"Saying that a decorous and solemn celebration of the liturgy is a mandate imposed on priests by virtue of their ordination, a young Catholic prelate called on his clergy to celebrate the Eucharist with the dignity and solemnity it deserves. Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, in a fraternal letter sent to his priests on December 31, said it is a solemn duty of priests to celebrate the Mass with utmost reverence and attentive care." More of this can be read from CBCP NEWS "
Here is my comment:
Amen Archbishop Soc Villegas, Mabuhay ka!
How many of our Filipino clergy take to heart the care of sanctuaries and the celebration of the Sacraments? This laxity is shown in the way even vestments are worn. To site as an example priests are beginning to neglect the use of the alb as primary vestment. Another is the way vessels are cared for. Nobody uses now the Paten to protect the host from falling down. I have seen several times how the hosts fell from the hands of extraordinary ministers and picked up just like as if an ordinary thing falls without due care for the particles of the sacred species.
In our diocese today one thing I lament is the poor way by which some liturgies are executed. Many priests don't wear the alb anymore and much less the cincture. Sometimes the chasuble are designed to cover the entire body so as to make the excuse not to wear the alb. But often the material is so thin that street clothes could be seen. Some of the vessels are not well maintained. I am glad though that I have no longer seen priests use earthen or ceramic vessels. Thanks to "Redemptionis Sacramentum". Priests tend to be very busy, they give prominence to their social work functions and etc... But some have forgotten that we lay people always have in our mind our priests as ministers of the altar and hence we expect them to give full attention to the liturgy, the confessionals, to lead us in prayers and to sanctify us. In most cases this image of the priest is wanting. Thus how could we expect young men to have the vocation to the priesthood if what they see and observe does not fall into their mental image of a priest. I only hope that our priests will pay more attention to this.
Here is my comment:
Amen Archbishop Soc Villegas, Mabuhay ka!
How many of our Filipino clergy take to heart the care of sanctuaries and the celebration of the Sacraments? This laxity is shown in the way even vestments are worn. To site as an example priests are beginning to neglect the use of the alb as primary vestment. Another is the way vessels are cared for. Nobody uses now the Paten to protect the host from falling down. I have seen several times how the hosts fell from the hands of extraordinary ministers and picked up just like as if an ordinary thing falls without due care for the particles of the sacred species.
In our diocese today one thing I lament is the poor way by which some liturgies are executed. Many priests don't wear the alb anymore and much less the cincture. Sometimes the chasuble are designed to cover the entire body so as to make the excuse not to wear the alb. But often the material is so thin that street clothes could be seen. Some of the vessels are not well maintained. I am glad though that I have no longer seen priests use earthen or ceramic vessels. Thanks to "Redemptionis Sacramentum". Priests tend to be very busy, they give prominence to their social work functions and etc... But some have forgotten that we lay people always have in our mind our priests as ministers of the altar and hence we expect them to give full attention to the liturgy, the confessionals, to lead us in prayers and to sanctify us. In most cases this image of the priest is wanting. Thus how could we expect young men to have the vocation to the priesthood if what they see and observe does not fall into their mental image of a priest. I only hope that our priests will pay more attention to this.
3 comments:
formation is largely to blame. but that would be opening a can of worms...
I agree. Perhaps seminary training was poor. Or rather deficient.
one of the franciscan friar said to me that the liturgy, its rubrics, rules are not taught to them in the seminary.. I think during their training when they were still deacons depends on how the priest they are servin to celebrate the mass.. When i share to him the rubrics and other documents regarding the liturgy and the sacrament he was shocked coz he dont even have the idea that the Holy mass should be celebrated according to the rules by which the holy See mandated.
I hope Bishop Socrates Villegas will be the eye opener for the other priests and bishops..
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