Another reason why we needed Summorum Pontificum

Our friend Diogenes has alerted us to an oldie, but yet another excellent reason why Summorum Pontificum is a real gift to the Church.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31uSW4-1qC0]

Happy the biological solution will soon remove many of those who push this rubbish.

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
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67 Comments

  1. A Philadelphian says:

    Well, you could respond with tears or humor. Let’s go with humor: are any other philadelphians out there reminded of the mummers?!

  2. Paul Rimmer says:

    Watch out, people! He’s got a Gospels!

  3. Paul Rimmer says:

    Watch out, people! He\’s got a Gospels!

  4. FloridaTrad says:

    I tried to respond with humor but I almost threw up. What could they possibly be thinking?! Well intentioned I’m sure, but still…

  5. Agellius says:

    This might be a Neo-Catechumenal mass. I’m a former Neo-Cat, so I know for sure that it’s a Neo-Catechumenal hymn, written by Kiko Arguello, the founder. But his stuff is sometimes used elsewhere.

  6. Paul says:

    If I ever saw anything like that I’d walk straight out the door. I’d be more likely to respond with tears, I think.

  7. dcs says:

    Let’s go with humor: are any other philadelphians out there reminded of the mummers?!

    That is the Mummers’ Strut, no doubt about it.

  8. Lee says:

    It reminds me of the time when, right before communion, the priest at a church I no longer belong to shouted “Come and get it!!” with his fist raised in the air. Ha-ha. Yeah. Real funny.

  9. Jeremy says:

    “Jesus wept”

  10. Melody says:

    I wish I had not watched that while having breakfast…

  11. Renee says:

    What a sideshow. I’m speechless….

  12. marc says:

    I see that they use incense. That’s nice. I haven’t seen that in a while.

    Some gentlemen who don’t even appear to be ushers are wearing suits.

    The audience, er congregation, have good seats. They’re able to recognize the faces of others who are gathered across from them.

  13. Geoffrey says:

    At first I thought the celebrant was a bit senile… He looks confused as to where he is and what he is doing. If I had been there I would have cried out: “Somebody help him!”

  14. Patrick Rothwell says:

    That mass is such an embarassment. So is Diogenes.

  15. jacobus says:

    Well, at least they’re trying. A Gospel procession is an ancient practice missing in even traditional circles.

  16. JLL says:

    RichR, that was the worst one EVER! EVER!

  17. RichR says:

    I’m sure there’s worse, but that one is bookmarked for occasions like this. Sometimes I just shake my head and wonder….

  18. FrV says:

    Diogenes mentioned in the post how the priest denied in the homily that events in the Gospel never really happened so that all the prancing was, well, just that prancing. However when I played the video I didn’t hear any snippets of homily. Was it there?

  19. FrV says:

    Diogenes mentioned in the post how the priest denied in the homily that events in the Gospel never really happened so that all the prancing was, well, just that prancing. However when I played the video I didn\’t hear any snippets of homily. Was it there?

  20. Patrick Rothwell says:

    Exactly, FrV. Sadly typical of Diogenes’ modus operandi.

  21. Boko Fittleworth says:

    So we’re passing judgment on Fr. Z’s friend Diogenes, huh? Mine: More like him, please.

  22. Zach says:

    Were they clapping after the reading of the gospel? I’m speechless! I could say nothing charitable here, so I won’t say anything at all.

  23. Fr. Darrell Roman says:

    You have got to be kidding!!! I thought I’ve seen it all, but this
    takes the cake.

  24. Mark says:

    That’s one of my favorites!

  25. magdalen says:

    A good time was had by all at the ‘meal’ from the ‘table’ and the
    entertainment was uplifting. No one was offended by rigid proclamations that
    the outdated liturgy fostered. The gathering of the assembly was a
    rousing success.

    White haired priest!!!

    Of course the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ probably did not come up–that
    is how it goes in my experience. We have done that ‘song’ too…

  26. Boko and all: So we’re passing judgment on Fr. Z’s friend Diogenes, huh?

    No, we are not. Not in this thread we are not. That is a rabbit hole until Diogenes himself decides to jump in also.

