Liturgical abuse and sacrilege for everyone!

We attended a first communion today at a parish in the diocese of Covington and I have to say, I have never seen(and I have seen much) so many abuses, disrespect and offense shown to our Lord in all my life. During the homily, the priest actually had a huge cardboard heart cut out that he popped out and the packed house broke out in laughter. Multiple times people applauded for ignorant things that were meaningless. It was standing room only and we spent the Mass in the vestibule, unfortunately. There were windows so we could see the entire side show from where we stood. The Mass started with the boy first communicants lined up next to us and a little boy with down syndrome was being made fun of and eventually had enough, and a fight broke out. The boy at the end of the line was making fart armpit noises and dumping hand sanitizer all over the floor and sliding on it. Yeah, it was very reverent. I suppose it can go straight to the top as the priest had a huge performance in the sanctuary for the entire Mass. I would say 70% of the Mass was ad-libbed. My mother was inside the body of the church and I know it had to be harder for her, she could see and hear everything. She said that was by far the worse Mass ever and she has been present with dancing nuns(so that says a lot).
I apologize for this post. One thing to come out of this...I love my church, the gift of the traditional Mass and am so incredibly thankful to have such a reverent liturgy. No one that has this available should take it for granted, period. I am also convinced that every last parish in Covington has fallen into this muck we experienced today(to varying degrees but it has become the norm). When the new missal arrives, I hope the bishop takes this as an opportunity to whip this diocese back into shape. I was appalled. I was shocked and sad that the diocese I grew up in and that gave me my first sacraments has fallen into a malaise of disrespect and hatred toward our Lord. Did I say it was awful?
My kids did their best to stay quiet and solemn but it was the loudest and most raucous thing I have ever been through(okay, maybe the AC/DC concert of my youth was a bit louder). My dad, who was a strict baptist growing up said they had more reverence in his tiny baptist church than was found in that parish today. That is saying something.
If you have a reverent, respectful church with proper music and a sound liturgy, treasure it and thank God for such a blessing. You don't realize how awesome and blessed you are to have this available. May the day come, in our lifetime, that the Lord is revered, adored and loved with the utmost care on every altar. Until then, pray that we have the courage and fortitude to change the abuses and sacrilege that occurs against our dearest Lord everyday throughout the world. I love you dear Jesus and I am so sorry.

Reverence for the Eucharist is never dispensable, even in a child, even in danger of death.
A sense of the sacred, a sense of reverence, is due not only to the Eucharist, but to other persons too, and to places and things. I am always struck by a renewed sense of the sacred during the rite of dedicating a new church by which it becomes sacred, a sacred place, set aside exclusively and perpetually for the worship of God. It makes me conscious again of "the reverence due to the house of God" (CCL 562) and the reverential silence we keep in church in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.

(From A PASTORAL LETTER ON REVERENCE FOR THE EUCHARIST
Bishop John R. Keating, 1988)

Yeah! for Catholic insurance. Really.

Today was the day at the dentist for all three Thorn kids. Check-ups, x-rays and cleaning. They all did well, no cavities. Mama, however, did not do well. They take all three kids back, I'm left alone in the waiting room with 2 pregnant moms(7 months plus), a husband of a pregnant mom and a prima donna mom. So the conversation turns to pregnancy, bed rest, we didn't plan this, etc. I did well, all things considered. The one preg mom says "my youngest is 7yrs, we didn't want more, then SURPRISE!, I'm pregnant". The prima mom says "I don't want more, my husband has had the consults and is supposed to have his surgery next month, I can't wait". She continues. "The worst part is we have CATHOLIC INSURANCE and they won't pay for it. It sucks because I am so done, even if my husband isn't. I'm overwhelmed with my two as it is."

So on one hand my brain is saying "you selfish woman, how insensitive you say such things in public while others cry out for life" Then may brain is going "heck yeah, why should your catholic insurance pay for you to play baby god?" Then I'm thinking...does your husband work for the diocese or do you have the Foresters insurance?

