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| Musical Musings: Liturgy | Page 2 |
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Why Not Let the Liturgy Form Us?Part II: More Liturgy of the EucharistPreparation for Holy Communion begins with the Lord's Prayer. Then we ask the Lamb of God to have mercy on us and grant us peace. The Greeting of Peace which follows is not a social event; it is a profound act of faith which acknowledges that we who receive the one bread become one body in Christ. Then we sing an antiphon or a hymn as we walk in procession to receive the Blessed Sacrament. There may be time for silent prayer here, or for communal reflection in a hymn. When communion is over, the priest again says a summary prayer, to which we answer "Amen."The Dismissal Rite is usually short -- a blessing and a commission to bring the graces of the Mass out into the world as we love and serve the Lord. Usually we sing a recessional hymn, which reminds us of the preceding celebration and reinforces the commission we have received. Throughout the liturgy we have prayed in many ways. We need to know the meaning of each part of the Mass and follow attentively what is going on. It is important to get to church on time, so that we can participate in the unfolding action of the Mass appropriately in all its different ways. It is necessary to resist the temptation to say private prayers or while away the time reading the parish bulletin. Some kinds of liturgical prayer may not suit our momentary mood. Others pass by quickly; we cannot linger as long as we might like. It requires discipline and sacrifice to put our own wishes on hold and surrender to the action of the Mass. But, if we are willing to let the liturgy form us, we will find that we have made it possible to "get something" out of Mass -- what Jesus and his body the church through many centuries have put into it. Then our liturgical prayer can become what St. Pius X called it: "the primary and indispensable source of the true Christian spirit." |
Back to Part I: Anaphora, epiclesis, anamnesis 