Sunday 1 February 2015

Effeminacy in the TLM...


Well, I don't know about Dr Shaw but one reason I am put off the "TLM" is because it's too effeminate. All that lace frippery, the cottas up to the servers' chins; one can well imagine the afore-service conversation in the sacristy, "now father," said the sacristan (a battle axe woman, of course), "which ugly, stiff tabard do you want to wear to-day?" "Oh, the one with flowers on it, dear," said the priest. If the TLM is so ostensibly masculine one wonders why it holds such an attraction for homosexuals! It reminds me of the first few minutes of this part of An Audience with Kenneth Williams.

"I won't have all this effeminacy and mincing about!" said the OC (which is code for a priest preaching against homosexuality).
A voice from the back, "oooh, get the madam!"

7 comments:

  1. Out of curiosity, what in the rite itself seems to be effeminate? Over a decade ago, American traditionalists were shouting that the traditional Latin Mass restored authentic masculinity to Catholic life. Funny, these things.

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    1. An informed question...maybe if people didn't tart the rite up so much the masculinity of the rite would be more perceptible. Having said that, I find the two elevations at the words of institution to be slightly effeminate.

      Have you been to the London Oratory!?!

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    2. No, I've never even been to the Great Isles of my ancestors!

      Well, certainly those little cottas worn by grown men do seem quite effeminate!

      Really, the elevations are effeminate? I don't like them myself, but I can't think of a reason to call them effeminate, other than the action of the priest stretching up showing off his socks (and bare legs if he's wearing short pants under the cassock).

      "Taste and see that the Lord is good."

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    3. Are you in Canada or the Evil Empire?

      The Roman Rite would be worth having if one could loose it from the hands of the traditionalists. Full surplices, no lace, tunicled crucifers and acolytes, cantors in copes, etc. That sounds more "masculine" and tasteful to me than a lot of polycotton lace cottas that don't even match!

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  2. The great Commonwealth of Virginia.

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    1. My father says they're more British than the British there. Good for you.

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    2. Well, I have no affinity for aging monarchs and I hate hot tea.

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