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I was watching EWTN's coverage of WYD 2005. At mass they had a Juggler who juggled hats. That was followed by a Juggler who juggled flaming torches. The commentary said, These where not my words but the words of Vatican Radio.

Nie dobrze. Televised abuses with H.H Pope Benedict in town, what's next...

james

Well, what did anyone expect?

This is a natural course of action for World Youth Day.

The entire event should be scrapped and re-formulated from the very base. It's truly a travesty.

No matter how many lives are touched, how many youth are "reconciled to Christ" or whatever, this is *not* done by sacreligeous liturgical abuses - ever.

What else did the EWTN commentator say? To not denounce these hideous demonstrations for what they are would be an unimaginable sin of omission, at the very best.

Of course, EWTN commentators aren't always the sharpest tools in the shed, re: the English/Australian female commentator for the papal funeral rites. Lorda mercy!

Logos Teen

What I think EWTN does is feed Vatican Radio for commentary with a live feed. It appears they where not EWTN commentaries but Vatican Radio commentaries.

In addition to the Jugglers they brought the Blessed Sacrament to the Altar via a monstarious (not sure about my spelling). A Deacon brought the Sacrament to the Altar with a host of Altar Girls around him.

I think this settles once and for all the debate on Altar Girls. Clearly the Pope approves of Altar Girls. This in turn raises a question. When is the BCC going to have regular Altar Girls?

BCC Altar Girls would really bring home the changes in the Liturgy. Now we could have an inclusive Language Liturgy with Altar Girls.

I'm going to try to watch the Vigil Mass...but these happenings drive me further from Rome and confirm other thoughts...

james

Are there no official explanations for altar girls in RC Churches? One would think one of two things should be officially stated. First, either this action means that the Church has given up on trying to prepare young men for the priesthood through the minor oders and in fact the minor orders will never again be viewed as minor orders. Second, or we are in fact going to start ordaining women to the priesthood.

For Eastern Catholics does this mean that our mission is over. That the RCs really have gone too far?

Dan L

On the Official WYD 2005 Website [wjt2005.de] I did find this quote,

Well, as an RC I can quote you the old Jim Reeves song "Welcome to my world, won't you come on in." There is far too much of this nonsense passing as liturgy, and here it is presented at WYD, bold as brass.

Of course lines three and four of the same Jim Reeves song say: "Miracles I guess, still happen now and then." I continue to pray for the miracle that will restore reverence everywhere to the Roman Liturgy.

First off, I must confess that I haven't seen all the coverage of WYD so I am not disputing the observations made by the other posters, however what I have seen impressed me greatly with the liturgical vision and theological prioriteis of Pope Benedict.

The things I watched on EWTN were the Holy Father's address to seminarians, the prayer vigil that included the stations of the cross, and the service of Eucharistic adoration and Benediction. While I have the unmost respect and love for our late Holy Father of happy memory - John Paul II - I couldn't help but notice a renewed sense of reverence in this WYD as opposed to those in the past. Sure there were the multicultural celebratory elements as seen before, but at least I saw less of an emphasis on WYD being a "Catholic Woodstock" as one media outlet put it and more a prayerful encounter with the Lord.

First, I must make it clear that I have not watched all the WYD coverage. I did state only 2 facts that I observed while watching WYD coverage:

1. Jugglers on the altar.

2. Altar girls.

Other than that I didn't see anything which would be "liturgical abuse". Altar girls now seem to be 100% approved by the Vatican, so they can not be considered an abuse.

It should be noted that the Pope does not plan these liturgies. To some extent what would lay in store for him may be as much a surprise to him as it would be for all of us. So it should not be considered that things that go on at such a liturgy would all be with papal approbation.

In this case as well, this event would have long been in the planning under the previous pontiff, and I add, under the papal master of ceremonies whom most are expecting will be "scrapped" fairly soon.

Benedict has made pretty clear his liturgical vision. As for Altar girls, yes they are licit in the Roman rite, but it should be noted that other documents from Rome have come out to the effect that altar boys are the norm, and that the permission for girls to serve in this capacity is up to the local ordinary. Statements have also come out noting some prudential considerations that must occur in this capacity in order to preseve the serving ministry as a garden of vocations.

Some interesting articles from the German magazine Speigal:

http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,370484,00.html

http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,370072,00.html

http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,370288,00.html

http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,370310,00.html

http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,370123,00.html

And this lovely bit:
http://www.signandsight.com/intodaysfeuilletons/316.html

Frankfurter Rundschau, 19.08.2005

Peter Fuchs, a sociologist and practising Catholic, turns away in disgust from the "benumbing scene of sloppy sentimentality" at the World Youth Day in Cologne, where Pope Benedict XVI yesterday made his first apostolic pilgrimage. "What we see here is a mass spectacle worthy of Leni Riefenstahl (who filmed documentaries of the 1934 Nazi party congress in Nuremberg and the 1936 Olympics in Berlin). The comparison is not only formal, but also functional: there are giga-appeals to the emotions and unbridled expression of feelings, which are used as an instrument to blockade clear thinking. The sayings by German philosopher Johann Gottfried Herder 'I feel, therefore I am!' and by Goethe, 'Feeling is everything!' take on new meaning today. Now we say: 'We feel, we are young, we are, and that's all!' It is more than telling that a well-nigh feverish and frenetic cult of the personality is at the core of this powerful display. But it has nothing to do with the collected, simple life of Jesus of Nazareth, who would have had nothing to do with this ruckus."

Wasn't it Jesus who said "let the children come to me"? Also, didn't Jesus feed the 5000+ strong ruckus-makers with some fish and bread?

Moe,

Thanks for pointing out the folly of those who do not know Christ. Let us pray for them, that they may find Him, and the Sweetness of Life Eternal.

Admin

PS: The reading at the Vespers of Good Friday immediately came to mind: