Saturday, November 05, 2005
I like you Bob, but don't hold my hand!
Hey, Bob!
The difference is to choose to focus on the horizontal and protestant mentality or the vertical and traditional Roman Catholic position during Mass. I choose the latter.
A return to Latin, should it happen, does not mean a return to the old rite. Every indication is that it would be a return to the language of the church while celebrating the Novus Ordo. Latin is the universal language of the Catholic = universal church. It trumps any gestures of holding hands like at a protestant service. The GIRM is under review again with a target date for release of 2006. Early indication is that it is solely focused on proper translation of prayers from Latin, implying that for the last 30 years or so, we have been getting it wrong. That should be cause for concern that is much greater than imposing unwarranted posture changes.
Our being at Mass as a parish and reciting the Our Father together is an overt action of full participation. Holding hands with the person next to me does little or nothing to enhance the sense of community and quite often is a distraction and irritant (thus divisive) when someone grabs at me or glares at me since I won't hold their hand. As you can see here, the position (hand holding, orans posture, etc.) of the faithful during Mass is not one of the things that the Bishop (or local priest for that matter) is allowed to alter nor promote to be done right now (versus asking Rome for permission to do it or to change the GIRM). Given the track record of the Man on Wilshire it comes as no surprise to me that he continues to thumb his nose at Rome by his actions and through his loyal liberals. In this case, he has no authority to "customize" the service to welcome all (neither does the local priest saying the Mass).
I'll shake your hand as it is allowed (but not all churches do this... this is the type of customization that is permitted) and is part of the local and permitted culture, but I am not going to violate the GIRM or canon law. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops is quite clear on postures at Mass. What you are supporting is not approved:
"The Church sees in these common postures and gestures both a symbol of the unity of those who have come together to worship and a means of fostering that unity. We are not free to change these postures to suit our own individual piety, for the Church makes it clear that our unity of posture and gesture is an expression of our participation in the one Body formed by the baptized with Christ, our head. When we stand, kneel, sit, bow and sign ourselves in common action, we given unambiguous witness that we are indeed the Body of Christ, united in heart, mind and spirit."
Vivat Jesus!
The difference is to choose to focus on the horizontal and protestant mentality or the vertical and traditional Roman Catholic position during Mass. I choose the latter.
A return to Latin, should it happen, does not mean a return to the old rite. Every indication is that it would be a return to the language of the church while celebrating the Novus Ordo. Latin is the universal language of the Catholic = universal church. It trumps any gestures of holding hands like at a protestant service. The GIRM is under review again with a target date for release of 2006. Early indication is that it is solely focused on proper translation of prayers from Latin, implying that for the last 30 years or so, we have been getting it wrong. That should be cause for concern that is much greater than imposing unwarranted posture changes.
Our being at Mass as a parish and reciting the Our Father together is an overt action of full participation. Holding hands with the person next to me does little or nothing to enhance the sense of community and quite often is a distraction and irritant (thus divisive) when someone grabs at me or glares at me since I won't hold their hand. As you can see here, the position (hand holding, orans posture, etc.) of the faithful during Mass is not one of the things that the Bishop (or local priest for that matter) is allowed to alter nor promote to be done right now (versus asking Rome for permission to do it or to change the GIRM). Given the track record of the Man on Wilshire it comes as no surprise to me that he continues to thumb his nose at Rome by his actions and through his loyal liberals. In this case, he has no authority to "customize" the service to welcome all (neither does the local priest saying the Mass).
I'll shake your hand as it is allowed (but not all churches do this... this is the type of customization that is permitted) and is part of the local and permitted culture, but I am not going to violate the GIRM or canon law. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops is quite clear on postures at Mass. What you are supporting is not approved:
"The Church sees in these common postures and gestures both a symbol of the unity of those who have come together to worship and a means of fostering that unity. We are not free to change these postures to suit our own individual piety, for the Church makes it clear that our unity of posture and gesture is an expression of our participation in the one Body formed by the baptized with Christ, our head. When we stand, kneel, sit, bow and sign ourselves in common action, we given unambiguous witness that we are indeed the Body of Christ, united in heart, mind and spirit."
Vivat Jesus!
