Let's Talk Liturgy: Part 2

This continues the series of reflections about the liturgy as requested by the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City, for the education of the people of the diocese. This was read at the Masses celebrating the Second Sunday of Advent and printed in the Intermountain Catholic the following Friday.

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Preparation for Mass

There is an old saying that goes: “We receive what we give.” To receive something good, we have to give, whether it is acquiring an education, doing well in a job, or even learning to play golf. 

This applies with equal force when it comes to the Mass – we receive what we give. Sometimes we may hear people complain, “I don’t get anything out of Mass.” Such a statement begs the question: “How much did you give?” And I don’t mean the collection plate. Rather: How much did you give in preparing for Mass? Did we hurry in at the last minute, just as the processional was starting, with our hearts and minds still caught up in the worries and concerns we woke up with? Or did we take time to prepare for Mass?  How much did we give in order to receive? 

Most of us can recall a time in our lives when we might have spent hours preparing for a big date. Why? Because we knew that to receive the attention, the love, and affection of another person, we had to give of ourselves; and that by doing so, we would receive. At Mass we meet someone in sacramental form whose attractiveness goes beyond all other experience: This is Christ the Lord. But to receive such a blessing, we must give of ourselves in order to receive. Just like the big date, we must prepare. 

Our preparation should begin long before the start of Mass: ideally, during the days leading up to Sunday Mass. We might begin by reading the Scriptures for that Sunday, followed by a rosary. Fasting for at least one hour before attending Mass is also a helpful preparation. Above all, we should strive to be at peace with one another, for as Jesus said, “If you bring your gift to the altar and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift at the altar, go first to be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Mt. 5:23)   

We can prepare for Mass by forgiving and being reconciled with others. The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation can work wonders in bringing peace to an otherwise troubled conscience. 

Sometimes our preparation for Mass can be jeopardized by arriving late, hurrying to find a place to park, and then searching for an inconspicuous place to sit … certainly never the front pew! Church tradition can help us to slow down and to enter with a worshiping attitude. Pause at the entrance of the church and dip your fingers in the holy water, reflecting for a brief moment on the significance of what you are doing. Perhaps before Mass begins stop to light a votive candle and offer a short prayer. Enter the church slowly and reverently, pausing to genuflect before the Blessed Sacrament or to make a profound bow before the altar. If possible, kneel for a few minutes to offer prayers or to reflect on a special intention for that Mass. 

The sacrifice of the Mass is the most important event that happens every Sunday. But to receive it well, we must be willing to give. And the more we give, the more we will receive.

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How fitting that during the season of Advent, a season of preparation, this gentle exhortation to ready yourself for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass well in advance of when you enter the vestibule is given, that those final few minutes before the beginning of the Liturgy of the Word is a time to ready yourself to be in the presence of the Lord. Much more could be said about the need for Confession, the "atmosphere" in the church before hand (chatty, homey meeting space or sacred building, dependent on the architecture and the attitude of the laity and clergy), or even the "why" and "how" of what we do (e.g.--the dipping of fingers in a holy water font and the making of the Sign of the Cross). While you can't force people to be reverent, you can encourage that behavior.

And that is the point of this reflection.

UPDATE:  12/19/2014. Addition of the title and editorial format.

Let's Talk Liturgy: Part 1

This is the first in the series of reflections about the liturgy as requested by the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City, for the education of the people of the diocese. This was read at the Masses celebrating the First Sunday of Advent and printed in the Intermountain Catholic the following Friday.

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Introduction

Have you ever wondered why we celebrate Mass the way we do? Why do we have a procession at the start of Mass? Why do we make the sign of the cross? Why do we sometimes kneel, while at other times we stand? Why are we encouraged to join in the singing? Questions such as these are often on the minds of every Catholic who comes to Mass. We look for answers to questions such as these to help us not only to become better-informed Catholics but, more importantly, to help us enter more fully into our Eucharistic celebration. As the Second Vatican Council emphasized, “Full, conscious, active participation by all the people” is the “aim to be considered before all else.” 

