If you are looking for reasons why we really needed Summorum Pontificum – well – let’s also say the GIRM then take a look at this video which I found at Orate Fratres.
The video is from the May 2008 Call To Action meeting in San Jose, CA.
Many many years ago people attending the midnight Mass for Christmas at the St. Paul Cathedral in St. Paul, MN, were treated before Mass to a giant puppet show by, I am not making this up, The Heart of the Beast puppet troupe. They chose a theme connected to the mystery of the Nativity, namely, the parable of the wise and foolish virgins. This giant puppet thing (people had to be able to see them) seems to be medieval, probably having to do with miracle and mystery plays and so forth. It was strange, but at least it was before Mass.
This thing, however… well… damn! That’s just wrong.
I had to turn it off at the moment I saw the “Liturgical dancing”. I remember what Francis Cardinal Arinze said on the subject:
“Dance is not known in the Latin Rite of the Mass. ... Europe and America should not talk of liturgical dance at all because dance as known in Europe and North America is not part of worship. So they should forget it and not talk about it at all.”
Those giants would frighten the children if there were any present but from what I could see everyone present was of a certain age. The judo instructor amused me. As far as I am aware we do not have ‘liturgical dance’ in Britain – it appears to be an American thing. I am glad we have not imported this form of worship – I think we are too self conscious to do this sort of thing at Mass. Yes dance can be beautiful but please in the right place – on stage but not in church.
For some reason I did not get all the video – it reverted to the beginning when the Priest walked in. Perhaps this is just as well – I hate to think what happened later.
Comment by elizabeth mckernan — 7 May 2008 @ 7:41 am
I’m amazed at how the “congregation” keeps a straight face during this “liturgy.” Those puppets look like floats from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.
Ah… I am left without words, other than to say that was really creepy. I also note the age of those present; much older than the young people (with lots of children) who attend my extraordinary form of the Roman rite in my parish.
I just wonder how many people there were simply victims of a silly infantile hijack. They seem to have succeeded in singing a new “church” into being” a very ugly and silly one.
The giant puppetheads remind me of the similar costumed things seen at left-wing political demonstrations. Also if I were seeing this video without knowing the context (a CTA conference), I would assume it was some kind of performance for a retirement community. There are very few people in the audience who look younger than 55 or 60.
Am I the only one thinking of the final (human sacrifice) scene in The Wicker Man (1973)? They look eerily like smaller versions of the idol they burn poor Sergeant Howie alive in. Although Summer is icumen in is a much nicer ditty than the one the CTA folks are singing!
Is this the best that the CTA liturgical innovators could come up with? I realize that it’s my impression, but the whole atmosphere of the video seemed tired and tedious. God bless the poor t-shirt clad altar boy, he looked bored beyond comprehension.
The sad news is that the celebrant is the Bishop Emeritus of Victoria in
British Columbia, Canada, Remi de Roo. He is also an Enneagram Master which
he promotes on his own web page. You can google him and find it all, as well
as his promotion of attending the above puppet mass. He is 84 and bankrupted the Diocese of Victoria with race-horses and land deals.
I believe the puppets are the concelebrants. Notice that they are wearing stoles, and during the consecration, they are standing behind the altar together with the bishop (I assume he is a bishop, on account of the ring on his right heart finger). They even have their scary puppetish barbecue mitts extended like a priest does during the consecration. The children must have been frightened away, as I see no one under 70 in the congregation.
I wonder if the single clap given during the sermon for “Joan” refers to Sr Joan Chittester OSB?
Hmmm…I think this has prospects for a new movie: “The Muppets Take the Cathedral!”
“C is for Cathedral, it’s good enough for me!”
What that group needs, apart from a few shots of testosterone, is a battalion of the Knights of Columbus with swords drawn to maintain good order. I could round up a couple of volunteers for next year’s conference, I think. Any takers? I think some of those old guys have been itching for years for an opportunity to wield those things! :-)
Who’s the first puppet? It looks like Bob Marley. It is encouraging to see how much this is an aging movement, though. Very few people in the crowd look like they are under 50.
Thought I saw Nurse Ratchet in the front row. This must’ve been right after “medicine time”— they all got on a bus and went deep sea fishing right afterwards.
