Appearance is everything...Isn't it?

A word of warning...this blog entry is a rant. I want to rant on 'appearances' in the Church.

What is the focus of the Mass? It seems that the answer is obvious: the Eucharist. Yet, I have witnessed so many Masses where other 'idols' become more important. Music, decorations, elaborate vestments, self-important priests & the pomp/circumstance can overshadow the true center of Mass - Jesus Christ.

Let me give a few examples:

I've been at parishes where the organist believes the Mass is their own personal concert & that the their music should dominate the Mass. The music is either played so loud that the congregation cannot be heard over the organ or the hymns are so complex that the congregation has no ability to participate. Furthermore, the organist often dictates to the priest what songs are going to be used, what parts of the Mass he should sing and who is going to sing the hymns. The music becomes more important than the miracle on the altar.

I was at a parish recently where appearance was their god. The vestments of the priest had to be the finest & the best. The decorations had to dominate the sanctuary. The congregation was chastised over & over about dressing in slacks, dresses and no jeans or tshirts. The servers had to wear cassocks, the finest matching surplices and dress shoes. Lectors were told to dress in suits or ankle length dresses or they would not be allowed to read. At Easter last year, this parish even instructed its ushers to seat families not 'dressed up' in the back of the church. Appearance meant more than the Mass and worship became a fashion statement.

I've seen liturgists so caught up in making 'the perfect Mass' that piety and prayer were taken out of the equation. Every Mass had to have incense. On solemnities they put 50 candles in the sanctuary (I'm not exaggerating - I witnessed this recently). The entrance at the beginning of Mass had to be this grand procession. If the priest, a server or any minister made a mistake, they were yelled at and chastised in the sacristy after the Mass. Eventually, the parish found itself short of laypersons willing to serve in ministry roles and they couldn't understand why. Again, the Mass and the laity takes a back seat to appearance.

I am not saying that music, beauty and proper respect for the order of Mass is a bad thing. It serves to enhance and guide the worship in our parishes. When it becomes the end all of the Mass, however, God is surplanted by earthly idols. We no longer worship God, but decor, music, elegance or correctness. As elements of the Mass, these are all necessary to a healthy worship of the laity. But these elements are NOT the Mass. Every one of these elements could be removed from the Mass and it would not change the grace or Godliness of the Mass. It would still be the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross represented and the miracle of his Body and Blood in the consecration. These elements enhance the Mass, they do not define it.

I hate to rant, but sometimes I mourn the loss of the focus of our faith in all the external wrappings. Until next time...God bless. 

posted by: crossman at 22:20 | link | comments (1) |
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