Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Reason #56753 for the TLM


...and I had always thought Christ was at the centre of the celebration of the Mass
thanks to CM

19 comments:

me said...

Didn't work then?

He seemed to be calling on the 'community' as the harnessing power to influence the match, rather than God. OK for a non-christian but incredible for a Roman Catholic priest at Mass! And I didn't like how he gave out Holy Communion, like he was dishing out sweets. He deserves a slap for that ( figuratively and literally)!
And I'm a live and let live type, so it must be bad!

Richard Collins said...

Nothing surprises me concerning the Dutch Catholic Church.

Anonymous said...

I don't think the TLM will magically solve the problems of this priest and parish. Speaking as a Dutch Catholic, the problem lies elsewhere: ignorance, among laity and clergy alike. While this is far from typical of Dutch parishes, abuses do happen, and far more often than can be tolerated. The instances I experienced (usually involving elderly priests of the generation immediately following Vatican II) can all be traced back to the priest not seeming to know what he's doing. That, or he no longer believes in the actual presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

While I do believe that more widespread celebration of the EF Mass will do much good, it is not a cure-all. I have attended many OF Masses, including in my own parish, which were as sacred as you could hope for.

There are many good (young and older) priests in the Netherlands, but you only need one rotten apple to spoil it for the rest.

pelerin said...

A new liturgical colour I see! How did the Priest even acquire his vestments in this colour?

Over the years having attended Mass in many different churches in different places I found that praying became more and more difficult during the Mass when away as I found myself constantly wondering 'what is the Priest going to do next' or 'that was different'. The variations seemed never ending. Gone was the familiarity of words and actions enabling one to immerse oneself in the Holy Sacrifice.

I thought I had seen everything until last month when after the lay guitarist had played his piece during the Consecration, he walked up to behind the altar, took off his guitar and hung it round one of the several Priests who had just concelebrated. The Priest smiled benignly at everyone then proceeded to sing and play his piece. I had no idea what he sang - it was a Spanish Mass which preceded the one I had chosen to attend - he did in fact have a beautiful singing voice but it horrified me to see the Priest now 'entertaining' the congregation in this way. Christ who had just become present on the altar was no longer the centre of the celebration as all eyes were on this young (good looking!) Priest accompanying himself on the guitar. Reason No 56754 for the TLM!

georgem said...

Wot larks! I hope all those who are planning the liturgical dancing at Hyde Park are studying this closely.
PS The age of 98% of the congregation must be at least 60, the Children of V2.

Marston Magna said...

Dear Fr Ray

I clicked on the You tube thing and it made the computer crash.

It needs to be labeled offensive to pious computers!

nickbris said...

Looks like a bunch of PRODS celebrating 12th July.

We have been more severely infiltrated than ISAF in Afghanistan.

Volpius Leonius said...

Why not, everything else they do is protestant might as well become a national church to and that goes for most of the church in England as well.

Just another mad Catholic said...

@Shepherd

There are good priests and religious in Holland; Fr Voughagen of SQPN is one and I believe that Bl. Mother Theresa's Missionaries of Charity are located in Amsterdam

Dilly said...

Well we all know what God's answer was to these prayers......

Our Lady of Good Success-pray for us. said...

Like someone on youtube commented: I guess that's why Spain won.

Richard Reeves said...

At least he's wearing an amice.

Unknown said...

I found it quite sad for two reasons:

1. The church appeared to be crowded. There is clearly an active parish there. One wonders what all the parishioners think and whether some have to turn up for such services to fulfil their Sunday obligation
2. From what can be seen, the theme and activity were juvenile and rather patronising. Surely such a ceremony could only be attractive to a certain type of person, a small minority ?

Ignoring the question of any liturgical abuse, do such celebrants not realise that the are probably turning off more people than they are attracting ? They seek greater participation by the laity but how could most adults "participate" in that kind of ceremony ?

gemoftheocean said...

He could have just worn orange boxer shorts and no one would have been the wiser, but Noooooooooooooooooo...!

Physiocrat said...

Is that Okosh or something (former Rajneesh)? Or are they the Orange Order? They both wear orange. I didn't know it was a liturgical colour.

Anonymous said...

The diocese where the priest works has issued a statement about the situation. I thought that may be of interest to you, Father, and to your readers. Here is my translation: http://incaelo.wordpress.com/2010/07/15/a-diocesan-statement-about-fr-paul-vlaar/

Anonymous said...

incaelo - many thanks for this - it shows that we are not all raving liberals - a religious in the Low countries

Michael Petek said...

Father Paul Vlaar, I read on EWTN, has been suspended. He'd been warned about such frivolousness before.

SurreyCatholic said...

Father,
Please look at the YouTube video; it lasts less than six minutes. Then please remind us what the Holy Father and Rome are doing/have done about it. I think it is actually worse than the football 'mass'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ6KWt49wIA&NR=1

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