Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Animal House


That is what my church sounded like on Easter Sunday between the 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Masses. So great was the uproar just before the 10:00 a.m. Mass that the announcement (over a microphone) that Mass was about to begin could barely be heard.

Someone close to me who has been away from the Church for many years told me that he had considered going to Easter Mass with me, but decided against it. I am almost -- almost -- glad he didn't come this time: according to his way of thinking, the din would most likely have made him feel quite justified in walking out and never darkening the doors of a Catholic church again.

The parish has launched a ministry dedicated to fallen-away Catholics and those who have returned to the Church after a long absence. Good; but to what extent are we undermining these efforts by our lack of reverence in church? Some people have not been to Mass since the days when such flagrant misbehavior in church was unthinkable. How many of these, who might otherwise be inclined to make their peace with the Church, are being driven away by the impression of hopeless decadence conveyed by today's frat house atmosphere?

1 comment:

  1. I don't blame someone one bit for leaving because of abuses to the Liturgy...Credendi is proportional.

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