My husband and I are fairly new in the area and the Visitation Church , and are still wondering whether to register as parishioners. The reason?
The applause we have been hearing in church at the Saturday 4 pm Mass, after a cantor's particularly beautiful rendition of a hymn, or after the ending hymn - is not only annoying, but spiritually disturbing. It seems that people's reactions are more in tune with the superficial entertainment aspects, rather than to the real liturgical feeding of their soul, spirit, mind, heart and being.
I wonder if Pastors or Parish Priests discuss this phenomenon as an issue to be dealt with? If they do, it certainly does not appear in Church Bulletins or Newsletters. We never read Bishop's instructions on liturgical rubrics. Perhaps this dumbing down of the laity and decreasing Mass attendance, is due to the failure of recognition and perception of the presence of the Body of Christ in our churches at all times. Children learn from their parents. And if no one is learning, is it because no one is teaching? In the directive "Go and teach all nations," do we need to be away from home to start?
So, my question is, is there an awareness of where the tabernacle is, and whether there is proper respect toward Christ in the tabernacle? It seems to me that some people are viewing the Mass as a source of entertainment. If entertainment is something that gives one diversion or amusement or an exhibition of some kind, then I do not think proper attitude of veneration is afforded during participation in the Mass. Actually, the height of worship can be reached in silence, although the sound of sacred music can aid us in lifting our heart and focusing on God. This is pleasing to the senses, but when the congregation bursts into applause, then it ceases to be an accompaniment to our worship and focuses on our being entertained.
Equally horrendous is the loud conversations in church just before Mass. From the moment we enter church, usually 20 minutes before the start of the Mass - there is constant sound and lack of proper reverence for the tabernacle by some who do not genuflect or bow their head in respect. People in the pews chatter, many with loud voices, as if they were in an auditorium or restaurant. All this noise is distracting and makes me feel as if I am attending a theatre performance, rather than a religious service to revere and pay homage to God.
Unfortunately, passing judgment winds up being as destructive of worship as liturgical abuses. But, I have to express the fact that I want to share myself with Jesus, not be entertained by liturgical abuses with inaccurate renderings of rubrics. Church is for worship, which includes respect, awe and veneration. Going into church requires a transition from our everyday lives with the hypnotic magnetic pull that modern entertainment has upon our minds and hearts. It requires an act of our will prompted by love of God to prepare ourselves mentally and spiritually for Saturday/Sunday worship, and such preparation is exactly what our God deserves. E.S.
