Author Topic: Trapped in N.O. Land and its getting worse, much worse... (Read 7060 times)

MrsZ · « **on:** June 25, 2012, 03:47:38 PM »

A brief recap of our situation: we live in a small town (pop. 3,000 approx.,) in a small county. Our local Catholic parish is novus ordo. Our priest has to say Mass at two other parishes as well. The third parish was only recently added. For a long time now (close to a year), Father has stopped giving out the Eucharist himself. He cites sciatic nerve problems. He stands for the Consecration, for the reading of the Gospel and for the Homily. He also stands out front following Mass to say good-bye to everyone. He is by no means visibly hobbled or prevented from carrying out all his other duties. Note: we also have a very small parish, and the amount of time it takes to give Communion is typically less than 10 minutes. :thinking:

As in many N.O. parishes, women are the dominant force in every capacity. They are the majority of Eucharistic Ministers (and they're not behaving as "extraordinary" ministers, if you know what I mean....it's every single Mass no matter how many are there...it's never necessary). The choir, eem's, fundraisers, other joiners, all women. 90% of the altar boys are girls. Sometime they're women as well.

There are other irregularities, that I won't mention here in consideration of your attention and potential fatigue from the reading of the ridiculousness (and worse) what we're experiencing. Suffice it to say, that the Sacraments, and the Rosary and the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament have all been compromised by innovations and ignorance.

Yesterday after the Gospel reading, Father announced that Mrs so-and-so, was now going to offer the "reflection." He said his "allergies" were bothering him, and that it wasn't the Homily, but a "reflection." Mrs so-and-so proceeded to stand at the lecturn and preach about St. John the Baptist. She referenced Scripture and also managed to say a few things that were outright heretical.

I don't care what you call it. It was a Homily. Obviously, this did not happen overnight. But there have been things at this parish that have been bothersome for years. It's a very happy clappy do da day kind of place, insipid hymns, bad music, irreverant dress and attitude. Cluelessness...and our priest is culpable all the way down the line. May the Lord Forgive him.

I'm mainly venting here because we cannot sell our house we owe $80,000 more on it than it's worth. We cannot find another parish because the nearest Traditional Parish is 300 miles from us. We're still probably going to try to talk to Father...but expect him to be unhelpful. He acts like this is perfectly alright. Even thought it is against Canon Law for a non-ordained person to give the Homily! And of course to give out the Eurcharist unless by grave necessity!

As we were talking amongst ourselves later it came up that even Pope John Paul II continued to give the Eucharist out from a sitting position until the end of his life! It can be done if needed. And maybe then we could kneel when receiving Communion! (imagine! :scratchchin:)

Please remember us and those like us in your prayers tonight .. and especially be grateful tonight for those of you who are blessed with access to a Traditional Parish!

It's really, really terrible here. :cry:

Telesphorus · « **Reply #1 on:** June 25, 2012, 03:57:30 PM »

It's a sad dilemma Mrs. Z. It might be better not to attend such a "mass." May God remove the obstacles to a more spiritually salutary situation.

Marie · « **Reply #2 on:** June 25, 2012, 04:17:35 PM »

Dear Mrs. Z., I will be praying for you in my daily Rosary.

God give you strength, courage, His grace, and abundant blessings.

Andrew · « **Reply #3 on:** June 25, 2012, 04:17:38 PM »

Quote from: MrsZ

Yesterday after the Gospel reading, Father announced that Mrs so-and-so, was now going to offer the "reflection." He said his "allergies" were bothering him, and that it wasn't the Homily, but a "reflection." Mrs so-and-so proceeded to stand at the lecturn and preach about St. John the Baptist. She referenced Scripture and also managed to say a few things that were outright heretical.

I don't care what you call it. It was a Homily. Obviously, this did not happen overnight. But there have been things at this parish that have been bothersome for years. It's a very happy clappy do da day kind of place, insipid hymns, bad music, irreverant dress and attitude. Cluelessness...and our priest is culpable all the way down the line. May the Lord Forgive him.

Yes, it sounds like it was downright heretical, this is happening now in the luthern and anglican churches too, this "reflection" thing. It's downright irresponsible, it's no different than a doctor asking one of his patients to treat you. It sounds like you are better off to get to a traditionalist parish once or twice a year, make it into a family retreat, do your confession and get absolution and make one or two good Communions a year rather than many fake ones. At my parish there are families who drive a good 2 hours to get to Sunday Mass every week, some even come from the next province.

ora pro me · « **Reply #4 on:** June 25, 2012, 05:17:01 PM »

Back in the 70s there were many times that we couldn't get to a true Mass and so we would say our Mass prayers at home.

Clelia · « **Reply #5 on:** June 25, 2012, 05:23:22 PM »

I cannot tell you not to go the a novus ordo, MrsZ, (even though I choose to not go there anymore,) but perhaps God wants you there to be the first voice to speak up for change. At least for the time being.

You have my prayers, also.

