Regarding the several posts concerning people feeling unfulfilled after attending Mass, I must say that I, too have these feelings often. Every Parish in my city has succumbed to the protestant feel good things like joking, laughing, applauding and hand-holding at Mass. This, combined with lightweight, empty homilies about history and the "Jesus loves you" theme makes it very hard to attend Mass. I would have quit going to Church several years ago, except for two things: The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, and the fact that when I am able to travel to my hometown on occasion to experience Mass given by Priests that are faithful,human, and truly care about the salvation of those around them. Most of the unfulfilling things are justified by the Priests of my Parish as Vatican II directives. If this is so, then why did it take 40 years for most of this emptiness to be delivered. For the first 40 years, Mass was in English but did not include all of the feel good additions we currently have. All I can say is that the forces of evil are strong and are ripping at the fibers of the Church. There are far too many people who do not understand, nor do they care what is happening, as long as they feel good. Maybe the Church needs a Vatican III to set things right again. Thankfully, there is EWTN to keep those of us who care about their Faith informed!

Thanks for your insights, David. The good news is that most of the aged hippy pastors and liturgists are approaching early retirement, and the newly ordained your priests tend to be quits solid. But much damage has been done by many for the past forty years and there is much to be rebuilt in the wake that is quite wide. Find a solid parish, if you can, and stick with it. I have some folks who travel one hundred miles each Sunday to attend a reverent Mass.

God bless,

Father Echert

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