"Old Liturgical [C]ustom, or New Age Novelty?"


Brackettville, Texas, U.S.A. Zip code 78832.



St. Mary Magdalene's Catholic Parish



I guess you could call what follows a truly "International Reaction!"

"Is either the Archdiocese or the Parish Administrator himself, really in control anymore?"

Original posted by one Dionicio to; Catholic Online Forum,

http://forum.catholic.org/viewtopic.php?


"Hello, good friends!

"A seasoned deacon [ Heh, heh, heh! :) ] announced to us last Sunday that this month of November was going to see some changes in the way our congregation memorializes our deceased.

"1) There will be a tree nearby the altar where we can write down the names of our departed ones on paper leaves ad then hang them on a branch of the tree, where they'll remain until the last Saturday of the month.

"So far, for me, anyway, no problem!

"But ! Here comes number two:

"2) Just before that last Saturday's evening liturgy,we'll all get together in a sort of para - liturgical ceremony, when all the leaves will be ceremoniously burnt up, like prayers ascending to heaven, is a rough translation of what we were told.

"My question?

"Humm .. when did all this start?

"Thanks to everyone in advance!

"Keep the Faith - error qui non resistur approbatur -- an error that is not resisted is approved

"Dionicio [yo mismo, en español ...]"

HERE'S A SAMPLE OF THE RESPONSES TO DATE, FIRST TWENTY - FOUR HOURS:

Roert, from Montréal, Canada:

"Hi Dionicio, As far as I know, this is not a practice that is widely known. It was probably invented locally.

"As long as it stays paraliturgical, I don't see anything wrong.

"Do you?"

Fabrizio, from Rome, Italy:

"Dionicio, you can always suggest to move the tree out of the Church and burn the whole thing instead of just [the] leaves.

"I mean, that'd be a stronger prayer no? [ Heh, heh, heh: X 3 :) This guy thinks just like me!]

"And, you could all sing Kumbaya as flames reach the sky (as long as it remains para - liturgical chant, mind you)"

Kim, M., from U.S.A.:

"Never heard of this.

"Perhaps you can ask them what official Church document this is based on and I am sure there are none.

"Did the local bishop [Archbishop José H. Gomez] approve of this?

"When you burn the names on the leaves, you are not sending prayers to heaven, since your prayers for them, [go] to Heaven the same instance you prayed for them, throughout the month.

"Heaven does not have a waiting period for us to accumulate our prayers and then push a button (or burn a leaf) to send them up. "

James Daly, from Sydney, Australia:

"Quote: And, you could all sing Kumbaya as flames reach the sky (as long as it remains para - liturgical chant, mind you)

"Ensure that you holding hands."

María Carter, from the U.S.A:

"This lot [Our so -called New Age Revolutionaries given leave to run amok here at St. Mary Magdalene's Catholic Parish in Brackettville, Texas, U.S.A., Zip code 78832] sounds more like witchcraft to me, and makes me feel very uncomfortable.

"Not Biblical.

"I would not join in if they did it at my church.

"Revelation 22: 16 - 21 comes to mind."