Category: Liturgy
Posted: 2010-12-04 11:39
Because some liturgical and catechetical experts in the Church in North America offer them junk like this to feed their souls:

I stumbled across this perfectly hideous Advent prayer book, apparently written for “teens, tweens and college-agers.”
Right-o. I can just imagine my 22-year old, fourth-year-university-age daughter "drawing the sounds of the season" along with her 11-year-old sister.
This little gem was written by one Peter J. Mead. I hope his grammar teacher, wherever she is, is not contemplating suicide.
You just know you’re in for a rough ride when it’s illustrated with scrawly cartoon images, and doesn’t mention Jesus Christ for the first
five pages.
Here are some excerpts of the sublime and elegantly written devotions:
First Monday:
IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN
It’s that time again, I see …
… you know …
… time to torch the wreath.
Okay … that was uncalled for, I suppose. I’ll admit it.
It’s time to LIGHT the wreath.
Pardon my insolence. It’s just …
… well, it’s just that I’m not sure I get the point. You know … of all this ADVENT rigmarole.First Wednesday:
UM … I THINK THE WREATH IS TALKING …
Shhh … do you hear it? Listen really close … I think I’m beginning to hear something. Unless I’m mistaken, the Advent wreath’s trying to tell us something.Second Sunday:
PEOPLE IN DARKNESS!
Did Isaiah have to work a while before coming up with the right turn of phrase … the perfect metaphor?
“Let’s see … how can I say this? ‘There were some folks with their feet stuck in tar?’ Nope … that doesn’t seem to work. How ‘bout ‘life for them was as soupy as chocolate pudding’? No, no, no … that’s terrible!’ ‘They were like compasses without a magnet? … sheep without a shepherd? … oatmeal cookies without raisins? …’”How about: a pseudo-theologian without a clue? (But a plethora of ellipses and screaming capitals). I did not finish reading the book. I had not the liturgical, theological or grammatical stomach for it. I did the holy thing and recycled it.
Vampire fic, on the other hand, offers mystery, sacrificial love, ritual, meaningful suffering, and eternal life. Who wouldn’t choose the latter? As Peter J. Mead might say, Um … like … I DUNNO.