DON'T FOLLOW YOUR EMOTIONS AT MASS!

Today at Holy Mass Fr John Lankeit an orthodox fiery homilist and one who does the Sacred Liturgy (aka the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass) like a military drill, his prayers and actions during the Sacred Liturgy are as focused as a laser. He preached a homily on the Mass readings, he gave us some nuggets from the readings but he also gave us a sermon. He spoke to us about liturgical abuses, such as raising your hands up during the Our Father, its called the orans position, only the Priest is suppose to hold his hands up during the Our Father and specifically not to add anything to the Sacred Liturgy – period! Don’t add extra words, such as “Have mercy on us.” Yes, someone at daily Mass today was praying “have mercy on us” (quite loud). Fr Lankeit said that no one, not even the Priest can add or change the words or postures of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal no. 24 - "...However, the Priest will remember that he is the servant of the Sacred Liturgy and that he himself is not permitted, on his own initiative, to add, to remove, or to change anything in the celebration of Mass." 

Rubrics of the Mass are the official instructions and guidelines for how the Catholic Mass is to be celebrated. They ensure that the liturgy is conducted consistently, reverently, and in accordance with the church’s traditions. Rubrics include details about prayers, gestures, vestments, movements, and other aspects of the liturgical ceremony.

• When a priest or someone says, "Read the black, do the red," they are referring to the typical color-coding used in liturgical books, like the Roman Missal:
• Black text indicates the instructions, prayers, or texts that the priest or congregation should read or recite.
• Red text (often called "rubrics") provides the instructions or directions on how to perform the actions, gestures, or movements during the Mass.

So, "Read the black, do the red" means the priest should read or recite the black text (the actual prayers or readings) and follow the directions given in the red text (the rubrics for gestures, responses, or actions). This phrase emphasizes the importance of adhering to the liturgical order and ensuring proper celebration of the Mass.

When you go to an Eastern Divine Liturgy, follow their rubrics, that’s Church law.

When you go to the Latin Mass, follow their rubrics, that’s Church law.

When you go to the Novus Ordo Mass, follow their rubrics, that’s Church law.

Church Law teaches that nobody (Priest or Layperson) is permitted to add, remove or change anything at Holy Mass, we must follow what Holy Mother Church has legislated when it comes to the postures, gestures and prayers at Holy Mass.

Please don’t say things like, “but the Holy Spirit told me to raise my hands or say this other prayer or kneel when I’m not suppose to.” Sorry, that’s not the Holy Spirit, those are your emotions, lack of formation and disobedience to Church Liturgical Law. The Holy Spirit works in and through the Sacred Liturgy, not through a person’s human emotions and sentiments.