April 2010 A.D.
Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi
During our last discussion we saw how the memorial (anamnesis) and the invocation (epiclesis) are connected is a special way that helps us remember what God has done for us and we are confident to make our requests to God in prayer. These petition prayers draw us deeper into God’s memory – and our own – to recall our Christian ancestors and our heritage. Our heritage and our future are part of the prayer we offer to God. In these prayers we are in communion with God, with one another, with our ancestors, with our neighbors, with our future. Communion with God means communion with one another (the image and likeness of God within us). We are called to, participate in, and are made for, this dual communion. This dual communion is directly connected to our salvation (the cause of our joy). Saint Augustine expresses it this way. “The true peace of rational creatures, which is the only peace of the heavenly city, consists in a perfectly ordered and harmonious enjoyment of God and of one another in God” (City of God 19, 17). Our enjoyment of one another and God is expressed in the Doxology and the Great Amen.
We taste this enjoyment, this praise, in the Eucharistic feast. The technical term for this enjoyment or praise is doxology. This sense of praising and glorifying God has been consistent in the Eucharistic prayer from the beginning. Because it is at the end of the Eucharistic prayer and reminds us of our beginning, it brings us full circle.
We are back at the prayers “Blessed are you Lord God of all Creation…”; and our response, “Blessed be God for ever.”
The doxology is the Priestly prayer of praise and glorification that reminds us of our communion with Jesus, The Christ, and God the Father, in the Holy Spirit. The priest lifts the bread and wine – the bread and wine we brought as sacrifice – bread and wine now the BODY, BLOOD, SOUL, & DIVINITY of Jesus – our Eucharistic Lord, which we will soon consume – and lifting them up he presents them to God the Father as the ”perfect offering made to the glory of your name.” The words of the doxology say it better than I. “Through Him, with Him, in Him, in unity with the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours Almighty Father, forever and ever.” The doxology then, is the Eucharistic prayer’s final thrust of our hearts toward God.
At this very moment, The Church is doing what Christ did and does into eternity; she offers his one body, which is joined to the church, to the Father for the Glory of His name and for the salvation of the world. Our communion in this sacrifice of Christ is perfect praise.
The doxology has a Trinitarian formula that clearly recalls the Holy Trinity that God has revealed to us. The prepositions in the prayer offer us a summary of the Faith. TO the Father, THROUGH the Son, IN the Holy Spirit, WITH Mary and the Saints, are all reminders of our Communion with God and one another.
We have remembered (anamnesis) what we asked for (epiclesis) and ended that memory with a perfect act of praise and glory to God (doxology). The Priest has lead the Eucharistic prayer, speaking in the name of the Church, and acting in the person of Christ. Through the priest’s leadership, the congregation experiences the indispensable and unfathomable mediation of Christ before the Father. To all of this, we reply with a resounding AMEN.
This “Great Amen” is the biggest Amen of the Mass and everywhere on earth. All the other Amens in the Mass have been a warm-up for this one and, in fact those Amens are included in this “Great Amen.” The Amen after the Creed is here. All 12 articles of the Creed are here. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are here. The Great Amen is THE AMEN that agrees to all that has gone before, seeks to understand all that has gone before, and desires it to be so. The Great Amen, like the Mass containing it, is heard and echoed around the world, through the centuries, to the heights of heaven, and never ends. May it be ever on our lips as we sing AMEN.
Next time we will discuss our participation in the Communion Rite within Holy Mass. May God draw us closer to Himself as we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord during the eight glorious weeks of Easter.
Monday, April 26, 2010
March 2010 A.D.
Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi
Our last discussion served to refresh our memories on the parts of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass we have discussed thus far. The review helped us recall some of the liturgical terms we have learned and how those terms describe specific parts of the sacrifice we offer to God through His priest.
We continued our series by learning about the Memorial and Offering. When the priest offers the words “…look with favor on your Church’s offering and see the Victim…” he makes us part of the memorial and offering. We offer our gifts – we sacrifice to God. Saint Paul encourages us in our sacrifice with these words; “I urge you, therefore, by the mercies of God to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1). We ask God to help purify our bodies so they are a suitable sacrifice and join our bodies to Christ’s on the Cross – our memorial – our offering – our sacrifice. Through the memorial we become “one body one spirit in Christ.”
The memorial (anamnesis) and the invocation (epiclesis) are connected is a special way. By remembering what God has done (anamnesis) we have confidence to ask and expect God to answer our prayer (epiclesis). This leads us to the Petitions we offer in the Eucharistic prayers. Our petitions involve both memorials and invocations. We use specific names that make our prayer personal and the names help us remember those we mention. Mary, Peter & Paul, the martyrs, and saints are examples of our memorial prayers. The Pope, bishops, clergy, and ourselves (“those for whom we now pray”) are part of the invocation prayers.
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, & Melchizedek are examples of why we use names in our memorial prayers, the names remind us of events surrounding that person. Abram becomes Abraham, “our father in faith.” His son Isaac is a type of Christ and carries the wood for the sacrifice. Abram wins a battle and offers “a tenth of everything” to Melchizedek (Genesis 14). Melchizedek, the priest king of Salem, “offers bread and wine” to “the living God” as a celebration of Abram’s victory made possible by God. This is why we need to know the people named in the petitions and should put forth some effort to learn their story - - - after all - - - their story - - - is our story.
These petitions also remind us of the Church’s universal nature; a nature that stretches beyond time and space. Past, present, and future are all present in the Mass. Heaven and earth are joined on the altar with the sacrifice we have brought to the celebration. The priest offers them to the Father, on our behalf.
The petitions also remind us of the three fold communion of saints. The Church triumphant and suffering (heaven & purgatory) are the memorial, while the Church militant is the epiclesis part of the petitions. We become more aware of who we are - - who we were intended to be - - and whose we are. Our name becomes part of the petitions we offer to God in the Mass. Our names become part of the story.
Listening to and learning the stories of the names in the Eucharistic prayers will help us understand our relationship with God and strengthen our relationships with one another. We are part of salvation history and our Christian example will help others return to God.
We learn more about our participation next time when we discuss the Doxology and the Great Amen. May God help each of us grow closer to Him during the Holy Season of Lent.
Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi
Our last discussion served to refresh our memories on the parts of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass we have discussed thus far. The review helped us recall some of the liturgical terms we have learned and how those terms describe specific parts of the sacrifice we offer to God through His priest.
We continued our series by learning about the Memorial and Offering. When the priest offers the words “…look with favor on your Church’s offering and see the Victim…” he makes us part of the memorial and offering. We offer our gifts – we sacrifice to God. Saint Paul encourages us in our sacrifice with these words; “I urge you, therefore, by the mercies of God to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1). We ask God to help purify our bodies so they are a suitable sacrifice and join our bodies to Christ’s on the Cross – our memorial – our offering – our sacrifice. Through the memorial we become “one body one spirit in Christ.”
The memorial (anamnesis) and the invocation (epiclesis) are connected is a special way. By remembering what God has done (anamnesis) we have confidence to ask and expect God to answer our prayer (epiclesis). This leads us to the Petitions we offer in the Eucharistic prayers. Our petitions involve both memorials and invocations. We use specific names that make our prayer personal and the names help us remember those we mention. Mary, Peter & Paul, the martyrs, and saints are examples of our memorial prayers. The Pope, bishops, clergy, and ourselves (“those for whom we now pray”) are part of the invocation prayers.
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, & Melchizedek are examples of why we use names in our memorial prayers, the names remind us of events surrounding that person. Abram becomes Abraham, “our father in faith.” His son Isaac is a type of Christ and carries the wood for the sacrifice. Abram wins a battle and offers “a tenth of everything” to Melchizedek (Genesis 14). Melchizedek, the priest king of Salem, “offers bread and wine” to “the living God” as a celebration of Abram’s victory made possible by God. This is why we need to know the people named in the petitions and should put forth some effort to learn their story - - - after all - - - their story - - - is our story.
These petitions also remind us of the Church’s universal nature; a nature that stretches beyond time and space. Past, present, and future are all present in the Mass. Heaven and earth are joined on the altar with the sacrifice we have brought to the celebration. The priest offers them to the Father, on our behalf.
The petitions also remind us of the three fold communion of saints. The Church triumphant and suffering (heaven & purgatory) are the memorial, while the Church militant is the epiclesis part of the petitions. We become more aware of who we are - - who we were intended to be - - and whose we are. Our name becomes part of the petitions we offer to God in the Mass. Our names become part of the story.
Listening to and learning the stories of the names in the Eucharistic prayers will help us understand our relationship with God and strengthen our relationships with one another. We are part of salvation history and our Christian example will help others return to God.
We learn more about our participation next time when we discuss the Doxology and the Great Amen. May God help each of us grow closer to Him during the Holy Season of Lent.
20100201
Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi
Back in December of 2008 Monsignor Lamonde asked me to write a series of articles that explain the many parts of Holy Mass. His hope and prayer was – and is – that these meager efforts have and will increase our Faith in God through a better understanding of what is happening at Holy Mass, our role within it, and encourage us to be better Christians in our daily lives after we participate in Holy Mass each week.
January of 2009 began the series and since that time we have covered most of the parts of Holy Mass. We began with a brief discussion about The Church, the source of her authority (Jesus), and the most recent Church documents that tell us how to celebrate Holy Mass. Following that, we discussed “The Liturgy of the Word” and “The Liturgy of the Eucharist.” These two major parts of the Mass, and their sub-parts have been the heart of the series. We have completed our discussion of “The Liturgy of the Word” and are almost through our discussion about The Liturgy of the Eucharist.” Our last discussion was about the Mystery of Faith.