If one looks carefully, the first ‘puppet’ appears to be wearing women’s shoes or, perhaps, ballet slippers. If the former, at least,—and if Tomas Lopez’s observation above is correct—it would add an additional element into the purpose of masking the performers – particularly if one was the ‘Joan’ referenced in the opening remarks and given the single clap. This would certainly be in accord with one of the agenda of Call to Action.
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Lots of gray hair in that audience…
Comment by Arieh — 7 May 2008 @ 7:28 amThe single most disturbing thing I have ever seen….now I have to gouge out my eyes! Hello Kitty Vader would upchuck were he to see this.
Comment by jarhead462 — 7 May 2008 @ 7:31 amI had to turn it off at the moment I saw the “Liturgical dancing”. I remember what Francis Cardinal Arinze said on the subject:
“Dance is not known in the Latin Rite of the Mass. ... Europe and America should not talk of liturgical dance at all because dance as known in Europe and North America is not part of worship. So they should forget it and not talk about it at all.”
Comment by Mark M — 7 May 2008 @ 7:33 amThose giants would frighten the children if there were any present but from what I could see everyone present was of a certain age. The judo instructor amused me. As far as I am aware we do not have ‘liturgical dance’ in Britain – it appears to be an American thing. I am glad we have not imported this form of worship – I think we are too self conscious to do this sort of thing at Mass. Yes dance can be beautiful but please in the right place – on stage but not in church.
For some reason I did not get all the video – it reverted to the beginning when the Priest walked in. Perhaps this is just as well – I hate to think what happened later.
Comment by elizabeth mckernan — 7 May 2008 @ 7:41 amI’m amazed at how the “congregation” keeps a straight face during this “liturgy.” Those puppets look like floats from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.
Comment by TNCath — 7 May 2008 @ 7:42 amAh… I am left without words, other than to say that was really creepy. I also note the age of those present; much older than the young people (with lots of children) who attend my extraordinary form of the Roman rite in my parish.
Comment by Fr. A — 7 May 2008 @ 7:50 amI just wonder how many people there were simply victims of a silly infantile hijack. They seem to have succeeded in singing a new “church” into being” a very ugly and silly one.
Comment by Dob — 7 May 2008 @ 7:51 amat least it wasn’t in a church
Comment by Scott Smith — 7 May 2008 @ 7:52 amThe giant puppetheads remind me of the similar costumed things seen at left-wing political demonstrations. Also if I were seeing this video without knowing the context (a CTA conference), I would assume it was some kind of performance for a retirement community. There are very few people in the audience who look younger than 55 or 60.
Comment by Felicitas — 7 May 2008 @ 7:53 amI’m not sure what’s more wrong…these puppets or the Hello Kitty Darth Vader Fr. Z posted a couple of days ago.
Both will be in my nightmares!
Comment by Schultz — 7 May 2008 @ 7:57 amAm I the only one thinking of the final (human sacrifice) scene in The Wicker Man (1973)? They look eerily like smaller versions of the idol they burn poor Sergeant Howie alive in. Although Summer is icumen in is a much nicer ditty than the one the CTA folks are singing!
Comment by Eamonn Gaines — 7 May 2008 @ 8:07 amHow did that little boy get in there and who allowed him to “assist” the priest? It seems like they would have had a girl altar boy instead.
Comment by Liz F. — 7 May 2008 @ 8:15 am+ JMJ +
Is this the best that the CTA liturgical innovators could come up with? I realize that it’s my impression, but the whole atmosphere of the video seemed tired and tedious. God bless the poor t-shirt clad altar boy, he looked bored beyond comprehension.
In Christ,
Comment by Nathan — 7 May 2008 @ 8:15 amFather,
The sad news is that the celebrant is the Bishop Emeritus of Victoria in
Comment by Vox Cantor — 7 May 2008 @ 8:25 amBritish Columbia, Canada, Remi de Roo. He is also an Enneagram Master which
he promotes on his own web page. You can google him and find it all, as well
as his promotion of attending the above puppet mass. He is 84 and bankrupted the Diocese of Victoria with race-horses and land deals.
I believe the puppets are the concelebrants. Notice that they are wearing stoles, and during the consecration, they are standing behind the altar together with the bishop (I assume he is a bishop, on account of the ring on his right heart finger). They even have their scary puppetish barbecue mitts extended like a priest does during the consecration. The children must have been frightened away, as I see no one under 70 in the congregation.
I wonder if the single clap given during the sermon for “Joan” refers to Sr Joan Chittester OSB?