Good grief, what a lousy day at the dentist. As soon as all the complaining pregnant ladies and prima baby god lady left, the lump in my throat turned to tears. I told God I was sorry, I prayed for strength and I am now trying to move on.
Tomorrow is my appointment to follow up on the ultrasound. I hope for the best, I have been having pains, don't know what's going on. Satan has been working on me lately. Finances, homeschool, car problems, peace in our home, baby hopes, all of it. Back off bringing of fear and killer of hope! That's all on that.

I was also very troubled by a recent "appointment" in/around our diocese...I hold onto hope that everything in the dark will be brought to light. I am also thankful to be in Cincinnati(not Covington), to be free from the politics and garbage here. It has been a burden, occasion of sin and in the end, I have always been about following the truth. This is what led me to our parish we now call home and we look forward to Mass again(always).
Sorry if this seems random or vague. Those who have followed my blog for years know we have been through quite a lot. It should not be this much work and stress to follow the truth and be free from falsehoods and questionable liturgy. I pray it is cleaned up one day. I'm sure that is the hope of many Catholics. Until then, pray and hope. "Not worrying" goes against my nature and the way God created me ;)

I miss it. A lot.

We had to go to our old parish tonight for a first confession meeting(excellent idea, old parish didn't have this) and it made me sad. I miss being there, I miss our priest, the church, the people, the security...just about everything. It feels odd still, being kicked over the river(so to speak). I get why things happened, the way they happened(sort of). I just don't see the Covington Diocese being orthodox/tradition friendly anytime soon. The people responsible for bringing the EF to All Saints in Walton are gone and it is too unstable for us. I can't commit to another odd situation where we might get the boot again. We are weary and need security and sameness(for a few reasons). Some people may be okay with parish hopping every week, I can't do it. With special needs kids and other circumstances, it is too much for us. The priest at Sacred Heart told us that the new Archbishop seems very positive about the Latin Mass Community in Cincinnati and read a letter of appreciation to us before the homily. I literally got choked up. He may have no idea how much that means but to our family, it goes miles. We are not some ghetto group trying to cause trouble. We are asking for a place to worship where we can share what God has given us with the parish and the diocese. We have a lot to offer. It is not desired in the Covington Diocese so we have chosen to go where we are wanted and appreciated(as nothing more than humans and Catholics).
Anyway, I just got melancholy tonight. Our "red books" were still in the back. The church looked the same and I miss our priest there. No one can no how difficult it was to lose twins, so tiny and young, with no priest to ask "how are you?" or "let me know if you need to talk". I suffered with my family(when I could) and my blog(friends). I still hurt and feel I don't have closure like I thought I would by now. So there. I read about a priest who passed this week after being at the same parish for 50 years. Wow. That would NEVER happen here. Which is why people, for the most part, feel no loyalty to a parish for very long. The priest is never there long enough to become close to the people. I remember those days from when I was young. I don't understand why it changed. Priests(diocesan) live a lonely enough life as it is. Why rob them of a solid parish "family", too? I don't get it. I will pray for this diocese. It needs it(bad).
We need to plan out sacraments for our youngest and meet with the new parish for specifics. I wish our diocese was more FSSP friendly. It would only benefit the diocese , as a whole, and save the MANY that are now SPPX from staying away from Rome. Once that new (SPPX)church is complete(the walls are up and looks closer to completion in Walton), I feel we will lose some of the ones that attend the EF in our diocese now. Lost souls doesn't sit well with me. Especially when it can be avoided. Maybe my prayers need to be different for something to happen. Right now, I have to be obedient to my husband and care for my children. The diocese will come far after that.

Oh dear, this is a tough one

So I am researching parishes to find a "home base" near St. Pete Beach for Holy Week. So far, I have found a parish with a "praise band"(don't even what to know what that entails), one that is "gay friendly" and then another that is "multi-cultural". Dear Lord, what has happened? Even the parish with an EF about 45 min up the road has a Sunday evening Life Teen Mass. Blech. I am not THAT picky, but it is a holy season and I don't want to fall in the same trap that we had in Orlando 2 years ago(remember the huge shrine and the bathing suit Mass story, ahem...) So, we may return to ST. Jude's Shrine in St. Pete since they have a Sunday EF and it is close. We just need a place for Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter. If we can attend weekday Mass the following week, great but Holy Week is most important.
Okay, I found another that has the "theater in the round" theme going on with their "new church" plus a swimming po....er....large baptismal thing with um lots of water.
I give up for tonight. My brain hurts.

