“Let Us Pray: The Liturgical

Life of the Church”Thursday,

February 7, 2013

© 2/7/2013, Jeffrey Bame – Content of this presentation may not be used without explicit permission.

“Let Us Pray: The Liturgical Life of the Church” Cornerstone document: The Constitution on

the Sacred Liturgy: Sacrosanctum Concilium (SC)

Date: December 4, 1963 English Copy: http://

www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html

Spanish Copy: http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_sp.html

Tonight’s Outline

A. Sacrosanctum Concilium & The Liturgy

1. What is liturgy?

2. Vatican II Reform

3. Active Participation

4. A Breakdown of the Mass

5. Sacred Music

6. Sacred Art, Beauty, & Symbol

B. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

Pop Quiz

Question 1:

What does the word “liturgy” mean?

Pop Quiz

Answer:

The Greek word λειτουργία originally meant a “public

work” or “the people’s work”. In the Christian tradition it means the

participation of the people in the work of God.

Tonight’s Outline

A. Sacrosanctum Concilium & The Liturgy

1. What is liturgy?

2. Vatican II Reform

3. Active Participation

4. A Breakdown of the Mass

5. Sacred Music

6. Sacred Art, Beauty, & Symbol

B. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

1. What is liturgy?

What it is and what it is not: “The primary and exclusive aim of the liturgy is not the expression of the individual’s reverence and worship for God. It is not even concerned with the awakening, formation, and sanctification of the individual soul as such. Nor does the onus of liturgical action and prayer rest with the collective groups, composed of numerous individuals, who periodically achieve a limited and intermittent unity in their capacity as the congregation of a church. The liturgical unity consists rather of the united body of the faithful as such – the Church – a body which infinitely outnumbers the mere congregation. The liturgy is the Church’s public and lawful act of worship…” (Guardini 19)

1. What is liturgy? “The liturgy is the summit toward which the

activity of the Church is directed; at the same time it is the font from which all her power flows.” (SC 10)

We celebrate the liturgy as one Church

The liturgy is timeless (Ratzinger 55-57)

The earthly liturgy participates in the heavenly liturgy (SC 8)

“the liturgy us no mere commemoration of what once existed, but is living and real; it is the enduring life of Jesus Christ in us, and that of the believer in Christ, eternally God and Man.” (Guardini 50)

1. What is liturgy? Liturgy is not to be confused with personal

prayer (Guardini 20)

Liturgy stresses thought, not feeling

Emotion is fleeting and unpredictable, but our thought and action can be consistent

“The liturgy as a whole is not favorable to exuberance of feeling. Emotion glows in its depths, but it smolders merely, like the fiery heart of the volcano, whose summit stands out clear and serene against the quiet sky. The liturgy is emotion, but it is emotion under the strictest control.” (Guardini 25-26)

1. What is liturgy? Liturgy is not individualistic – it is about unity

The liturgy does not have purpose but has meaning

Humility allows us to transcend our individual spiritual existence

Trying to choose the form of liturgy or worship is an subtle form of idolatry

Story of the golden calf:

“Worship is no longer going up to God, but drawing God down into one’s own world.” (Ratzinger 22)

Tonight’s Outline

A. Sacrosanctum Concilium & The Liturgy

1. What is liturgy?

2. Vatican II Reform

3. Active Participation

4. A Breakdown of the Mass

5. Sacred Music

6. Sacred Art, Beauty, & Symbol

B. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

2. Vatican II Reform“There must be no innovations unless the

good of the Church genuinely and certainly requires them; and care must be taken that any new forms adopted should in some way grow organically from forms already existing.” (SC 23)

Organic development – not divorce or break

The use of the vernacular

New Roman Missal

Priests, deacons, and lay people are not free to innovate or personalize the liturgy

Pop Quiz

Question 2:

Christ is present in the Mass in four distinct ways. Can

you name them?(Time Check 7:15)

Pop Quiz

Answer:

1. The Word

2. The Eucharist

3. The Priest

4. The Church (People as a whole)

Tonight’s Outline

A. Sacrosanctum Concilium & The Liturgy

1. What is liturgy?

2. Vatican II Reform

3. Active Participation

4. A Breakdown of the Mass

5. Sacred Music

6. Sacred Art, Beauty, & Symbol

B. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

3. Active Participation“Mother Church earnestly desires that all the faithful should be led to that fully conscious, and active participation in liturgical celebrations which is demanded by the very nature of the liturgy. Such participation by the Christian people as "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a redeemed people (1 Pet. 2:9; cf. 2:4-5), is their right and duty by reason of their baptism.

In the restoration and promotion of the sacred liturgy, this full and active participation by all the people is the aim to be considered before all else; for it is the primary and indispensable source from which the faithful are to derive the true Christian spirit; and therefore pastors of souls must zealously strive to achieve it, by means of the necessary instruction, in all their pastoral work.” (SC 14)

Tonight’s Outline

A. Sacrosanctum Concilium & The Liturgy

1. What is liturgy?

2. Vatican II Reform

3. Active Participation

4. A Breakdown of the Mass

5. Sacred Music

6. Sacred Art, Beauty, & Symbol

B. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

4. A Breakdown of the MassIntroductory Rites

Penitential Rite

Gloria

Collect (Opening Prayer)

Liturgy of the Word

Readings

Homily

Creed

Prayers of the Faithful

4. A Breakdown of the MassLiturgy of the Eucharist

Offertory and Preparation of the Gifts

Eucharistic Prayer

Thanksgiving

Epiclesis

Institution & Consecration

Anamnesis

Intercessions

Doxology

4. A Breakdown of the MassLiturgy of the Eucharist (continued)

The Lord’s Prayer

Sign of Peace

Fraction

Communion

Prayer After Communion

Eucharistic Prayer

Concluding Rite

Blessing & Dismissal

Pop Quiz

Question 3:

How many distinct liturgical seasons does the Church celebrate (hint: Ordinary

Time counts as one)?

Pop Quiz

Answer:

Six

(Ordinary Time, Advent, Christmas, Lent, Triduum,

Easter)

Tonight’s Outline

A. Sacrosanctum Concilium & The Liturgy

1. What is liturgy?

2. Vatican II Reform

3. Active Participation

4. A Breakdown of the Mass

5. Sacred Music

6. Sacred Art, Beauty, & Symbol

B. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

5. Sacred MusicSinging is an essential part of full, active, and

conscious participation

Music is both personal and communal (Sing to the Lord, 2)

Gregorian chant and pipe organ are to be given “pride of place” (SC 116-120)

“Singing, the surpassing of ordinary speech, is a ‘pneumatic’ event.” Liturgical music is a type of “tongue” itself –a gift and charism of the Spirit. In this music, there is sober inebriation – the balance between the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and the reason and order of the Logos. (Ratzinger 140)

Tonight’s Outline

A. Sacrosanctum Concilium & The Liturgy

1. What is liturgy?

2. Vatican II Reform

3. Active Participation

4. A Breakdown of the Mass

5. Sacred Music

6. Sacred Art, Beauty, & Symbol

B. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

6. Sacred Art, Beauty, & Symbol

“The fine arts are rightly classed among the noblest activities of human genius; this is especially true of religious art and of its highest achievement, sacred art. Of their nature the arts are directed toward expressing in some way the infinite beauty of God in works made by human hands. They are dedicated to God, they praise him and extend his glory to the extent that their only true purpose is to turn people’s spirits devoutly toward God.” (SC 122)

(Time Check 7:30)

6. Sacred Art, Beauty, & Symbol Beauty is important in places of worship – the

House of the Lord should feel like a sharp contrast to the ordinary world – it should lead our hearts and minds to the mysterious and divine.

Statues, images, stained glass window etc. help us to ponder divine realities

Precious metals, cloth, materials add dignity to that which is set apart for a sacred purpose (vessels, vestments, etc.)

Vestments - assuming a mantle

Smells and bells

Pop Quiz

Question 4:

What is the name of the colorful outer garment the

priest wear while celebrating Mass?

Pop Quiz

Answer:

The priest’s outer garment is called a chasuble. A

deacon’s outer garment is called a dalmatic.

Tonight’s Outline

A. Sacrosanctum Concilium & The Liturgy

1. What is liturgy?

2. Vatican II Reform

3. Active Participation

4. A Breakdown of the Mass

5. Sacred Music

6. Sacred Art, Beauty, & Symbol

B. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

B. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament The Host, Christ fully and actually present, is

placed in a monstrance.

Incense is used as a means of giving reverence to God and is a symbol of the sacrifice of Christians, as well as the rising prayers of the faithful

Emphasis on silence and contemplation

At benediction, the monstance is used to bless the people – a blessing not from a priest or deacon, but from Christ himself

Adoration helps us to contemplate Christ and increase our longing to receive the Lord in Holy Communion

Other Documents Referenced: USCCB – Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine

Worship

Romano Guardini – The Spirit of the Liturgy

Joseph Ratzinger – The Spirit of the Liturgy

Catechism of the Catholic Church

“Let Us Pray: The Liturgical

Life of the Church”Thursday,

February 7, 2013

© 2/7/2013, Jeffrey Bame – Content of this presentation may not be used without explicit permission.