ServusSpiritusSancti · « **Reply #6 on:** June 25, 2012, 06:07:17 PM »

I sympathize with you, Mrs. Z. All I have access to is the Bogus Ordo, and I cannot bring myself to attend it. I second what Tele said, it's really best not to attend such a "mass" (or should I say mess?). I will indeed keep you and your family in my prayers.

God Bless.

TKGS · « **Reply #7 on:** June 25, 2012, 07:09:26 PM »

And I will second the above second. If the True Mass is not available to you, stay home, read the propers of the Mass of the Day and say a 15 decade rosary to keep Sunday holy. There is no obligation to attend the Protestant service known as the Novus Ordo.

But, please, see if you can find a traditional Mass within a couple of hundred miles that you could attend at least occasionally. My family drives about 75 miles each week for Mass. I know people who drive more that 100 miles, though they do not make it every week.

s2srea · « **Reply #8 on:** June 25, 2012, 07:22:30 PM »

MrsZ- Be assured of my prayers

catherineofsiena · « **Reply #9 on:** June 25, 2012, 07:34:22 PM »

MrsZ, if you are comfortable doing so you may want to post the state in which you reside. Someone here may know of a retired or independent priest who offers the TLM. My priest is retired from the diocese. We are officially off the radar but valid and IMO, licit, although not an official parish. It's just a little group who attend the Traditional Mass.

I can't tell you not to go to the N.O., but at some point you have to decide which is more harmful to your faith, going there vs. staying home. You may also want to consider monthly trips to the traditional parish you mentioned. I imagine you'd get greater benefit from that than a month of the current parish services.

Many of us are in similar binds

theology101 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 25, 2012, 07:53:35 PM »

Ugh that sounds like my parish. I must say I laud you for continuing to go. I can only assume you love Christ so much as to desire to be in His presence no matter what, assuming He is truly present in a N.O. church....

Anyways, I kind of wish I could be as long-suffering. There are no other parishes near me and no trad parishes in my area (also about 300 miles from me) so I just do not go to Mass- I can't do it and remain Christian, I feel as though I will snap and run amok in the church. I know myself, and I lack many graces and Christian charities! But I still really, really want to go to Mass! It makes me so angry that I cannot attend Mass because it is absolutely no different from the Prot church I was raised in. Happy clappy "praise and worship" music, women giving out "Communion", holding hands with everyone in a hippie lovefest when we say the Pater, etc, etc.

CathMomof7 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 25, 2012, 08:02:45 PM »

MrsZ,
I am very sorry for your circuмstance, but you are not alone. There are many such parishes across the U.S and probably in other countries as well.

Our family suffered through the exact same parish circuмstances as you. The final straw for our family was when a very "important" member of the parish laughed at us when we made our children genuflect in front of the Blessed Sacrament in a side chapel.

We suffered through it all---singing "Happy Birthday" to a priest during Mass, having a Protestant woman give a "reflection" during pro-life week, tamborines, children's church, "communal" confessions, and the like.

We finally just left. On Sunday mornings we prayed a family Rosary and read the prayers of the Mass. It was much better for our spiritual condition that sitting through that mess we dealt with every week.

Finally we found a chapel within driving distance for us, about 60 miles one way. We have some families who drive 90 miles each Sunday. We have some that drive 150 miles. In the winter, attendance is lower, of course.

I have also recently learned that there are a few independent chapels in many places, but you really only know about them through word of mouth.

Keep praying MrsZ. You never know what window Our Lord will open up for you and your family.

Vladimir · « **Reply #12 on:** June 25, 2012, 08:05:55 PM »

If you are stuck going to the Novus Ordo, have you tried finding a non-white Novus Ordo to go to? They are less crazy, usually.

theology101 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 25, 2012, 09:11:52 PM »

Quote from: Vladimir

If you are stuck going to the Novus Ordo, have you tried finding a non-white Novus Ordo to go to? They are less crazy, usually.

One might think, but here in the Southwest every parish I've been to is predominately Latino, and they have seemed to be the worst of all. Almost all Latinos here are both Catholic and Democrat, liberal as the day is long. Now, I have found that the Masses said in Spanish, usually earlier than the English Mass, seems to be MUCH more traditional, so maybe it's not a Latino thing, but an age thing- mostly older people go to the Spanish Masses.

Vladimir · « **Reply #14 on:** June 25, 2012, 09:58:22 PM »

Quote from: theology101

Quote from: Vladimir
If you are stuck going to the Novus Ordo, have you tried finding a non-white Novus Ordo to go to? They are less crazy, usually.

One might think, but here in the Southwest every parish I've been to is predominately Latino, and they have seemed to be the worst of all. Almost all Latinos here are both Catholic and Democrat, liberal as the day is long. Now, I have found that the Masses said in Spanish, usually earlier than the English Mass, seems to be MUCH more traditional, so maybe it's not a Latino thing, but an age thing- mostly older people go to the Spanish Masses.

Sorry, I meant a non-English Novus Ordo - your observation rings very true.