As the pogrom against those who desire the traditional sacred worship of the Roman Rite continues – to build great unity, of course! – I invite the readership to take in some of the liturgical wisdom of Fr. John Thomas Lane, S.S.S., who is the provincial superior of the Province of Saint Ann of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament (U.S.A.) and pastor of his home parish in Highland Heights, Ohio, St. Paschal Baylon (D. Cleveland). He previously served as director for the Office of Worship for the Diocese of Salt Lake City.
Fr. Lane has a piece at Jesuit-run Amerika. HERE It’s a cringeworthy romp in the very worst that the 70’s and 80’s could offer.
He even quotes Card. Mahony from 1997: “Gather Faithfully Together” which set off Mother Angelica (she won).
Given what he wrote, and given that he is pastor of a parish, I figured that he might be showcasing via videos what happens liturgically in the parish Masses. They are every bit as painful as one might imagine. Brace yourselves. And remember that the TLM is restricted while this continues. (The TLM is available to the faithful in the D. of Cleveland in more than one location.)
A friend of mine, once one of moderators of the legendary Catholic Online Forum of Compuserve (which ages us), wrote a good summary of Fr. Lane’s piece at Amerika.
Please excuse my tone if I rant a bit but I genuinely wondered if this article was satire. Sadly, it was not. Instead, it is a near-perfect example of the post-Vatican II liturgical project at its worst: horizontal, human-centered, emotionally therapeutic, and spiritually hollow. In other words, Protestant.
If there is to be a Eucharistic revival, it must begin not with more chalices, offertory processions, and bouncier songs, but with a recovery of the truth: that the Eucharist is Jesus Christ – Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. According to the 2019 Pew Research study, nearly 70% of self-identified Catholics do not believe in the Real Presence. That is the problem. That should be the primary focus of any eucharistic renewal.
The article suggests that Communion under both species is essential for a “fuller” experience. This idea directly contradicts Church teaching. The Council of Trent defined long ago that Christ is fully present under either species. This isn’t about “getting more of Jesus.” It’s about understanding that one drop of the Precious Blood or one crumb of the Sacred Host contains the fullness of God. To suggest otherwise is to reveal a lack of catechesis, not of authenticity.
And then there’s the music. We’re told to sing “easy” songs during Communion to encourage participation. But Holy Communion is not a group singalong. It is the most intimate moment on earth, where we are physically united to our Savior. Sacred silence or music that elevates the soul without requiring group participation is appropriate. Anyone who has experienced Holy Communion while listening to a choir sing William Byrd’s Ave Verum Corpus knows what I am talking about.
Worst of all is the suggestion that hosts from the tabernacle should not be used during Mass. This implies that yesterday’s consecration is somehow “less real.” The tabernacle does not contain leftovers. It houses the King of Kings. Drawing from it reverently, especially when needed, is not a sign of liturgical laziness. It’s a sign of belief. There is an undertone of symbolism like this in the entire article. Symbolism is more aligned with Protestant belief than Catholic.
If the goal is to revive the faith, then revive reverence. Preach truth. Teach the Real Presence. Mass is not about us, it’s about God. The focus is not on us, it is on Jesus Christ. Until we remember this, we’re not experiencing revival—we’re just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
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Wow–you warned us about the video! A paraphrase of a suppressed Eucharistic Prayer for Masses with Children from the old Sacramentary; a standing congregation? (implied from the directions to bow after the consecration of each species); and an EMHC transferring consecrated hosts by the fistful to smaller ciboria. I’m surprised the Precious Blood was not consecrated in a glass flagon! I feel sorry for the concelebrant (associate pastor?) and worse for the first communicants. At least there was incense and no clowns (in makeup, at least). We must keep Father and that parish in our prayers.
Reading a book written in 1918. It is called THE EUCHARIST.
In-depth looked at all Scripture on the Holy Eucharist.
“Can a priest—even one concelebrating—consider himself as having participated in Communion if he has not himself received the wine? In our ecclesiology, why should this be different for the laity?” Actual quote from the article.
Unfortunately, that nightmare is regularly duplicated in many parishes. It is so difficult to find a Mass that is celebrated reverently in which the priest says the prayers as though he believes what he is reading and recognizes that he is addressing the Almighty.
I sadly predict none of those children will be practicing the faith after they are confirmed, if they last that long.
@Teresa O
We have no way of knowing that. It is a dangerous generalization.
@gothic serpent
He is right. In “their” ecclesiology why it should be different?
“So, was that Eucharistic prayer 5 Fr. Lane was using?” she inquired sarcastically.
Even Hollywood knew about our belief in The Real Presence back in the day. I remember in the 1962 film “The Cardinal”, as the Nazis were overtaking the chancery in Vienna, the priests there were about to flee when one exclaims, “The Blessed Sacrament!” They pause their flight to consume the hosts reserved in the tabernacle there to prevent profanation.
Some people left Jesus after His “I am the Bread of Life” proclamation in St. John’s Gospel. He did not change his teaching for the sake of unity.
The singing during Communion is most distracting, regardless of the type of song. Can’t we have a few moments of quiet after receiving Jesus? The Novus Ordo and the constant singing seems designed to make sure no one has any opportunity to pray during Mass. Singing the Gloria, and I’ve been to many parishes and heard many “musical” variations, is inevitably turgid, tiresome, and the penchant to turn certain parts of the Gloria into a repeated refrain, as I understand it, is illegitimate. Aren’t we supposed to not add (or remove) additional words and phrases to the Mass?
I could only stomach about 3 minutes of that event. It was the Fr. John show. I do not come for the priest’s show. I would have walked out and if this was my local parish, I would drive a distance to find one where the Mass is offered reverently and properly or, better yet, drive to the nearest TLM if within an hour or so’s drive.
Sadly this is what the Catholic Church is for many. Frankly, I can see why people quit going. Unless you believe in the Real Presence why would you put yourself through that every week?
After that… I have to wash my eyes with holy water, listen to a Byrd Mass, and purify my memory with the mysteries of the Rosary. Thanks be to God for Divine Worship of the Ordinariate. A blessed Whitsuntide to everyone!
Reading the book on The Eucharist has made me take a closer look at the Novus Ordo. I know it was written by Protestants. Which I tell people, what they are protesting is the Catholic Faith. They removed the mystery and the steps of acknowledgement of our sins, the repentance, the silence of the Latin Mass.The NO is a group prayer, no place for silent prayer and reflection. The Choir in the Latin Mass aids in prayer. The song Sunshine on my shoulders does not.
Finally, they couldn’t eliminate the SACRIFICE. Instead they turned it into a group celebration..yeah!
St. Paul is quoted in this book as saying ,Jesus and the Apostles ate bread and drank wine on a regular basis. On the day of the last supper he made it clear that they were receiving what he had previously told them. The Living Body and Blood.
Now, majority of Catholics look at it as a symbol.