The Blues

Heavens Above

On August 1, 2011, in Barrow Pushing, News, Ranting, by Rosie

2011 is the year for a subtle change in the Roman Catholic liturgy, effective across all parishes and providing responsorial challenges everywhere.

I’m not a ‘good’ Catholic. My mum and her sister pick up the greater family slack and go to church just that little bit extra to save our souls. We’re lucky like that.

There are aspects of my religious roots that I despise. There are things that I cling to, just in case I need to use them on Judgement Day or when I meet a Bishop or when I need to pray the Our Father at a funeral. Seriously, there are elements of my birth-decreed faith that I value — the notion that there is a divine presence of some sort (don’t get me started on this, Science Boffin Girl, if you’re reading and thinking about your Big Bang theories and the discussions we’ve had). I like the concept of being ‘human’ and erring, the teaching of social justice as something doable, something necessary (that a Christian community with a lot is able to give to those in need). I embrace the concept of living the best life we can …

Then there is the flip side of the coin. The sheer intolerance towards birth control in any conceivable (no pun intended) situation, the lack of recognition for IVF as a viable and God-given method to gift a life in the name of love, the ignorance towards homosexuality, the negative energy regarding (a minority) of its clergy and pedophilia, its teaching on Mortal Sin and suicide.

These issues require a post (each) to discuss and it’s not the intention of this particular entry to delve into the deep end of the teachings of the Church. It’s about the CHANGE at church-entry level.

Change is good. It can be interesting, progressive, positive. Several weeks ago, I walked into mass for the first time in a while, and heartened by the fact that the roof didn’t fall in, I felt quite comfortable. I was there for a reason, it was important that I attend and it was okay. There wasn’t a feeling of ‘have to go’. I was an adult, making a decision to reflect.

Lo and behold, the changes to the prays and parts of the liturgy meant that there were times when the congregation response was so gargled, we sounded like Mr Bean mumbling through that hymn in the very famous scene of funnies. I thought I should say ‘We believe …’ Instead, it was necessary to proclaim something along the lines of ‘it’s my fault, my fault, my horrible, human failing, sinful, wrongful, guilt-filled fault.’

All the while beating our chests (according to the printed laminated card in the pews). And stumbling over words no one knows, from the very young to the ardent, devout churchgoer. From the lapsed Catholic to the regular, devoted member of the Catholic community.

Sure, change to anything requires a period of adjustment. Change is confronting and can make us all uncomfortable, but instead of moving the liturgy into the demands of a new world, the Church has elected to take elements of the mass back to very early times, to regress to a more formal type of speech.

True, the alterations are limited. It’s not like every single prayer is changed, or huge movement has been made to upset the order of the mass. It’s simply this: as I sat there (and knelt, stood, knelt, sat, stood, knelt, didn’t look at boys across the aisle, knelt) I wondered WHY in a time when the Church needs to bring people back, make the lapsed re-welcomed, make the elderly comfortable, would they opt for change? Would they opt for a change from the past? Isn’t it time to move forward?

As I sat (knelt, stood, knelt, sat, looked at that weird crucifix I used to worriedly watch when I was about 4) I wished that the RC Church would embrace the new rather than revert back — but then that raises a question about me. Am I in the right place for my ‘take’ on spirituality, and perhaps it’s time to find a spot that accommodates my beliefs rather than expect a rigid doctrine to adapt for me.

Wow. And Church used to be so easy!