Play or Passion?

"Another op’nin, another show
In Philly, Boston, or Baltimo'
A chance for stage folks to say hello!
Another op'nin of another show."
(Lyrics by Cole Porter)

Let me do this gently: There are times, too many times, when I could easily have imagined the above lyrics as the "entrance song" at Mass.

There, I've finally said what I've been thinking on this subject for some time now. It really does seem to me that in many Catholic Churches, the operating standard of conduct is something at-or-below what one would find at either a high school play, or a movie theater.

The chatter, not merely in whispered tones --which is aggravating enough-- but in very loud "outside voice," begins in the parking lot and continues into the Church with only a brief pause for the holy water "crossing ritual." Once seated, the gab is on full force. Like all neighborly conversation, more appropriately conducted over the backyard fence, it runs the entire gamut of social life and commentary. I often suspect that I would find more reverence in the food court of a shopping mall.

Ah, then there's the opening bell! We all stand, and in some parishes we still "welcome our celebrant with our opening song." To be fair, most --but not all-- parishes have corrected that abomination. While singing the entrance song though, you'd better watch the words very carefully. Don't think that you know this one just because you've sung it a "gazillion" times since you were a child. It is more than likely that the words have been changed to protect against any possible offense. As many times as possible, the word "Christ" will be used in place of the word "Him," as though Christ is somehow "gender neutral." In fact, most of the changes involve the removal of masculine pronouns --even those referring to Jesus--and their replacement with other words; even "it" and "the." I find this artistically violent when such alterations are done to the works of writers and composers who are "no longer with us." Charles Wesley has been violated with the politically correct rendering of "Hail the Day that sees Christ Rise," rather than the original "Hail the Day that Sees Him Rise." The new version has so many verbal castrations in it, that I can only shake my head while reading it. What is the great need for such tampering?

But, I digress!

The next great clamour arises at the invitation "Let us share with one another a sign of peace." Far too often, this is recess; people leaning or climbing over pews in order to shake every possible hand within a 50 foot radius, and more loud, silly talking. Instead of "The Peace of the Lord be with You," and the answer of "And also with you," what is typically heard is "Hi...how ARE you? Have a WONDERFUL day!" All of which are very appropriate in the coffee hour and parking lot, but have no place within the context of the liturgy.

Rarely, the recess din has subsided by the time the priest is half-way through the Agnus Dei ("Lamb of God"). Usually, while this solemn and holy hymn is being recited, one can still hear the "leftovers" from the exchange of the peace.

Then comes Communion. More handshaking and greeting on the way up and back seem to be more and more the order of the day in many parishes. Sometimes I wonder if some of those who leave after communion (not a practice I advocate) may be doing so simply to get some quiet time with the Lord; having just received Him. Any hope of quiet time inside the Church is lost. There will be a Communion Song of some sort, followed by some other choir or instrumental piece, often with absolutely no time of silence allowed for in the "program."

When the Mass is ended, all the stops are let out! The chatter re-starts with wreckless abandon. There seem to always be a few who kneel down and try valiently to spend a few moments in thanks and adoration to the High King of Heaven, who resides silently in a mostly ignored tabernacle; but they are a tiny minority.

I am not writing this merely to "gripe." I write this with sadness. We are missing so much. This situation I have described is a product of poor catechesis over the past 40+ years, and of a "liturgical" movement that has been more focused on "stagecraft" and "performance quality," than on giving God the worship due to Him--and to His Holy Name.

The world, if it is to be reconciled to God, needs the Catholic Church. It needs the Catholic Church to be Catholic; to be a universal, worshiping, sacrificing, Church that comes into the awesome presence of the Most High God, and by her liturgy proclaims His enduring presence to all of mankind. If we become a church whose worship is something more akin to "attending a performance," we are not being faithful to Him.

This is a call to all of us, and to each of us.

"Eternal Father, I unite myself with the intentions and affections of our Lady of Sorrows on Calvary, and I offer Thee the Sacrifice which Thy beloved Son Jesus made of Himself on the Cross, and which He now renews on the holy altar..."