ORANGE

VESTMENTS

Today I received an e-mail from one of our parishioners about a priest in Holland who was suspended for wearing orange vestments on July 11, 2010. She said the story was in Sports Illustrated.

I checked it out on line and found out that the story of this incident also appeared in other magazines, newspapers, YouTube, etc. In fact, it created quite a buzz - and like many things it will fade – and then there will be a new buzz.

I was wondering if I should buzz around it - and see if there is a learning experience here.

As those who followed the World Cup know, orange is Holland or the Netherlands's color.

Mark de Vries, a blog reporter, wrote that Bishop Joseph Punt of Haarlem-Amsterdam, the bishop who suspended the priest, wrote the following, “On Sunday 11 July, Pastor Paul Vlaar of Obdam celebrated the Holy Eucharist in the spirit of the Football World Cup, wearing an orange chasuble, and did insufficient justice, in text and form, to the sanctity of the Eucharist. The footage of this has caused indignation among faithful here and abroad.”

I couldn’t find out the whole context of just what this priest did. I don’t know whether his “soccer” theme was just at the homily time with a mention of the Final World Cup game taking place that day in South Africa – Netherlands vs. Spain - or what have you. Despite prayers, Spain won 1-0.

One report said that he preached on sports and teamwork in his homily.

Check out the following and check out your reactions:

http://ballhype.com/video/world-cup-a-mass-for-the-dutch-team-no-comment/

If you can't get the video, I did put one picture of Father Paul Vlaar in an orange chasuble at the top of this blog.

From the pictures and YouTube scenes of the Mass it looks like the church is packed and various people are wearing orange – but not all. And there was a soccer goal and a soccer ball used during the Mass. It seemed that took place at the homily time – or before or after the Mass. I don’t know. Besides his chasuble being orange, there are many people wearing orange hats and shirts - as well as one can see orange banners and streamers – or whatever - all around the church.

COMMENTS & QUESTIONS:

Did anyone in Spain pray for Spain to win? Did any priest, deacon or bishop, in a parish community in Spain have in the Prayer of the Faithful a prayer that Spain win that day?

Come to think about it, I've never heard anyone pray for a sports team in a non-spontaneous Prayer of the Faithful. I've heard priests make sports' comments as asides in the pulpit as ice breakers - especially when it was Super Bowl time or a local sports moment. Soccer aficionados tell me that the people of the United States have not clue to how important soccer is around our world.

Being a priest 45 years I’ve never seen anyone wearing orange vestments.

Besides the usual colors I’ve seen blue and pink. I haven’t seen brown yet.

What’s a bishop to do, if he received lots of complaints? If any, how many? Would that make a difference? Did the bishop call anyone "above him" on “What to do if anything?”

One comment hinted at, “This was not the first time Father Paul did something like this.”

Is this priest a so called, “loose cannon”?

When he was young, did the bishop do creative things in ministry – including liturgy? If he did, did some “flop”? Did he hear when studying liturgy in the seminary, that liturgy is “theater” – besides the “Mysterium fidei”? Would hearing the word "theater" make him wince – mutter an “Uh oh!” in Dutch? What would the bishops' classmates say to him or about him about this? Did any other bishop say, "Lighten up, Joseph! We might not see Holland in the World Cup Finals in our lifetime again!" Are priest and bishop in holy communion with each other? What would it be like to have a meal with either or both of these two human beings? What would it be like if both were stationed together in the same parish? Would they watch a soccer game together? Would they drink an Amstel beer together?

I think I read that a player from a National Hockey League team brought the Stanley Cup to his parish church after his team won that championship. Wouldn’t that be neat? Would the kids all want autographs? Would many want to be photographed with the player and the trophy?

What have you seen down through the years at Mass – that were unique?

I’ve heard about various things priests did in the late 60’s and early 70’s – that were “different”.

