Catholic Matters UPDATED AGAIN!!

A friend lent me the book Catholic Matters by Father Richard Neuhaus and I was fascinated by it.  Unlike the Catholic books I typically read on theology or spirituality, this book took a look at the Church today, particularly in America.  He begins and ends with his experience in Rome at the funeral of Pope John Paul the Great.  He takes a good hard look at the Church today, challenging and chastising us where needed, yet with love and optimism.  He had some incredible insight and thoughts that I want to share.

Regarding Catholics who "think for themselves" he says, "The somewhat implausible assumption is that what one thinks up by oneself is more interesting than what the Church teaches."  HA!  He goes on to point out that thinking with the Church depends on thinking at all.  We have to think for ourselves so that we can think WITH the Church.  "People say they have difficulty with one teaching or another.  That is not necessarily a problem.  The problem arises when we assume that the problem is with the teaching and not with ourselves."  (Reminds me of a certain poem by a certain blogger...I'm not going to name names... ahem... Danya... ahem...) (Catholic Matters: Confusion, Controversy, and the Splendor of Truth, pg. 13). 


His chapter titled "Lest Catholics Be Different" had me laughing so hard I was crying.  He begins by recommending a book that is now on my Amazon wish-list (oh how it is growing and growing...)  Why Catholics Can't Sing: The Culture of Catholicism and the Triumph of Bad Taste by Thomas Day. 


"Day sends up chatty priests who emcee the Mass as though it were their own live talk show, song leaders who challenge anyone else to sing, and happy-clappy ditties that might embarrass preschoolers."  (Catholic Matters, pg. 111) 

He points out that "not so long ago, convert stories typically stressed the compelling aesthetic attractions of Catholicism.  People such as Thomas Merton were drawn to the Church by the beauty, the solemnity, the ceremony, the dignity of the worship.  The word commonly used was 'mystery.'" (Catholic Matters, pg. 112)


He is hopeful that the liberties taken in Mass are passing as we are blessed with a new generation of priests.  From hidden Tabernacles to liturgical dancers, we are on the road to a renewed Church and liturgy. 

So let's indulge ourselves and play the game of "can you top this" in liturgical and musical malpractices? 

I'll start.  When we had first moved here and were parish hopping to find our Church home, the Church we ultimately joined played the song, "Lean on Me" for the offertory hymn.  SOUL style.  I nearly split my side from holding in the laughter.  Let's just say it did NOT invoke a spirit of prayer!!  Sheez!

UPDATE!!!  As good timing would have it, "First Things" came out with a top ten list of the worst hymns here!  Hilarious and SO TRUE!  Anything you would add to it?  I'd add "All are Welcome" and, of course, "Lean on Me."  :)

I keep finding more- compliments of friends!  (Thanks, Maria!)  Check this out!  It's a ten-step process to writing any Marty Haugen song.  (My favorite is #10.)

P.S.  Pray for a friend who had an adoption fall through at the last minute last week.  They'd been matched for months and were on their way to pick up the baby when the BM changed her mind and decided to parent.  Heartbreaking.