Liturgical lessons aren't being learned ?

So opines St. Michael's headmaster Michael A. Beauregard of West Memphis, Arkansas...

"At Mass, Actions Speak Louder Than Words"

A brief snippet from his thoughtful article in the New Oxford Review. January - February 2011 edition.


"[Y]ear after year I am surprised by what my students know -- and do not know -- at the beginning of their sixth - grade year.

"Students are typically baffled and sometimes even stunned to learn that the Blessed Sacrament is Christ physically present in His body, blood, soul, and divinity, and not just in a spiritual or symbolic sense.

"More often than not, these students have incorrectly acquired the notion that the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is just a Communion service memorializing the Last Supper with the priest acting as presider.

"They are fascinated to learn about the sacrificial aspects of the Mass and the priesthood, and the tremendous graces received from the Mass.

"Why are all these students, who have no less than five solid years of catechetical training, entering the sixth grade with an almost Protestant view of Catholic liturgy and the sacraments?"

"Irrespective of what is being taught, if the Mass and liturgies do not reflect the realities and truths of our Catholic faith, the teachings of the Church will be taught in vain.

"It is of the utmost importance that the Holy Mass model and emphasize what we want our students (and adults) to understand and embrace.

"The rubrics, gestures, and symbols that are employed serve a fundamental and very useful purpose in that they reveal and give witness to the faith we profess..."

Good points, professor! :)