Did you experience this last Sunday?

Last updated on: May 18, 2017 at 11:16 am by Deacon Greg Kandra

Did you experience this last Sunday? 2017-05-18T11:16:42-04:00 Deacon Greg Kandra

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Katrina Fernandez today looks at the growing phenomenon of secularizing the Mass—taking note of things like Mother’s Day to confer special blessings on some in the congregation, an act that can often have unintended consequences:

Mother’s Day can be an especially painful day. To many women Mother’s Day can be a bitter reminder of infertility, miscarriage, abortion, or the death of child. It’s also a difficult holiday for people who have lost their own mothers or have estranged relationships with them.

For many of those noted reasons, I am not a fan of Mother’s Day myself. But even if Mother’s Day were my absolute favorite holiday of the year I would still be vehemently opposed to what has become the common practice of giving special recognition to mothers during Mass.

I’m not opposed to mothers or their deserved recognition but I am opposed to secular holidays being imposed in a way that hijacks the Mass. Personally, I think everything that happens at Mass should relate specifically to the liturgy; otherwise what’s the point of having a liturgical calendar.

…A simple blessing for all mothers, spiritual as well as physical mothers, at the very end of Mass during the dismissal while everyone is standing would suffice.

Read on for more wisdom on this subject.

At my parish, here’s what we did (and I suspect it will be the same next month, for Father’s Day):

After the post-Communion prayer and announcements, the priest asked the mothers to stand, and he made a point of underscoring, “all mothers—grandmothers, godmothers, mothers-in-law…anyone who feels she has been a mother to someone.” With that, most of the female members of the congregation were on their feet. He offered a brief blessing, congratulated them and thanked them (warm applause followed, of course) and then invited the rest of the congregation to stand for the final blessing.

Events like these remind us that the Catholic Church is tilted heavily toward marriage and family—or, if the single life is mentioned, it’s usually in connection with religious vocations. Sometimes, that can also pose a challenge. Many Catholics who are unmarried or childless can feel marginalized or overlooked—like they just don’t fit in.

Seeing this imbalance, a priest from our parish, the Rev. Bob Blauvelt, several years ago established a Single Adults Group to reach out and minister to this overlooked demographic. Over 15 years later, it’s going strong and offering single Catholics—whether widowed, divorced or just unattached to anyone—a place to experience fellowship, friendship and faith. (I’m privileged to serve as the spiritual director for this group at our parish, and grateful to accompany these folks on their journey.) If your parish doesn’t have something like this, talk to your pastor. It can do a world of good.

Meanwhile, Katrina adds this wise advice, which can console anyone:

In the past, when I have had to struggle through the awkwardness at Mass during the holiday I focus my thoughts and pain on the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Mother in heaven. If I cannot muster enthusiasm for my own mother or my own circumstances, I can certainly muster enthusiasm and praise for Mary. Celebrate your Mother, Mary, by visiting her son in adoration and offering your prayers for all those who share your pain. Let Mary bring you comfort.

Amen!

Uncategorized

Previous Post

May 18, 2017

Bishop: Deacons are 'a great blessing to our diocese'

Next Post

May 19, 2017 Where were you on May 19, 2007?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category "Mad Men" 9/11 advent All Things New Amazing video amazing videos amazon america Anglicans Anti-Catholicism art ascension thursday ash wednesday Atheists baltimore Bible Bishops Blogging bonnie engstrom Books bridgeport Brooklyn Chaplains children christian art christmas Church Churches CNEWA Converts criticism Deacons Death Penalty easter eastern christian Eastern Christians Ecumenism Education education Eucharist Europe euthanasia Evangelization Exorcism Family Feasts Gay rights Good Friday Great links Great Moments in Journalism Hanging with the saints heather renshaw Hispanic Catholics Hispanics History homelies Homilies Humor Hymn of the Week Immigration indianapolis Inspiration Interfaith news ireland Jesus Jews Journalism Judaism lent Liturgy logos Marriage Mary Media Medical news Mental health Middle East Monks Movies Music Muslims My world and welcome to it New Evangelization new york News Nuns Parenting Parish life peoria Persecution politics Politics Pope pope francis pope john paul Prayer Preaching Priests Pro-life Quote of the day radio rebecca frech ripp Ripped from the headlines rippred from the headlines Sacraments saints Scripture sex abuse Sex abuse crisis SEX ABUSE CRISIS TAGGED WITH: SEX ABUSE CRISIS The people in the pews the visitation project theatre This & that Thomas Merton Trappists TV uncategorized Uncategorized VATICAN Vatican vocation Vocations Voices & Views Women Worth a thousand words Writing Year of Faith year of mercy young people

Select a Month December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which short letter urges forgiveness for a runaway slave named Onesimus?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Titus 2 Timothy Jude Philemon

Books by This Author Books by Deacon Greg Kandra

See All Titles »