Via Diogenes is this ad in the NCReporter.
WORSHIP COORDINATOR — Sisters IHM seeks qualified person to serve as Worship Coordinator for a congregation of women religious. Duties: direction and vision of liturgical and spiritual events in the Motherhouse through fidelity to the IHM community’s Constitution and Chapter Directions collaborating with others; coordinate Liturgical Committee; supervise staff and overall music program; and plan/coordinate members’ wakes and funerals. Qualifications: Bachelor degree; graduate degree in Liturgical Studies, Pastoral Ministry, or related field preferred; demonstrated liturgy experience including supervision of staff; experience in a Pastoral setting with older adults; Roman Catholic in good standing; ability to lead prayer; knowledge of the Liturgy Documents, Rites of the Church and current resources in worship and ritual practice; proficiency with Microsoft Office. Applicants submit cover letter and resume to: SSIHM Human Resources Manager, 610 W. Elm Ave., Monroe, MI 48162.
Now what I don’t understand about worship coordinators, a.k.a. liturgists is why are they even necessary in the first place. I am curious about the history of the modern liturgist, because as far as I can tell this is a something fairly new within the Church. What exact role do they fulfill? We have the GIRM and liturgical documents that guide the liturgy so what exactly needs to be directed. My parish has no such position and yet each week every Mass is reverent and faithful to liturgical documents. Though maybe that is because we don’t have a worship coordinator.
Somebody that coordinates wakes and funerals use to be called a parish secretary. It seems to me their purpose has been to subvert the liturgy and to ensure whatever is mandated is replaced with something else. That they see themselves as a director or producer who interprets the liturgy to their own preferences or the latest liturgical fad they learned about. The Mass becomes a performance piece to be tweaked to their hearts content. To justify their jobs they have to appear to do something. This is why we get things like sand or marbles in Holy Water fonts during Lent or prancing liturgical dancers. The sanctuary becomes a stage where the liturgical performance is carried out. To screw things up requires a liturgist, to really screw things up requires a liturgist with a degree. Though we can understand this since many people want to be entertained at Mass. Active participation (which should be active prayerful participation) means we imitate whatever the priest is doing or some other liturgical aerobics. One two, three, Orans posture. Breathe in, breath out now hold hands.
Now whether this rant pertains to the Sisters IHS or not is open to question. Though nuggets such as "feminist or ecological spiritualities" and their site in general strongly makes me suspect it does.
I also wonder what is the purpose of a liturgy committee? In the latest issue of First Things Fr. Neuhaus posts about a statement by the liturgy committee at Villanova "Postures During Eucharistic Liturgy."
The statement notes, "In general [the General Instruction of the Roman Missal] asks the faithful to kneel during the consecration –but then adds "unless prevented by lack of space, large number, or other reasonable causes." The statement then gives Villanova’s reasonable causes for preventing anyone from kneeling during the Eucharistic Prayer. For instance, one of the prayers thanks God by counting us worth to "stand" before Him. (Those Augustinians are such literalists.) Moreover kneeling induces a "sense of passivity, interiority, and exaggerated unworthiness," Some might prefer the word "receptivity" to "passivity," but it is true that we sinful human beings are adverse to acknowledging our inferiority to God and do not take kindly to any exaggeration of our unworthiness. The statement ends on the note: "In all these decisions the Villanova community favors the spirit of community and mutual affirmation; any competitive and legalistic preference in the matter of liturgical practice tends to be divisive and is not considered helpful to communal celebration." In the spirit of mutual affirmation, unity, and our communal abhorrence of legalism: You will not kneel.
In the case of Villanova’s liturgical committee my suspicions are confirmed about liturgical committees. It seems to me that if you really want to foster community in the universal Church then having consistency among liturgical celebration would do just that. What they always mean is just the local community. Their instruction on kneeling makes me see Phillipians 2:10 in a whole new light. "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow to provide a sense of passivity, inferiority, and exaggerated unworthiness in heaven and on earth and under the earth." I think that if the Church really wants people to kneel during the consecration they should change the rubric in the GIRM to stand. Instantaneously liturgists and liturgical committees throughout the world will then find a reason that we should kneel during the consecration instead.