At the request of Bishop Wester, each parish in the diocese has been asked to present a series of short talks on the structure of the Mass. These Four-Minute Reflections, following the Prayer after Communion, will hopefully help us, as the assembly, come to a better understanding of the Mass, and enable us to participate more fully, consciously and actively. They will not be sermons, but carefully prepared talks that over time will cover the key aspects of the Mass. Imagine a “class about the Mass” without ever leaving the comfort of your pew! 

The purpose of these reflections will not be to overwhelm us with a lot of detail, but rather to increase our awareness of how various parts of the Mass work together to heighten a sense of unity as we are drawn into the sacred mystery and then sent forth to carry on Christ’s mission in the world. We will see how the introductory rites – the procession, the singing and prayers – prepare us to listen attentively to the word of God so that we may enter more joyfully and gratefully into the Liturgy of the Eucharist and Communion. Then, renewed by word and sacrament, we will better appreciate the significance of the prayers, blessings and dismissal that come at the conclusion of Mass. 

You can do a lot of things in four minutes: drive four miles, write an email, heat up your dinner, or listen to a song. We believe that these Four-Minute Reflections will provide a better understanding of the symbols, gestures, and rites that are sometimes not understood or taken for granted at Mass thus enabling us to share more deeply in the mystery of this great sacrament. Over the course of the liturgical year, we will strive to shed some light on practices that are ever ancient and yet, ever new. We invite you to listen attentively to what is being presented. And remember: Each reflection will only take four minutes.

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In the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, following the Prayer after Communion and before the Final Blessing and Dismissal is an optional section where announcements are made; this is where these talks will be inserted. For the sake of consistency throughout the diocese, it is the best place for it. It is not meant to take time away from the homily; before Mass interferes with the congregation's preparation and after Mass people are looking to leave.

I am hoping the underlying current of this is to give examples regarding what is the most contentious phrase found in Sacrosanctum Concilium--"full, conscious, and active participation". Is is about doing or is it about being, doing flowing from it? It seems to be hinting at the second part of the last sentence.

The serial continues.

UPDATE:  12/19/2014. Addition of the title and editorial format.

Let's Talk Liturgy: Introduction

From the Chief Liturgist and Chief Teacher of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, as found in the November 28 edition of the Intermountain Catholic, the diocesan newspaper:

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters,  

Liturgy is our communal act of worship of the Father, in Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is not a mere re-enactment of what took place during the final days of Jesus’ life, but a real encounter with the risen Christ. It is through the celebration of the Mass that we give praise and adoration to God for the marvelous gift of redemption, and together become Christ’s body in the world.  

Because liturgy is central to the life of the Church, it is fitting that we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Vatican II by renewing our understanding and experience of the Church’s liturgy. Therefore, I am asking each parish in the diocese to present a series of Four-Minute Talks on the different parts of the Mass. These scripted Four-Minute Talks, prepared by the Diocesan Liturgical Commission in conjunction with the Office of Liturgy, explain what occurs during the Mass. Intended to be read aloud following the Prayer after Communion, the Four-Minute Talks provide an opportunity for reflection as we deepen our appreciation for the liturgy and to become more attentive to its celebration. 

My hope is that as we study the liturgy, we will be inspired to live as Easter people; people filled with the good news of salvation, people who feed the poor and welcome the outcast, people who embrace the lonely, and fight for justice, people who strive to live more faithfully, celebrate more joyfully, and live the gospel more fully, not just on Sunday but every day. 

Asking God’s many blessings upon you, I remain, 

Sincerely yours in Christ,
The Most Reverend John C. Wester
Bishop of Salt Lake City

The members of the Diocesan Liturgical Commission are as follows:

Chair:  Msgr. Colin F. Birchumshaw, Vicar General
Deacon Mike Bulson
Fr. Sam Dinsdale
Deacon Sunday Espinoza
Maria-Cruz Gray
Susan Northway
Deacon Mark Solak
Deacon Armando Solorzano
Margaret Stepan
Sr. Joseph Cecile Voelker, CSC

These short reflections began on the First Sunday of Advent and will continue through March, according to the paper. As when I heard it, they are only to be read, not editorialized.

