Los Angeles bishop calls missing Mass a ‘spiritual disaster’

Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Robert Barron says that a large number of Catholics are staying away from the Mass is a “spiritual disaster.” NESTOR CORRALES/INQUIRER.net

CEBU CITY — “A spiritual disaster” was how a bishop described the large number of Catholics staying away from the Mass.

“That 70 percent of Catholics stay away from the Mass is a spiritual disaster,” Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Robert Barron told thousands of Catholic faithful during a catechesis at the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) here Tuesday.

Barron was referring to his diocese in the United States where majority of Catholics stay away from the Eucharist.

But what keeps Catholics from attending Mass?

In a press conference on Monday, an archbishop said there is a need to bring back “enthusiasm” among Mass goers especially the youth, who view the Mass, particularly the homily, as “boring.”

Archbishop Piero Marini said there must be “inculturation in the Mass. Inculturation is defined  as the the adaptation of the changes in the liturgy in connection with the own culture of a place.

“The liturgies that are not inculturated get lost,” Marini said.

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Marini is the president of the Pontifical Committee for the International Eucharistic Congresses.

“The important word in the liturgy is participation. To participate in the liturgy is to adopt the liturgy in particular circumstances,” he said.

“I think there is a need to restore enthusiasm in the Eucharist and (adopt) variety of liturgical rites in the celebration,” he added.

Marini, however, said that the liturgical rites have undergone changes and adapted local cultures but the process takes time.

“But the process of completing is slow in progress. That’s why we are here in this situation,” he said.

In the Philippines, Marini said the Catholic Bishop’s of the Philippines (CBCP) has submitted a proposal called “Misa ng Bayang Pilipino” by Fr. Anscar Chupungco in 1991.

However, the inculturated liturgy in the Philippines has been “slow in progress” having no response from Vatican yet. CDG

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