Liturgical Bits

Prince of Peace just subscribed(January 2010) to a service from Resource Publications called Liturgical Bits and Bytes which highlights various parts of the Mass and its background. We hope this will help our members understand the background of the Mass/Liturgy a little better with the result that they may pray better during the Liturgy.

3/21/10

#21 Initiation

Who is responsible for the catechumens and candidates, those who are seeking to be fully initiated into the Catholic Church? WE ALL ARE. It is the responsibility of the entire parish community. There are certain individuals whom we delegate to do the day-to-day catechizing for us. Still, the responsibility is that of the whole parish. That is why, during the rites, we are all reminded in some way of our responsibility to these people who wish to join our number. We are asked to pray for them, to give them support and good example. Sometimes we are asked to sign them with the sign of our faith, the cross. The catechumenate process is not an extra which is added on. Bringing new members into the Church is part of what we are commissioned to do by Christ through our baptism. Our faith is a gift, not for us alone, but for all. It is for us to share.

#22 Music Ministers

Who are the music ministers in liturgy? We refer to the instrumentalists and vocalists who lead us in song as the music ministers. And so they are.

However, this can be misleading, because WE, the COMMUNITY, are the primary music ministers in liturgy. Our job is to sing the songs, to witness to our faith to one another through our singing, and to encourage others to do the same through our enthusiastic song. It is important that we support one another in song and that we hear one another and are not overwhelmed by electronic amplification or muted by sound-absorbing materials. Singing together is an important element of the liturgy which transforms us from independent individuals to a unified worshiping body.

If we feel we do not sing well, we can always remember that Psalm 95:1 invites us to make a "joyful noise" in our praise of God.

#23 The Function of Musicians

If we, the gathered assembly, are the primary music ministers, what is the function of those whom we label music ministers?

They lead us in our songs. They provide the mechanics which enable us to sing together and in tune. Their formation and expertise in liturgical music enables them to select appropriate songs for this community to celebrate this liturgy with these readings on this particular day. Among other things, they can on occasion provide solo music for inspiration (perhaps during the Preparation of the Gifts) or also can enhance the ambiance (for example, through prelude and postlude music.)

#24 MUSICAL FLOW DURING LITURGY

Music provides continuity within the liturgy. This means that the songs are chosen to reflect or echo the meaning of the readings. The eucharistic acclamations are normally taken from the same setting by the same composer in order to maintain unity and integrity within the Eucharistic Prayer. The music within each major section of the liturgy should be integral to the action and express the interconnectedness of that section.

In the liturgy music often signals a change in what is happening. For example the entrance rite goes from the prelude right up to the first reading. The music that is used should support the action and help to create the “mood” of the ritual. In some parishes the Lamb of God, the song used during the breaking of bread, sometimes segues into the communion song. This is done on purpose. The breaking of bread, the invitation to receive the Eucharist, and the procession to communion are all part of the one communion rite. Continuing the music through the rite creates a sense of unity. Each major section of the Mass should maintain musical integrity. The Mass is like a symphony with separate movements but connected as one musical piece.

3/7/10

#17 The Word Eucharist

Probably you have heard that the word eucharist means thanksgiving. Gratitude is an attitude which can be learned, a habit which can be practiced and developed. As we grow in developing a grateful heart in our daily lives, gathering as the Body of Christ to worship God, gives natural expression to our being a people of thanksgiving. We come together to “do Eucharist,” to give praise and thanks to God.

#18 Main Parts of the Eucharistic Liturgy

The eucharistic liturgy has four main parts:

The GATHERING RITE which ritually forms us into a worshipping assembly of believers.
The LITURGY OF THE WORD, also called the TABLE OF THE WORD to show its relative importance of the liturgy of the Eucharist. We are fed at both, but in different ways.
The LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST which begins with the preparation of the gifts and continues through the communion rite.
The DISMISSAL RITE, which sends us forth to bring our experience of Christ to the world.

#19 Gathering Rite

The “GATHERING RITE” is a name descriptive of its purpose. According the the Sacramentary, the purpose is to “make the assembled people a unified community and to prepare them properly to listen to God’s Word and celebrate the Eucharist.”

We experience ourselves as a worshipping COMMUNITY.

We acknowledge that we have come together to worship the Lord.

We begin to pray together to be ready to hear God’s Word and to receive God’s Sacrament as that ASSEMBLY called together by God for this purpose.

#20 Sign of the Cross

Why do we begin with the Sign of the Cross?

