A study in contrasts:
Smith, Karen Sue
A study in contrasts
On a recent European visit, I had the opportunity to test firsthand Paul Dinter's observations ("Standing in the Way of Worship," June 16) of the clergy's resistance to...
...The altar boy doubled as a lector...
...It was late Sunday afternoon in mid-June, when I stepped into the dark apse of St...
...Because there were so many priests, the lay eucharistic ministers did not distribute Communion...
...On the day of my visit, a dynamic young priest was to be installed as pastor...
...The organ pealed out splendidly, the people sang, and the exchange of peace was warm, yet the liturgy as a whole was disconcerting...
...All of this seemed to confirm Paul Dinter's observations...
...two lectors-a man and a woman- proclaimed the Scriptures and led the prayer of the faithful...
...The music was well-prepared and ample...
...KAREN SUE SMITH Karen Sue Smith is an associate editor of Commonweal and directs the Iona Center for Pastoral Liturgy at lona College, New Rochelle, N.Y.lle, N.Y...
...The Mass was led entirely by males-two priests, one altar boy, and a song leader-who executed their roles perfunctorily...
...Scenes like these belong in the church's liturgical memory and in discussions of present and future reform...
...Stephen's Church in Vienna to attend Mass in German...
...Louis Jesuits (in German), all led by a young woman cantor...
...The people-especially the men-sang out forcefully...
...We, the co-celebrants, were reduced to spectators, distant from the liturgical action...
...even the prayer of the faithful was read by a priest...
...It included drums, guitar, flute, organ, and at least one song by the St...
...a bishop preached...
...As the long entrance procession squeezed itself through the crowd, I noticed red-robed altar girls as well as boys...
...a woman parishioner gave another...
...A study in contrasts On a recent European visit, I had the opportunity to test firsthand Paul Dinter's observations ("Standing in the Way of Worship," June 16) of the clergy's resistance to particular liturgical reforms in some European parishes...
...Unexpectedly, the following week, I had a rousing and contrasting experience at the Saturday evening Mass in Ebreichsdorf, a small nearby farming village...
...a layman brought the gifts to the altar...
...The local baron opened with a welcoming speech...
...In the center aisle uniformed Pathfinder guides (male and female scout leaders) and scouts stood throughout the service...
...The elegant, miniature church was overflowing with worshipers, many of whom celebrated by wearing the national costumes of Austria...
...one of the priests brought the gifts from a side table two steps away...
Vol. 116 • September 1989 • No. 16