  27. Kim Poletto says:

    Does anyone know where this occurred at?

  28. Daniel Latinus says:

    The place is St. Nicholas Church in Evanston, Illinois. The fellow with the book is in fact the former pastor of the parish. If I am not mistaken, this video was originally posted on the website of the Illinois architectural firm that carried out the “renovation” of this church.

    I have a friend who is familiar with this parish, and he told me that the (now former) pastor was very into relevance, and also a trained dancer. (My understanding is that the pastor has retired due to age.)

    My classmate also pointed out that the altar is actually oriented such that the celebrant stands at the corner, which is in a position to poke the celebrant in the groin. Not exactly an ergonomic arrangement.

    A short time after I first saw this clip, I discovered that the designer of this parish’s “renovation” had died. According to the designer’s obituary, he taught liturgy at several Catholic seminaries.

  29. Thomas says:

    The priest looks like a senile old man who has no idea where he’s going so he’s staggering around in circles.

    Oh, that’s liturgical dance?

    Well, I still say he’s senile.

  30. FrV says:

    There was no intent to “pass judgment” on Diogenes. On the contrary his posts are terrific and incisive. I wanted to hear the homily and wondered whether there was another link. The prancing that was supposed to be a procession was in my judgement a serious abuse.

  31. Josiah says:

    A Philadelphian-
    Yes,definitely! I hoped I wouldn’t be the only person.

  32. Stephen says:

    That youtube one from RichR reminded me of the pagan dance at the end of The Wicker Man. God help us!
    stephen

  33. Matt says:

    There is an upside to this video.

    I showed it to my two sons (10 y.o. and 15 y.o.) who at first thought it funny but then realized the serious nature.

    I would like to think this could inspire their vocations. It certain made them pause and think.

    Matt of South Kent

  34. Rudy od CC says:

    I’m glad that is not my parish. I have but one question: Was the Jerry Lee Lewis on the piano?

  35. TNCath says:

    The celebrant needs to watch Lawrence Welk reruns to improve his dance steps.

    The real tragedy in this video is the young people present for this silliness. Notice the candle bearers who are trying to “get with it.” These kids are being taught that this is what good liturgy is all about. While it may not be this bad in all parishes, I daresay that many average Catholics would find this “Missa Diliria” to be novel and relevant. The rationalization line would be, “Well, at least they are going to church and getting something out of it! It’s not the same old same old going on over at St. Bubba’s.” This is the huge challenge we have before us: to make up for the loss of at least two, going on three, generations of Catholics who have been liturgically hoodwinked.

  36. TJM says:

    Well he’s definitely no Fred Astaire. It’s really kind of sad and pathetic. Tom

  37. mpk says:

    Really this breaks my heart. The parish I attend is not even close to this but lately there has been talk of a teen Mass. And TNCath the justification is, well at least it will make things more interesting to the younger generation and at least then they’ll go to Mass. I think our pastor is tired and the assistant seems to be more and more anxious to ‘engage’ the congregation. There is more and more conversation before Mass, even right in front of the altar, the assistant pastor is so anxious to have people feel welcome he may not even know that he’s turning his back on Jesus. Children are doing more of the readings and it seems we’re going in the wrong direction trying to include as many of the congregation as possible. There is no mention of the Summorum Pontificum and who would dare ask. I have seen so much good news in the Church since the mp was issued but there are huge numbers of priests who really have no idea what is meritorious about the MEF. They are not malicious, are actually trying to do what they were called to do, but seem to have no idea that anyone would benefit from silence and being called to deep prayer.
    As far as the video, I’m just really ashamed. Truly it shames me as a Catholic to see a priest behave in this way while holding the Word of God and being in His presence. Such vanity.
    Pat

  38. RichR says:

    Pat,

    I feel your pain. For a long time I tried to convince the local priests and parishioners that more solemnity would improve things, but it was a hard sell.

