The Rules Don't Apply to Me
It Is Not About Us
There seems to be a pretty decisive battle going on right in our Churches and during our Masses. For the past several decades there has been a push among many to try and modernize the Mass, make it more relational to the congregants, more appealing to the emotions, more sentimental. Then there is another camp that has risen up lately in response to that effort, this camp wants to move more toward the traditional, and unfortunately erroneously tries to convey and teach that the Novus Ordo Mass is even invalid.
it is interesting how the pendulum swings on this topic, and that pendulum swings very similarly on almost all important topics, ideas and philosophies. At one time, I would categorize myself as being in the camp to bring the Mass up to date. Now I know, that it isn't even possible to bring something that is timeless, up to date. I also do not subscribe to the notion that the Novus Ordo is invalid. I have never attended a traditional Latin Mass, although I hope to one day. I think there is beauty and Graces abounding in both traditions.
What I do have a problem with these days though, is the push to make the Mass all about us. I would imagine that many don't even pick up on this agenda, it can be very subtle and innocuous. I am not sure that many even realize this to be an issue, since the formation of Liturgy for the past several years has been heading in this direction and with the dumbing down of the Faithful, most of us don't really understand what the Mass is, or why we even go.
We become frustrated when there isn't uplifting music, and we love the contemporary spin that parishes and Masses offer, with popular contemporary Christian songs that are laden with heretical prose, but an upbeat and lively sentimental tempo. We lament over presiders who aren't necessarily gifted as dynamic and motivational speakers and leave us less than satisfied after the homily. We approach the God of the Universe in our flip flops and cut off shorts and then hustle out before the Closing Rite, getting on with our day and our priorities. We totally miss the grandeur and absolute glory of everything unfolding before us. We miss it all, because we make it about us, and not about the King of Glory, who if we would just submit to, could reap and be infused with that divine glory ourselves.
I wonder sometimes if I would be better off as ignorant. It seems difficult to find a Mass where applause does not break out in appreciation of some human effort or accomplishment. It is rare to not sing songs that are all about us instead of the Creator of the Earth and Skies. People approach and callously receive our Lord in the hand, not even giving a thought about what and who that Host truly is. Knowing these things can cause me great distress and sadness. When you love someone and then see them abused, like our Lord so often is during the Mass, it becomes scandalous and hurts the hearts of the truly faithful.
So, what can we do when this happens? It really doesn't seem to do much good to express concerns to pastors, they seem to boast in their dictatorships and will do whatever they want. So many of them have become caught up in the need for popularity and esteem, even notoriety. So, what we can do is we can take on these abuses we witness and recognize and offer them to the Father as our own sufferings. We can mourn the loss that goes with these experiences, a loss that so many don't even understand and have a realization of, and pray that they receive the Graces so they can come to know Truth, and recognize irreverence and self serving actions and intentions during Mass. Perhaps, that is the Cross and witness some of us are called to bear.
After all, Paul tells us in Colossians 1:24 -
"Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking* in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church."
Maybe this is exactly what Paul is referring to when making this statement. There certainly is a lacking in reverence and afflictions on behalf of Christ's body (the Church), so maybe those of us who can see this, can offer these suffering up for that lack on behalf of His body, which is all of us. I don't know. I just know it distresses me and I want to do something about it, I've never really understood this verse before, until reflecting on this particular behavior, so this verse brings me some comfort.
So, the next time we are at Mass and hear the song "Here I Am Lord", Gather Us In" or "All Are Welcome" instead of one like "Sing Praise to Our Creator" or "Tantum Ergo", or witness applause break out after a choir piece is "peformed", we can take comfort in suffering for Christ for what lacks in the suffering of His body, which is the Church, who seems more concerned about praising themselves than God. Perhaps that will bring about the transformation within our hearts that we all so desperately need. We become and reflect, after all, what and who we worship. Which is what is at the heart of so many of our society's greatest problems, the worship of self instead of God. Sacrifice, humility, and prayer; with sacrifice, humility and prayer there is always Hope. Paul saw it back then, if some of us can see it now, then we can be the change, or at least join Paul in that effort.
About the Author
I am a 57 year old, wife and mother of two grown sons. I am Cradle Catholic and experienced a reversion to the faith several year ago that moved me to dive more deeply into an understanding of the church and it’s doctrines and dogmas. The more I read, and discover, the deeper my love of the Catholic Church and her teachings becomes.
I become the Executive Director of a very active and busy Crisis Pregnancy Center on the West side of Cincinnati in October 2021. God is so good and answers prayers even though He knows at times, we have no idea what we are asking for. I left this job a few days ago, after having my heart broken and idea of working for a Catholic institution disallusioned. I am so honored and humbled to have had the experience to serve women and the unborn in this capacity! I am also very grateful for God, allowing me to see for myself, that perhaps such a calling was not His long term plan for me. Perhapos returning to Catholic 365 is more to his liking and fits more into his plan for me. I hopefully can once again be more active with content to this wonderful website.
I live in Cincinnati, Ohio where I attended the same parochial grade school and public high school that my two boys attend. I sang in the choir for 35 years and have also been a cantor. I recently left singing in church because i found it to be a grave distraction to the awesome significance of the Liturgy. I haven't looked back, and love the Mass now more than ever! I have been a past member of the Education Commission and have devoted many hours to the well being of St. Ann Church and School (now Our Lady of Grace).
I look forwad to being back and submitting more articles and content. I love being able to share my faith and use this platform as a way to express my deep love and devotion to our Lord. We need each other, and what a wonderful way to connect with others!