One of the characteristics of Catholic worship is that it is Trinitarian. That is, our prayer includes the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Notice our prayers throughout the mass. We address our prayer to God the Father in the name of the Son, through the power of the Holy Spirit. We set the stage for this when we begin, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Just as we signed ourselves with the holy water when we entered, once again we reaffirm our commitment as baptized Christians to the triune God to whom we come to give thanks and praise.

2/14/10

#11 VOICE OF THE ASSEMBLY

The primary instrument for the liturgy is not the organ or the piano or the guitar but the voice of the assembly. In fact, the singing assembly is the most beautiful sound that the liturgy can make. Usually it is not a polished sound, and can even be an out-of-tune sound. But when it is authentic and resounding, it is the only measure of whether our music is prayer or not. Nothing ever quite matches the full, alive sound of the whole congregation joining together in the praise of God. The word that best describes that event is "Alleluia." Alleluia is a Hebrew word that translates "God's people praise God." This special song of praise is used at many different times and in many different ways, but it is especially at the time immediately before the proclamation of the Gospel that it becomes an acclamation, a kind of shout for joy—always joyful, always sung.

#12 Entrance Procession, Singing

Why do we sing while the ministers are processing into the church building?

Ideally, we would all process in singing with the ministers at the end of the procession. For practical reasons, we enter individually and as families, and when it’s time to start we sing the gathering song. This accompanies the procession of the ministers, gives it a sense of dignity and of community, and provides us with participation in that final part of the procession.

#13 Gathering Song

What is the function of the gathering song?

The gathering song also serves to form us into a community, preparing us to worship as a unified body. It is the first formal act of the liturgy that we do together. The singing together, even breathing together as we sing, helps us to become the one body that is gathered for worship. It focuses us on what we are about to do. It frequently brings to our awareness the focus of the day’s celebration. Like the homily, the intercessions, and the prayers, the music is chosen to reflect the readings of the day. The gathering song should help us to become aware of ourselves as a unified community gathered for worship.

#14 Celebrating Together

When we come together to do liturgy, we cease being an “I” and become a “we,” the Body of Christ united through Baptism, and joined together to give thanks and praise to God in Christ’s name. Americans are a particularly individualistic people, but our theology calls us to be counter-cultural, to be responsible to and for one another, to pray and sing together, not as individuals, but as a community.

#15 CHILDREN AT LITURGY

The Catholic Church welcomes children at liturgy. Everyone has a right to come to Mass and that includes children. Many parishes provide a children's "Liturgy of the Word" which uses a children's lectionary and explains and applies the readings in language on their level. Children cannot be expected to have the same attention span as adults. It's fine to bring something to keep them occupied, like a children's Bible storybook or a coloring book.

How does a parent decide when it's time to take a baby out of church? There is a simple guideline: If you were at the dining room table you would know the difference between normal behavior for a child and acting up. It's up to the parent to decide what's inappropriate. Sometimes just walking out in the lobby is enough to calm things down. We need to be very patient with parents who bring their children to Mass. We should be more upset if they didn't come. It is never easy to worship and to discipline at the same time.

On our part, a compliment to a well behaved child goes much further than a "dirty look" or a "nasty remark." If you are seated near the family you might ask the parent if you can help. Instead of seeing children as a distraction, let them become the focus of your prayer.

#16 Liturgical Prayer

To whom is the prayer at liturgy directed?

If you listen to the prayers, you will notice that it is God the Father. If we think of ourselves as individuals coming to worship, we lack the focus inherent in the liturgy itself. If we think of ourselves as the gathered assembly, the Body of Christ, come together to worship God in Christ’s name, then it becomes understandable why the prayers are addressed to the Father to whom Jesus also prayed. Listen to the prayers, all addressed to the Father, all first person plural.

#6 (1/31/10) Prayer at Liturgy

How does prayer at liturgy differ from other forms of prayer?

Liturgy is defined as the “work of the Church.” It is what the Church does that makes it uniquely itself. The Church is the assembly of believers, gathered by God to do worship in the name of Jesus Christ. Therefore the prayer of the Church is communal prayer, not individual prayer. It comes from our individual prayer, arises from our habit of prayer as individuals and as groups outside of liturgy. The prayer we do during liturgy is the prayer of the assembled Body of Christ. It is a collective prayer, which we offer to God by the right (and the duty) which comes from our baptism. When we gather to pray at liturgy, we come not as a group of individuals, but as the Church itself.

