This year 1 January, the Octave of Christmas or the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God fell on a Sunday. All Sundays are Holy Days of Obligation. Next year, 2024, 1 January falls on a Monday. That means that, in these USA, Catholics will not be obliged to go to Mass. The bishops say that if 1 January or 15 August or 1 November are on a Monday or a Saturday, people don’t have to go to Mass, as if going to Mass on days back to back is somehow too much of a burden.
In itself this isn’t necessarily a terrible blow to Catholic identity, considered either amongst ourselves for ourselves or considered by non-Catholics observing our behavior as Catholics. However, combined with the relaxation of other practices to the point of their invisibility both to us and the wider world, it is indeed debilitating. Our Lenten practices have virtually vanished. A one hour Eucharistic fast is almost risible. While chapel veils are making a come back, they are still not widely seen by ourselves or by the watchers. Lack of reverence in our churches is rampant, and the lack of reverently built churches is telling. Music for worship is by and large appalling. Confession schedules are a joke. Religious communities that aren’t tradition minded are dying out and their un-habited members are unrecognizable.
The bishops, priests, religious and complicit lay people have succeeded in telegraphing to observers within and without that being Catholic isn’t all that important, not important enough to do anything about anyway.
Some action items come to mind. Perhaps with the change of a calendar year of salvation, salvation will be considered and actions taken to achieve salvation for as many as possible will be implemented. Yes, one can hope. To this end, I propose…
- Restore obligations: Holy Days, longer Eucharistic fast, Friday penance
- Diminish Saturday vigil Masses and emphasize the Lord’s Day, which is Sunday
- Phase out Communion in the hand
- Sideline Traditionis custodes, etc.
- Return to ad orientem worship
- Multiply devotions: novenas, processions, Forty Hours, etc.
- Overhaul music: repertoire and get choirs out of view
- Return to traditional confessionals and increased times
- Foster silence before and after Mass
- Stress the value of sacramentals
Some might believe that I am overly optimistic in even thinking these things much less posting them as real proposals. Indeed, my optimism is tempered by experience.
I am reminded of the difference between an optimist and a pessimist. The pessimist says, “Things can’t possibly get any worse!” The optimist cheerfully responds, “Oh, yes they can!”
That’s where we are at, I’m afraid. Things can get worse. For a while they will. It takes a long time to change the direction of a very large ship. Not changing, however, endangers even more immortal souls. I don’t want to be complicit with that. What is is that Sam’s old gaffer used to say?
‘It’s the job that’s never started as takes longest to finish, as my old gaffer used to say.
The quote, from the chapter “The Mirror of Galadriel”, continues…
And I don’t reckon that these folk can do much more to help us, magic or no. It’s when we leave this land that we shall miss
GandalfBenedict worse, I’m thinking.’
We have to push our sleeves up, set our faces towards the goal, and get to work, collectively and as individuals.
