tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35539648.post1560798973712873325..comments2023-10-18T14:53:28.622+01:00Comments on Forest Murmurs: Fr Stan Fortuna on the MassFr Michael Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15320336535138538635noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35539648.post-68389932190482896242008-12-23T21:15:00.000+00:002008-12-23T21:15:00.000+00:00The difference here is between the real thing, an...The difference here is between the real thing, and an audio-visual aid.<BR/><BR/>When I was a boy in the 1950s, the ony aids to learning were illustrated books, including prayer books for children. You read the text; you compared the pictures with the real thing. And that was that ! No videos, no DVDs, no audio-visual aids. The technology hadn't been invented yet.<BR/><BR/>Now that the technology exists, well, why not use it ?<BR/><BR/>A DVD is very different from the real thing. Even if it is a recording of an actual Mass, it is still only a recording.<BR/><BR/>Look at the DVDs now available for priests wishing to learn how to celebrate the "old" Mass. You can press "play", "pause", "rewind",<BR/>or even watch a sequence in slow motion. If you are attending the real thing, you can hardly say to the celebrant : Could you do that bit again, please ? <BR/><BR/>So the question of how to catechise is answered : you use (amongst other things) a recording.<BR/><BR/>What is not helpful, in my opinion, is talking about saving the planet when you really mean to talk about saving the soul. Two different things ! That line of reasoning is going nowhere. (And I'd like to tell this to the trendy bishop who recently suggested the idea.)<BR/><BR/>No. Children can process a great deal more information than we give them credit for. And they can understand spiritual concepts, too.<BR/><BR/>When I was a child, I was taught, and came to understand, the difference between right and wrong.<BR/>There was an obvious link between bad habits (e.g. greed), anti-social behaviour (e.g. dropping litter) and sinful behaviour.<BR/><BR/>I couldn't have begun to understand the proposition that big business was polluting the environment, and that we must (somehow) save the planet, and that's what salvation means, you see.<BR/><BR/>I still don't understand it.PeterHWrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08734936083886678494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35539648.post-32930679674905507182008-12-23T20:45:00.000+00:002008-12-23T20:45:00.000+00:00Father, what usually puts us off is that what purp...Father, what usually puts us off is that what purports to be for young people isn't - it's for the performers. Fr Stan's antics are as attractive to me as the stuff my 18 and 15 year olds have on the radio or music centre all day, but they are aimed squarely at them, not us. I don't have to like it (DG) and can refuse to have anything to do with it, but I'd certainly not mind the kids going to it.Ttonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185875893212146794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35539648.post-37516394905011368412008-12-23T14:33:00.000+00:002008-12-23T14:33:00.000+00:00I agree with you, Father. Such a tool could work m...I agree with you, Father. Such a tool could work miracles if shown to Children. They showed it in our Parish to the Holy Communion kids and their parents and the comments that came after it were fantastic. One parent commented that she wished they showed it to the communion kids every year and that her other children who had made their Holy Communion's years previous would have benefited greatly from the DVD. You can't argue with that ...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03197592535582200395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35539648.post-68915737711354458362008-12-23T14:02:00.000+00:002008-12-23T14:02:00.000+00:00I thought the excerpt from the DVD to be very good...I thought the excerpt from the DVD to be very good, and felt the passion from Fr Stan for the Mass to come over very strongly. It clearly had a powerful affect on those it was aimed at. I've seen Fr Stan on a couple of occasions and though it's not my preference, I can see he delivers a powerful message that does engage people 9and not just young people). More power to his elbow, and to yours too for using the right tools for a given job.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com