By now, most will have seen that awful film clip showing the hierarchy of South America being led into ridiculous caperings and posturings that will, if anything, alienate any Catholic youth with any ounce of intelligence.
I have run dry on possible adjectives to use to describe this shambles but, my greatest concern is that it reflects what poor leaders we have.
Even allowing for cultural differences between Latin America and the rest of the world it was an appalling pantomime, matched only by the equally banal and blasphemous Stations of the Cross (Via Dolorosa comes to Copacabana).
I fully comprehend the fact that we have to address Catholic youth in a more enlightened manner than just shoving a catechism under their nose but to indulge them in farce is not the way; it is patronising and insulting.
Many years ago a group of Catholics used to produce what became known as 'The Pimlico Passion Play' not quite up to Oberammergau standards but very professional, nonetheless.
It ran each year and it told the story on stage and in mime (most effective) of the Passion of Christ according to St Matthew.
It did not require dancers, or special effects, or panto 'Christs' or inappropriate music; the story of the Way of the Cross, if viewed critically in dramatic terms, is the most poignant piece of theatre possible.
But, returning to our Bishops.
If they possess such a lack of judgement, if they are so easily led (by the cheerleader) and if they believe that capering is a sensible means of relating to Catholic youth, then they are in the wrong job.
And, if the Holy Father, having observed all that took place on Copacabana Beach, takes no action, then he is in the wrong job also.
And back to the 'Stations', here is a clip showing Jim Caviezel speaking of how he portrayed Jesus Christ in the film, The Passion of the Christ.
This is how we should reveal the truth to the young...
I have run dry on possible adjectives to use to describe this shambles but, my greatest concern is that it reflects what poor leaders we have.
Even allowing for cultural differences between Latin America and the rest of the world it was an appalling pantomime, matched only by the equally banal and blasphemous Stations of the Cross (Via Dolorosa comes to Copacabana).
I fully comprehend the fact that we have to address Catholic youth in a more enlightened manner than just shoving a catechism under their nose but to indulge them in farce is not the way; it is patronising and insulting.
Many years ago a group of Catholics used to produce what became known as 'The Pimlico Passion Play' not quite up to Oberammergau standards but very professional, nonetheless.
It ran each year and it told the story on stage and in mime (most effective) of the Passion of Christ according to St Matthew.
It did not require dancers, or special effects, or panto 'Christs' or inappropriate music; the story of the Way of the Cross, if viewed critically in dramatic terms, is the most poignant piece of theatre possible.
But, returning to our Bishops.
If they possess such a lack of judgement, if they are so easily led (by the cheerleader) and if they believe that capering is a sensible means of relating to Catholic youth, then they are in the wrong job.
And, if the Holy Father, having observed all that took place on Copacabana Beach, takes no action, then he is in the wrong job also.
And back to the 'Stations', here is a clip showing Jim Caviezel speaking of how he portrayed Jesus Christ in the film, The Passion of the Christ.
This is how we should reveal the truth to the young...
Rio WYD I only know from TV coverage, Madrid 2 years back (Three of mine went there with the little sisters of the poor, as it happens) has some things I know shared with Rio: Permanent exposition of the blessed sacrament,(which Rio had also adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for quite some time on copacabana to end the saturday vigil) industrial scale confessionals, as well as the groups pilgriming with a priest.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if Rio had what Madrid did, masses of good solid sessions of Catholic catequesis,all week, plus whatever evry single group / movement/order inthe church travelling there with its own pilgrims choose to organize.
Some/all , I know not, of the organizers evidently have a mindset stuck in popular culture of around 1970 - you don't need much tv coverage to learn that.
Millions turned up for JPII, For Pope Benedict , now for Pope Francis: the enemedia want it personal , well our current Peters generally are particular individuals, as it happens.There's no reason they shouldn't just turn up, or be just from StX's Parish church, wheresoever, but mostly they're with/ members of/involved in something in the church within or broader than the Parish .
Someone feels they need a "show" as well - well, Prayer, discomfort,confession, the belessed sacrament, sermons, pilgriming - meeting today's Peter today, tomorrow's tomorrow. Wait for some feedback.I suspect for the pilgrims, wouldbe dervishing bishops and the like aren't very much on their radar.
How I wish my brother and sister bloggers would see this video clip doing the rounds from another point of view. If King David pleased The Lord by dancing before His presence in the ark, then our prelates should be free to do so as well. Leah, David's wife, complained of impropriety. But David pleased The Lord. I believe that our prelates did too. They were willing to look foolish for Christ, and did so with sincerity. Good on them! If they can do this, then they will have greater freedom to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit, because they have demonstrated that what God thinks is more important than what anyone else thinks.