    Rather than mope about it, a buddy of mine (who was trained to sing in a cathedral choir) and I (who sang polyphony in the choir at Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic Church) started a men’s Gregorian chant group, The Brazos Valley Schola Cantorum ( http://www.brazoschant.org ). We have grown from two members to 11 now. We have sung anything from preludes and Communion meditations all the way up to a full-blown Pontifical Tridentine Nuptial Mass. The parishes didn’t need convincing – they just had to hear sacred chant a few times and then they started demanding more. Now we are doing Latin Novus Ordo Masses, Vespers, Tenebrae, Weddings, Baptisms, and Episcopal visits. The good bishop once told our congregation, “I love the BV Schola Cantorum. I wish I could clone you guys and put you all over the diocese.”

    That’s what’s easy about the musical heritage of the Church: it’s withstood the test of time and it has shown to awaken a sense of holiness in souls. It speaks for itself – and it hits a deep chord. People just need to trust the Fathers of the Church (and of the Council, too).

  39. Braadwijk says:

    1968 lives!!!!! (and thankfully not for much longer)

  40. Michael Lavey says:

    Wow.. shake that groove thing “father”.

  41. Jeff Pinyan says:

    “The rites should be distinguished by a noble simplicity; they should be short, clear, and unencumbered by useless repetitions; they should be within the people’s powers of comprehension, and normally should not require much explanation.” (SC 34)

    That wasn’t it.

  42. Former Altar Boy says:

    Nice butcher block altar!

  43. Mary Rose says:

    I wanted to view one more entry before heading to bed. Oh…why, oh, why did I do that? My hands immediately flew to my head as I murmured, “Please. No. Make it stop.” How embarassing.

    God bless you, Fr. Z and everyone else here who are making inroads with devotion that is beautifully reverent. Thank you, thank you.

  44. Cory says:

    Good way to get the blood pumping.

    Here’s an idea. Let’s get 7 orthodox Catholic men (size doesn’t matter) and put them on the D-Line of a football team. Before each play, show them this video and tell me if they don’t paralyze the quarterback…..

  45. Melody says:

    I always watch a certain vid to cheer up after stuff like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXNiZ5xG4_M

  46. larry brooks says:

    Well I know I’m going to be in trouble here, but outside of the applause at the end of the procession I really didn’t see it as all that terrible. I’d didn’t like it myself; but, I’m put in mind of the scene in the Bible where David danced apparently somewhat wildly before the Arc of the Covenant as it was carried towards Jerusalem. Saul’s daughter reacted very negatively and was punished by be barren. I really see no disrepect here. Of course the priest is violating liturgical law and that is not correct; but, I am far more put off by all the talking etc. after Mass in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, or by priests and others in the Sanctuary failling to show reverence for the Blessed Sacrament when it is present. I would never advocate something like this put neither would I be the first to cast a stone.

  47. larry brooks says:

    One other comment. If the good padre in his homily denied the truth of the Gospel that opens up a whole other problem. The issue then becomes as Diogenes makes clear in his post simply rediculous. If you don’t believe in the Gospel why on earth would you dance around with it over your head? In that case it seems the good padre just likes to dance around and entertain his congre…opps! audience, and that would explain the applause.
    All in all it is probably good that Fr. has retired.

  48. Fr D says:

    It’s true: there really is no fool like an old fool – priest or not. And has there been an outbreak of St Vitus’s Dance in this Parish? Kyrie Eleison!

  49. Forrest says:

    Father Dizzy?

    So this is a Protestant happy meal right?

    Father Z, if you wish to rile your audience, start posting clips of “Father” Pfleger and his vain grandstanding at various Masses. In fact, his incredible journey of disobedience included vocally supporting George Stallings, the excommunicated priest who started his own black catholic “church”. See this article from 1989!!: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE3DB1731F934A15754C0A96F948260

    It continues to stun me that this “priest” is still active! When will the Archbishop grow a pair??

  50. Forrest says:

    Oops, I meant “Cardinal”, not “Archbishop”…and I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but come on!

    In God’s time not ours…

  51. mpk says:

    David danced before the Ark and therefore we should be joyful when we worship. I used to hear this quite often in Sunday School and other Bible studies when I was a Protestant. Sometimes the pastor would mention that it doesn’t suit everyone’s temperament to be demonstrative but others would insist that those who didn’t were manifestly not filled with the Holy Spirit and that’s why they were unable to let their hands rise and praise the Lord. We weren’t to leave our seats to dance but movement of the body to the music was the norm.
    Now I hear the same thing from Catholics who are Charismatic, always using the example of David’s dance. The justification is the same as I used to hear, they are so full of joy over their salvation (very similar to ‘I was saved’) that it is not possible to quietly sit or kneel at a Mass that is full of dead ritual.

    Maybe someone who knows lots more than I do can answer the David danced response since absolutely everyone gives it. I didn’t think any of this sort of behavior was appropriate at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and thought the priest was bound to follow the rubrics. This is what I’ve read but it doesn’t look like it has anything to do with what actually happens in many Catholic churches.
    Pat

  52. Gospel twirling! Yee haw!

    Well let’s see…

    They had a procession with a cross.
    It was all altar boys serving.
    The priest was fully vested.
    I heard bells.
    There was incense.
    The people were singing “Alleluia!”

    All the rubrics check out, I guess. To my knowledge the GIRM does not rule out Gospel twirling. So what’s the problem? ;-)

    Gordo the Whirling Server

  53. mpk says:

    RichR
    Wonderful news about your growing schola. Music is a source of great joy but since I can’t carry a tune this avenue is not open to me. Just so you know, though I can sound a bit discouraged, I am doing all I can to help the one priest in our city who will be saying the MEF. It’s not much but for a busy priest to have someone order things like candles and missals etc is a big help. I’m part of a little group that is seeking others in the area who are drawn to the MEF, organizing via e-mail and even preparing a little intro for those who are unfamiliar with the MEF. We are making progress so this is encouraging and the MEF will be offered on Saturday mornings beginning in May. Thanks be to God.
    Pat

  54. anthonypadua says:

    No wonder that Pope Paul VI in 1967 said that “……the smoke of Satan had entered the Church.” Time for the good folks in Evanston to put on their gas masks. What a travesty. Can you imagine any of the great Saints of our Roman Catholic heritage engaging in such folly during Mass? St. Thomas Aquinas, for example? St. Ambrose of Milan perhaps? Small wonder that the seminaries are empty for the most part. What thinking man would want to enter the Dancing Priesthood?

  55. RBrown says:

    David danced before the Ark and therefore we should be joyful when we worship. I used to hear this quite often in Sunday School and other Bible studies when I was a Protestant. Sometimes the pastor would mention that it doesn’t suit everyone’s temperament to be demonstrative but others would insist that those who didn’t were manifestly not filled with the Holy Spirit and that’s why they were unable to let their hands rise and praise the Lord. We weren’t to leave our seats to dance but movement of the body to the music was the norm.
    Now I hear the same thing from Catholics who are Charismatic, always using the example of David’s dance. The justification is the same as I used to hear, they are so full of joy over their salvation (very similar to ‘I was saved’) that it is not possible to quietly sit or kneel at a Mass that is full of dead ritual.

    Maybe someone who knows lots more than I do can answer the David danced response since absolutely everyone gives it. I didn’t think any of this sort of behavior was appropriate at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and thought the priest was bound to follow the rubrics. This is what I’ve read but it doesn’t look like it has anything to do with what actually happens in many Catholic churches.
    Comment by mpk

    1. David did dance, but in OT days, the Word had not yet become flesh. With the Incarnation of the Word (Greek: Logos) worship changes. JRatzinger has often referred to the important phrase from Romans 12, rational worship (Greek: logik? latreia–NB: Logos and Logik?).

    2. And so the Incarnation changes the nature of dance. Dance, which is movement of the body according to rhythm and music, is found in the Latin high mass with Gregorian Chant. But the movement is according to the rhythm and music of Chant.

    If I might add a personal note: The first time I ever saw the monastic high mass at Fontgombault, I was struck how much the movements of the celebrant, deacon, sub deacon, et al, were a dance–the Asperges seemed like a waltz.

  56. RBrown says:

    No wonder that Pope Paul VI in 1967 said that “……the smoke of Satan had entered the Church.”
    Comment by anthonypadua

    The smoke of Satan entered the Church through the fire of incompetent leadership.

