Gerald focuses on a project called "Find-Fight-Follow" in Austria which seems to be their equivalent of some Life Teen Masses but taken to the next level of culture trumping the Mass.
So go check out the pictures and what he has to says about it.
One of the pictures from one of their Masses did spark my interest and I thought I would let you know what it is all about.
Introducing Sacrament-Vision! See the Holy Spirit descend and through the miracle of Transubstantiation© watch the constituent elements transform into the very Body and Blood of Christ! Watch adults being baptized and see all their sins washed away right before your eyes. Watch people coming out of the confessional with their professed and repented of sins vanished through one of the greatest sacramental special effects of forgiveness of sin. So if you are a Thomas and must place you fingers in the nail holes you will love Sacrament-Vision! If your parish must use fads and cultural phenomenon to bring people to Mass then Sacrament-Vision is for you. Though others might prefer the old system of sound catechesis on the Eucharist that enables the eyes of faith to come and adore Christ in the Most Holy Eucharist and to desire above all things to receive him in Communion.
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Why are the two girls on the left hand side smiling so broadly? One could say they are being entertained as by a production or show but is the unbloody sacrifice of the mass ever so “entertaining”? Perhaps they are the equivalent of those present at the original crucifiction, the enemies of Christ who gloated in glee to see His Sacred Body harmed to the point of death.
I have been to one of these Masses (because I was asked by a priest to talk there, in a short testimony, about charity work). I am glad that I made that testimony there, but otherwise my skepticism about the whole thing was pretty much confirmed.
Though the whole thing is done by basically well-meaning, nice people, they obviously never ask themselves what objectives these ‘events’ actually have and what they are really striving for by organizing them.
My impression of the Mass was mixed: There were several elements, especially at the beginning, that appealed to me, notably the songs, which were rather impressive and often had very good, orthodox texts (though I am otherwise quite traditional liturgy-wise, with a strong bent for the Old Mass…).
But especially during the Eucharist the whole impression got worse and worse. They were not using hosts but flat bread that resembled pita and was put in a gilded plastic receptacle. (But they were at least using a proper, gilded metal chalice for the Blood of Our Lord.) I was also quite taken aback by the fact that the teenagers chattered along even during the Consecration (!), that except me and maybe one or two people, nobody was kneeling when bread and wine became the Body and Blood of Our Lord’s, that at Communion, everyone went along talking and chatting right after taking Communion, no-one bothering to adore Christ they had just received, not even the adults…
I had the impression that for most people there, it was mostly fun, with light shows and cool music, but that they were not much interested in Our Lord otherwise. I am quite sure that 85-95 per cent of the teenagers there never attend other Masses and hardly know anything about the Christian faith…
Um what is the purpose of those 3D glasses? I mean, why have them? Why can’t they just go to a normal reverent Mass? Oh yeah, I forgot, those aren’t available, or encouraged.
Transubstantiation is now a registered trademark? COOL!
BMP
I’m hardly believing this is for real.
I thought I was weird with a shaved head and ear ring.
I love the Sacrament-Vision glasses! If only it were so! Just the “proof” for those of so little faith!
But then again, maybe not…as somebody once said, Those who believe already, no proof is required; and for those who do not believe, no proof is sufficient.
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