For example, I’ve heard about a dozen times that there were Masses in homes or on retreats back then with pizza and Coca Cola. Whenever I heard that one, I always asked, if it was possible, “Were you there?” I’ve yet to meet anyone who said they actually saw such a thing done at a Mass. Sometimes rumors and stories have a life of their own.

I’ve also seen priests who did creative things at homilies – using visuals like puppets, etc. - especially at youth Masses.

I’ve seen All Saints Day Masses where there is a parade of kids in all kinds of Saints outfits – and the church was packed – with parents – with cameras.

I’ve seen Irish Masses – with folks wearing Irish sashes – being led in or led out by men in kilts with bagpipes.

What about Masses in Poland, India, South America, Africa, and elsewhere?

Earlier this year different magazines and papers showed pictures of a bishop with this enormous cape. Check it out on the video below - or the picture of a cardinal in the great cape [cappa magna] at the top of this blog piece.http://liturgy.co.nz/blog/capa-cappa-magna/3601

I thought Pope John XXIII and the spirit of Vatican II cut down on such stuff. Did anyone wonder about the scene with the cape – besides me?

Every year we have 2 Masses - one in the middle of Advent and one in the middle of Lent – where the priest and deacon can wear pink – as a symbol of festivity in the middle of those two seasons of penance. Some priests wear pink – or "rose" as some jokingly comment. Some priests don’t. I don’t. And the reason that I don’t is because it causes comments – comments – comments. That says something to me. On those two Sundays it’s a distraction at Mass – especially for me. If a priest doesn’t wear pink vestments, that’s also a distraction for others – because some expect the priest to walk down the aisle in pink. I think it’s less of a distraction not wearing pink, so that’s my rationale.

Too much of a distraction is the same argument I would use for not wearing orange - or not wearing capes. Comparing the two am I comparing apples and oranges? Yes and no. Hey these capes are red.

The founder of our order, St. Alphonsus, when made bishop, gives an example to all bishops - for simplicity in ring and attire.

Ooops! How about Jesus Christ's comments with regards all this? Every sacristy in every church ought to have on the wall for priests and bishops alike to read the warning of Jesus: “Matthew 23: 5!”

Concerned about the Mission of Jesus, I do have opinions about all this. When I celebrate Mass I want to be unnoticed. I try to keep in mind John 3:30, "He must increase, but I must decrease." I also am aware of John 12: 24, "Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain, but if it dies, it bears much fruit." It's my experience that "a horrible liturgy" goes noticed and "a good liturgy" goes unnoticed - with the people enjoying the food - Jesus the Bread of Life.

This does not mean I’m against variety and surprise - as long as the celebrant or preacher is not the message: Jesus is Lord.

Did the Jerusalem Times in Jesus’ time have the headline, “Jesus Washes His Disciples Feet at the Passover Meal.”

I don’t have time to look this up, but I remember Cardinal O’Connor when he came to New York standing in the pulpit at St. Patrick's Cathedral with a Yankee and a Met cap – or was it just a Yankee cap.

In the history of our Church, how many times has something like this been done? We have a lot of history – so I’m assuming that some rather interesting – as well as bizarre things have taken place – with regards liturgy. I remember hearing about some priest who years ago with gun in hand shot a blank off in his homily. Now that’s certainly woke up any sleepers. Did that wake up his bishop?

Years ago I went to a “Haitian Mass” in Brooklyn and the church was packed – packed – and the offertory procession was an elaborate and lively moment – with song and dance.

Didn’t I see Pope John Paul II on television enjoying very local liturgies on his different trips around our world – with people wearing rather “different” garb?

In the middle ages – at Pentecost – didn’t they have red roses dropped from above – or was it white doves released?

I noticed that in the articles about this "World Cup Mass" the reporters noted that this church in Obdam is usually filled and the other churches are not.

If the bishop had a sense of humor, would he have the priest appear with him in public, hand the priest a red card [or orange], and suspend him for 1 Mass? But of course, he wouldn’t, because to quote the bishop again, it would “not do justice to the sacred nature of the Eucharist.”

