I have sympathy for both Ed and JD’s thoughts on Holy Days of Obligation (HDO). I would be curious of either or both of their thoughts on this:
I heard this thought from a priest who saw HDO as a one of the first steps or markers in parish renewal. As I think while we have adults in the pews many average Sunday Mass goers would be in a so…
I have sympathy for both Ed and JD’s thoughts on Holy Days of Obligation (HDO). I would be curious of either or both of their thoughts on this:
I heard this thought from a priest who saw HDO as a one of the first steps or markers in parish renewal. As I think while we have adults in the pews many average Sunday Mass goers would be in a sort of infant faith. “I have to go to Mass and I better get something out of the Mass in return.” No thought of what do I offer at Mass or sense that the Lord desires more than your mere bodily presence at Mass.
This priest pointed out that HDO are often neglected by Sunday Mass goers and as he pushed for people to go to HDO after a year or two HDO and Sunday Mass attendance started be close to equal in attendance. This suggested to him that people were beginning to make the Faith something they were willing to work into their lives beyond Sunday. Even if it was a less than pure motive. But remember that “fear of the Lord is the first stage of wisdom”. He then said that he was able to begin forming his people in a real vision of renewal and evangelization. The more relevant to the HDO’s themselves, he said that he could motivate some of the more invested parishioners to help organize and facilitate celebrations or Marian processions after HDO Mass. This in turn led to people looking forward to these days (moving past mere obligation) and even some transformative experiences for some of his people. That saw them move into the category of invested parishioner.
So while I too want people to come to a deeper adult faith in Christ. I think we who have moved into more mature faith can forget that catechesis is important. However, a true spiritual experience is necessary and oftentimes that experience takes place in something we feel forced or obligated to do. This is why I think HDO can be burdensome but that burden like the cross could serve as an invitation to something deeper.
I have sympathy for both Ed and JD’s thoughts on Holy Days of Obligation (HDO). I would be curious of either or both of their thoughts on this:
I heard this thought from a priest who saw HDO as a one of the first steps or markers in parish renewal. As I think while we have adults in the pews many average Sunday Mass goers would be in a sort of infant faith. “I have to go to Mass and I better get something out of the Mass in return.” No thought of what do I offer at Mass or sense that the Lord desires more than your mere bodily presence at Mass.
This priest pointed out that HDO are often neglected by Sunday Mass goers and as he pushed for people to go to HDO after a year or two HDO and Sunday Mass attendance started be close to equal in attendance. This suggested to him that people were beginning to make the Faith something they were willing to work into their lives beyond Sunday. Even if it was a less than pure motive. But remember that “fear of the Lord is the first stage of wisdom”. He then said that he was able to begin forming his people in a real vision of renewal and evangelization. The more relevant to the HDO’s themselves, he said that he could motivate some of the more invested parishioners to help organize and facilitate celebrations or Marian processions after HDO Mass. This in turn led to people looking forward to these days (moving past mere obligation) and even some transformative experiences for some of his people. That saw them move into the category of invested parishioner.
So while I too want people to come to a deeper adult faith in Christ. I think we who have moved into more mature faith can forget that catechesis is important. However, a true spiritual experience is necessary and oftentimes that experience takes place in something we feel forced or obligated to do. This is why I think HDO can be burdensome but that burden like the cross could serve as an invitation to something deeper.