Now like most rants this is a very broad brush attack. We do need liturgical experts that can teach us to more greatly appreciate and mine the richness of the liturgy. What we don’t need are liturgical producers who make changes for change sake. Living in a culture where everything is "new and improved" we can understand this temptation. The Mass is Calvary and the sacrifice of Christ re-presented not reinterpreted. You can imagine the havoc a liturgist would have wrought at Calvary. Though maybe a budding liturgist was there. Who else would give Jesus wine mixed with gall?
47 comments
I was a Discalced Carmelite Nun for 4 years and held the Offices of both Sacristan and Liturgist for our small Monastery. We had Mass in our Chapel each day (open to public) as well as praying the Liturgy of the Hours. As Liturgist, I simply selected music for each of these and made weekly handouts (on the computer) for the nuns that outlined the saint of the day (if any) page numbers for readings, music, etc. Otherwise, I simply followed the Ordo for both the Diocese and the Order (O. Carm/OCD). I had no previous experience or training, nor did I hold a degree in Liturgy or Theology. The former Liturgist guided me till I got the hang of it and then the Prioress reviewed and approved the lists. For big celebrations (Easter Triduum, Christmas, Public Novenas and Clothing/Profession Masses, as well as Third Order Meetings), I made a special booklet and all of the nuns helped copy, fold and staple together. The files for each week of each Season were kept on the computer and just got updated year after year as needed. It just wsn’t a big deal. Not to mention, the Great St. Teresa wanted her Nuns of the Reform to have very simple liturgies.
After 4 years of that, do you think I would qualify for this job? How much does it pay?
I thought that your post was admirably restrained. I have seen some of the worst examples of litugical circuses and Las Vegas reviews at my local parish from time to time.
Last Sunday, the pastor, who has normally been quite sane, took it into his head to have a twin size mattress up behind the main altar. When he started to read the Gospel regarding the paralytic, six dads and a small boy came up. The boy climbed onto the mattress and the dads carried him to the top of the steps in front of the altar. Whereupon, six chairs were arranged for some teenage pharisees to carp about “forgiveness” coming only from God.
With all of the arranging and removals of the mattress, people and furniture, he forgot later to lead us into the Credo.
I was only grateful that we did not have our “Disciples of Rhythm” liturgical band also with cantor (lead Peggy Lee style singer)as usual up by the side altar, or our liturgical dancers lumbering along in the procession also at this mass.
All right, please excuse this comment. I mean no harm.
Q. What’s the difference between a liturgist and a terrorist?
A. You can negotiate with a terrorist.
To me, refusing to kneel and refusing to permit others to kneel is the equivalent of Lucifer’s “Non serviam”.
I can’t tell you why or even if we need liturgists. I can tell how we got them–notions like: cultural adaptation, local diversity, and “in these or similar words.”
I commented to my liturgy class the other day that we longer divide up according to ethnic groups in parishes–St Patrick’s, St Anthony’s, St David’s–we divide up according to the prevailing liturgical style of the pastor or his appointed liturgical consultant–traditional, moderate, hippie-dippy, feminazi.
Liturgical history and theology are not easy! The proper study of these fields requires a deep familiarity with just about every other branch of theology! And the wisdom and skill to put those branched to work in the public worship of the Lord.
Fr. Philip, OP
Bring back the Mass of the Saints and Martyrs, the Traditional Latin Mass and do away with the 40 odd years of experimentation. A failure is a failure, and a duck is duck and will never become a swan
What an amazing parish, John Hetman. I’ve seen things just as nutty, however; I don’t suppose you live in Florida? I kind of keep hoping that the liturgists will burn themselvs out.
Coincidentally, I just sent off an article to our local Catholic newspaper on a talk by a visiting professor of Catholic Studies, Dr. Peter Erb, on Pope Benedict XVI. Both St. Benedict and the current Pope strongly emphasize the centrality of the Liturgy, especially as a means of reforming the surrounding culture. Given BXVI’s propensity to write books on liturgical themes, I don’t think we’ll have to wait too long to hear him expound in greater detail on this particular aspect of his vision for the Church. Just listen to this excerpt from his talk, Europe in a Crisis of Culture, written just before he became Pope:
�We need individuals who have their eyes fixed straight on God and who learn from Him what true humanity is. We need men and women whose intellects have been enlightened by the light of God and whose hearts have been opened by God so that their intellects can speak to others� intellects and their hearts can open others� hearts. God returns among us only through those people who are touched by God. We need people like Benedict of Nursia in a time of dissipation and decadence.�
Amen to that.
