Another Rubric Lesson for the Clergy

A much appreciated excerpt from today's ZENIT International News Agency (from Vatican City, Rome) greatly impressed me. It brought to mind those many times that we clerics were obviously rushed through our liturgical paces by either the bishop, pastor or MC. (That's when I would deliberately go even slower.)

This from within the Vatican Dossier section: "Anecdotes of a Papal Preacher, Father Raniero Cantalamessa Marks 25 Years in Post"...

....He continued: "I will never forget the first time I preached in St. Peter's, and I realized that I had to speak very slowly because my voice reverberated and there was a very strong echo. But by speaking slowly, my preaching lasted 10 minutes longer than foreseen. The prefect of the Pontifical Household was worried, with good reason, and every now and then looked at his watch."

"The next day, as he himself recounted, the Pope called him (the prefect prelate) after the session and told him affably that when someone speaks to us in the Name of God we must not look at our watch," the Capuchin recalled...

"This is an aspect of the Pope that has impressed my greatly; it would seem he is never in a hurry," Father Cantalamessa said. "Despite everything the Pope has to do and all the problems he has to address, when he is with someone he exists only for that person."

"Once I was caught in Rome's traffic and, despite the driver's efforts, we arrived a quarter of an hour late for the preaching," he added. "To tell the truth, some cardinals were impatient and waiting at the door. The Pope, instead, was tranquil in his chapel, praying the rosary, showing no sign of impatience for my delay."

Which also recalls that time in Latin America many years ago when the Holy Father's Mass was being drowned out with raucous "background noise." That's when the deacon in him came out. He reverently paused with closed eyes and folded hands, looked up...then..., "SACRED SILENCE" His Holiness loudly demanded, "... THIS IS THE MASS OF JESUS CHRIST!" Suddenly you could hear a pin drop in that crowded soccer stadium.

Take a hint, guys, and learn your lessons well from a master. THAT is also how we should celebrate the sacred rites. Take your time, take no guff and give no quarter -- regardless of the resulting attitudes. (i.e., When a chatter box or cell phone interrupts and/or disrupts the Holy Mass, at least stop what you're doing and sternly stare the bold ignoramus down until they get the point from the rest of your congregation.)

Perhaps it's obvious that I'm also coming from the vantage of my own unpleasant experiences. I was forced to do this myself on several occasions. It's never easy, but sacerdotal dignity and reverence demands it.