#7 BAPTISTRY II

Baptism is the first and most important step on our journey into the life we have in Christ. Each time we come in to church, we should be reminded in some way that it was through the sacrament of Baptism that we became part of God's family. At one time baptistries were built in a separate building near the entrance. These days they are frequently constructed just inside the main doors. Each time you come into the church you dip your hand into the holy water of life. The whole point of blessing ourselves as we come into the church has always been to remind ourselves of the life we share through Baptism. Many churches which do not have the baptismal font in that location provide small holy water fonts to maintain the connection between baptism and entry into the church. The Sunday celebrations which use the sprinkling of holy water as part of the gathering rite also remind us of our common Baptism which unites us as Christ's Body assembled for worship.

#8 Holy Water Fonts

Why are there holy water fonts at the doors of the church building?

We came into the Church through the waters of baptism. This was the beginning of our initiation process. Each time we come into the church building we remind ourselves of our baptism by blessing ourselves with the holy water “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Baptistries used to be near the entrance of the church building or even in a separate building near the front doors. Only after baptism, did the person enter into the room of the celebrating assembly.

#9 Baptismal Font

With Vatican II we once again began to look at baptism as a Sacrament to be celebrated in the midst of the assembly, that is, in the context of the whole community. For practical purposes the baptism font was placed up front so the assembly could see the action. However, newer church buildings are being constructed with the font near the entrance, and within sight of the assembly, so that the symbolism of coming into the Church through the waters of baptism is once again evident.

At the same time, with the font at the entrance to the church, it makes the many small fonts unnecessary, and allows us to bless ourselves with the water from the font, a closer connection to our own baptism. Each time we bless ourselves this way, it can be a conscious renewal of our baptismal commitment and an affirmation of our right and duty to worship as part of the Body of Christ called by God into an assembled people.

#10 Entrance Procession

Who is part of the entrance procession?

We all are.

As we come from our homes and gather from various locations, we begin the great procession into the church building. When we have gathered and it is time to begin, the ministers conclude the procession by following us into the building. Our participation at this time is to sing the gathering song.

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#3: (1-10-10) What is the Church?

The Church is the people of God. The church is the church building, the house of the people of God. We have called the church the house of God. It has become that, because it is the place which has been made sacred through Eucharist worship. The work of the people, LITURGY, sanctifies the space as it makes Christ present through the word, through the eucharist, through the ministers, and through the Body of Christ assembled. The Church is a who, not a what.

#4 Assembling for Liturgy

Why do we come together to celebrate Liturgy? (We used to call it attending mass.)

· Because we are all needed there.

· Because the Body of Christ is not complete without us.

· Because we can gain strength from the faith witness of others and give encouragement to others through our own faith witness

· Because we need to acknowledge our relationship with God and with one another

· Because God has called us.

#5 Preparing for Liturgy

How do we prepare to celebrate Liturgy?

Not only the musicians, lectors, and presider prepare for the celebration. We all do. We prepare as we select our clothes, get our children ready, and begin to move toward the church building. Perhaps you have a routine you follow each Sunday. This is part of what prepares you to join in the celebration. Many people read the Scripture readings for the Sunday so they have had time to think about them in advance. This might be a good idea of something to do as a family, taking time to discuss them. Then you can compare your thoughts with the homily on Sunday. The readings are listed in the bulletin each week.

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#1 (1-3-10) SACRIFICE

Joining in one common act of worship is essential to the proper understanding of the Mass as a sacrifice. There is only one acceptable sacrifice in the New Testament – that of Christ himself. The Mass is a sacrifice because it brings us into contact with that eternal sacrifice of Christ. We share in the sacrifice by joining ourselves to Christ’s act of worship of the Father.

There are obviously great depths of meaning linked to our sharing in this sacrificial act of worship. This brings us to the heart of Christianity and the heart of the Eucharist. The death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus is the central fact of history and the central theme of Christian spirituality. Thus full, active participation in Christ’s act of worship is the basic goal of liturgy. It is through that action that we are transformed.

#2 SURRENDER

Liturgy is not simply a human creation. Although it certainly relies on human words and actions and meaning, the liturgy has been given to us by the Lord. Liturgy is the “work of the people” but liturgy is also the way God molds us in and through Jesus. If the liturgy is to be a means for us to encounter the divine presence, then we must do so on God’s terms, not ours.

Thus, entering into the liturgy requires a certain openness from us. It requires letting go of our preferences and desires. Often we must surrender our own expectations in order to fulfill God’s expectations of us. Surrender is never easy. It may be especially difficult in our society, which tends to see surrender as an act of weakness. In fact, it requires great strength of spirit and it may be the hardest thing each of us must do.

Surrender to God is the basic requirement of the spiritual life. Perhaps as we see the presider raise his hands in prayer, it can be a signal to all of us that prayer is always and basically a surrender to the will of God.

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Last updated: Monday July 26, 2010