Shine On You Crazy Jesus
I wrote the other day about the nightmare first communion rehearsal. In it, I described a song performed by the children in the sanctuary that ...
Then the children proceeded to the sanctuary right in front of the altar where they began a song that made the first little diddy seem like a Schubert composition. This song had more hand motions than a three day conference for the hearing impaired. Then they started a clappin'! Then they started a hootin' and hollerin' punching their fists Arsenio Hall style "Woo Woo! Jesus!" clap clap clap "Woo Woo! Jesus!"Well, I thought that I would show you a quick clip of this little diddy just so you know I wasn't making it up or exaggerating in any way. I apologize for the video quality but I shot the footage with my small digital camera at some distance. Anyway, sorry for this, but here is "Shine Jesus Shine"
See?
22 comments:
Wow... I'm going to love watching the comments pour in on this one!
Also, congrats to your daughter, I'm sure that this nonsense did very little to diminish your family's joy today.
OH MY! And in a church.
Well, I must say that at least they seemed dressed appropriately.
Congrats on your little one's big achievement.
Look at how appropriately they are dressed!
(Andrew! You cajun? Me too! I'm from Eunice...)
Whew! Thank you for sharing that with us, Patrick, because I really did think you were making the whole thing up. "Laissez les bon temps roulez," or so they say.
Patrick...my condolences...I couldn't finish it. I'm quite sure that at least 20 "anonymous" commentators will crawl out of the woodwork to say "how precious...aren't they cute..."
How demeaning for those sweet, innocent children! On a day of such holiness. One cannot help but contrast the experience that St. Therese of Lisieux shares regarding her First Holy Communion. I wonder what she would say? Napoleon Bonaparte was once asked about the most important day of his life. Skipping all the battles he had ever successfully waged, he simply stated: "The day of my First Holy Communion. It was on that day I drew closest to God..."
BTW: As the ultimate Pink Floyd fan, I love the play on words in the post title...Shine On You Crazy Diamond is my favorite Floyd hit, ever!
I have been subjected to that song before despite the Geneva conventions.
Though the worst display I ever saw was a group of children with the girls wearing hula skirts sing some Hawiaan song that didn't even have anything to do with the faith.
Luckily this was at the end of Mass and as we watched the little girls gyrate their hips my wife and I walked out.
Jeff,
Hula Skirts?! Say it ain't so!
My brother in law couldn't take this so he conveniently took the 2 yr. old for a walk during this debacle.
I wasn't so lucky.
Sweet Jesus, I thought I left that behind in my hardcore evangelical college days, when such pap could actually move me (must mean I was a lightweight, huh?), and now you've gone and brought it back. Blech!
Irenaeus
Woo, woo, woo. I do hope God has a good sense of humour. But of course, he made us.
So, I'm confused...
When did first communion become some sort of avant garde performance piece? Is there a reason for this, other than to make up for such poor catechesis of children that something needs to "entertain" them when they are, for the first time, receiving the greatest gift available to men?
IF the DRE and her folks were actually teaching the kids what the Real Presence is, they wouldn't feel the need to make first communion a stage show. They would simply understand (we never give children enough credit in this regard) the deep solemnity and great magnitude of the moment.
In contrast, I spent the afternoon with 7th graders who were enjoying exposition for the first time. There was some soft, spiritual music from time to time (these kids have very little experience with silence, sadly), but it was subdued and the kids were solemn and still for three quarters of an hour. A few were simply transfixed by the host in the monstrance.
As St. Terese of Lisieux quite clearly shows in her memoir, children CAN understand what all this means, and in many ways on a deeper level than we adults. In a world that screams "WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN?!?" all the time, can't we try to give them a little credit once in a while?
That is hideous and, as Kimberly said, quite demeaning for these little ones. The girls look quite lovely though!
Congratulations to you daughter!
Must...punch...somthing...
You just know the crusaders sang that song while riding into battle.
Argh! Stuck in head now! Make it stop!!
The girls do look beautiful, though.
What ever happened to "His Banner over Me is Love?" =)
One of my friends is married to a convert. The first time they went to a "lifeteen" Mass (scheduling issues) and heard this song, he asked "Is this where I'm supposed to pull out my lighter and start swaying?"
I am VERY sorry for the damage this must have done to your molars-- you might want to have your dentist check on that. =)
"Is this where I'm supposed to pull out my lighter and start swaying?"
Oh, I have GOT to remember that one!
We are the World! We are the children....
I actually have always liked this song. As sung by your local Presbrytrian/Methodist type adult choir--that is without the whoo-whoos and hand motions! Those poor children!!
Without intending to place blame on Patrick, I am absolutely sure that I would have pulled my children from this ceremony, and would have made that very clear at the "rehearsal."
I would have told said DRE that my child wasn't going to be part of the abusive Howdy Doody time at the Sacred Liturgy. I would have then told the pastor that my daughter would be receiving her first communion at a different weekend Mass.
And if he objected, I would politely refer him to Canons 843 and 846.
Such crap.
Can. 843 §1. Sacred ministers cannot deny the sacraments to those who seek them at appropriate times, are properly disposed, and are not prohibited by law from receiving them.
§2. Pastors of souls and other members of the Christian faithful, according to their respective ecclesiastical function, have the duty to take care that those who seek the sacraments are prepared to receive them by proper evangelization and catechetical instruction, attentive to the norms issued by competent authority.
Can. 846 §1. In celebrating the sacraments the liturgical books approved by competent authority are to be observed faithfully; accordingly, no one is to add, omit, or alter anything in them on one’s own authority.
§2. The minister is to celebrate the sacraments according to the minister’s own rite.
Anon,
I know, I am a terrible Catholic. I should have immediately pulled my daughter out and sent her to a nunnery. (I would if I could)
The way I have it figured, she will learn the right way week in and week out with Mom and Dad. I didn't want to pull her out and traumatize her over this. After all, there are parishes all over where every Sunday mass is worse than this.
"You just know the crusaders sang that song while riding into battle."
I bet that confused the heck out of the heathens!
I am so glad that you warned as to the content so I could mute my speakers. If I had heard that "song" and gotten it stuck in my head, I would have had to hunt you down.
Cute girls!
Too bad you cut the video off before they did the wave which was supposed to symbolize the Holy Spirit washing over them...oh no...wait...that's for Confirmation. Nevermind.
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