The Recovering Choir Director

The people calling the shots at most parishes simply don’t want to attract youth, just as they do not want priests. The lack of youth gives them the excuse they need to continue to innovate in the liturgy to continue the Boomer cult of youth, just as the lack of Priests gives them the excuse they need to continue the desacrilization and democratization of the Church. They are, at the bottom, filthy liars, just like the Consilium that gave us the Novus Ordo.

I’ve heard the argument made that more people attend “Youth Masses” once you bring in the guitars and the drums. Some will say, “Even if that’s not the ideal, let’s just get them into the Church.” The question no one ever answers is: When (and how) do you move the youth beyond “Youth Masses” and toward the ideal?

Isn’t it obvious how divisive “Youth Masses” are?

Well, thank you, Anon. I’m sure your priest has good intentions, as do many people who promote Youth Masses, but good intentions aren’t enough.

From my perspective, another problem with Youth Masses and other liturgical innovations is that the priest who innovates is not being fair to his successor. The next priest to be assigned to your parish will be saddled with this Youth Mass, and he may not want it. (Actually, many among the younger generation of priests are very traditional.) But whether he wants it or not, it’ll be there and those who attend that Mass will want it to continue, regardless of the fact that maybe Father doesn’t like rock and roll music playing during the Sacred Mysteries.

In my first assignment, I had to say a “Youth Mass” from time to time, and I caught some flack simply because I chose not to sing dumb songs like “Awesome God” or clap my hands. One might have gotten the impression that the fact that I had offered the Sacrifice by which we are redeemed wasn’t enough.

“Well, thank you, Anon. I’m sure your priest has good intentions, as do many people who promote Youth Masses, but good intentions aren’t enough.

From my perspective, another problem with Youth Masses and other liturgical innovations is that the priest who innovates is not being fair to his successor.”

Sadly, at the New Gasparian, one of the blogs to which Aris links, one can read of the troubles a new pastor is having with the “Charismatic, Healing” Mass which he inherited from his predecessor.

That whole “thie is the way WE do things mentality that has decimated the Church (well, no, I remember enough of my Latin to know that this mindest has eliminated far more than 10% of Her membership.)

I was, Dave R., until about two months ago. Now I’m in a small town outside of Corpus Christi.

OK, Climacus, I will, but please pray for us priests in return.