The Pope in Brazil
I switched on TV this morning to see the Papal Mass in Sao Paolo. The music was awful…endlessly awful. It appears the Novus Ordo liturgies are worse in Brazil than they are here - I don’t know, maybe it’s just the ‘Pope-on-the-road-tour’ open-air Masses that seem obnoxious. I think I was viewing the canonization Mass for Friar Galvao, attended by thousands of Brazilian youth. I had to turn off the broadcast. (At Fatima Our Lady said “the Holy Father will have much to suffer.” - I wonder if she meant these Masses?)
How did liturgy get so bad? And in reference to youth liturgies, why do young people’s Masses have to be so entertaining and novel? Who decides this crap?
(Sorry, I’m trying to quit smoking again today. I’ll be better, I just lit up….”I’m doin’ good though…only had two today!” That’s a line from a song.)
May 11th, 2007 at 11:49 am
My parish’s 12 o’clock Mass is the youth mass w/drummer, at least 2 guitar players, 3 lead singers, & whatever else they can come up with. To be honest, they’re not half bad. But I can’t understand 3/4 of what they say and their “performance” lends itself to a general lack of reverence (talking LOUDLY from the pews, in the vestibule, etc.) Hardly anyone from the congregation joins them in singing; it’s like they’re there for our entertainment, and after Mass it never fails that everyone applauds for them. My niece, who is an adult leader of the youth program, says that’s what the kids want. But I say raise the bar and introduce them to sacred music, gregorian chant, reverent worship. Maybe I’m just a fuddy duddy.
May 11th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
You know more about Fatima then I. Did Our Lady also say we would have to suffer?
I think open air Masses, in general, are an invitation to the liturgical consultant crowd to take their inspiration from the Graham Crusade. Yuck.
If I’d seen it, I’d be cranky too-and I’m not even kicking a habit!
Do you know this classic? “Smoke, smoke, smoke that cigarette/puff, puff, puff until you smoke yourself to death/tell St. Peter at the golden gate/that you hate to make him wait/but you just gotta have another cigarette!”
This was one of my Grandpa’s favorite songs. Grandpa died of emphysema about 15 years ago. I pray you are successful in quitting. I know it’s tough.
I want to be able to heckle you for several more decades. I said that in an attempt to make you quit because I care about you, though now that I said that you’ll probably say: “I’m gettin’ off this Rock, Cathy wants to bug me for a long time to come!”
You are in my prayers.
May 11th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Thanx Cath!
May 11th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Oh, Terry, I am already proud of you for quitting! Bravo! And I ask Our Mother of Perpetual Help to help you!
Now, about the liturgy in Brazil. About the worst music for Mass I have ever heard is Brazilian. Really frightful. There seems to have been a complete rupture with sound liturgical tradition in most (not all!) of Brazil. And yes, I am sure that the Holy Father is suffering much.
May 12th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
I take my famiy to the life teen mass where we live and it is the best mass. We love it! Everyone at mass, whether young old , participate. It’s a great way to praise the Lord! I thnk you need alot of prayers to help you quite smokiing and Nicoderm CQ. God Bless you,sincerly peacemaker