While our Eucharistic Lord is present at every (valid) Mass, it is our souls and hearts that suffer through banalities and distractions. We can’t focus on the beautiful words of the Roman Canon (if it is being used), nor can we properly dispose our hearts and minds to the Sacrifice.

Mass is about what the Divine does for us…not what we do for ourselves. Often, “liturgists” distract our attention from the Divine to the human. this is not what Mass is about.

That being said, there is always a silver lining at Mass.

While I, too, prefer a more traditional setting for Sunday Mass (daily mass is a great gift no matter how “funky” it may seem–it is still a valid, canonical mass.

Who am I to harp on my teenagers when they say,”Mass is boring” at the more traditional church I may enjoy, if I then turn around and am so critical about how another Catholic church celebrates the liturgy?

It’s like we sometimes tell our children when they complain, “The Lord is still present and we go to join in the assembly and give Him our worship–so let’s be happy we CAN go to mass and are not imprisioned for doing so!!!

With that said,
We need to always remember it’s about JESUS in the Eucharist as Mass and what we give to Him as we receive HIM.

It’s not about what others are wearing or lackthereof, the music, the homily, the pews or kneelers (or lack of!), etc…

While having a more reverent priest, church, congregation does create a more reverent atmosphere in the Mass, we don’t go for atmosphere. We go for JESUS true presence in the Word and the Eucharist.

When I was away from the Catholic church, the preaching and atmospher matter because Jesus wasn’t there sacramentally, but HE is in every Catholic Mass.

Our priests are serving Christ and giving their lives for Him and His Church. The ones that “seem” not to be need our fervant prayers.

JESUS is what we seek, and HE is the same BODY, BLOOD, SOUL & DIVINITY at EVERY Mass – regardless of what the surroundings look or sound like.
We need to focus on our interior soul.

“Better one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.” Psalm 84:11

Once, down by Baltimore, I attended Mass at a parish where it was probably more appropriate to be singing “Kumbayah” rather than “Holy, Holy, Holy”. The entire experience opened my eyes to the “progressive” side; and I was NOT comfortable.

Another time, in upstate NY, one of the “sisters” (at least I was led to believe that she was a nun) who was serving as a greeter commented on the beautiful day and how we should thank God for the beautiful day “She” was giving us.

I tried the same Church a few years later and I saw they had converted the interior from a really, really beautiful traditional motif to the “Church in the Round” motif. That really saddened me.

On the flip side, I have been to St Rita’s parish in Dayton, Ohio and had a most beautiful Mass experience there.

Sometimes you win; and sometimes you don’t.

Larry

The Franciscans yesterday were superb as they always are. The problem was more in the pews. In front of us a young man with his mom was wearing a black t-shirt with a very large skull with wings on the back. Not to be outdone, a young girl had a similar tatoo in about the same position on her bare back. Luckily her mane covered it from time to time.

To my left, there was innocent St. Claire on the stained glass window.
Under her feet was a turbaned man, wielding a crescent sword. His stuggle was
obviously futile. The struggles of all manner of rebellions will also be futile in the end.

I’m with Doreen – “at least it was air conditioned”. My new son-in-law told me that his Episcopal church never was. One for our side.