Liturgists? hmm, I don’t know, it is all pretty simple, pretty much in black and white – or should I say black and red. Say the words in Black, do what is described by the words in red, make it reverent and prayerful. Save the parish budget and hire a music director (one familiar with liturgical music and the mind of the church) instead.
Jeff is right, we do need true liturgical experts – but these people should write books and teach classes and should form their students with the mind of the Church. No parish should employ anybody with the job title “liturgist” – for that is what the priest does – he celebrates the Sacred Liturgy in the parish.
hmm… as unnecessary as they may seem, I think these IHM sisters could use a good worship coordinator after going to their website. Apparently Holy Mass is held in their “barn-chapel.” I know Jesus was born in a manger, but that doesn’t mean we have to celebrate Mass in one. I think they could benefit from hiring a good, orthodox worship coordinator to straighten out whatever issues they probably have.
that being said, if a religious order has an HR department, you know they have problems.
Like the Nun in the 1st post says, it’s not that hard.
Of all the various Priests that have been cycled through my parish, only one picked out the songs himself, since I lacked the proper training.
I have been asked to be organist at a friend’s daughter’s wedding. The liturgist there said OK, but he would have to play all the Mass parts… it was a rule.
The daughter wants to walk down the aisle with her father. The liturgist insists that that is not done anymore, and she must walk down the aisle with her future husband.
She wants to kneel during Mass. The liturgist insists she must only sit or stand. There is no kneeler. “We havn’t knelt in this parish since the 60’s”.
I am trying to remove myself from the arrangements.
My parish had a liturgy committee for a short time a few years ago. There were several committed Catholics and a couple of “spirit of Vatican II” types. At that time I had not been exposed to typical parish operations, so I volunteered to be chairman of the committee. I kept a binder with the GIRM and SACROSANCTUM CONCILIUM on the table in front of me during meetings and consulted them whenever a dispute came up. Apparently, this was considered bad form. Meetings were soon cancelled, delayed, until all communication from the Pastoral Center stopped.
It’s not that hard, but it is time-consuming. Somebody’s got to do it.
Preferably someone who has enough experience to know the difference between personal devotions and liturgy, but not enough professional credentialling to be beyond reason.
Say the black words, do the red words.
Not that hard.
“I think that if the Church really wants people to kneel during the consecration they should change the rubric in the GIRM to stand.”
It really is a matter of pride here. A way of disobeying and asserting one’s independence without becoming a major league heretic.
The other “venial” techniques I find here in Minnesota are the substitution or elimination of the words “His” or “Him” in the Gloria, the Creed (“for us and our salvation”) and the Offertory prayer (for the praise and glory of “God’s” name)and the inclusion of “sisters” whereever “brothers” is called for.
The IHM sisters have both a labyrinth and a drumming circle. What else do you need to know? At least the Internet makes it’s easy to spot the nutty ones from afar without actually risking going on a retreat before you find out what they are going to put you through.
John,
I love the image of you with your GIRM on the table! We were in a smiliar situation and got politely snubbed off of the Life Teen program because we refered to the GIRM and the Catechism whenever we felt awkward or uncomfortable with some of the kooky stuff they wanted us to do.
“Say the black words, do the red words.”
And make decisions regarding music.
And train lectors and altar servers (and if necessary EMs [sic])
And schedule them
And provide days of recollection for them
And arrange the flowers
And make little programs for funerals and weddings
Not that hard, but somebody’s got to do it.
Jeff, that was GREAT!! You put very well almost everything that I want to say regarding most of the worship coordinators / liturgists I have been at the mercy of. Re: a budding liturgist at Calvary – “Who else would give Jesus wine mixed with gall?” – LOL!!
Seriously, though: While commiserating is, I confess, enjoyable for a while, it doesn’t solve the real problem: the distraction from authentic active participation in the Mass which these clowns (no, no, the ones who work so hard to entertain and distract us from the Sacrifice of the Mass)get PAID, in some cases, to offer. Or, more pointedly, how to get this nonsense to cease (or at least diminish).
I’ve tried writing a few letters of encouragement when the liturgical adornments actually helped. But a letter to a liturgist re why certain things really should be reconsidered and probably modified seems a bit cheeky, to me, if only because of how long it would/could be.
Ideas?
