WORDS TO THE WHYS

The stronger the claim, the calmer the voice.

New Liturgical Moments: Mass Roles Renamed


Are we not overdue for an update to the language we use to identify liturgical personnel?

- - -

formerly: verger
now: real-time accompaniment and navigation coordinator

formerly: thurifer
now: scentologist; localized atmospheric control specialist

formerly: boat bearer
now: special effects resource manager

formerly: crucifer
now: visual effects operator

formerly: torchbearer
now: tactical illumination specialist

formerly: altar server
now: system operations attendant

formerly: master of ceremonies
now: senior worship consultant and team management specialist

formerly: celebrant
now: principal worship operator

formerly: sacristan
now: resource acquisition, maintenance and support manager

- - -

Admittedly, it may take awhile for some of the new titles to catch on.

- - -

P.S. - A very Happy 18th Anniversary to the good people at The New Liturgical Movement!

Comments

Post a Comment

Your comments will be appreciated and posted if 1) they are on topic and 2) preserve decorum.

Stand by your word.

Popular Posts

Praise God For Beautiful (New) Churches

Image
Laudate Deum propter aedificia pulchra! Let's draw attention to a couple of projects that are worthy of note. 1. Incarnation Catholic Church, Orlando, Florida. https://www.incarnationcc.org/building/ A project in the works since a couple of fires destroyed the former church, the new building promises to be a fitting temple for the worship of Almighty God. https://cosmatiarchitects.com/ 2. The (New) Cathedral of Our Lady Of Walsingham, Houston, Texas. A very handsome new building will replace the beloved neo-gothic structure that has served for a decade as the cathedral for the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter. - from the Cathedral website: The parish of Our Lady of Walsingham, established in 1984 under the Pastoral Provision of  St. John Paul II, was the first Catholic parish in the United States dedicated to Our Lady under this title and was a parish of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston until 2012. The Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter was established on ...
Read more

Catholic Balance: Freedom, Virtue, and the Common Good

Image
One of the challenges facing many contemporary democracies is the increasing polarization of political life. When public debate becomes dominated by ideological camps that view one another with suspicion or hostility, society loses the capacity for reasoned dialogue and compromise. Citizens are encouraged to choose sides rather than seek truth, and opponents are too often treated as enemies rather than fellow participants in a common political community. Polarized politics can serve society insofar as it highlights important disagreements and brings competing values into public discussion. Vigorous debate is a normal and healthy feature of a free society. However, polarization serves the common good only partially when it hardens into tribalism, reducing complex issues to simplistic slogans and discouraging genuine understanding. A healthier society requires the classical liberal commitment to open inquiry and freedom of expression alongside the conservative appreciation for social coh...
Read more

Standing Firm in Truth: Confronting Lies Without Losing Peace

Image
Against the Empire of Lies When lies spread through a community, workplace, family, or church, the damage extends far beyond the false statements themselves. Lies distort reality, erode trust, and place innocent people in conflict with one another. Confronting lies and liars, therefore, is not merely a matter of defending one's reputation; it is an act of defending truth and preserving healthy relationships. The first principle in confronting dishonesty is to remain anchored in facts. Anger may be understandable, but emotional reactions often create more confusion. A calm statement such as, “That is not what happened,” is usually more effective than a heated accusation. Truth has a quiet strength of its own and does not require exaggeration or retaliation. When possible, it is wise to document important communications and verify information before responding. Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight. At the same time, confronti...
Read more

Living Well Through Worship: Christian Formation

Image
Divine Worship, the liturgical expression of the Ordinariates, is a profound gift to the Church, grounded in the spiritual, literary, and musical heritage of the English Christian tradition. Through its reverent language, scriptural richness, and deeply prayerful ceremonial, it fosters confidence, charity, and wisdom among the faithful, equipping them to live with steadfast faith in a world often marked by uncertainty. The Ordinariate Liturgy complements and enriches the Church’s other liturgical rites, through which Catholics offer worship to God. O put thy trust in God; for I will yet give him thanks, which is the help of my countenance, and my God. Psalm 43 (The Prayers of Preparation / Prayers at the Foot) First, the Ordinariate Liturgy fosters confidence by directing hearts and minds toward the sovereignty of God. Its prayers are marked by a serene certainty that God governs all things according to His providence. The faithful repeatedly hear and pray texts that proclaim divine m...
Read more

Where Light Dwells, Darkness Cannot Remain: The Christian Call to Holiness

Image
The Christian life is fundamentally a participation in the light of Christ. Throughout Sacred Scripture, light symbolizes truth, holiness, and communion with God, while darkness signifies sin, error, and separation from Him. Because Christ is the Light of the World, those who follow Him cannot persist in a lifestyle of sin without contradicting their identity as His disciples. Jesus declared, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). This statement presents not merely a comforting promise but a moral challenge. To follow Christ is to leave behind the darkness of sin and to walk in the illumination of divine grace. Just as physical light dispels darkness, the presence of Christ transforms the soul and calls believers to conversion. St. John develops this theme even more strongly: “God is light and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). He continues by warning that anyone who claims fellowship with God wh...
Read more

Why the Altar, Not Administration, Defines the Priesthood

Image
St John the Evangelist Church, Calgary AB The saying, “Without the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the clergy are merely bureaucrats,” is intentionally provocative, but it expresses an important truth about the nature of the Church and the priesthood. At its heart lies the conviction that the Church is not fundamentally an institution of administration, but a sacramental communion whose life flows from the Eucharistic sacrifice. The priest certainly has many responsibilities beyond the altar. He teaches the faith, preaches the Gospel, cares for souls, comforts the suffering, and guides the Christian community. These are not bureaucratic tasks but genuine expressions of pastoral and spiritual fatherhood. Yet all of these ministries find their deepest meaning in their relationship to the Eucharist, which the Church calls the source and summit of the Christian life (CCC 1324). When the Mass is forgotten or marginalized, the remaining administrative duties of the clergy can easily come to domi...
Read more

POPE LEO XIV Magnifica Humanitas

Even in the darkest nights, the Lord raises up men and women who refuse to give up, who persevere in doing good, who protect the vulnerable and open pathways to reconciliation. The memory of the saints, righteous people and the oft-forgotten peacemakers, show us that grace does not magically eliminate conflict, but instead it inspires active resistance to evil and an astonishing creativity in doing good (paragraph 211).

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

I doubt not then but innocence shall make false accusation blush, and tyranny tremble at patience.