I will be posting these instructional messages on Saturday, the day after they are printed in the paper. Unlike what happens in the various parishes, I may have something to say.

Stay tuned.

The Way To Prepare, Again

Once again, we cry, "Maranatha!"

Once again, a variation of this appears on our dining room table.

Then, almost without warning, these make their presence known.

Yes, Advent is here. While we make all the material preparations for Christmas, the spiritual ones also command our attention. And so the next "four" weeks are set aside, corresponding with Israel's wait for the Messiah as foretold by the Prophets.

The theme is one of repentance, echoed in the ministry of St. John the Baptist. While not as severe as Lent, it is still a reminder of how sin, Original and individual, still mars the creation of God and the reason Jesus Christ came into this world.

Like the Blessed Virgin Mary, we are in the last days of our confinement. She, who has carried Him within her womb for the past eight months, will soon be delivered. May this Advent Season be filled with every grace and blessing as we await with joyful hope for the Prince of  Peace, which surpasses all telling, and the King of Love, which knows no bounds.

May we truly be ready to do this.

2014 Thanksgiving Day Card

May our gracious God, Who bestows upon His creation all good things, continue to look kindly towards what He has made. May our loving Father, through his Son and in the Spirit, provide for our needs and fill our hearts with His love. May we, made in His image and likeness, give glad voice in praise and thanksgiving for all the blessing bestowed the past year, this day, and the coming weeks and months.

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!

Catch Of A Lifetime

I never got into fishing when I was a child, but this is truly a whopper of a tale.

Alerted by a "friend of a friend" on Facebook, a sincere fedora doff goes to Deacon Greg Kandra, the 'blogmaster of The Deacon's Bench, which is found at the website Pathos. The above photo is from his 'blog; the story, from the original source.

Talk about "duc in altum".

A Church Musician's Musings

Today is the feast of St. Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr. She is the patron saint of musicians; thus, as I claim to be a church musician, she has an important role in my spiritual life. (And if anyone needs her intercession in this matter, I sure do.)

At the end of 1992 I wrote a brief position paper as part of a contest involving music in one's life. At that time, I was just starting my seventh year "making a joyful noise unto the Lord", albeit primarily as a volunteer in my local parishes (although I did have a two paid positions on my resume). This was a great opportunity to put down on paper my own thoughts and beliefs about the subject.

While I had made very minor edits over the years, it really hasn't changed much until a few months ago when I added a new section. As my yearly tribute to the second most important female saint in my life, I present those thoughts and beliefs to you (edited for format):

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ON BEING A CHURCH MUSICIAN

INTRODUCTION

Music has complimented religious actions since earliest times.  Examples abound:  the myths of Orpheus, the psalmody of David, the chants of cultures throughout the world, the plainsong of the medieval church.  Because of its ability and potential to express the inexpressible, the role of music in spiritual activities has helped to shape the worship relationship of human beings to divine beings.

As some religions became more formal and institutional, so did the role of those who provided the music.  As if in response to a divine directive, people took up the task of praising their god through the inspiration of song.  This tradition, this mission, this vocation has found its way into many Christian churches in past history.  Other than being called as ordained clergy, there is no more significant role in the church than of church musician.  This is reflected by the quote attributed to Augustine of Hippo, "He who sings prays twice."

The gifts are different but the results are the same.  Whether as vocalist/chorister, instrumentalist, organist/pianist/keyboardist, composer/arranger, or conductor, the contribution of good music in the church enhances and elevates an act of worship.  It is a calling as noble as the art, as worthy as the individual, and as dignified as any position in the service of God.

