Catholic Online Forum

I post in regards to the event published @LifeSiteNews: Taking it to the streets   

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I have mixed feelings about this event... I have the greatest respect for the Holy Mass. I pray before I enter the Holy Mass for the grace to give of myself with all my mind, soul and strength, as God desires of me--in complete adoration. Thus I understand that the principal purpose of the Liturgy to be an act of Worship. This I know to be true.
My question thus... How is this event not an example of misappropriating the Holy Mass? Any Mass exercised validly naturally defends Life--I'd rather see priests and laity be more properly formed by their bishops to celebrate the Holy Mass more prayerfully and faithfully. At any rate, I fear that this event sends the message that the Holy Mass is being politicized. Is it not more proper for the faithful--clergy and laity--to pray the Rosary in said venue, for instance?
I trust I've made my point. I look forward to anyone who may be able to discern with me my concerns.

Thank you and God Bless!

Dear ????.




I read that article last night, I don't remember where I found the link, Facebook maybe; but that is not important.

Would you agree that the mass is the highest level of prayer and worship that we Catholics have?, Catholics have been praying in front of abortion clinics for years, to me this steps it up a notch. I hope the practice becomes national.


Now let me put on my staff hat, welcome here If you noticed I had no idea how to address you, our Forum rules require that all posts be signed with a real name, First name and last initial is sufficient. We do this so that we can be reminded that the person we are conversing with is a real person, it makes for a more polite environment. Signatures can be created by going to the "User Control Panel" in the upper right corner of the Forum main page. Thanks


BobC
COL Staff

I hope you aren't too disappointed in hearing from someone who disagrees with you.

I think what this priest did is a wonderful idea. The priest is bringing Jesus Christ directly to a place that desperately needs Christ. Please keep in mind that the bishop approved this. According the the article the bishop was there. After one Mass the bishop led the rosary.

From the article: “If we can pray the rosary, why not offer the Mass, why not use the Mass and the Eucharist as a means of fighting this tragedy,” he said. “Why not use the most powerful means that we have?”

As it turned out, the idea energized the local pro-life community far beyond what organizers had expected. Fr. Hearty planned for thirty attendees at his first Mass on March 3rd, and got a hundred.

What really surprised me is that this was a Traditional Latin Mass.



Let me ask you a question. Do you feel the same way about celebrating the Mass on a battle field? What about in a refugee camp that doesn't have a church, in a prison or a stadium as with a papal Mass? This is a battle field.



I completely disagree. This isn't a message about politics. If it is too political to celebrate the Mass at a clinic, it should be too political to pray the rosary - or even to silently pray in a public place.

This priest is giving a powerful witness to our faith in Christ as well as a message about the importance of life I would love to know what the reaction was in the clinic when the priest said the words of consecration. I hope this idea spreads. I plan on sending the article to my dicoese respect life ministry.


Effie

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“The business of Progressives is to go on making mistakes. The business of Conservatives is to prevent mistakes from being corrected.” –G.K Chesterton

The priest is courageous and I think his idea is a great one. I wonder how many other priests would do this?

God bless him.

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Andrew McAllister

Respect for the dignity of every innocent human being from conception/fertilization, without exception, without compromise, without apology.

Quite a few I think, the problem is going to be mostly a place to have mass safely, in this case the property adjoining the Planned Parenthood building was owned by someone active in the Pro Life movement and permission was given.

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Bob C

Effie,



Great analogy

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Bob C

Bob: Thanks for alerting me to my "bad." I had no intention of breaking house rules...

Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam!
Manuel L Monge

I'm reflecting on that analogy to the battlefield... I look forward to later this day to add to the conversation. Thank to all who have given me something to nourish me!

<br><br>Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam!<br>Manuel L. Monge

I read about it and in general felt it was a good thing. I have a feeling with this we see just a beginning of different and more active approaches Catholics will be taking in opposition to the evil confronting our nation.

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Daniel

"Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division." -- Luke 12:51

I object to the claim by certain politicians that any time the law goes against morals it becomes a political issue and churches lose their right to teach on the subject.

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- Joe Kelley

Death is only a shadow across the path to Heaven.

Fr Hearty will be heartily mentioned in my prayers. I hope this idea catches on.

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James Daly

"It is the Lord." (Jn 21:7)

Manuel,

You can have your name permanently embedded without forgetting to include it in every post you make.

Click "User Control Panel" at the top on the right side of your screen, then go to Profile and Edit Signature. Enter your name there and you are done.

Ian De Cotta
COL Forum Staff

Effie:
I appreciate you taking your time to write out quite the thoughtful response...


Disappointed? Not at all. I'm not looking for affirmations here. Just discernment.


Apparently I missed that fact. It certainly makes a world of difference that the local bishop consented.


I answer your question thus...
I do understand that we live in a battle field where our prayers are most certainly weapons. And I most enthusiastically promote our "counter-attack" with said weapons. However...
I offer that your analogy does not apply here. My understanding is that the celebration of the Holy Mass at an actual battle field is principally for the benefit of those good souls who would otherwise be unable to attend because it "doesn't have a church." That is, it is not celebrated in response to the battle in progress. It is celebrated in order to unconditionally offer in worship the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and for the faithful to commune. Likewise with your camp, prison and stadium. The Mass intentions may likely include the conditions of its environment--that's a given, yes.
To further emphasize my point, I'd like to note that cathedrals are typically constructed with a certain enormity precisely to highlight that the sacred liturgy is not limited to this world.
Otherwise I'm sorry to say that I fail to see the connection between the Mass and the said battle field. On the other hand, I am happy to say that I understand your intention (or so I'd like to think): being that prayers are "weapons," and that the Mass is the highest form of prayer, therefore the Holy Mass is "weapon" of Mass "destruction" (pun respectfully intended)--the object of destruction being abortion in this case, of course.