Did the bishop take the time to discuss this with this priest – as well as with his consulters? If they did, did they list 4 or 5 alternatives – as well as listing the consequences of each scenario?Did the bishop talk one to one with Father Paul Vlaar?

Did this bishop ever say Mass at this church?

Would he be willing to go to this church now and give his reasons for his decision? What about an open forum on liturgy?

How can this be a learning experience – not a disaster experience?

What is the common sense of the people in this parish?

You have to have been there.

How many times do people at a distance have a different take than those who were there?

As I looked at the YouTube clip on the Mass, I was impressed by the energy, the songs, and the respectful moments during the Mass. I loved the camaraderie outside church after Mass. These folks were not all young people.

I don’t see myself doing this – but I do ask the question about empty churches. I do wonder about the majority of Catholics not going to Sunday Liturgy. I do wonder about priests who don’t try anything “new” or creative.

I’ve read somewhere that being boring is the greatest sin. I don’t agree with that, but who likes boredom?

Every lifetime Catholic knows that every priest is different.

Every priest knows about the sounds some people make when Father so and so walks down the aisle for the Mass. "Is it I, Lord?"

Humility is a tough virtue.

By now I know that people are different – and we better get to learn that lesson. I read once the comment, “The greatest sin is our inability to accept the otherness of the other person.”

I like country western music as opposed to classical music. I prefer wearing a shirt to wearing a suit. Other priests see differently.

We celebrate Mass in our skin and our story – our experiences and our faith life.

Do I think dioceses and church should have guidelines that encourage good liturgy – good worship? Of course!

What’s your take on all this?

I put two YouTube pieces in this piece. Watch them both – with others – and then talk to each other.

You'll can also find a lot of comments on line by others on both the “Orange Mass” in Obdam, Holland as well as the “Flowing Cape” Mass in Washington D.C. Check them out.

I would also think showing both short videos at a clergy meeting – could lead to a great discussion – and build commonality.

POST SCRIPT

I learn afterwards.

A feeling: I found myself a bit nervous after I put this piece on my blog.

A reason for feeling nervous: I don't like controversy - and to be consistent - I don't want to call attention to myself - my two problems with the Orange Mass and the Flowing Red Cape Mass.

I write - and to me - one of the keys to good writing is that you don't notice the writer - only the content - the story. I hope that happened to you the reader in this piece - that you only wondered about the Orange Mass and then the Flowing Red Cape Mass - that I connected it with.

I also found myself wondering about news reporting. If I get comments about about this blog piece in person or on line, then I might be getting a glimpse at what happens in news rooms - in preparing the Evening News, a magazine or a newspaper edition. They might have someone saying things like, "Sensation sells! What's hot? What are people interested in? How do we increase our ratings and our advertising sales?" I also wonder does anyone say, "Hey even though this story is 'hot' we can't publish it, because it might hurt someone."

I asked myself, "Why am I grabbing this story?" Am I using people? The Orange Mass is much less in my wondering -as is the "Red Flowing Cape Mass". Am I hurting the bishop who wore that cape? Did I call him up? No. Am I hurting or "dismissing" anyone who was at that Mass in Washington D.C. and thought it was great? I hope not.

I found myself asking these questions and thinking these thoughts - some of which I will discuss with others. I hope you do likewise - which is one of the reasons I'm doing this blog. Thank you.

I also found myself wondering about Father Paul Vlaar's motives, thoughts and feelings. I believe the bishop wants him to reflect upon his behavior. Was he simply connecting with the exuberance and celebration the people in his area were feeling with Holland in the World Cup Soccer finals? Does he want to get people to connect Religion and Life? Does he want folks coming to church - being excited about being a disciple of Christ? How did he react and respond to being suspended? Did the bishop watch the World Cup finals? How long is the suspension? What will happend that first Sunday liturgy if and when he comes back? You have to be there.