ReplyDeleteCatherine, there is only one point of view, this was just plain silly and vacuous. If you believe that Almighty God is pleased at such stupidity, please think again.
ReplyDeleteRichard
DeleteHe just might be, you know.
To present Christ to the world , as messy creatures, we're bound to do it messily. "lio"
For all that I'm inclined to agree with you on the aesthetics, and the lack of any necessity for showbiz shows, , do not the jews daven ?
If twere better done, twere better done badly than not at all
Dorothy sayers:
CHRIST walks the world again, His lute upon His back,
His red robe rent to tatters, His riches gone to rack,
The wind that wakes the morning blows His hair about His face,
His hands and feet are ragged with the ragged briar's embrace,
For the hunt is up behind Him and His sword is at His side, . . .
Christ the bonny outlaw walks the whole world wide,
Singing: "Lady, lady, will you come away with Me,
Lie among the bracken and break the barley bread?
We will see new suns arise in golden, far-off skies,
For the Son of God and Woman hath not where to lay His head."
Christ walks the world again, a prince of fairy-tale,
He roams, a rascal fiddler, over mountain and down dale,
Cast forth to seek His fortune in a bitter world and grim,
For the stepsons of His Father's house would steal His Bride from Him;
They have weirded Him to wander till He bring within His hands
The water of eternal youth from black-enchanted lands,
Singing: "Lady, lady, will you come away with Me,
Or sleep on silken cushions in the bower of wicked men?
For if we walk together through the wet and windy weather,
When I ride back home triumphant you will ride beside Me then."
Christ walks the world again, new-bound on high emprise,
With music in His golden mouth and laughter in His eyes;
The primrose springs before Him as He treads the dusty way,
His singer's crown of thorn has burst in blossom like the may,
He heedeth not the morrow and He never looks behind,
Singing: "Glory to the open skies and peace to all mankind."
Singing: "Lady, lady, will you come away with Me?
Was never man lived longer for the hoarding of his breath;
Here be dragons to be slain, here be rich rewards to gain . . .
If we perish in the seeking, . . . why, how small a thing is death!"
Poor Richard, you stated that "there is only one point of view" in response to Catherine; I suppose that point of view is yours. The word Catholic means universal, which means that we should understand that our Church includes people/cultures who worship differently than us. These Bishops were not dancing during the Mass, in fact, if you watched the Mass, you would have seen it celebrated very reverently considering the conditions. If you have an issue with anything during this very successful WYD, I suggest you take it up with the Vicar of Christ who present.
DeleteThis is hardly encouraging, either:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.theeye-witness.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-pope-wont-judge-homosexual-priests.html
Mike, yes, the DS verse is excellent, problems with that.
ReplyDeleteThanks AP, at present I can't bear to watch, later when the prozac has kicked in :)
Mike: 'no problems with that'.
ReplyDeleteGeorge faced with the choice of crass silliness and reverent worship, there can only be one point of view.
ReplyDeleteWe can all sit here and say, “That was really stupid. They’re not fools for Christ; just fools.” But the bishops weren’t there for those of us reading or watching from the sidelines. They were there to meet part of the living Church and to attempt to connect with it. Calling a bishop a fool for waving his arms is a pretty low threshold for the foolishness of the rest of us. So the bishops got silly dance lessons. Shame on them for trying to connect with the young people who they have an obligation to pastor.
ReplyDeleteJust to be clear: I’m not saying that silly dancing is necessary for effective outreach or pastoring to the youth. But some comments made concerning this issue truly epitomize an “arm-chair quarterback” mentality, calling it all folly and superficiality. My point: it wasn’t FOR you. I think hymns from Marty Haugen and the other guy are folly and coated in saccharine too, but rather than believing there’s something wrong with Haugen-lovers, I try to remind myself that since the Church is supposed to be universal, there has to be room for many forms of spiritual and liturgical practice, and it does not unify or edify to constantly complain about the ones that we think are dumb.
Jesus knows what each of us needs, and we must thank Him for giving us a Church that He established to hold it all.
Well said!
Deleteqmbarque and George - the point is that they were not connecting with youth. Such antics do nothing of any depth with regard to the Faith. Our Lord enjoined us to 'Go forth and teach' not 'Go forth and join'.
ReplyDeleteThe spectacle of our leaders behaving in such a foolish manner did nothing to enhance the Faith of young or old.