tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905236167079601771.post2465668268488047280..comments2023-12-25T11:13:04.495+00:00Comments on Seraphic Singles: Drop the "All Mothers Stand" RitualSeraphichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06251504033428511090noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905236167079601771.post-25180688257198638612011-06-23T20:02:34.862+01:002011-06-23T20:02:34.862+01:00Thank you. I agree with this idea.
Our Mass di...Thank you. I agree with this idea. <br /><br />Our Mass did have a blessing for fathers recently, but we were all standing at that point, waiting for the final blessing, so no one was singled out.Emmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905236167079601771.post-15559227341207596552011-06-23T19:40:36.008+01:002011-06-23T19:40:36.008+01:00At my folks' parish, on Father's Day, they...At my folks' parish, on Father's Day, they asked all the "men who have been a father to someone" to stand. I'm sure they thought this was terribly inclusive, but it's almost worse. I happened to go to the EF too that weekend, where not a word was breathed about the secular observance of the day, and I didn't think there was anything missing. Perhaps next year, a month before mother's day, I will make a point of writing a letter to the diocesan newspaper and/or my parish rectory. I can't help but think it's mostly well-meaning ignorance, thoughtlessness, and/or passively doing what's always been done that is keeping this little "ritual" alive.Julienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905236167079601771.post-3255005990763883942011-06-23T17:51:15.745+01:002011-06-23T17:51:15.745+01:00Funny how these faux rituals are used to celebrate...Funny how these faux rituals are used to celebrate only one segment of the population, whereas actual Catholic rules on, for instance, who should take Communion, are not followed or explained at all in many parishes.<br /><br />I bet many Catholic parishes and probably the above-mentioned Protestant parish would say "Oh, it is so un-Christ-like to exclude people from Communion if they believe different things about it!" but then they go and do this nonsense. I am all for Hallmark greeting cards because I'm a stationery nut, but I want to leave it in my desk and just go to Mass in peace. Actually, no, I want to bring the cards along. If I were Pope-for-a-day and could change one thing in the rubrics, I would like the handshake of peace to be changed into something where you offer your neighbor a thoughtful, pretty card that says something like "At this moment in the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, I pray that God bless you and your family" or "Behold! The Eucharist has been consecrated and Christ in his power, humility and love has taken physical form on His altar for the benefit of our souls. May we approach it in true reverence and be filled with His Grace!" The slogans just write themselves, don't they? Maybe I should make my vocations prayers more specific -- for God to call priests directly from Hallmark and the American Greeting Card Co.<br /><br />I believe our liturgical natures abhor vacuums. We jettison one "oppressive" ritual only to craft dozens more in their place, each more annoying than the last. For instance, at weddings now we have unity candles, unity sand mixing, unity salt sprinkling, unity ring passing, and on and on. Why not show the unity of bride and groom as a new household? Don't be silly; they were "responsible" and just had to live together two years to know they wouldn't break up over whether the TP should be dispensed over or under the roll. (Yah, I'm sure some chaste Catholic couples have done these lame-o ceremonies and are taken aback by my rude opinion. Guess what? Some guests probably thought these rituals were deeply moving and a few were curmudgeons like me).<br /><br />We applaud all the time in Mass now because that's the only way we're trained, from the time we're tiny toddlers, to show our appreciation and approval for something, and everything in Mass looks like either a lecture or a performance. And everyone needs immediate feedback for some reason -- the performer can't just offer it to God, and the congregation member can't just stay a couple minutes late to give a nice compliment. That would require ACTUAL RELATIONSHIP with God and neighbor instead of its impoverished facsimile. <br /><br />I like what my priest did a few weeks ago and last week for Father's Day. Everyone stood for the final blessing. Everyone got a final blessing. Mothers and Fathers, respectively, got a special blessing. God knows who the fathers in the room were. I think He managed to bless them without the visual aid or my psychic guidance. Blessings are better than applause.sciencegirlhttp://kuchimakase.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905236167079601771.post-5544900929486615332011-06-23T16:18:00.099+01:002011-06-23T16:18:00.099+01:00If a priest tried that near me, I think I'd bu...If a priest tried that near me, I think I'd burst into tears and walk out as conspicuously as possible.Elinornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905236167079601771.post-18205448363992616432011-06-23T15:00:35.082+01:002011-06-23T15:00:35.082+01:00I have been the "yearning-to-be-a-mother"...I have been the "yearning-to-be-a-mother" and recall the burning eyes during a Mother's day service (I was not yet a Catholic at the time).<br /><br />More recently, I attended the baptism of a niece in a suburban mainline Protestant church. At the baptismal vows, only <b>members of the congregation</b> were asked to stand to support the parents in raising their daughter. I looked at all the family members from other churches, family members who love this baby and are involved in it's life, who are devout and holy and loving, who could not stand. I felt ill. <br /><br />As it turns out, this was not within the rubrics (or whatever) of this denomination. And it was such a mistake.Janet in Torontohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14069019893755540458noreply@blogger.com