Some “Helpful Terms”

So exactly what is this? Another brilliant parody form perhaps Creative Minority Report, Acts of the Apostasy, or any of a number of excellent Catholic blogs which engage in parody? Sadly I wish this was the case, unfortunately it is from an actual pamphlet from the Papal Visit Team of “helpful terms” for I guess the media and others.

“Where are you going?”, “I am going to the Holy Sacrifice of the Gig to see Jesus’ Headline Act for a enjoyable, fun, and exciting time.

As bad and misplaced as this pamphlet is, it is not surprising in the least.  It is the very mindset of so many people who would make the Church “Relevant.”  And as often is the case their idea of relevant is an antonym for reverence.  This is the idea of bringing the Church up-to-date which also often manages to throw the “baby Jesus” out with the bath water (or Holy Water in this case).  The Madison Avenue approach of appealing to Catholics and others by transforming truths into buzz words.

Again we have more good intentions providing building supplies for highway constructions to a certain point South.

I really have to laugh at the word “Liturgist” becoming “Performer, Artist”, surely this is exactly how so many of the modern liturgist view themselves. The heck with delving into the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and trying to under the theological aspects and the historical developments – hey lets turn it into an Improv where the text of the Liturgy are semi-guidelines which can be expanded upon or removed. Still I ponder the development of the word Liturgist – which seems to be a modern invention.  A true student of the liturgy like Romano Guardini and of course our present Pope would hardly think of themselves as liturgists.  It is easy to see looking at for example the Masses at the annual L.A. Religious Conference the Performer Artist aspect of the liturgist.

This pamphlet also reminds me of why I am a critic of Life Teen since what this pamphlet tries to do is pretty much exactly the same that Life Teen tries to do to present the Mass to teenagers.  As if adding electric guitars and pop music provides a suitable way to bring Catholics deeper into the Mass and to develop a pattern of worship of God that will keep them coming back to Mass in the future when they are no longer teens. Plus why is it that Life Teen which was started by an abusing priest who is now excommunicated has not gotten the same treatment as the Legion of Christ?  Sure there is a difference between a religious order and an apostolate, but both are based on a founder’s charism.

One positive thing about the pamphlet is that I guess it is good to see that members of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy form the 60s/70s managed to find new jobs.

Anyway, it’s a Sunday and I got a gig to go to.