Will this begin to happen?

Will a parish in a diocese become a "TLM" parish? I have been thinking about this lately. It would seem this would be a solution for a smaller diocese that cannot spare priests or add more Masses to their schedule. It seems it would be a perfect solution for our diocese here in Covington. Take a parish that has been closed or is very small in number and that parish would have sacraments and Masses in the extraordinary rite. In this way, the people can have all the benefits of belonging to a parish and not feel so "transient". Another bonus would be complaints of liturgical abuse, etc would go down in numbers(most liberal or casual Catholics aren't concerned with these things). I see how Ma Beck's parish is not just thriving but doing remarkably well. It may even bring SSPX members and others back to the fold. I wonder if there is another diocese who is planning this since the release of Summorum Pontificum? It seems like a win-win situation. If it is found there are enough people in a diocese that would join such a parish, then why not? The spiritual and financial benefit could just be amazing...something to ponder on...

Music and the cup parade

This entry probably would have been better titled "how do I go back?". In the past year, God has led my family and I to the Traditional Mass and I have grown so much in my appreciation and awe of all things traditional. We have been going back to our "home" parish for daily Mass with the kids but I am still in such limbo. The weekday Mass is just fine, it's not a stress on me nor am I on guard, it's just simple as it should be. I just have a "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality. Yes, I know, that's my weakness/my problem. I have just really felt a peace on Sundays for the last 7 or 8 months since we have regularly been praying the Tridentine Mass. Sundays are easy, relaxing, we treat each other nice and my children behave at that Mass. There is a sense of the sacred, a calm and a supernatural that I still can't find in the Novus Ordo(will I ever?). In a way, it saddens me. I missed going to daily Mass. Now, I just don't know what will happen. I thought I did, but the best laid plans....as it goes.
It is my hope that I will find the answers I am searching for while on vacation. I need to be away from here to pray and think clearly as I'm just stuck right now. How do people know what they are missing if they have never experienced it? I knew, but couldn't find it. Now that I have, can I go back to the cup parade and the heretical songs? I need a reason to go back to that. So far, I can't think of one. I can't do that "community" thing. It's not me. I miss being a part of a parish. A lot. I just can't sacrifice everything I have gained spiritually for the comfort of a parish. Baby steps. I hope that maybe Summorum Pontificum will have an effect on our parish and diocese. That is my hope. I have such hope in the future of our church. It is the present I am not so sure about.

Update on life

Well last cycle came and went. I have been feeling rather yucky for the past two days. I started the supplements yesterday and you know, I just need to start eating better. I'm tired of not being able to keep up with life and my kids(sometimes). These supplements have me thinking healthy and feeling motivated. I just need a plan. It seems like whenever my husband and I have a plan to eat healthy and lose some weight, tragedy sets in and we go back to survival mode. I faxed over my BBT chart this morning and I just know he will bump me up to 200 mg on the clomid. This is sure to have side effects at that dosage. I'm fairly certain that is what landed me in the hospital last week. The abdominal pains were intense enough to worry me into the emergency room.

I need to focus on business and get things completed before vacation. I won't be able to handle the stress of outstanding orders and packing in one week. I'm up early feeling crampy and I should just get to work. I need to try and get the kids to Mass either tomorrow or Friday. I'm so hopeful about all things at our parish that I'm really not concerned with "that" aspect of my life right now. Looking back on the last year, I see that all things happen for a reason. There are still some horrible things that happened that cannot be reversed but I have to stay hopeful. A dear priest I know always says to me "who are you that you think you shouldn't have to suffer?" That may sound harsh but wiser words have never been spoken(to me). I think this is one reason I have such issues with Protestant mentality on suffering. Because I know God allows it for good reason. We have to trust that reasoning, it's part of our faith. In so many aspects of my life I try to pick the fruit before it is ripe and it is God that slows me down. He is the "whoa" so to speak. I look at the calender and see that I am getting older and worry about how much longer I have to bear a child. I need to get healthy so I can carry that child.

