SPIRITUALITY, LITURGICAL SPIRITUALITY

SPIRITUALITY: LITURGICAL SPIRITUALITY:

THE HOLY MASS

             Last Saturday, November 19, 2011, I attended a meditative lecture on the Liturgical Spirituality of the Vatican II Mass, by well-known Benedictine Fr. Anscar Chupungco, OSB. Fr. Anscar had given another lecture the day before on the New English Translation of the Roman Missal: What it is and what it is not. The lectures were organized and sponsored by the Catholic Diocesan Liturgy Commission of Hong Kong. It was opened to all. The Dominican brothers of our three houses (the two in Hong Kong and the one in Macau) were invited as part of their continuing formation program. Brothers from the three houses attended the different lectures. I wish to share some thoughts on the lecture on Liturgical Spirituality.

His lecture was truly a meditative and prayerful lecture. Going through different parts of the Mass, the speaker developed major points, each one fallowed by a long and meaningful prayer recited partly by individual members of the audience and partly by the whole audience. It was a good learning experience for those present. Hereafter, I wish to share with you some points that called my attention and are pastorally significant. These relevant points are: the liturgical assembly, the Word of God, the general intercessions, the preparation of the gifts, the Eucharistic Prayer, and the breaking of the Bread.

The Liturgical Assembly. Vatican II gives particular importance to the liturgical assembly. The liturgical assembly – all the faithful -, is a symbol of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Christ is present in the assembly made up of saints and sinners, young and old, even perhaps of some enemies that we have to accept and try to reconcile with.

The Word of God. Since Vatican II, the Readings appear more important than before (see Const. of the Liturgy, 50). The Holy Mass is one single act: the liturgy of the Word and of the Eucharist. The Mass is for us the re-experience of Christ’s Teachings and of his Last Supper with the disciples.. Christ is present in his Word, since it is He who speaks (Constitution of the Liturgy, 7 and 33; Hebr 4:12). An interesting point: it does not matter much who reads the Word of God. Through his/her voice, we listen to the message of Christ. Other presences of Christ: in the ordained minister, in the assembly, in the Eucharistic Bread and Wine. (I added in the Open Forum that as it is well-known by all of us, Christ is also present in a special way in the poor. Fr. Chupungco commented, yes that is another – non-liturgical- presence of Christ). What matters – I thought – is not the singer, but the song, not the reader but the message. Another point to note: the full sign of the Cross (composed, as we all know, of three small crosses) before the proclamation of the Holy Gospel: first, we make the sign of the cross on our forehead – to be able to understand the Word; second, we make another sign of the cross on our lips – to proclaim it, and third, we make another sign of the cross on our chest – to be able to ponder the Word in our hearts like Mary.

General Intercessions. This is part of the Liturgy of the Word, which includes the proclamation of the Word, the explanation in the Homily and the response of the people in the general intercessions. It is the family prayer. In it, all priestly people” (the ministers and all the faithful) share in it. It should mainly include the needs of the whole Church and of the world; in particular current calamities and miseries. It is the prayer of the universal Church and, generally, not of individual prayers and petitions (these may be included in a prayer in silence).  By the way, the intentions of the Mass could be read at the beginning of the Eucharistic Celebration.

The Preparation of the Gifts. From the first centuries of Christianity, we find bread and wine at the Table of the Eucharist; but at that time and even later on for come centuries the Eucharistic Bread and Wine were not wholly consumed, but some was left to be given to the hungry and thirsty poor. Another interesting detail: why is some water added by the priest to the wine? To remind us all that the Church is the Church of the Poor! We bring bread and wine and other gifts that the faithful present, and offer them to God to be given later to the poor. Thus the Eucharist is real: we offer bread and wine and the other material things to help the poor who need them. In the Prayer that followed we all asked the Lord to teach us to share our blessings with others. Let us add that, as we know, the main theological reason for pouring some water in the chalice with wine is to signify the unity of the divinity and the humanity of Christ, who became flesh, one like us, and also his incredible humility.

The Eucharistic Prayer. It is the center and summit of the whole celebration. Focus: what Christ did personally – and now do through his priests – at the Last Supper. Fr. Anscar said: “’This is my Body,” “This is the cup of my Blood” are the most important words of my whole life.  The Blood of Christ reminds us always of the blood of the martyrs, who gave their lives for Christ. “The blood of martyrs is the seed of more Christians.”

Breaking of the Bread. The bread symbolizes Christ’s violent death. Jesus broke bread to signify his crucifixion (He is ‘broken’ for us!). The priest breaks the Bread to share it with other brothers and sisters. The priest reminds himself that he too has to be broken for the people. The three key words: breaking, sharing, loving. Broken to be shared, broken and shared out of love and for love.

I conclude by adding the following note: understanding the Holy Mass a bit better is always another step to realize in a deeper and deeper way that indeed the Eucharist is – as Vatican II says – the center and summit of our Christian life. No wonder that the first Christians could not live without the Eucharist. In jail, many of these Christians were asked: “Why do you celebrate that ritual when you know that you are going to be taken to jail?” Their common answer: ‘We are Christians, we cannot live without the Eucharist.”

For the Holy Eucharist, for the Eucharistic Celebration thanks be to God forever and ever. Amen, amen!  (FGB)