I JUST DON’T GET IT AND I LIKE THE MODERN RITES OF THE MASS WHEN THERE IS AWE, WONDER, DIGNITY AND DEVOTION—BUT YOU CAN’T COUNT ON ANY OF THAT IN THE MODERN MASS

I watched most of the Installation Mass for the new Archbishop of New York, The Most Rev. Ronald Hicks.

Since he is already a bishop, there was an “installation rite” after the Greeting and prior to the Gloria.

That rite, and I don’t think it is by design but by manipulation, turned what should be a solemn, reverent rite into an unruly pep rally. Nothing about it was sober and dignified, which should characterize the Roman Rite, especially the reformed rite that is supposed to have noble simplicity and dignity. 

I lost track at how many times Cardinal Dolan and Archbishop Hicks received loud applause and a standing ovations. But included in the applause was hooting and hollering, usually associated with a pep rally or some other kind of jamboree. It does not belong a solemn liturgical rite. 

The Papal Nuncio even had the congregation sing Happy Birthday to Cardinal Dolan and again more applause, hooting and hollering! UGH!

Then the Papal Bull from Pope Leo was read and the parchment handed to the new Archbishop and he paraded around with it and throughout the Cathedral as though it was the Heisman Trophy! And again more sustained applause. What the H?

More depressing is that the people loved it, ate it up and wanted more! It was not a liturgy of the Church, it was like going to the pre-game activities of a Super Bowl! UGH! And they loved it! Depressing!

After this triumphalism, the Mass continued with the Gloria and everything else, with the kind of reverence we have come to experience in the Modern Mass. 

How can this kind of thing be stopped? Read the red and do the black and stick to the liturgical rite as written.

Before hand, tell the congregation there is to be no applause. And add nothing to the Rite that would cause people to start acting like they are at a pep rally or a Super Bowl pre-game warm up or half time entertainment! 

Pope Francis at all large papal Masses at the Vatican had someone ahead of time ask that there be no applause for the pope when he entered and departed. Pope Leo has continued this tradition and there is now sobriety at papal Masses by simply asking people to act reverently not drunkenly. 

Is that too much to ask?

Press the link for the Papal Nuncio leading the singing of Happy Birthday to Cardinal Dolan. I think they should have gotten a Marilyn Monroe impersonator to lead that like the real one did for President Kennedy (RIP):

THE VIDEO HERE, CRINGE WORTHY!