Comment by Tomas Lopez — 7 May 2008 @ 8:31 amThe audience was so old it made the dancer, who looked about 50, seem young. HA! The last gasp of the “spirit of Vatican II”.
Comment by Sharon — 7 May 2008 @ 8:39 amSad, very sad.
Comment by T. Falter — 7 May 2008 @ 8:41 amYou almost need a stiff drink to watch any part of it. I got sick to my stomach.
Abuses like these call for acts of reparation.
Adoration chapel anyone?
The holy angels must have been sobbing.
Comment by Diane — 7 May 2008 @ 9:07 amYikes! Mardi Gras Puppets Gone Wild! The audience did appear to be mostly from the age of aquarius.
Comment by paw prints — 7 May 2008 @ 9:11 amHmmm…I think this has prospects for a new movie: “The Muppets Take the Cathedral!”
“C is for Cathedral, it’s good enough for me!”
What that group needs, apart from a few shots of testosterone, is a battalion of the Knights of Columbus with swords drawn to maintain good order. I could round up a couple of volunteers for next year’s conference, I think. Any takers? I think some of those old guys have been itching for years for an opportunity to wield those things! :-)
Gordo
Comment by Gordo the Byzantine — 7 May 2008 @ 9:11 amGordo,
It wasn’t a movie; it was offically called the Consilium ad exsequendam Constitutionem de Sacra Liturgia.
I hope we have a Pope Pius XIII in our near future, then everyone will know the party is over.
Matt of South Kent
Comment by Matt of South Kent — 7 May 2008 @ 10:10 amSeeing that guy in white prance around (I won’t even call that dance) reminded me of Will Ferrell’s ribbon dance in ‘Old School’.
http://www.truveo.com/Film-Fixation-Will-Ferrell-Decathalon-Old-School/id/2892152690
I’ll have to remember some of his incense moves the next time I am thurifer. Father would love that…
Comment by Timmay! — 7 May 2008 @ 10:19 amBut the puppets depict African people. That make it multicultural. That means it’s OK.
Comment by Richard — 7 May 2008 @ 10:21 amIt’s good I’ve not had lunch yet, that would have made me lose it.
Sacrilege.
Comment by Bill — 7 May 2008 @ 10:44 amWho’s the first puppet? It looks like Bob Marley. It is encouraging to see how much this is an aging movement, though. Very few people in the crowd look like they are under 50.
Comment by Brian — 7 May 2008 @ 10:44 amHey Brian! I’m aging, and am offended by that travesty even more than by your comment.
Comment by Bill — 7 May 2008 @ 10:46 amBy their fruits (and nuts) you shall know them…
Comment by Mark Jacobson — 7 May 2008 @ 10:50 amThought I saw Nurse Ratchet in the front row. This must’ve been right after “medicine time”— they all got on a bus and went deep sea fishing right afterwards.
Sad & unforgivable.
Comment by Forrest — 7 May 2008 @ 10:50 amIf one looks carefully, the first ‘puppet’ appears to be wearing women’s shoes or, perhaps, ballet slippers. If the former, at least,—and if Tomas Lopez’s observation above is correct—it would add an additional element into the purpose of masking the performers – particularly if one was the ‘Joan’ referenced in the opening remarks and given the single clap. This would certainly be in accord with one of the agenda of Call to Action.
Comment by mbd — 7 May 2008 @ 10:50 amWow.
Why are lefties fascinated with giant puppets?
BTW Father, what are the rules about walking out during a Mass? I don’t think I’d ever do it, but if this
happened at my parish…I don’t know.
Is it ever permissible?
Comment by Emil Berbakov — 7 May 2008 @ 10:58 amYuk. Thank God for Firefox and Adblock; another 30 seconds of that would’ve caused permanent damage, I’m pretty sure…
In Christ,
Comment by Brian C. — 7 May 2008 @ 11:09 amBrian
I think the demographics of all those in attendance speaks volumes.
Thank God Pope Benedict is starting raising the bar back up.
Comment by Roman Sacristan — 7 May 2008 @ 11:10 amMaybe this was an exorcism and those “puppets” are really the angry liturgical demons being exorcised from the group…
Comment by Mark Jacobson — 7 May 2008 @ 11:28 amI at first was disgusted with the whole show.
Until I realized how old those aging hippies were and how young in comparison to them our “traditional” congragation is here at home.
See ya!
Comment by Tommy — 7 May 2008 @ 11:28 am