. Kneepants. On anyone.
August 29, 2011 at 6:39 am
Bring back the box was the best! Pleeeze. Anonymity is not the problem it is the feeling that you are engaged in a mini psychological interaction, not a sacrament.
August 29, 2011 at 10:31 pm
Best argument for the communion line free-for all I've seen. To add to the randomness, It would help to bring back the use of the communion rail. As an organist, I've watched too many people going up to receive at weddings and funerals without knowing what they were doing — all because it didn't "look good" not to.
Bring back the black box confessional. A lot of wisdom about human nature went into its design. Reconciliation rooms make me less willing to go, and having the light on is a big distraction.
August 30, 2011 at 3:20 am
Rule No. 1: It's about Mass, Mary and the box.
Rule No. 2: Refer to rule #1.