On a much more positive note, my daughter had a heart to heart with me yesterday and said "Mom, I just want to be a nun and a teacher. I think that will make me happy". Wow. She is six, mind you. Even if that never comes into fruition, it helps this mom feel like I am at least on the right path with my kids. Even if it is just for a day, sometimes I need that.

Prayers answered!

I have prayed recently for a certain "change" in our parish and it has happened! Rather remarkable and exciting and further lets me know God is in charge(Thanks be to God for that). It is so good to see such a glimmer of hope on a local level. I had been so discouraged lately(I know...big secret) but I really feel prayers have been answered and once again, my time and God's time are totally different.

I just wanted to report the positive news and thank you all for keeping my "situation" in your prayers.

Today I am finishing orders, going to the uniform shop with the kids(kack) and getting some things done to prepare for our trip. Again, thank you so much to those that prayed.

And another thing...

I must still be in a mood this morning. I will get my Catholic joy back soon. Just taking a break for station identification. That and putting my frustration into words so that I can move on. I may take the kids to a daily Mass at the parish next week. I got a funny feeling things will be better....

Rough stuff

Yesterday my parents went to the anniversary of a dear, sweet sister who has been professed for 50 years. During the "Mass" there were nuns with ribbons on sticks, heretical music(example):

Bread of Life
By Rory Cooney
I myself am the bread of life
you and I are the bread of life
taken and blessed, broken and shared by Christ
that the world may live.

and a homily from a priest that claims of the 65 men who entered the seminary with him, only 6 were "chosen". Um, wow. Humble, but wow. Who is to say they weren't forced out by liberalism or worse? The gospel was also ad-libbed and the responsorial psalm was not the one for yesterday but some hippy replacement. Now remember, the sister who they were there for was orthodox and so special but imagine what she has had to endure over the years. This took place at a well-known and prominent parish here in Northern Kentucky. We are still in limbo, nothing changed there. I wonder how many of us are hopping over the river to the Cincinnati diocese. At least there, EVERY parish isn't liberal and riddled with liturgical abuses and heretical music.

I have told my husband I would not be upset if his job or another job moved us away from here. Yeah, it's that bad. And as much as I would like to think our parish will be okay when the new assignments start next month, I just don't know. It's not that I don't trust the priest, I don't trust the people who are as mean and ornery about anything sacred or holy as it gets. I don't trust them and I don't like that they think things should be done in our liturgy by a show of hands. So, I suppose I will stay in limbo.

We went to Old St. Mary's in downtown Cincinnati yesterday and it is just so refreshing. To not have to worry that the next song or thing to happen will make me cringe and wince is both a blessing and a comfort. I have talked to others and it is the "not knowing" aspect of going to Mass and just waiting for a crazy song about worshipping our self or running through fields of daisies or a dance or bongo that I can't handle anymore. I wish there were ONE parish in this diocese that was NORMAL(or maybe it's NOT normal if you look at it back-ass wards).

There may be people who judge me and my feelings and think I am over-reacting or being too harsh but when there isn't ONE church in your diocese that is free from crap, it's a sad and sorry state. I never said there aren't good priests, quite the contrary. I understand people are imperfect and don't expect perfection. I just shouldn't be on the edge of my pew at every Mass worrying someone will make up a gospel(happens a lot here), sing a crazy song or profane the Body and Blood of Christ.

Yep, I went on a tirade. But I got it out of my system and feel about 10% better. For whatever that is worth. I'd be swimming with the kids right now if my orders weren't backed up.
By the way, Old St. Mary's had an all parish Mass and procession yesterday(we missed this as we went to the 12:30 English Mass). Here is the list of hymns from yesterday. No big crazy songs about we(the parish) being the Body of Christ or bread....you get my point. I wish I would be attending my parish and putting my tithe there. It pains me that it is not even a safe place to bring my family anymore. Lost souls...I can't afford anymore in my family.

