Sunday, December 31, 2006
What is Sacred Liturgy?
As we all probably know by now, this (2007) is the Year of Authentic Liturgical Renewal in the Roman Liturgy. This means that we want to implement orthodoxy, tradition, and obedience into the way the Sacred Liturgy is celebrated here in the Diocese of the United States of America, and in the universal Church.
Moneybags, posted a good comment in which I would like to post here: "Again I must say that this is a great idea. Let's make sure this isn't just words. Let's make sure we turn our words into action. I'm not sure where to start or what to do, but I'm sure that all of the participating blogs could work together to think of ways in which we can help liturgical renewal."
Each of us live in different parents of the country and the world. Some of us are young, others older. While some attend the Tridentine Mass, others the Novus Ordo Mass. Either way we are bond together by our common Baptism, and become a family, the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ. As members of the Church, we most do our part to ensure that the Sacred Liturgies of the Church be safeguarded and protected. And that is why we have come together this year. Now, since each parish has different problems, it is hard to find a place to start. But, lets begin with just the very basic which is understanding the Sacred Liturgy. If we do not understand Liturgy, how can we expect to live it with reverence? We can't.
"The word 'liturgy' originally meant 'public work' or a 'service in the name of the people.' In Christian tradition it means the participation of the people of God in the work of God. Through the Liturgy, Christ, our redeemer and high priest, continues the work of redemption in, with and through his Church. As the work of Christ liturgy is also an action of his Church. It makes the Church present and manifests her as the visible sign of the communion in Christ between God and men. It engages the faithful in the new life of the community and involves the conscious, active, and fruitful participation of everyone."
So, the liturgy is the act of the Church as a whole worshiping, adoring, and praising our Lord and Maker. Different types of liturgy exist, such as the Sacrifice of the Mass, the Divine Office, the Way of the Cross, Celebration of the Word, or even praying the rosary in community, or Eucharistic Adoration, along with Benediction. Several others exist, but these are the most common. Each act is a action done in the company of all the angels and saints. That means it should be carried out with reverence, solemnity; basically a different mood that that of a fiesta the First Assembly of God is celebrating next door.
In the Sacrifice of the Mass, which Pope John Paul the Great explains as "heaven on earth," Christ dies on the Cross and rises to new life. This is not a new life, but the same sacrifice offered 2,000 years ago. Remember, with God there is no time, everything is the eternal now! So, if this is the Sacrifice of Calvary being offered to the Most Merciful Father, it should be celebrated with dignity, nobility, and once again solemnity. Why do we have jazz music playing? Holding hands during the Our Father? Why does the Kiss of Peace seem like a social rather than a symbol of the peace and unity we have with one another? Because people are not taught what the Eucharistic Sacrifice is. Yes it is a celebration, I understand, but it is Calvary too!!! It is crazy that I can go to a protestant Church and see a sign on the chapel door reading, "Please reserve silence in the chapel" but in a Catholic Church it is like a gossip space rather than a "worship space" to use modern terminology.
So first, we must teach our brethren the meaning behind the Sacred Liturgy, then explain to them with charity the liturgical norms put out by the Apostolic See and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. We cannot invent things in the Liturgy, but only keep those which have been approved. That is shown in the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy which states, "Therefore, no person, not even if he is a priest, may on his own, add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy." Be vigilant, fight the good fight, and don't give up!!!
Labels: Authentic Liturgical Renewal 2007, Liturgy
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