It happened again a while ago. The Mass was honoring a former member of the parish who had just professed final vows. Visiting clergy were present. After the procession, when all were assembled on the altar, the pastor made the sign of the cross, looked at the packed house, gave a big smile, and said, “Yep, just another ordinary Mass at St. ‘X’.” A laughter of good will broke out. He introduced the visiting priests; and each, in turn, received a round of applause.
Whatever solemnity there may have been received a huge blow.
This is not another rant of how priests are deforming the Mass by their impromptu remarks. Rather, I am raising the question of whether the Mass, specifically the Novus Ordo Mass by its nature, may be deforming our priests. This is true even when it is celebrated reverently and on special occasions. In fact, it seems the more special the occasion, the more egregious the transgression.
I don’t impute any fault to those involved. There needs to be knowledge of a transgression for that to be imputed, and the point of this piece is that we’ve come to the point where the knowledge seems to be lacking through no fault of the participants. I know each priest involved and had been to confession with most of them. They were solid on Church teaching and the guidance of souls.
By “deforming the clergy,” I mean that the Novus Ordo can seem (and I emphasize “seem”) to alter the nature of the priest from one who performs a sacrifice to one who is in charge of a ceremony. His whole attitude and demeanor changes. I am sure this is unconscious and that the vast majority of priests view their celebration of the Mass as a solemn event. They take what they are doing very seriously. They intend no disrespect to our Lord, nor do they intend in any way to make the Mass about themselves.
But that’s the problem: despite their intent, the Novus Ordo, by its nature, can (I could say “does”) make the personality of the priest an issue. It has become second nature to the clergy just as “lining up” to receive the Eucharist has become for the laity.
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