I’ve always wanted someone to come out with a t- shirt that reads “Say the Black. Do the Red.” I would wear it to Holy Mass at my local parish. Jeff, how about a design??
I was the liturgical coordinator for our parish for 15 months and my responsibilities were as follows: 1) train the lectors, altar servers, mass coordinators, and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, 2) schedule 8 lectors, 8 altar servers, and over 40 EMs for the 4 weekend masses and several of the weekday masses, 3) assist the priests with feastday masses, especially when there were aspects of the liturgy that were new to our servers, 4) assist the priest at funerals, 5) order all liturgical supplies, 6) coordinate with RCIA and the DRE for special activities that impacted the mass (RCIA sending forth, first communions, confirmations, etc.), 7) work with the Knights of Columbus when they were to be involved in the mass, 8) be present to assist visiting priests, deacons, and especially our new Bishop (figuring out when he was to have the mitre and the crozier was tricky), 9) teach liturgy during some of those RCIA sessions that focused on the liturgy, 10) make sure that materials were printed when masses required it (e.g., the Easter Vigil), 11) write the general intercessions, 12) other duties as required (just threw that one in!). Of course, my primary responsibility was to foster a love for Christ, his Church, and the mass.
This was a 20-hour per week commitment, although there were some weeks that required more (Holy Week needed 44 hours). I don’t know who does all of this work in your parish but it seems to me that someone has to do it. I’m not saying that a person has to be hired or appointed to do it but we shouldn’t kid ourselves about the amount of work that has to be done by somebody.
I’d wear that shirt too, Lourdes!
It’s one thing to laugh at excesses but the rampant hostility here is unChristian and ignorant. Not that I don’t understand the frustration, but there is some nuance called for. There is work to be done and people mostly do it fallibly but faithfully. What exactly are you doing to make your parish a better place? (Besides snarking. Besides wearing tshirts.)
Interesting history about the IHM nuns and some of the changes that took place in that congregation during the 60’s :
http://www.ewtn.com/library/PRIESTS/COULSON.TXT
Good question, Kathy. I know of several attempts to give (respectful) feedback to liturgistal leaders, much of which has fallen on deaf ears. Any suggestions or ideas? I agree that an attitude of charity must underlie all that we do, despite how nutty/inappropriate innovations might seem.
Thanks, Lynn. Unfortunately I don’t know what to do about people who have ironclad, wrong positions on liturgical matters. A lot of times they have been reinforced in error by books and workshops. Workshops are the worst.
One idea: Let’s suppose there is a humble, holy person who thanklessly and cheerfully does things around the parish. Most parishes have them. So one day when this good person is, say, scraping up wax or sweeping or hanging up altar server albs, or bringing in a casserole for the funeral luncheon, thank them loudly in the presence of the intransigent liturgist for their hidden and valuable service. Tell them how much they represent Christ’s presence “in the community.” That might work.
What makes me most curious about this post is the sudden appearance of the term “worship coordinator” instead of “liturgists.” This is a hopeful sign. The old tactic of the left wing is to wear out their names. For example, when people figure out what socialists are, they change their name to progressives. When they have sullied the name “progressive,” they change their name to “liberal”, and so on. Pax Christi did this a few years ago after their previous title “Plowshares for Peace” became overtly associated with the communist 5th Column.
So, the fact that the sisters are seeking a worship coordinator, instead of a liturgist, is a positive sign that rank & file Catholics are beginning to associate “liturgist” with the reality behind the name, which is either “dissident” or “apostate.”
I like it, Kathy! We need to emphasize what’s really important in ministry: an attitude of humility and service. Without intending to generalize, it seems to me that “liturgy” persons
need to control and be “seen.”
Right. Liturgist = Apostate. Very helpful.
Sorry, Lynn, I was aiming my snarkiness at Ubi. In the name of anti-snarkiness, whoops! My bad.
No prob, Kathy. I don’t even pretend to guess at the state of a liturgist’s (or anyone else’s) soul. I only know that I find the prevailing mentaility of “look at me!” and “different is always better” annoying.
Why is a “liturgist” doing the flowers? That, plus looking after the altar linens and changing the candles, is what the Altar Society is for. If a parish hasn’t got one, it ought to organize one. Likewise, the responsibility for training and scheduling the altar boys should belong to head altar boy, who will generally be in high school. If a boy is bright enough to take algebra, he’s bright enough to write names on a calendar.
I’d be happy to establish a schedule of suitable hymns from the Adoremus Hymnal for parishes to use on all Sundays and feast days. Hardly any “liturgist” would use it, however. I don’t wish to hurt anyone’s feelings, but a person who chooses bad songs and lets altar boys think it’s all right to wipe their noses on their sleeves and scratch their armpits during the Mass isn’t making the parish a better place, he’s making it a worse place. Doing things at the church doesn’t help unless they are good things to do, and done properly. There’s too much already of this tender grandmotherly indulgence of anyone who feels like singing or lectoring or decorating the church.
Why do we have Liturgists?
At some point in the recent past the Church has developed a backlog of overeducated, middle-aged women in unhappy marriages. They had to put them somewhere; I mean, you can only have one DRE per parish.
Feel free to ask me anything else in the future. I’m here for you man. I. Am here. For you.
“when there were aspects of the liturgy that were new to our servers”
Those novel aspects of the liturgy are always troubling.
“A person who chooses bad songs and lets altar boys think it’s all right to wipe their noses on their sleeves and scratch their armpits during the Mass isn’t making the parish a better place, he’s making it a worse place.”
“At some point in the recent past the Church has developed a backlog of overeducated, middle-aged women in unhappy marriages. They had to put them somewhere; I mean, you can only have one DRE per parish.”
You didn’t answer my question. What exactly are YOU doing, besides snarking, to make your parish a better place? Hmm??
I’m going to have Tshirts made:
Snarking is cheap and easy.
Join the fun!
Err, actually, I was answering Jeff’s question, but since you ask….
I go to an indult Mass, where my children will happily never be subjected to such nonsense.
I also do this other little thing called “prayer”. Hopefully it will cause God to have some mercy on His Church, and maybe make some reparation for the offences that have been committed against His Dignity over these many years.
“Kneeling induces a sence of passivity, interiority and exagerated unworthness”
I am in the process of reading Sr. Emmerich.
In her vision of Jesus visiting hell, she says the demons inside were loath to kneel preferring instead to suffer the cruelest torments but an angel present comanded them to kneel and they submitted. Her physical descriptions of hell brought to mind the church in circular- something about the demons sitting in a circular room with the pit in the center. She also saw the bad angel being bound and thrown into the pit and was given to understand he would be released 50-60 years before the year 2000. Read it for yourself in “The Passion of Christ”
Fair enough on the question, Der Tommissar.
And I’m glad to see you’re doing exactly one of the works of mercy.
“At some point in the recent past the Church has developed a backlog of overeducated, middle-aged women in unhappy marriages. They had to put them somewhere; I mean, you can only have one DRE per parish.”
Okay, Kathy is right. But that there is funny, I don’t care who you are. Git-r-done.
“But that there is funny, I don’t care who you are.”
If your sister or your mama worked at a parish, you might not think it was so knee-slapping funny. (Especially if her marriage had hit a bad patch.)
By the way, have you ever heard the expression “over-educated man?”
Hi Kathy,
Yes, there is a bit of “snarkiness” going on in the comments, but many of these people have been dealing with liturgical “innovations” for a long time. Some times you just have to laugh or make jokes. Plus, in your responses, you return a pretty good dose of snark.
As for making our local churches better? I sit on our parish council and stewardship committee. I also teach CCD and clean the church once a month. I help organize Eucharistic Adoration and help organize faith and family events. A group of us mothers have also started a kids’ faith and friendship group that meets once a month after mass (the group is K4J – excellent program). And, of course, I pray for our church (both local and universal) and for our priest and Bishop. Not to mention the financial support that my family provides. So how many corporal works of mercy is that?
But the liturgy at my church is tampered with all the time. I’m sure the people on the liturgy committee (all 13 of them) are very well-intentioned people, but their attitude (and I’m quoting now) is “WE ARE CHURCH” and they will not take direction from ANY Church documents. Redemptionis Sacramentum, Canon Law or the GIRM may as well never have been written as far as these people go. We have a choir that takes up 1/2 of the altar space and sings the same insipid songs week after week (The Summons – “can you love the you in you and never be the same?”, Gather Us In – “give us the courage to enter the song” YUCK). Blue vestments at Advent, a small crucifix tucked in a corner during Mass, liturgical dancing at Christmas Eve and Pentecost, identifying ourselves as a faith environment, a children’s Mass that makes many parishioners cringe, regularly scheduled lay preaching of the homily by a nun, intincture by lay people, 4-5 EMEs at each mass (our church holds about 400 people), people arriving late to and leaving early from Mass, talking ushers while Communion is being distributed, not to mention the bongos, 4-5 guitars and banjo.