I hope you can at least appreciate my emphasis in my above response, which brings me to your last thought here. Perhaps "politicized" isn't the term I was looking to describe my concern. I agree that this isn't a message about politics. It's a message of the sanctity of life, absolutely. Sanctity, in my humble opinion, however loses its meaning if we do not keep the Holy Mass itself as sacred as humanly possible.

Thank you, Effie for your generous feedback! Pray for me as I do for you...
Manuel

Manuel, I have been to many Masses said in churches that were far less reverent than the one offered by Fr. Hearty. It's about time we took our faith out of doors to address the evil in the world, we cannot let the antis drive us to hide within.

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BobA

Amen

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Bob C

Manuel,




While what you write is partially true, those masses that I attended while in Vietnam were also offered for those about to go into battle and also for those who have fallen. I submit to you that these masses at the abortion clinic serve many purposes; to strengthen those in attendance, to remember the aborted babies as well as to pray for those inside the clinic to be converted. I believe Effie is very much on point.

As you are new here I should point out that Effie is very much at the spear point of the battle against abortion, as are many others here.

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Bob C

Bali:
I should like to note that I am not implying that Fr. Heart's offering of the Mass was less than reverent. No, this has not been my intention here. I'm sorry if I appeared to be accusative. I explain below.

Bob:
I should also like to note that my intention here is neither to undermine Effie's role in the much needed prayer-battle against abortion. The Mass intentions you describe play a most significant part as well in the prayer-battle, absolutely.

On the bright side of this discussion, I must say that the feedback of all here has given me much cause for fruitful reflection. I have discerned, for instance that my reaction was but another instance of my melancholic temperament's disposition to make "mountains out of molehills."
On the other hand... I would lastly like to highlight the intention I've had here all along. It stems in part from the Church's recommendation that Wedding Masses be kept in the temple--not at the park or beach, etc. I've simply been wondering *in general* if it's not best to keep the Holy Mass in the temple. Is this practice not the most ideal manner of celebrating the liturgy? Does not the Offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in its highest reverence within the temple account for many for many said otherwise?
To be clear... I am not suggesting that Fr. Hearty's offering of the Mass was deficient. I am merely using that event as a springboard to offer my said reflection.

Thanks folks for putting up with my "pet peeves!" May God bless all the work you do in this battle against the evil one!

Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam...
Manuel

I had to think a bit on the wedding restriction comment; desires to hold weddings outside the church building are frivolous in comparison to bringing the Mass directly to the abortion clinic, no similarity between the two really. Sure praying, vigils, rosaries and the like are bound to have some beneficial effect in this battle but the sight of a solemn Mass directly across the street from the clinic must have had a significant psychological as well as spiritual impact on those at the clinic. I have no doubt this was just the first of a series of such activities.

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BobA

Manuel,

I believe, but honestly don't feel like looking it up it's late, that masses said outside a Church building must have permission from the Bishop.

Military chaplain have wide latitude on where they might say mass on the hood of a jeep for instance.


My own parish had a lightning strike at night which started a smoldering fire which was discovered on Sunday morning, we were all treated to mass being said outdoors on a temporary altar, while the fire department put out the fire in the church building....I doubt that our pastor asked for the Bishop's permission in advance.

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Bob C

Hi Manuel,



Bob A. gave you a good response. I want to add one thing. The reason for having a wedding in a church has to do with the Sacrament of Matrimony, not the Mass. A couple would be expected to marry in a church even if they opted not to have a Nuptial Mass. In a marriage a couple comes into the church to make a commitment to one another in the presence of God. In the story that you cited, the priest was bringing God's presence into the world.



I didn't think you were. For the record, I'm not as active as I used to be. I'm taking time off of active ministry.



No problem, it's always enjoyable to have a nice respectful discussion with someone. I have a few pet peeves too. Of course when I have a pet peeve my view is always right.


Effie

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“The business of Progressives is to go on making mistakes. The business of Conservatives is to prevent mistakes from being corrected.” –G.K Chesterton

Unless I disagree!





Sorry to hear that, but it does get tiring banging your head into that brick wall. My wife gave up her leadership of the Parish respect life after several years, now she just goes with the prayer teams.

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Bob C

Manuel,

I think it was a good question to bring up. When I first read the OP and story, I did wonder for a fleeting moment if it was using the Mass for "show" sort of the way that some of the local evangelical Protestant groups here "use" their youth groups to pray in public, but only until I read all the great responses here.

The wedding Mass topic reminded me of an old thread about why Mass is said in cemeteries, and some of the ideas are relevant here, I think. Rose said, "It's a Mass said specifically for the souls of the dead buried in that cemetery, or perhaps all the departed from that parish." And "It's a visible, in-your-face reminder that we need to pray for the poor souls in purgatory." So... it's a visible, in-your-face reminder that we need to pray at abortuaries.

And Fabrizio has a good post there which includes this:

That old thread is here: viewtopic.php?f=224&t=61023&hilit=why+do+catholics+have+mass+in+cemeteries#p789782

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Grace

As to the past, let us entrust it to God's mercy, the future to Divine Providence. Our task is to live holy the present moment. - Saint Gianna Molla

Respect "wife"?!

Is that a Freudian slip, Bob?

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In Christ,

Jim B

I will consider your position if stated with firm, well-thought-out, quiet reasoning. Hateful diatribe, ad hominem attacks and shouted rhetoric don't impress.

Bob,



No head banging, just time to pull back and see where God wants me to go.


Effie

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“The business of Progressives is to go on making mistakes. The business of Conservatives is to prevent mistakes from being corrected.” –G.K Chesterton