Don't say 'Good morning' to begin Mass, Filipino cardinal urges priests
June 26, 2014
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Cardinal Luis Tagle of Manila has told his priests that they should not say "Good morning" to their congregation as they begin Mass.
Cardinal Tagle said that the everyday greeting is a distraction, failing to convey the solemn joy of the Eucharistic assembly.
"Is not the expression, 'The Lord be with you,' more than enough?" the cardinal asked.
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Posted by: Lahrye -
Jul. 22, 2014 2:24 PM ET USA
I never realized that phrase was such a distraction from the 'solemn joy' of the congregation. At our current Parish our Pastor never begins mass with "Good Morning", and I was wondering why?
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Posted by: feedback -
Jun. 27, 2014 9:46 AM ET USA
We had deacons in our parish who used to start their homily with a "Good Morning". I told them that Father already said greeting at the beginning of Mass, and they don't need to repeat it half way through the Mass only because they got hold of the microphone. It worked.
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Posted by: Mirabilis -
Jun. 26, 2014 11:25 PM ET USA
Praise God! There is another reason that this practice is problematic. The Mass is meant to be a catholic (i.e. "universal") celebration of heaven on earth. We are all keenly aware of our earthly state--we don't need reminding. The liturgy as it is written has the effect of using language that directs our thoughts to heaven. When a priest says "good morning" it undermines the working of the Spirit in the mystery of the union of time and timelessness in the language of the liturgy.
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Posted by: bruno.cicconi7491 -
Jun. 26, 2014 7:58 PM ET USA
Yes, I like that cardinal.
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Posted by: TheJournalist64 -
Jun. 26, 2014 6:15 PM ET USA
This is one of the gripes I have, but I can't deliver it to the priests who do it because I'd just get in trouble. It's from the "good Father Mike" era of feel-good worship that ignores the value of the Church's bridal text.
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Posted by: jg23753479 -
Jun. 26, 2014 6:05 PM ET USA
Thank you, Cardinal Tagle. This banality is a practice I have long disliked. As you say, it is distracting and inappropriate.
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Posted by: normnuke -
Jun. 26, 2014 5:16 PM ET USA
Excellent! We need to be reminded over and over that the Mass is NOT a piece of everyday humdrum. This is why - one of the ways why - Palestrina motets are to be preferred over the Brownie-level musically dumbed-down embarrassments that are shoved on us in the name of democratico-politically correct participation.
