Priest Celebrates Mass in Bicycle Gear

During Sicily’s “Walk in Peace” initiative on September 11th, Father Fabio Corazzina livestreamed himself celebrating Mass outdoors on a make-shift altar while wearing cycling gear and a rainbow stole.

The video since went viral and drew the ire of his bishop, calling his failure to respect the “form” excessive.

“Don Corazzina is a parish priest of substance and not of form (he was the national coordinator of Pax Christi) who has always been close to the least, the humiliated and offended, whatever they may be, always at the forefront of Peace.” 

Bishop Pierantonio Tremolada of Brescia said it amazed him that “you did not think about the consequences of such an act, which was intentionally brought to public attention.”

“The context, the clothing, the way of treating the sacred species, the freedom in formulating the prayers and the Eucharistic prayer itself, some jokes that are out of place and unhappy. We cannot share all this.

How can we fail to realize the bewilderment and pain it would have caused, and in fact caused, in those who deeply love the Eucharist and place it at the center of their life of faith?”

Tremolada said Father Corazzina “really needs to make amends and humbly apologize.”

“How can we fail to realize the bewilderment and pain it would have caused, and in fact caused, in those who deeply love the Eucharist and place it at the center of their life of faith?

I lend you the voice, I do it in your name towards so many who have been scandalized and I expect you to share this need with me. I then ask you to choose a penitential gesture, which expresses the awareness of your responsibility and in some way intervenes to make amends for what happened.”

Does Father Corazzina need to make amends and if so what should they be?
👇

Photo credit: Fabio Corazzina via Facebook