As a seminarian approaching ordination, I could not agree with this more. What we do matters just as much, if not more than what we say. This is all too true with the Liturgy. Active participation means embodied participation. Our actions in the liturgy have to correspond to the words we say and believe.
Really solid framing here. The point about more being caught than taught is huge and somthing I've seen play out in my own faith journey. Growing up, I learned way more from watching how adults behaved during Mass than from any class I sat through. The kneeling example at the end is perfect too, that kind of embodied witness spreads alot faster than lectures ever could.
Thanks. It's sometimes lost on people that a "return to tradition" takes time because tradition is handed on from father to son. It by definition happens slowly and over generations.
A fantastic article for all Catholics before the consistory and after! Even if no liturgical changes come mandated, it is clear that a focus on return to sacred liturgy is in the works
I so agree that the way we worship carries so much more weight than what we say/teach about worship. Could not agree more and thanks for saying it. I would add that humility in the face of different ways to worship is also a fundamental value also caught. I serve in a vibrant parish that is also faithfully Catholic in which liturgical norms are observed but differently from the one you describe as normative. It's a big church with room for everyone.
I take for granted that my parish has beautiful, reverent liturgy and priests who deliver good to excellent, teaching homilies. It is a huge blessing. One other thing we do…at most masses there is a low buzz of children; no banishment to a cry room at our church. Tonight, at vigil Mass, as we crowded in standing room only before a huge snowstorm hits, the kids were even louder, but the sound system allowed us to hear the priest. He said Eucharistic prayer 3, shorter but reverent. It was joyful. I hope other parishes in my area were similarly filled. Priests who welcome kids and families send a message to all the kids and families and singles and older folks that each one of us counts in the eyes of God. It was a joyful and reverent service that people went out of their way to spend time with the Lord before we are all snow and iced in.
As a seminarian approaching ordination, I could not agree with this more. What we do matters just as much, if not more than what we say. This is all too true with the Liturgy. Active participation means embodied participation. Our actions in the liturgy have to correspond to the words we say and believe.
Josiah! You were on a lead retreat I did I had no idea you were getting ordained soon congratulations!
Really solid framing here. The point about more being caught than taught is huge and somthing I've seen play out in my own faith journey. Growing up, I learned way more from watching how adults behaved during Mass than from any class I sat through. The kneeling example at the end is perfect too, that kind of embodied witness spreads alot faster than lectures ever could.
Thanks. It's sometimes lost on people that a "return to tradition" takes time because tradition is handed on from father to son. It by definition happens slowly and over generations.
A fantastic article for all Catholics before the consistory and after! Even if no liturgical changes come mandated, it is clear that a focus on return to sacred liturgy is in the works
I so agree that the way we worship carries so much more weight than what we say/teach about worship. Could not agree more and thanks for saying it. I would add that humility in the face of different ways to worship is also a fundamental value also caught. I serve in a vibrant parish that is also faithfully Catholic in which liturgical norms are observed but differently from the one you describe as normative. It's a big church with room for everyone.
I take for granted that my parish has beautiful, reverent liturgy and priests who deliver good to excellent, teaching homilies. It is a huge blessing. One other thing we do…at most masses there is a low buzz of children; no banishment to a cry room at our church. Tonight, at vigil Mass, as we crowded in standing room only before a huge snowstorm hits, the kids were even louder, but the sound system allowed us to hear the priest. He said Eucharistic prayer 3, shorter but reverent. It was joyful. I hope other parishes in my area were similarly filled. Priests who welcome kids and families send a message to all the kids and families and singles and older folks that each one of us counts in the eyes of God. It was a joyful and reverent service that people went out of their way to spend time with the Lord before we are all snow and iced in.
Why is it, then, that Mass attendance was decreasing starting in the 1950's despite great liturgy?
All the sources that I find say Mass attendance peaked in the '50s. Where are you finding the decrease?
Gallup and others:
https://news.gallup.com/poll/232226/church-attendance-among-catholics-resumes-downward-slide.aspx
Thanks, the problem with the Gallup data set is there are no points between 1955 and 1965. There is a 10 year gap with no data.