I will not exactly be running to the book store to buy…

Not sure if this is relevant or not, but a friend of mine dropped by today and he was telling us about a recital he attended yesterday at the university. The recital was of (what he called) “Irish Tavern Music.” He said the music was great but it felt wrong to sit there and watch it. He started to describe how that kind of music was played in neighborhood taverns, where whole families would go, and different people would join in the music, some would get up and dance, some would start singing… He said it was the tradition of the community to join and be ‘part of’ the music and not just something you sit and listen to.

I don’t know anything about the ‘Polka Mass’ (other than it a name that begs ridicule) but perhaps Father’s experience of faith and culture tells him some truth about our participation in Christ’s life. Maybe he sees the loss of cultural traditions and perhaps he thinks that’s one of the reasons why people of modern society don’t get the traditions of the Church. The Pope has made similar point regarding culture, tradition, Christian families and the Church. Much of what he says about habits and “signs in the community” fall along these lines. I know that I may be stretching but my point is that this priest might have a valid point that we’re not seeing. Given that he is a priest ordained in 1954 (and not 1969) and because I haven’t read his book I would give him the benefit of the doubt.