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Two dioceses call a halt to lay-led liturgical practices
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Publication date:
May 30, 2008
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G1. News Aiming to bring their dioceses into compliance with increasingly restrictive liturgical norms, the St. Paul and Minneapolis archdiocese and Rockville Centre, N.Y., diocese are ending long-standing practices -- lay preaching and lay-led Communion services.
The practices have already been banned or halted in some dioceses, and in others they are under scrutiny.
As many as 29 parishes in the St. Paul and Minneapolis archdiocese have been using lay preachers at Mass, according to a practice now a quarter-century old. Archbishop Harry J. Flynn instructed pastors to end the practice on his retirement day, May 2.
Among reasons for the decision, Flynn said canon law does not support lay preaching.
Flynn’s successor, Archbishop John C. Nienstedt, noted that some laypeople may be better at public speaking, “but [the] priest or deacon, we believe, has been ordained ... for this sacred service. There is the power of the Holy Spirit that goes with him that doesn’t go to just anyone who has been baptized.”
In Rockville Centre, on Long Island, Bishop William F. Murphy has ordered an end to weekday Communion services by July 1. Distribution of Communion to the sick by laypeople will continue. Murphy suggested parishioners pray the Liturgy of the Hours together.
The services have been used typically in one-priest parishes to give the pastor a day off. At least two high schools had daily Communion services for students, faculty and staff.
At Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Parish, the people who attend and lead the Monday morning Communion services are the same tight community who attend morning Masses the other days of the week. Many are volunteers and staff at the parish’s social service ministries.
“The sharing of the Eucharist on a daily basis built community to a very deep degree,” said Mary Ann Maddock, who coordinates the services with close attention to following the correct format and to the training of Communion ministers.
One of the leaders, Patricia McCormick Zirkel, who has a doctorate in historical theology, said that Communion services led by laity “have a long and honorable tradition in the Western church.” The early Christians did not have daily Mass, but took Communion from Sunday celebrations home to share through the week, she said.
The pastor, Fr. Bill Brisotti, said he isn’t sure what will replace the Monday Communion service. He worries that people “might not do anything.”
National Catholic Reporter May 30, 2008
Nienstedt’s comments are
Nienstedt’s comments are so arrogantly clerical! The idea that somehow the Holy Spirit only knows how, or only chooses, to reside in the ordained simply goes beyond the pale! I guess that means that, once the priest shortage reaches even more epic proportions and parishes have to settle for bi-weekly or even fewer Masses, the people will have to settle for Spirit-less preaching of the Word! Talk about magic.
"The problem of clericalism is composed of several problems. It is the problem of a caste that arrogates to itself undue authority, that makes unwarranted claims to wisdom, even to having a monopoly on understanding the mind of God. The consequence is the great weakening of the Church by denigrating or excluding the many gifts of the Spirit present in the people who are the Church. The problem of clericalism arises when "the church" acts in indifference, or even contempt, toward the people who are the Church."
(Richard John Neuhaus in 1989, before he sold his soul for ordination as a Catholic priest)
If Mr. McCrea is right,
If Mr. McCrea is right, there should be no need to have the sacrament of Holy Orders. I always thought that each sacrament conferred a special grace unique to that sacrament. Regarding R. J. Neuhaus: when someone moves away from orthodoxy, they are thought to have grown in their understanding. Apparently that does not work when the opposite occurs.
There is the power of the
There is the power of the Holy Spirit that goes with him (the priest)
that doesn’t go to just anyone who has been baptized.”
Apparently Archbishop Neinstedt has forgotten Jesus' words in John 12:12-14.
Truly, truly, I say to you, He who believes in me shall do the works
which I do; and even greater than these things he shall do, because
I am going to my Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do
it for you,so that the Father may be glorified through his Son.
Where are the greater works of the church leadership?
Where is the Father glorified by the church leadership?
Hint: in the ornate designs of their robes?
Nowhere in the scriptures does Jesus state that "only the clergy will do the works that I do". Nowhere does Jesus state that there is a Holy Spirit for the clergy and a different one for the laity. Jesus very clearly stated "anyone who believes". One God, one Holy Spirit.
The leadership of the church would do well to remember another scripture:
Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they
ask it will be done for them by my Father in Heaven (Matt 18:19 RSV)
The church leadership would do well to remember that there are literally hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of faithful Catholics united as one in a single prayer ... for an end to the abuses and deceptions of the church leadership. The church leadership needs to remember: We are seeing the evidence of the answer to that prayer unfold every day. It is now only a matter of time before that prayer is fully answered.
The church leadership needs to remember, that no matter how ornate their robes are, nothing is greater than God, not even the Vatican. This is God's Church. Not the Pope's Church, not the Cardinal's Church, not the Bishop's Church. God's Church.
In reality, it is the
In reality, it is the "People's Church" and liturgy is "the work of the people." How arrogant of Flynn to order this stopped on the day of his retirement, especially since the practice has been in effect for 25 years! Sort of like "one last shot" before he gives up power. Just another form of abuse at the hands of the clergy. No wonder people are looking for spiritual nourishment elsewhere.
J. Fox could not be more
J. Fox could not be more wrong. "In Christian tradition it (liturgy) means the participation of the people in "the work of God"". CCC #1069.
Since poster 02:00 is proof texting, it would be wise to consider Matthew 16:19. He also forgot to add in his last paragraph list that it is also not the People's Church.
I did not forget people in
I did not forget people in the last paragraph. As Fr. Borek and the Polish church in St. Louis demonstrate very well, if you take the Vatican leadership away, the church (people) remains and seems to be doing very well at the moment. On the other hand, take the people away, and the church immediately disappears. Truth is, the church is the people, not the Vatican leadership.
The truth is "where Peter
The truth is "where Peter is, there is the church" - which has echoed throughout the centuries. If you take away the Pope and Magisterium, you end up with a group that will splinter and continue to do so, or do you not notice that is what happened with Luther and all of his fellow protest-ants? The last time I checked, there are seven sacraments and five can only be performed by a priest. We are all changed at baptism and become "prophet, priest and king" as adopted children of God. But with Holy Orders comes another change to the soul and the man now becomes “a priest forever” – whether he spends eternity in heaven or hell. If you have never read the Catechism, any of the Church documents or writings of the saints, I suggest that you start.
As one of the "sheep," I
As one of the "sheep," I say, "Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa d theology." to Bp. Nienstedt's understanding of the Holy Spirit.
the second law of
the second law of thermodynamics, in full tilt. it's hard, watching the death throes of an increasingly insignificant beloved old church. and wonderful, anticipating the birth of the new church.
From my perspective in the
From my perspective in the universe (or should I say, "from where I stand"), the second law of thermodynamics pertains mostly to the efforts of aging, post, spirit-of Vatican II types who see their dreams of making cosmic changes in the "old Church" beoming a diminishing twinkle. I know of numerous groups (prayer etc.) springing up in my diocese who are sincere and deeply rooted followers of the "old Church." Little shoots in the new springtime.
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