A Living ParishVersus a dying parish
A living parish has The Eucharistic Christ in the Tabernacle as the central focus.
A dying parish has a man as the central focus.
A living parish welcomes the sound of crying infants as a sign that the parish is growing.
A dying parish welcomes the din of mindless twaddle concerning Aunt Suzie's recipe for Pineapple Upsidedown Cake and other such drivel, before, during and after Mass as a sign that the parish is welcoming.
A living parish has a pastor that takes In Persona Christi seriously.
A dying parish considers it both the priest and the laity who consecrate the Eucharist.
A living parish reminds the Faithful of the reality of sin and hell.
A dying parish never mentions sin and hell.
A living parish recognizes The Eucharist as the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ.
A dying parish looks upon The Eucharist as no different than take-out at a fast food drive thru.
A living parish speaks of the deeds and travels Christ, the Apostles and other Holy Personages.
A dying parish speaks of the deeds and travels of the parish priest and other select members of his entourage.
A living parish understand that we must inextricably link our secular leaders positions with our Catholic Faith.
A dying parish not only fail to link the two, but often embrace those who refute the Known Truth.
A living parish mentions the collection in the bulletin as a matter of public record.
A dying parish consistently refers to catch phrases such as "tithing community" and "stewardship" in the bulletin, parish announcements and sermon.
A living parish understands that silent prayer is active participation.
A dying parish confuses motion with progress.
A living parish has the Eucharist binding the Faithful.
A dying parish holds hands to bind the Faithful.
A living parish doesn't need to remind anyone of the Seven Sacraments.
A dying parish rarely mentions any of the Sacraments, and when they do it's usually by accident.
A living parish says "Lord, I am not worthy."
A dying parish says "Here I am, Lord."
posted by Kevin Whiteman at
12:00 AM
7 Comments:
Amen and Amen! There aren't JUST seven sacraments though.
Amen! Amen! Amen! Good to see my parish checks off as living.
Today the hymn for the preparation of the gifts was "Here I Am, Lord." :((((((((((((((((((((((
Have to add 1 thing about the song "Here I Am, Lord!" The emphasis. Instead of it being sung as a song of surrender to the will of the Lord the emphasis is on "I" It becomes a brag.
Psalm 39(40):8-9 "Behold I come. That I should do thy will" is the proper attitude. & with a rememberance that the Psalm ultimately talking about Jesus & His surrender to the will of God & we are called to imitate it.
But as I said, it is sung, along with those many others you listed the other day as a brag to God about I, I, I. "How great I art".
Sorry to go on, but I am just getting sick & tired of all the self-centered crap they pass off as Church music.
My parish checks off as dying :(
Super post!
Thanks.
A living parish also has so many statues that you damn near trip over them just getting to your pew.
A dying parish, depending on its age, either never had any, or had most or all of them removed as being contrary to the "spirity of Vatican II."
More...
In a living parish, the parishoners know which saints' relics are in the altar (and if parishoners are really attentive, they can name the relics encased in both the high altar and the NO altar).
In a dying parish, the altar either contains no relics, or everyone has forgotten that they're in there.
Very true :-)
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