(You may have to click on this to see the detail, it's tiny. Sorry about that)

UPDATE: I told my mother her experience turned into blog fodder and she wanted to correct me. The nuns were SASHAYING and the sticks with ribbons on them were about 20 ft. long. Also, she asked my dad if she could sit on the END of the pew. Whoa. Furthermore, the lady behind her, during the sign of peace said audibly "She's ignoring me". I told her she should have taken the heel of her hand, bonked her in the head and said "How's that work for ya?".

And you people thought I was kidding when I said our local Mass is an occasion of sin...

Yeah, I'm still here

We took a break for station identification and went to an Embassy Suites with the kids last night. I actually escaped the real world for something besides work. They didn't know we were going and I was trying hard to be vague. I met my husband at the hotel and we checked in and then went to the Manager's Reception in the atrium for about a half hour. Free drinks(yes, the adult version too) and lots of snacks, dips and such. So much for dinner. We then went to the pool and hot tub which was very cool(it had a waterfall) and we tried to wear them out. It got very crowded so we left in the early evening, cleaned up and went to dinner at Applebee's. By that time, they were falling asleep at the table to we came back to the hotel and we were all wiped out. In the morning, they had a complementary breakfast bar complete with made-to-order pancakes and omelets, bagels, meats, cereal, etc. So that was our night. Today I am back to real life and dealing with customers, and trying to get work done.
I had a meeting regarding my oldest son which went very well at school yesterday. I am praying so hard for everything to work out for our family. I know the priest that is staying is such a good man and he really has his plate full with such a growing parish. He is going to need our prayers and support but I have faith in him. If I think my last year has been difficult, I can only imagine what his has been like. I heard we have a most excellent seminarian who will be with us this summer too. Things are definitely looking up and I really can't ask for more.
Oh, also, I had a meeting with the nursing facility that will be providing respite for the boys(or for me, I should say). I have to use 80 hours between now and July 1st. That's 80 per boy. I know the boys will like it and hopefully they can work on some sensory issues with them, especially my oldest. I am off to sew and get something accomplished. Did I mention I lost 12 lbs.? That's very cool too. I hope this lasts...
Addition: I forgot to add that I found out our new choir/music director wants to become Jewish. Um, wow. My kids pegged it, I didn't give any opinion on her and the first day she played my middle son said "she's not Catholic". Kids know. She has never acknowledged the altar or gone to communion. Now all the crazy music makes perfect sense. It didn't matter if it sounded Catholic, Protestant or Buddhist. She has no interest in the Church. Oh Lord help us!

NR article on parish problems

H/T to Bettnett(and Cafeteria) for this article.
A little formality please
Sadly, I can relate to the article on NR. Of interest were these words:

So bring on the Tridentine Mass, and the new missal language, vernacular be damned. Make use of kneelers, and candles and incense, and if the service needs to be longer than an hour, let it. If it’s worthwhile, who will object? Make demands of your congregants. Give them reason to come, with sermons that don’t insult their intelligence and music that won’t make them groan. Pay musicians and singers if you must. A meaningful worship experience requires mystery and awe and beauty, all of which are conspicuously absent in too many churches today.

Bottom line, young people and families are starving for the sacred, the traditions, the identity of BEING Catholic. I think looking back, that is why even during my early years into my 'reversion" I looked forward to Lent because I got my Catholic identity back. Deep inside, I wanted to be part of something ancient and true that made its presence through all the senses. Even if it's just on Sunday, that fervor and feeling gets us through another week.
I know from teaching my autistic boys that if I want something to "stick", it needs to come in visually, through touch, sound, taste, whatever means necessary. For faith to "stick", the same could be said. Our children need this sense of history and tradition to create memories and their sense of identity, WHO THEY ARE. So I welcome all that gives our faith a salient cohesiveness. They bind us with the apostles, with the early Church fathers, the saints and Our Lord.

New Catholic Architecture

I thought I would share some nice examples of modern Catholic architecture. Duncan G. Stroik recently restored and planned a local parish that is just stunning! Here is the direct link to the parish:
All Saints, Walton KY and the architect's link to the finished work and plans:
All Saint's Photos
It's an amazing example that a modern parish need not look like a cross between a gymnasium and a hospital entrance. I love the other work this firm has done as well. I've always had an interest in architecture and if I was not so bad at math, I would have made that a career choice.