  57. Raymond says:

    Gordo: “It was all altar boys serving.”

    Uh, no. One of the two servers with the thurifier is a girl.

  58. mpk says:

    RBrown
    The explanation that the Incarnation changed this sort of thing doesn’t work with those who have gotten used to Mass done “creatively”. As a matter of fact I’m told that because we’ve been redeemed there is all the more reason to dance.
    And as you said there is dance of a sort. Msgr. Knox too refers to the Mass as a dance in his delightful “The Mass in Slow Motion”. You called it a waltz and it seems a respectful way to refer to what is happening.
    I do appreciate that you have tried to help my questions. Most revolve around trying to live with the dissonance.
    I think Gordo said it well, none of this is forbidden in the GIRM. Find me a page in the GIRM that says no Gospel twirling! Until the day when the GIRM is a couple hundred miles long, this stuff will apparently go on.
    Pat

  59. Raymond wrote:

    “Uh, no. One of the two servers with the thurifier is a girl.”

    I stand and twirl corrected!

    Gordo

  60. Maureen says:

    Re: “David danced before the Ark”

    Your Protestant friends danced in the Spirit in front of the Virgin Mary? Wow!

    Oh, that’s not what they meant? :)

  61. Peter Karl T. Perkins says:

    I strongly advise bloggers here to watch this with the sound turned off. Watching this is a bit too tempting for me. Violence is wrong. It is wrong to attack people for this sort of thing. We mustn’t give in to temptation.

    P.K.T.P.

  62. Regarding the question of David dancing before the ark, I will only remind others that he also danced before the crowds stripped down to his linen ephod.

    Now THAT I KNOW is not allowed in the GIRM!

    Thank goodness his sense of literalism only extended so far. It could have been even more traumatic!

    Interesting, though, that following the grand display the priest denied the events in the Gospel. I wonder if he would perform the same sort of fanciful twirl with D’Aulaires Book of Greek Myths (a favorite of mine growing up) or even the New York Times?

    Ahh, the blessings of retirement!

    Gordo

  63. RBrown says:

    The explanation that the Incarnation changed this sort of thing doesn’t work with those who have gotten used to Mass done “creatively”. As a matter of fact I’m told that because we’ve been redeemed there is all the more reason to dance.
    Pat

    I agree with them that there is reason to dance, but that is, as in the aforementioned “reasonable (rational) worship”, not to dance the way they do.

    And it seems to me they have a very shallow understanding of the nature of joy. People who react that way often have a very shallow emotional life.

    To me the entire problem comes from the Eucharist as Meal nonsense, which at the least deemphasizes the Sacrificial nature of the Eucharist. Would those people have danced if they had been present at Christ’s crucifixion?

  64. RBrown says:

    The explanation that the Incarnation changed this sort of thing doesn’t work with those who have gotten used to Mass done “creatively”. As a matter of fact I’m told that because we’ve been redeemed there is all the more reason to dance.
    Pat

    I agree with them that there is reason to dance, but that is the reason–as in the aforementioned “reasonable (rational) worship”–not to dance the way they do.

    And it seems to me they have a very shallow understanding of the nature of joy. People who react that way often have a very shallow emotional life.

    To me the entire problem comes from the Eucharist as Meal nonsense, which at the very least deemphasizes the Sacrificial nature of the Eucharist.

    Would those people have danced if they had been present at Christ’s crucifixion?

  65. mpk says:

    RBrown
    You’re right that the meal nonsense and all talk about liturgical dance and celebrating and irreverent behavior all go together. The whole irreverence issue has bothered me greatly of late and I’ve tried to think what to say to explain to those who treat the Mass so casually. I simply never thought to ask them if they’d behave that way at the Crucifixion. And yet we are there, if we really believe what the Church actually teaches. I will bring this up the next time there’s a ‘we’re here to celebrate’ comment.
    Many thanks for getting back to me.
    Pat

  66. GJP says:

    I like the concept of a Gospel procession, especially with incense, but I was a little puzzled by the clapping…and the spinning. What was the point of the spinning? I’m amazed that an old fella like that didn’t get dizzy and fall down.

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