Decrease Jesus, Deform The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

This article follows a previous article that discussed the statement of John the Baptist about his humility in the face of the ever-increasing  public awareness of Jesus and His authority. (“Jesus Increases, John the Baptist Decreases,” Sept. 6, 2024).

The Mass, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, when ordered and offered in accord with John the Baptist’s statement, “He [Jesus] must increase and I must decrease,” is the Mass as it was before many of the changes that have been made since the Second Vatican Council. What has been done to the Mass turns the Baptist’s admonition on its head – Jesus is decreased with every New Order “liturgy” and the people present and the priest increase.

Jesus’s “Deny yourself,” (Mt 16:24)  and “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 18:4), are statements about humility that echo the Baptist’s words.   Among other things, the September 6 article discussed how St. Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said he went about his ministry to personally decrease so that Jesus would increase.

Paul does not proclaim his God-granted status as an apostle to the gentiles. He does not entertain. He does not focus on himself. He made it clear that he was not going to present himself like a skilled public speaker or an actor on a stage expert in dramatic presentations and histrionics. Any of these things which had the potential to “increase” Paul in public fame, popularity, and celebrity would detract from the message – Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

A Mass not in accord with Jesus’s teachings on humility, the admonition of the Baptist’s, and St. Pauls’ description of ministry  is  disordered, a Novus Disordo happening.

In a public  entertainment, play, movie, TV show, in terms of worldly fame, glory, stature, popularity, and celebrity, many of those involved in performing before an audience –  actors, masters of ceremonies dances, singers , stars,  and a band or orchestra – all “increase” in worldly terms. This is what happens in a Novus Disordo  “liturgy.”

For each item below, check the categories that apply to what is being done in churches around the world, including in the United States.

Calling Jesus’s church a community.

___ Jesus decreases.

___ I/me/you/we/us/the priest increases.

Calling the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass a mere meal or supper,  not a re-presentation of Jesus’s sacrifice to the Father.

___ Jesus decreases.

___ I/me/you/we/us/the priest increases.

Referring to a “table” for a meal, not to an altar for a sacrifice.

___ Jesus decreases.

___ I/me/you/we/us/the priest increases.

The laity, (those not ordained and not present in persona Christi as the Head of the Mystical Body as is only the priest – acting in the person of Jesus, the entire Person, body, blood, soul, spirit, and divinity), assuming the orans praying posture of a priest.

___ Jesus decreases.

___ I/me/you/we/us/the priest increases.

Referring to the priest as a mere “presider” who simply does functions that any person can do, including the laity, including women.

___ Jesus decreases.

___ I/me/you/we/us/the priest increases.

Providing no sanctuary area separate from the rest of the space.

___ Jesus decreases.

___ I/me/you/we/u/the priest increases.

Providing no kneelers, failing to kneel or bow during the creed at the appropriate time, and when the name “Jesus” is spoken.

___ Jesus decreases.

___ I/me/you/we/us/the priest increases.

Singing songs about us, the community, me and you, rather than hymns of adoration and worship.

___ Jesus decreases.

___ I/me/you/we/us/the priest increases.

Have the priest, the only person present in persona Christi, face the people rather than stand with them facing the altar, the tabernacle if present.

___ Jesus decreases.

___ I/me/you/we/us/the priest increases.

Have no crucifix on or above the altar, or anywhere in the “community space;” substitute an image of  a risen Jesus for the crucifix.

___ Jesus decreases.

___ I/me/you/we/us/the priest increases.

Having the laity respond to “The Lord be with you,” spoken by the priest, with “and also with you,” rather than “and with your spirit.”

___ Jesus decreases.

___ I/me/you/we/us/the priest increases.

The laity standing for the consecration or the entire eucharistic prayer.

___ Jesus decreases.

___ I/me/you/we/us the priest increases increases.

The laity saying the doxology – through Him, with Him, and in Him –  with the priest.

___ Jesus decreases.

___ I/me/you/we/us/ the priest increases.

Following the consecration, still referring to ‘bread” and ‘wine,” not to the body and blood of Jesus.

___ Jesus decreases.

___ I/me/you/we/us the priest increases increase.

Providing a video screen or screens which divert attention from the altar and from what the priest is saying and doing.

___ Jesus decreases.

___ I/me/you/we/us/the priest increases.

Lay people distributing Holy Communion, sometimes while the priest sits down.

___ Jesus decreases.

___ I/me/you/we/us/ the priest increases.

Locating the singers and band or orchestra at the front of the building in a position typical for entertainment rather than worship of God, a position in which the performers can look at people in the audience,making eye contact during the performance, and vice versa.

