Monday, May 11, 2020 –
Fingers crossed and with a lot of prayers, our diocese may be allowing Masses this Friday. After eight long weeks, we are finally working on bringing back public Masses. I am overjoyed, but I also notice a large uptick in “helpful suggestions” from people surrounding this issue.
I appreciate that we are having these discussions, and I know they are necessary in order to move onto the next phase. Finding a safe way for the faithful to return to Mass is extremely important. However, a lot of these “helpful suggestions” are anything but, and most of them totally miss the crux of the issue.
First and foremost, unless you are on your diocese’s committee for reintegration (or whatever the title may be), you do not need to assault your Priest with suggestions. He is already swamped with all the crazy that is going on, and he is bound by obedience to follow whatever edicts your Bishop has or will hand down, assuming it is not against Canon law or anything sinful (which is probably isn’t, so relax!).
If you have been personally asked to come up with a solution by someone named “Father” or “Bishop,” then thank you for your service, and I look forward to reading your report. If you have not been asked, then for the love of all that is holy LEAVE…HIM…THE…FLUFF…ALONE!
I am not trying to be rude, but it is important for all of us to remember that too many cooks in the kitchen usually lead to grease fires. And, of course, there is always that one guy who throws water on the whole mess and makes things infinitely worse. Do not be that guy! And don’t be the horde of nutters running around screaming about the fire. Trust me, the boss has already been called and someone (NOT YOU) is handling the situation. You don’t have to like it, but you do need to get out of the way.
Aside from the onslaught of unhelpful rule by people not on a committee, there is also the stunning lack of conversation regarding Mass. There have been lots of conversations about the Eucharist and receiving the Blessed Sacrament and how much “I want mine, gosh dang it!” However, there has been very little, if any, dialogue about the Mass: the four ends, its purpose, right reception of Holy Communion, etc. Everyone seems overly concerned with getting their “prize” (AKA Eucharist), but nobody seems concerned with true participation at the foot of the Cross.
Since we are (hopefully) returning to Mass this weekend, I am going to try to pull together some basic primers on the Eucharist and the Mass in the coming days. I am talking bare bones, 3rd grade catechesis, y’all. Stay tuned…Mrs. Flusche gonna go find her teachn’ veil and lay it out real nice.
In the meantime, leave your blessed Priest alone. Pray for him and our Bishop. It is a long, crazy road ahead. We can expect a lot of bumps and bruises, and it is probably going to be an absolute cluster this coming weekend. Don’t worry! It is not your job to fix problems they didn’t even know they had. Just relax and roll with the punches for now.
Saint Florian, pray for us!
