There has been much discussion in St. Blogs concerning this Jimmy Fallon interview.
In an interview with Terri Gross, Jimmy Fallon weighs in on liturgical innovations:
GROSS: Do you still go to church?
Mr. FALLON: I don’t go to – I tried to go back. When I was out in L.A. and I was kind of struggling for a bit. I went to church for a while, but it’s kind of, it’s gotten gigantic now for me. It’s like too… There’s a band. There’s a band there now, and you got to, you have to hold hands with people through the whole Mass now, and I don’t like doing that. You know, I mean, it used to be the shaking hands piece was the only time you touched each other.
GROSS: Mm-hmm.
Mr. FALLON: Now, I’m holding hand – now I’m lifting people. Like Simba.
(Laughter)
Mr. FALLON: I’m holding them (Singing) ha nah hey nah ho.
(Speaking) I’m doing too much. I don’t want – there’s Frisbees being thrown, there’s beach balls going around, people waving lighters, and I go, ‘This is too much for me.’ I want the old way. I want to hang out with the, you know, with the nuns, you know, that was my favorite type of Mass, and the grotto, and just like straight up, just Mass Mass.
For me though it leaves me rather sad. There are certainly themes I can identify with in what he said, but I still find it a lousy reason not to go to Mass. Even at the most happy-clappy Folk Music Mass with a forgettable homily we still receive Jesus in Holy Communion. The reason to be Catholic is because it is true, not that your liturgical experiences will always be what they should be. This attitude makes the Mass all about us and not about worshiping Christ, an attitude I am quite guilty of when I spot something not quite right at Mass and focus on that instead of worshiping. This is not to say that we should not do all we can in the reform of the reform when it comes to liturgical renewal, just that we should not lose sight of what the liturgy is for in the first place.
11 comments
nope- this reminds me of when Mel Gibson was quoted as saying that he wouldn’t be a mainstream catholic because the Church is so liberal (so he constructed his own church to take his mistress too)- sorry Jimmy- find a solid NO church (there are plenty) or join us at an Eastern Church- but I suppose then there would be other excuses
I think he’s on to something. We do ourselves no favors with this kind of pap. It turns everyone off, except for a few 60’s holdouts.
I agree with what you wrote in the last paragraph. I, too, have gone through discomfort and dissatisfaction when the liturgy or architecture of the church is not what I would prefer, but we are worshiping our dear God and receiving our good Lord in the Eucharist, and that is what we must keep in mind.
I hope Jimmy finds his way back to us and regains his peace with God and His people. We need to pray him and his fellow fallen-away Catholics back into the Church – we cannot write them off and smugly look on in disdain.
I think Fallon has a point worth looking at: he left the faith because of the loss of identity, when it stopped being “Mass Mass.” Fr. Z says so often, “Save the Liturgy, Save the World.” This is crucial. We cannot say he lost sight of what is important, because we do not know if he ever knew for sure what was important. Beauty leads to truth. He no longer attends Mass because it is ugly. He will not be led to truth in ugliness. And even if the priest is solid in his homiletics and theology, it will be hard to express without beauty helping to foster that which is being said.
You’re right Jeff, if he actually believed in the True Presence, there’s nothing that could keep him away. Not to mention, that “Mass Mass” of old couldn’t have been so perfect, otherwise we wouldn’t have had the Kennedy doctrine and Roe v. Wade. Disobedience has always been part of free will, it just seems we never learn.
Being a still-fairly-newbie Catholic, I hesitate to comment on this, but I have to ask the question: At what point does a parish lose its catholicity? There has to be some point where the abuse reaches a level where the individual church becomes essentially a Protestant (if that – no offense to orthodox Protestants) body, whatever lip service they give to the name “Catholic,” the same as many “Catholic” colleges have become no more Catholic than Uncle Ned’s trained hamster.
I agree with Fallon. My little video says it all. Who needs middle age women, or men, dancing in leotards at Mass?
http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/12779040/catholic-vs-liturgical-terrorist
I use to go to Mass everyday but I’ve slowed down to once a day during the week to keep on top of the changes and of course, we always go on Sunday and/or Saturday and the reason would be to allow me time to change feet from my mouth. 🙂
I like some of the changes that are taking place and I think that (Steve Bogner) http://bogners.typepad.com/church/ would be pleased with a new saying which goes something like, “Lord Jesus, I’m not worthy to have you under my roof but only say the word and my soul will be healed.” Hey Steve if you read this then maybe you could set me straight if I’m wrong? 🙂
Over all, at least for the churches I attend, the changes don’t seem to be too drastic. As a matter of fact, The Mass is slowly starting to look more like when I use to serve high mass as a teen.
I wonder if priest will ever again face the cross instead of the audience like they did in the early 6o’s?
I hear ya! The Dinasaur age? And take the chance that someone might stab one of our few priest in the back, “I don’t think so!” 🙂
Peace
(((but I’ve slowed down to once a day))
Nice try sinner vic but “IT” SHOULD HAVE SAID once a WEEK and not once a day.
Sorry Victor! 🙁
Shalom
“The reason to be Catholic is because it is true, not that your liturgical experiences will always be what they should be.” That is true, but as a revert I can tell you (and as a convert I’m sure you understand) that it can take a LONG time to figure that out. Our whole culture is based on figuring out what you want, not figuring out what is true.
I wanted to thank you for sharing your Advent Wreath with all of us! It’s on my blog. Many blessings to you and your family during Advent!