THE CHURCH MUSICIAN’S TRUE ROLE

A church musician is more than a person who just provides appropriate music during a liturgy. The true role of a church musician is one of not only aiding prayer, but also one of being a pray-er (one who prays).  It is to assist the congregation in finding its collective voice, to help raise minds and hearts to adore and contemplate what is being worshipped, and to supplement and compliment the action and words of the rite.

Today, music has a vital role in a church's mission.  It is not something that can be use or discarded as one pleases. It has observable functions to those within the church.  There are three areas which music serves to enrich the life of a congregation.

INSTRUMENT OF LITURGY

Music's first and foremost duty is to be an integral part of the act of worship.  The use of music helps signify something out of the ordinary is happening, suggesting something other-worldly or supernatural is occurring.  While it helps to raise the awareness of the whole person, music, like candles, incense, and vestments, must blend with the whole of the liturgical experience.  For those who have sat through any kind of liturgy void of music and found it dry and uninspiring, the point is made.

A concern when using music is keeping the focus on the act of worship (and therefore God) and not putting on a show (and therefore not focusing on God).  While artistry is necessary, it must be play a supporting role.  An act of worship is itself a ritual and therefore could be thought of as a performance (meaning acting according to form).  While it is satisfactory that it is done to worship God, it is more pleasing when it is done to the best of the musicians’s/worshiper’s ability.

INSTRUMENT OF MINISTRY

Congregational members are invited and encouraged to give of themselves in service to their church. By formally participating in a church’s music program, an individual is given the opportunity to develop those talents God has given them and be of service.  They can utilize this resource for the benefit of the congregation as well as their own personal and spiritual growth.

Like the parable of the talents, this gift must not be selfishly buried within the walls of the church building.  Rather, it should be shared with others outside the congregation and used as a means of evangelization.  The enrichment of lives through this means, however imperceptible, is immeasurable.

INSTRUMENT OF FELLOWSHIP

A church recognizes the social dimension of its congregation.  Human beings are social creatures; the need to simply be with other people is maybe the most overlooked. Performing groups and concerts are ways where this gathering with others can be accomplished.

To be united in a common effort can create a bond between people and a synergy from them. When there is a common denominator, activities take on a meaningful, focused purpose.  When the goal is the glorification of God through music, the activity becomes a prayer.  When done with God's blessing, it has a sanctifying purpose.

CONCLUSION

This paper is not a definitive statement, but rather a personal reflection.  As maturity comes spiritually, personally, and professionally these views will be enlarged and refined by that better vision.  This definition shall continue to evolve.

One of the great inspirations for music is the Gospel.  The message and the medium fit together well. Music can be use by God to enhance our relationship with Him and others.  Its mystical power speaks to the heart and soul as little else can.

It is said music is a universal language.  Music can be considered the language of the church. God's presence is sometimes aural.  Perhaps music is His voice.

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The paper, like me, is still a work in progress. Both, with the grace of God, can mature spiritually, personally, and professionally. May my voice give Him glory.

St. Cecilia, pray for us.

All you choirs of angels, pray for us.

November 2014 Morning Offering Prayer Intentions

Here are the intentions for this month when reciting the Morning Offering:

Universal Intention - Lonely people. That all who suffer loneliness may experience the closeness of God and the support of others. 

Evangelization Intention - Mentors of seminarians and religious.  That young seminarians and religious may have wise and well-formed mentors.

Tribute To A True Reformer

Fr. Benedict Joseph Groeschel, C.F.R.

July 23, 1933 – October 3, 2014

As a tribute to this saintly priest, a shining example of what it truly means to be altus Christus, whose Mass of Christian Burial is occuring now, the poem which was his earthly inspiration:

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"Hads't thou stayed, I must have fled!"
That is what the Vision said. 

In his chamber all alone,
Kneeling on the floor of stone,
Prayed the Monk in deep contrition
For his sins of indecision,
Prayed for greater self-denial
In temptation and in trial;
It was noonday by the dial,
And the Monk was all alone.
Suddenly, as if it lightened,
An unwonted splendor brightened
All within him and without him
In that narrow cell of stone;
And he saw the Blessed Vision
Of our Lord, with light Elysian
Like a vesture wrapped about him,
Like a garment round him thrown. 

