On Monday I led our annual Senior Retreat. It took place at a Baptist camp in the mountains, and although we used their chapel, it was a bare space, and we had to improvise on some of the details. I commented to the boys who helped, “I wonder what it is like when priests have to celebrate Mass in very difficult situations, like on the battlefield.”
That night I came across Fr Ray’s post with pictures of the very thing. Its inspiring to see the same Mass celebrated on the hood of a jeep as in the most glorious Cathedral. Christ is there. His priest is there. His church is there.
I notice the soldiers, big tough men, KNEEELING in the dirt before their Lord.I am amazed how many Catholics do not kneel when kneelers are not provided at a Church. As a teacher, we had masses in the school library etc. Whenever we had mass at some place other than the church the staff simply did not keel. I was the only one who got to my knees during the Prayer of Consecration and during Holy Communion.Look at those soldiers kneeling in the dirt before God. What an example!
I hate to tell you (golly, I hate to know it) but there are Catholic churches where there are kneelers and people do not kneel. I recently went to Mass in another diocese where I was the only person kneeling. Not surprisingly, there were other issues with the Mass to….
Father,Thanks for highlighting the chaplain’s role. My pastor growing up was one of the Catholic chaplains on Iwo Jima. He never talked about it, but you could tell by the look in his eyes that it touched him deeply. I work for the US military, and for several years I was in charge of getting the chaplains of all faiths all of the ecclesiastical supplies they needed. It was refreshing to hear their stories. I can assure you that Mass is said on the battlefield still…I’ll have to find some photos I have where you’ll see the guys kneeling in the sand.Donna
Battlefield Masses are so popular they even make a calendar: http://www.angeluspress.org/oscatalog/item/8297/2009-battlefield-chaplains-calendarAbout what veritas says, I wonder if folks didn’t kneel at the school Masses because they were self-conscious? Of course if they were well-catechized solid Catholics they wouldn’t let that stop them. Sometimes I feel awkward in church kneeling or wearing a veil if I think people might be looking at me; I’d love to be able to be invisible to others when I do that kind of thing, even though I go to a wonderful orthodox parish. But the trick is to keep my focus on God and not the others in church; that way it feels more natural– indeed, imperative– to show outward signs of devotion.