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Friday, December 25, 2009

A Happy Christmas Begins With Magnificent Liturgy

At the 5:15PM Holy Sacrifice of The Mass at St Agnes, East 43rd Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenues in Midtown Manhattan, one could anticipate The Coming Of The Child Jesus at his 2009th Birthday Celebration:
The Opening Prayer was chanted by Mr Andrew Mills, The Music Director, in English;
The Kyrie was sung in Greek;
The Agnus Dei was sung in Latin;
The Communion Antiphon was chanted in Latin;
The Gloria was recited for the 1st Time, as we are now in Christmastide;
Appropriate Christmas Hymns, namely the Standards were sung;
The Beginning of The Holy Gospel According To St. Matthew, gave The Geneology Of Christ, as he does come from The Line of King David;
As the Main Celebrant of The Mass explained in his Homily, This Beginning is preached as we Christians through Baptism are included with The Christ in His Line;
For Catholic Liturgy to be effective, It being The Central Offering of The Life Of Catholics, I feel that The Worshippers should be exposed to The Classical Hymns of The Church, all of The Year. The Tabernacle should be at The Centre and NOT off to the side, Hidden away, replaced by a "Presider's Chair", although The Priest as "Alter Christus" is central to The Liturgical Function. As Latin, & before it, Greek, are the Liturgical Languages and Latin being The Official Language Of The Church, The Parishioners should experience part of The Liturgy in Latin, such as the singing of The Agnus Dei in Latin;
Now, in The Ordinary Rite Of The Mass, with The Traditional Latin Mass being known as the Extraordinary Rite, there are places where misguided experimentation has led to indifference by Parishioners. Guitar Masses are used to bring in the young people, though I beg to differ, as I have found Gregorian Chant attracts more young people, as Beautiful Liturgy explains Catholicism more than "Michael Row The Boat Ashore", a "Hymn" which came with the Ill-Fated "Folk" Masses. Coupled with "Teaching" of The Faith in Catholic Sponsored Schools, where 8th Graders cannot explain WHAT a Sacrament IS, it does lead to indifference;
Something which I have noticed at East 43rd Street, is that while people queue up for Communion, many are now kneeling at the Altar Rail to receive The Eucharist. I feel that more kneeling and less queueing is needed, as to be more Fully-Catholic, in practice and experience;
As The Christ Is ETERNAL, let's not just remember Him at This Time & Easter but All Time. Great Catholic Liturgy, coupled with Effective Teaching will do it;

Happy Christmastide;

The Pez Report by Mychal

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