Author Topic: Did churches close 1 day of the week before V2? (Read 1308 times)

Malleus · « **on:** February 01, 2015, 06:13:17 PM »

In Novus Ordo land churches are closed 1 day of the week so the presiders get some "time off" to r&r or whatever.

Did this exist before V2 or were they open 24/7?

TKGS · « **Reply #1 on:** February 01, 2015, 07:47:21 PM »

I do have a little memory of this and I've talked with an elder sister. The priests did get a day off to do personal stuff, etc. However, our parish, for example, had four resident priests (one was the chief editor of the archdiocesan newspaper--his day was Saturday and he never heard confessions--at least I don't recall ever hearing that he was in the confessional). There were at least two scheduled Masses a day except of Saturday: an early Mass and Mass that all of the parish school students attended (every day, by the way).

The church was never locked, though that changed in our area in the mid-1960s when people started to vandalize un-attended public buildings.

I don't understand why so many people begrudge the priests for having a day off. They still say their office (at least if they're traditional).

Marlelar · « **Reply #2 on:** February 01, 2015, 09:15:40 PM »

Well I sure hope so.

But I've never even heard of a NO church "closing", usually the office staff is there to answer the phones and do the usual office work.

Marsha

Miseremini · « **Reply #3 on:** February 01, 2015, 09:24:14 PM »

If the priests had a day off the parishoners didn't know about it. Each parish had 3 or 4 priests and they took care of home visits, schools, counsellling, marriage instruction, the sick and dying including hospital visits EVERY DAY.

In the Novus Ordo parishes of today, even though there is only one priest, he often has an outside job, (at the university or for the bishop).
The church is locked, extraordinary ministers take care of the sick, priests are no longer allowed in most Catholic schools, and heaven forbid a priest should visit the parishoners at home. The secretary takes care of the bills and the custodian takes care of the chuirch. And in most parishes there is a pastoral assistant to take care of weddings etc.

Priestly duties IN the parish take about 1-2 hours a day except Sundays.
What do they do with all that time????

:geezer:

Nadir · « **Reply #4 on:** February 01, 2015, 10:50:39 PM »

Quote from: Malleus

In Novus Ordo land churches are closed 1 day of the week so the presiders get some "time off" to r&r or whatever.

Did this exist before V2 or were they open 24/7?

No, the church was always open during the day and everyday. I don't know about 24/7 though. I never tried to go in at midnight.

If your NO church is open 6days/week, I am surprised. Where I live they are closed for the best part of 7/7. Our local NO opens for one Mass on Sunday and Rosary on Wednesday but only for about an hour each occasion.

Malleus · « **Reply #5 on:** February 02, 2015, 12:01:35 AM »

Quote from: TKGS

I do have a little memory of this and I've talked with an elder sister. The priests did get a day off to do personal stuff, etc. However, our parish, for example, had four resident priests (one was the chief editor of the archdiocesan newspaper--his day was Saturday and he never heard confessions--at least I don't recall ever hearing that he was in the confessional). There were at least two scheduled Masses a day except of Saturday: an early Mass and Mass that all of the parish school students attended (every day, by the way).

The church was never locked, though that changed in our area in the mid-1960s when people started to vandalize un-attended public buildings.

I don't understand why so many people begrudge the priests for having a day off. They still say their office (at least if they're traditional).

This makes all the difference then, there used to be multiple Priests in the same parish before V2 and now with the new "springtime" they barely have 1.

I didn't mean I'm against any Priest having a day off; my complaint was against what the NO does, leaving the church locked for a full day.

Not that anythings there or happening or that I would want to go there of course, but it's just an observation and I wondered if that's how it used to be before.

Malleus · « **Reply #6 on:** February 02, 2015, 12:03:53 AM »

Quote from: Miseremini

In the Novus Ordo parishes of today, even though there is only one priest, he often has an outside job, (at the university or for the bishop).

The church is locked, extraordinary ministers take care of the sick, priests are no longer allowed in most Catholic schools, and heaven forbid a priest should visit the parishoners at home. The secretary takes care of the bills and the custodian takes care of the chuirch. And in most parishes there is a pastoral assistant to take care of weddings etc.

Priestly duties IN the parish take about 1-2 hours a day except Sundays.
What do they do with all that time????

:geezer:

This is exactly right. Now they have laypeople doing their work, and what's worse, having women take the cookie to the sick.

What a joke.

Dolores · « **Reply #7 on:** February 02, 2015, 08:20:31 AM »

I doubt that NO churches lock their doors in order to give priests "time off;" more likely they have to lock their doors to prevent vandalism and theft.

songbird · « **Reply #8 on:** February 02, 2015, 01:40:54 PM »

there was no such thing as a day off for a priest. But, here in Sun City, AZ a N.O. priest had his day or 2 off. A parishioner of many years died and the spouse asked for the priest. Sorry, says the secretary, he is off golfing. Well, to make a long story short that spouse left the N. O. for the traditional. And in fact, that secretary told that spouse to phone another parish herself!, for another priest.

Well, today, if you are in a hospital and you are catholic asking for a priest, you get whoever is on duty. Yes, a rabbi even and he or she will say a rosary with you or such for all the sects, do all the other sects! They are especially trained.

Miseremini · « **Reply #9 on:** February 02, 2015, 06:57:46 PM »

Prior to Vat II the word "retire" wasn't even in a Priest's vocabulary. They went directly from their parish to a nursing home or funeral home !

:geezer:

Nadir · « **Reply #10 on:** February 02, 2015, 08:24:06 PM »

I doubt that even nursing home was part of their vocabulary, or if it was it was run by the Little Sisters of the Poor.