When Is Enough, Enough?

Dear Catholic Exchange:

Having teenagers is an interesting experience all by itself. They are all so knowledgeable and worldly that it comes as no surprise when they comment on anything and everything.

Leaving Mass recently, my teenage son commented on the fact that the Recessional (or, as he says, the last song) sounded like he should say “Amen” and “Hallelujah” a lot. He didn't like feeling that he was in a Protestant church, complete with drums accompanying the choir. I found myself in complete agreement with my son and the incident set me wondering about how many changes can be borne by the Church until it looks like and acts like your average Protestant church?

Churches don't look Catholic anymore – they are modern edifices whose exteriors look no different than any other church. Inside, the lack of altar rails to highlight the altar leaves it looking almost forlorn.

In our diocese, we now stand at Communion because somehow standing is more prayerful.

My son's confirmation class seems destined to embrace Life Teen, so I (and,I daresay, my son) will stay away from the 5 o'clock Mass. The kids already have no dress code and the thought of skits at the altar fills me with dread.

Signs and symbols are intrinsic parts of the Church. The way we show and portray our Faith are important. No longer do we hear the solitary bell ring at Communion, rarely is Latin used, kneelers are seen by some to be passé. And Confession is no longer politically correct (by name nor by practice).

I have observed that some recent Catholic media programs look more like the tele-evangelists of old (and, in fact, many are converts) than Archbishop Sheen. This bothers me. The revival type of music is creeping into our hymnals – the old TV evangelists don't even do this anymore!There has even been made mention of using the “new technologies” for video displays during homilies. What's next, emailing our confessions?

So much has been given up, given away or made easy that our ceremonies and our faith practices are becoming indescript from the baseline Protestant religions.

The central focus of the Mass remains distinct but for how long before it too succumbs to the folly of a few who will find fault with it?

Our Catholic heritage seems to be falling by the wayside in favor of being in-step with the times or for convenience. When is enough, enough?

Regards,

Bob Baker

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Dear Catholic Exchange:

I would like to comment on the article entitled Where are the Men? I have been wondering the same thing myself! It seems to me that ALL we will have is clergy and women because the lay men are not there. The men need to be encouraged.

My sons follow the example of their father more than of me. If dad won't pray the rosary, neither will they. Catholic fathers must lead the way but there will be none if they leave the Church as a teen.

It is a vicious cycle. Devotions will help. The Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet and the Corpus Christi celebrations all enrich traditional Catholic life.

Many protestants have embraced entertainment fellowship. This is more appealing than a boring old Mass with women and an old priest. If young people get the proper teaching of the faith and realize that Jesus, who loves them, is present in the Eucharist, then they will not leave for the music church down the street. It is all about Jesus.

Ave Maria!

Linda

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Dear CATHOLIC EXCHANGE:

I read your article entitled Where Are the Men? online at Spirit Daily and it was so true.

Yesterday evening at Mass, I was observing the same thing. Your points are true. There were 3 girls serving at the altar. The Cantor was female, despite the male organ player's ability to sing. She always leads the hymns. The Lector was a male, however. Once in a while there is one. No other males were in the sanctuary, save the priest. All the Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist were female.

I would imagine, being a young man, it would be implied that serving at Mass was a “girl thing”. Altar Boys don't nearly number the girls. Young men do not want to be branded a sissy.

God help us. What happens now?

Thank You.

Teri

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Dear Catholic Exchange:

I think the Where Are the Men article is very misinformed and silly.

Vatican II was not about just singing Gregorian chants and old hymns.

Young people do come to Mass, and not every mass is done in 'folk style' like you seem to imply, plus there are many young men who sing during Mass as part of worship teams and other groups and choirs.

So it's very misinformed indeed!

Clyde Meli

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Dear Catholic Exchange:

Where Are the Men is an excellent article. As a father and grandfather, I notice the young men and boys seem alienated or disenfranchised from the Mass.

Who can criticize the little blond curly-haired, female altar servers, but what 8-12 year old boy wants to be with the same age girl as an altar server? Many men will allow the more aggressive women be Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers, or altar servers. I have attended several Masses where there have been upwards of 14 women floating around the altar. The priest looked silly sitting there while some of these women did the “dishes and cleaned up”.

My wife asks why DO these women want to be up front all the time?

Great article. I have forwarded it on to as many as I have appropriate names.

Bill Allen

River Falls, WI

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