DGS49
Diamond Member
When I was growing up Catholic, there was a "formula" for ending the Mass. The Priest said, "The Mass is ended; go in peace*." The congregation responded, "Thanks be to God!" Or as my sainted father used to put it, The Mass is ended...thank God!"
I think they are still supposed to end the Mass this way, but there seems to be a feeling amongst the clergy that this is a little bit too formulaic or too...something. I don't know what. They NEVER end the Mass this way any more. This morning the priest, after fifteen minutes of "announcements," just said, "It's over, you can go home now."
That was an extreme example, but you wouldn't believe the stupid shit they say when ending the Mass these days. "Go out and be a blessing to the world," and similar nonsense. It's like they are in a contest to see what ridiculous formulation they can come up with, to substitute for the "old fashioned" way they used to end the Mass
It's a petty thing, but it bugs me. It's not as bad as changing random words in hymns that "we" all grew up singing at Mass, based on somebody's belief that these new words are somehow better than the ones that THE CONGREGATION ALL KNOWS(!). That absolutely drives me crazy. I spent ten years in church choirs and I know most of the words by heart, but I can't just sing them because of the silly little changes that the genius-saints have made. [Actually, I sing the correct words, in spite of them].
I've been saying for years that I'm going to convert to a church that doesn't have kneelers, but at 75, I probably won't.
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* In fact, in my early years it was said in Latin, "Ite Missa est...Deo Gracias!"
I think they are still supposed to end the Mass this way, but there seems to be a feeling amongst the clergy that this is a little bit too formulaic or too...something. I don't know what. They NEVER end the Mass this way any more. This morning the priest, after fifteen minutes of "announcements," just said, "It's over, you can go home now."
That was an extreme example, but you wouldn't believe the stupid shit they say when ending the Mass these days. "Go out and be a blessing to the world," and similar nonsense. It's like they are in a contest to see what ridiculous formulation they can come up with, to substitute for the "old fashioned" way they used to end the Mass
It's a petty thing, but it bugs me. It's not as bad as changing random words in hymns that "we" all grew up singing at Mass, based on somebody's belief that these new words are somehow better than the ones that THE CONGREGATION ALL KNOWS(!). That absolutely drives me crazy. I spent ten years in church choirs and I know most of the words by heart, but I can't just sing them because of the silly little changes that the genius-saints have made. [Actually, I sing the correct words, in spite of them].
I've been saying for years that I'm going to convert to a church that doesn't have kneelers, but at 75, I probably won't.
______________________
* In fact, in my early years it was said in Latin, "Ite Missa est...Deo Gracias!"