Our liturgy is a mess. And it is a mess because no one educates. And if you try to address an issue, you’re seen as the “liturgy cop.” I hold our priests and adult educators responsible. We have so many adults who don’t understand the Mass and no one teaches them. This includes the people on the liturgy committee. If they understood what takes place during Mass, they would realize that only a priest and a congregation is needed for a proper celebration. Yes, music is nice and flowers are nice and so are the banners, etc…But are they needed? NO. The liturgy committees (well, at least the one at my church) have forgotten why we are there in the first place. Once we can refocus on Christ, I think many of our liturgy issues will disappear.
Of course there are overeducated males. It’s just that they work at Starbucks and sneer when no one realizes the genius of their unpublished works.
Why do they go to Starbucks and the women go to parish offices and chanceries? I have no clue. I don’t make the rules, people, I just observe them.
And for the record, a person I respect very much happens to be a DRE. In her words,
“As a twenty-something, happy to be a �Neo-Cath� DRE, I�d take offense to your characterization of women in my ministry, if it weren�t true.”
Like I said, I don’t make the rules, I just observe them.
Re the wedding story, having the bride walked in by her father to be “given away” isn’t really appropriate to a Catholic understanding of marriage. The bride and groom are supposed to come on their own power, as adults, to claim each other. If they ever finish with the english translation of the new wedding rubric, this is addressed. So that liturgist wasn’t completely in left field…at least on that point.
–Amanda
Okay, Nerina, you may snark. And the Starbucks thing, now THAT’s funny! (kidding)
I’m not sure when I appointed myself snark monitor, but this isn’t the first time I’ve tried to stop this particular train from running down the hill. Part of it is that I really don’t see the point of personal characterizations when there are real battles to fight.
Or are there battles to fight? I mean, with each other. It’s striking that on the one hand the neo-Cath fiction is all about battles: LOTR, Narnia. But in, say, the New Testament, the only things said about tearing and biting each other to pieces are negative prescriptions.
We’re all tired of heresy and bad practice. And like Nerina (and me) frustrated at being patronized by some of the duffosses. (sp?) But then what should we do? Not just: What feels refreshing cuz we get to whack em below the knees, but: What will begin to turn things around? And especially: What is Christian?
A woman I know used to go to her ultra-neo-Cath school carrying one of those Ratzinger putting-the -smackdown-on-heresy coffee mugs. Okay, but how exactly is that going to help?
Anyways, I’m as snarky as anybody. So I hereby turn in my badge.
Short Answer: NOPE.
Easiest question all day.
Kathy et al,
We’ve been over-liturgized for years, hammered at, confused and dissed in public. Liturgists need to lay off. They’re superfluous. Sorry but they are.
If they worked half as many hours, we’d be twice as well off.
Would this be the same as a liturgical coordinator? My old parish had one priest who was in charge of being sure the liturgy was done right. He coordinated the various ministries for our parish, including making sure that we met a couple times a year (I was the head interpreter for the Deaf, so I was in on a couple of the meetings). He was also the one who made sure that the GIRM was followed. When it was time to change things, he explained it during Mass (usually at the end of the regular homily) so that we understood the changes and why we made them. And, lest you think it’s one of those “Vatican II Communities” (we seem to have a lot of those in Virginia…they even advertise their position openings with such a description of their parish), you can see the church that our pastor had built when our old building was too small for the growing parish any more… you can see pictures at the following links:
http://www.khss.com/interiors/annunciation_church/
http://www.walkercc.com/Annunciation%20Sanctuary%2002.htm
Yes, that is a tabernacle directly behind the altar with a chapel for perpetual adoration. And the altar (though it’s set up for the priest to face the people) faces east. The church just takes your breath away, and it leans toward the traditional, even if it’s not gilded all over.
Anyway, my point is this: not every liturgical director is someone who rips apart the Mass (though I know there are plenty of those, and I suspect our Mass is at the hands of such a person here at my new parish). There are some who do exactly what they ought to, and what Br. Clare-Vincent said he did.