Not as crucified and slain,
Not in agonies of pain,
Not with bleeding hands and feet,
Did the Monk his Master see;
But as in the village street,
In the house or harvest-field,
Halt and lame and blind he healed,
When he walked in Galilee. 

In an attitude imploring,
Hands upon his bosom crossed,
Wondering, worshipping, adoring,
Knelt the Monk in rapture lost.
Lord, he thought, in heaven that reignest,
Who am I, that thus thou deignest
To reveal thyself to me?
Who am I, that from the centre
Of thy glory thou shouldst enter
This poor cell, my guest to be? 

Then amid his exaltation,
Loud the convent bell appalling,
From its belfry calling, calling,
Rang through court and corridor
With persistent iteration
He had never heard before.
It was now the appointed hour
When alike in shine or shower,
Winter's cold or summer's heat,
To the convent portals came
All the blind and halt and lame,
All the beggars of the street,
For their daily dole of food
Dealt them by the brotherhood;
And their almoner was he
Who upon his bended knee,
Rapt in silent ecstasy
Of divinest self-surrender,
Saw the Vision and the Splendor.
Deep distress and hesitation
Mingled with his adoration;_
Should he go, or should he stay?
Should he leave the poor to wait
Hungry at the convent gate,
Till the Vision passed away?
Should he slight his radiant guest,
Slight this visitant celestial,
For a crowd of ragged, bestial
Beggars at the convent gate?
Would the Vision there remain?
Would the Vision come again?
Then a voice within his breast
Whispered, audible and clear
As if to the outward ear:
"Do thy duty; that is best;
Leave unto thy Lord the rest!" 

Straightway to his feet he started,
And with longing look intent
On the Blessed Vision bent,
Slowly from his cell departed,
Slowly on his errand went. 

At the gate the poor were waiting,
Looking through the iron grating,_
With that terror in the eye
That is only seen in those
Who amid their wants and woes
Hear the sound of doors that close,
And of feet that pass them by;
Grown familiar with disfavor,
Grown familiar with the savor
Of the bread by which men die!
But to-day, they knew not why,
Like the gate of Paradise
Seemed the convent gate to rise,
Like a sacrament divine
Seemed to them the bread and wine.
In his heart the Monk was praying,
Thinking of the homeless poor,
What they suffer and endure;
What we see not, what we see;
And the inward voice was saying:
"Whatsoever thing thou doest
To the least of mine and lowest,
That thou doest unto me!" 

Unto me! but had the Vision
Come to him in beggar's clothing,
Come a mendicant imploring,
Would he then have knelt adoring,
Or have listened with derision,
And have turned away with loathing. 

Thus his conscience put the question,
Full of troublesome suggestion,
As at length, with hurried pace,
Towards his cell he turned his face,
And beheld the convent bright
With a supernatural light,
Like a luminous cloud expanding
Over floor and wall and ceiling. 

But he paused with awe-struck feeling
At the threshold of his door,
For the Vision still was standing
As he left it there before,
When the convent bell appalling,
From its belfry calling, calling,
Summoned him to feed the poor.
Through the long hour intervening
It had waited his return,
And he felt his bosom burn,
Comprehending all the meaning,
When the Blessed Vision said,
"Hadst thou stayed, I must have fled!" 

"The Theologian's Tale; The Legend Beautiful"

From Tales of A Wayside Inn (1863)

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)

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Well done, thou good and faithful servant.

Requiem In Pace.

October 2014 Morning Offering Prayer Intentions

Here are the intentions for this month when reciting the Morning Offering:

Universal Intention - Peace. That the Lord may grant peace to those parts of the world most battered by war and violence.

Evangelization Intention - World Mission Day. That World Mission Day may rekindle in every believer zeal for carrying the Gospel into all the world.