___ Jesus decreases.

___ I/me/you/we/us/the priest increases.

Having the lay Holy Communion distributors stand with the priest and say the “Domine, non sum dignus”.

___ Jesus decreases.

___ I/me/you/we/us/the priest increases.

Have a non-priest delivering a speech at Mass, rather than a priest presenting a sermon (and call a sermon a “homily”).

___ Jesus decreases.

___ I/me/you/we/us/the priest increases.

Locating the tabernacle away from the space where the Mass occurs. Wherever it is, showing no reference when one is there near the tabernacle or when passing in front of it.

___ Jesus decreases.

___ I/me/you/we/us/the priest increases.

Making the community space circular or oval so that those in the audience can look at others in the audience; and placing the supper table non-centrally in the circle or oval.

___ Jesus decreases.

___ I/me/you/we/us/the priest increases.

Refusing to let anyone receive Holy Communion on the tongue.

___ Jesus decreases.

___ I/me/you/we/us/the priest increases.

Providing no communion rail or kneeler so that one can kneel during the reception of Holy Communion, and denying communion to anyone who kneels.

___ Jesus decreases.

___ I/me/you/we/us/the priest increases.

Providing no architectural feature, structure, or artwork that would cause anyone to raise their gaze, or to think about a divine God, during the Mass.

___ Jesus decreases.

___ I/me/you/we/us/the priest increases.

Permitting the laity to dress as if they are at the beach, the park, a picnic, the local swimming pool, their living room, garage, backyard, or the mall.

___ Jesus decreases.

___ I/me/you/we/us/the priest increases.

Making the table level with the rest of the church.

___ Jesus decreases.

___ I/me/you/we/us/the priest increases.

Encouraging the laity to applaud, the focus of it a member or members of the laity, not Jesus, or the Father or Holy Spirit.

___ Jesus decreases.

___ I/me/you/we/us/the priest increases.

Saying “Eat this bread and drink this cup” as an acclamation of the faithful after the bread and wine have been consecrated by the priest and are then the body and blood of Jesus.

___ Jesus decreases.

___ I/me/you/we/us/the priest increases.

At the “Domine, non sum dignus,” not using the word “sacrifice,” and saying “Happy are those who are called to his supper.”

___ Jesus decreases.

___ I/me/you/we/us/the priest increases.

During the prayer the Confiteor, instead of saying “I  confess . . . and to you, Father,” saying “I confess . . . and to you my brothers and sisters.”

___ Jesus decreases.

___ I/me/you/we/us/the priest increases.

Reducing the use of, severely restricting, or totally prohibiting the use of Latin during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, one of the most powerful and effective ways that the unity of Jesus’s church is made evident to the faithful and is proclaimed to the world.

___ Jesus decreases.

___ I/me/you/we/us/the priest increases.

Yes, each item above is in both categories.

Conclusion

The majority of Catholics now do not believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. According to one survey, 69% believe that the bread and wine are only that, and mere symbols of Jesus’s presence.

Over 40% of Catholics have left the Church and now identify as Protestant. Protestant denominations do not have the sacraments or most of the sacraments – the outward signs instituted by Jesus to give grace – His life – to the faithful. Hundreds of parishes in the U.S. have shut down.

In one survey almost half of Catholics said they abandoned Jesus’s church because they disagreed with some of its religious and moral teachings. This includes the church’s teachings about things in Holy Scripture, in both the Old and the New Testaments, declared to be abominations, grievous sins, and offences against God.

One survey showed that only 28% of Catholics attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass regularly. Only about half say they pray daily. Overall, only 20% of U.S. Catholics say they attend Mass weekly and pray daily and consider religion very important in their life.

Over 40% vote for candidates of the Party of Death, the Democrat Party.

The percentages cited above are not simply statistics. Each person included in the surveys and studies for those numbers is one of Jesus’s beloved sheep, someone for whom He suffered and died.

These numbers did not happen overnight. Those who planned, executed, orchestrated and effected these changes saw the numbers getting worse and worse over many years – they knew what was happening, they exalted in their success, and they proceeded, year after year, to pursue their goals. Those who have intentionally sought the destruction of Jesus’s church and the spiritual death of many of His children did these things so that Jesus would decrease and His church would suffer – some hoped to the point of extinction. That so many of the faithful would spiritually die was happy and welcomed collateral damage.

On a lighter note, these people who have tried to destroy Jesus’s church and spiritually injure His sheep will all, some of them already, some very soon, get to discuss this with the Man Himself.