Hi Everyone:

I have heard that phrase many times, "What is a liturgical abuse?" Could I get some examples?

Thanks a bunch!

Gail

-- Gail (rothfarms@socket.net), May 16, 2002

Answers

Response to What is a "litergical abuse"

A liturgical abuse is something that isn't allowed by the rubrics (rules) of the Roman Missal, the "book" the priest uses to say Mass. There are so many....liturgical dancing, lay people reading the Gospel or giving a sermon, using the improper species for Holy Communion (i.e. leavened bread, or bread with anything in it besides flour and water), etc. There are many more.

-- Christina (introibo2000@yahoo.com), May 16, 2002.

Response to What is a "litergical abuse"

Sadly, a "popular" liturgical abuse in some dioceses -- especially where radical feminism has a stranglehold on the bishop or where many priests are homosexuals -- is the illicit use of "feminist language" during the Mass.
Sometimes called "inclusive language" -- though standard English is actually inclusive [the word "man" includes both males and females] -- this abuse can be seen in the following:

1. Priests skipping the "Glory to God" and/or the "Creed" when these are mandatory, because they refer to God as "Father." Or, when they do lead the Creed, priests teaching their people to say, "For us and for our salvation," rather than "For us men and for our salvation." [Some priests avoid "Father" because they have been talked into this by radical feminists. Others avoid it because they hate their own absent or non-loving fathers, which (ironically) has helped cause their homosexuality (a search for a loving man).]

2. Priests beginning the Preface to the Eucharistic Prayer with "All-powerful and ever-living God," instead of "Father, all-powerful ...". The rector of a midwest diocese's cathedral used to start with "Powerful and ever-living God." Not only was he bowing to radical feminists, but he did not consider God all-powerful. This priest is now suspended due to allegations of child abuse.

3. Priests replacing the word "Father" with "God" in the Eucharistic Prayers.

4. Priests totally avoiding the first and fourth Eucharistic Prayers, because they refer to the Father so much.

5. Priests doing what they can to de-emphasize the manhood of Jesus, especially using his name, rather than the pronoun "he."

6. Priests committing a grave abuse by changing the words of approved scriptural texts, "cleansing" them of allegedly sexist language.

Just a few of the many other liturgical abuses include improper postures being used (most commonly, Americans standing during the Eucharistic Prayer), intentional avoidance of genuflections, people being encouraged to speak all or part of the Eucharistic Prayer aloud, self-intinction (communicants dipping the Host in the chalice), the priest skipping the penitential rite or the washing of hands, and the offering of both bread and wine in one action rather than separately.

-- (@@@.@), May 18, 2002.

Response to What is a "litergical abuse"

Liturgical abuse is simply the adding or changing to the Missal of the Catholic Church. Changing of the rituals in some form. Deletions of words or required texts used in the worship. It is allowing others to say the Gospel during the Mass. It is the Priest or the role of the Deacon only. Anything that goes against the Missal that is changed by the priest is considered a grave abuse and can lead others astray of the Biblical truths taught by the Church. I have seen this on a regular basis and it is totally wrong. ONLY GOD or his Apostles have the right to do these things and yes the Holy Fathers of the Church in the Vatican City too have that right.

Liturgical Abuse is a serious problem today and needs to be addressed. It still occurs in spite of the warnings from the Holy See.

Blessings.

-- Fred Bishop (fcbishop@globaleyes.net), May 18, 2002.

Response to What is a "litergical abuse"

There is a parish nearby my home in which half of the community stands during the Eucharistic Prayer and the other half kneels, they do as they see fit. This began because in a previous smaller church structure, there was no room for kneelers, they were packed in like sardines and had to stand out of necessity. Then they got the big new church building and half of them didn't want to conform to the proper worship. And the priest doesn't want to upset them. It is really silly. It is worse than the situation of opposing the rules by everyone standing during the Eucharistic Prayer because it appears that they lack unity with half of them acting one way and half another during the most important time of the mass.

This is a dramatic example of what it is really like when one parish does it one way and another parish does it another, during the most important time of the mass. Because we are one body. To God it is like all parishes are in one big structure with you on your knees and others right next to you trying to break unity during the Eucharistic Prayer.

Not right.

-- Mike H (michael.hitzelberger@vscc.cc.tn.us), May 18, 2002.

Response to What is a "litergical abuse"

The US Bishops gave stern orders recently for that standing practice to STOP. The priest is not obeying by his refusing to stop this practice. He needs to stand up and speak.

-- Fred Bishop (fcbishop@globaleyes.net), May 18, 2002.