Ales Rarus

This individual is not happy with lay response to Redemptionis Sacramentum.

Just as I feared, some parishioners have downloaded the document from the internet and are using it as the basis for a campaign of �priest policing�. No matter how devout and well intentioned the priest, the slightest perceived violation of any precept in Redemptionis Sacramentum results in a stern �please-rectify-immediately-or-else� letter. These condemnations are totally devoid of the spirit of charity called for by the document.

Of course, these same people do not affirm priests for their diligent observance of those practices that are encouraged in the document. I cannot begin to understand what motivates those who go to Mass with the sole intent, not of praying, but of finding fault. Surely, that is a much more grave abuse of the eucharist than the relatively minor matters about which they complain. Is it any wonder that there is a vocations crisis?

I can't speak for others, but I don't go to Mass for the sole purpose of finding a bone or two to pick with the presiding priest or the parish. Usually I go to masses offered by the Fathers of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri. However, when I've visited my parents in Levittown, my future in-laws in Erie, and my fiance in Tulsa, I've run into some rather obvious abuses.

I wanted to be charitable and assume the document hadn't "sunk in" yet. As time passed, it seemed far more likely it was just ignored. I've seen glass vessels, an army of eucharistic ministers (9!), and clutter (i.e. decorations and offering baskets) in front of the alter, among other abuses. These are simple matters to attend to and not doing so shows blatant disregard and disrespect for Church authority.

The author continues:

Whilst I agree that some of the practices named in Redemptionis Sacramentum are most undesirable, my experience suggests that few, if any, presiders are guilty of them. There are other poor practices which occur more frequently which I would include

I'm glad the Oratorians aren't the only ones who pay attention, but from what I've seen and heard, it seems the majority of this country's priests do not.

# preaching homilies that do not offer an adequate understanding and appreciation of the scriptures or of the liturgical celebration

# ignoring opportunities provided by the Directory for Masses with Children

# giving priority to the singing of hymns rather than the singing of acclamations and responses from the liturgy itself

While these are all regrettable and worthy of treatment in a separate document, they are not abuses covered in RS.

# regularly using hosts from the tabernacle instead of consecrating sufficient hosts for the community present

# not making the chalice available to the congregation

These abuses are addressed in RS. The author has every right to be offended by them and want them addressed, just as I want other abuses addressed. I guess we're both liturgical vigilantes now.

# non-liturgical greetings

# using secular or popular music with superficial, sentimental words at weddings and funerals

# replacing the funeral homily with extended eulogies

# using AV technology in liturgy in a way that distracts and detracts from the celebration

# not making strangers and visitors welcome

Again, these are not eucharistic issues and should be addressed by a separate Church document. Heck, I bet most of these are covered by the GIRM.

# cluttering the altar, both on top and underneath, with extraneous objects.

This is a relevant abuse and one that, as I mentioned, also bothers me.

The gravest abuse surely is to behave in a manner that turns the eucharist, which should make of us one body in Christ, into a source of bitter division.

I'm afraid the offending priests and bishops have already done that. RS seeks to repair some of the damage and prevent its continuance.