At this point in the liturgy, we have gathered in prayer, heard the Word of God proclaimed in the Liturgy of the Word, given our offerings to God at the beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist. We are on our knees in adoration before God who is about to come upon the altar. The priest, acting in persona Christi, prays the words of consecration (institution) and we join the priest in proclaiming the Mystery of Faith. Those ten words connect Jesus’ past, present, and future with ours.
We continue our discussion about the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with the Memorial (Anamnesis) and Offering. The Greek word Anamnesis summarizes the last words Jesus spoke over the bread and wine, “Do this in memory of me.” and literally means memorial. Praying the Mystery of Faith leads us to anticipate what the priest says and does next in the Mass. We are still on our knees adoring the Lord who is present in the form of bread and wine. The priest says; “In memory of his death and resurrection, we offer you, Father, this life-giving bread, this saving cup. We thank you for counting us worth to stand in your presence and serve you.”
Once again the priest, acting in persona Christi, addresses the Father on our behalf. He, acting as another Christ (alter Christus), leads us to the Father with our precious gift – the gift of ourselves – the gift of Jesus himself – in the form of bread and wine. The Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus is made present on the altar of sacrifice by Jesus himself through his priest. All of this is “in memory of his death and resurrection” for our salvation and participation in eternal life.
The “memory” has a divine purpose; it draws us deeper into the sacrifice and is intended to strengthen our participation. We are called to be present in the upper room, in the garden of Gethsemane, at the pillar, on the way to Calvary, and at the foot of the Cross. We are called to go beyond just recalling a past event but to actually be present there and participate.
We learn more about our participation next time when we discuss the petitions within the Eucharistic prayer and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. May you have a wonderful and Holy Lenten season preparing for Holy Week and Easter. Please remember to pray for our priests during this Year for Priests.
Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi
Back in December of 2008 Monsignor Lamonde asked me to write a series of articles that explain the many parts of Holy Mass. His hope and prayer was – and is – that these meager efforts have and will increase our Faith in God through a better understanding of what is happening at Holy Mass, our role within it, and encourage us to be better Christians in our daily lives after we participate in Holy Mass each week.
January of 2009 began the series and since that time we have covered most of the parts of Holy Mass. We began with a brief discussion about The Church, the source of her authority (Jesus), and the most recent Church documents that tell us how to celebrate Holy Mass. Following that, we discussed “The Liturgy of the Word” and “The Liturgy of the Eucharist.” These two major parts of the Mass, and their sub-parts have been the heart of the series. We have completed our discussion of “The Liturgy of the Word” and are almost through our discussion about The Liturgy of the Eucharist.” Our last discussion was about the Mystery of Faith.
At this point in the liturgy, we have gathered in prayer, heard the Word of God proclaimed in the Liturgy of the Word, given our offerings to God at the beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist. We are on our knees in adoration before God who is about to come upon the altar. The priest, acting in persona Christi, prays the words of consecration (institution) and we join the priest in proclaiming the Mystery of Faith. Those ten words connect Jesus’ past, present, and future with ours.
We continue our discussion about the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with the Memorial (Anamnesis) and Offering. The Greek word Anamnesis summarizes the last words Jesus spoke over the bread and wine, “Do this in memory of me.” and literally means memorial. Praying the Mystery of Faith leads us to anticipate what the priest says and does next in the Mass. We are still on our knees adoring the Lord who is present in the form of bread and wine. The priest says; “In memory of his death and resurrection, we offer you, Father, this life-giving bread, this saving cup. We thank you for counting us worth to stand in your presence and serve you.”
Once again the priest, acting in persona Christi, addresses the Father on our behalf. He, acting as another Christ (alter Christus), leads us to the Father with our precious gift – the gift of ourselves – the gift of Jesus himself – in the form of bread and wine. The Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus is made present on the altar of sacrifice by Jesus himself through his priest. All of this is “in memory of his death and resurrection” for our salvation and participation in eternal life.
The “memory” has a divine purpose; it draws us deeper into the sacrifice and is intended to strengthen our participation. We are called to be present in the upper room, in the garden of Gethsemane, at the pillar, on the way to Calvary, and at the foot of the Cross. We are called to go beyond just recalling a past event but to actually be present there and participate.
We learn more about our participation next time when we discuss the petitions within the Eucharistic prayer and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. May you have a wonderful and Holy Lenten season preparing for Holy Week and Easter. Please remember to pray for our priests during this Year for Priests.
20091201
Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi
Our August discussion on the Institution Narrative or Consecration was reprinted in the November edition. We learned about the priest retelling the story of the Eucharist at the Last Supper, the story shifting from the past to the present at the Consecration, and Heaven touching Earth on the Altar. The Eucharistic mystery, the bread & wine have become the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus, The Christ. We are fully immersed in the mystery that is the Holy Trinity. This mystery takes Faith, the focus of this month’s article; “The Mystery of Faith.”
Mystery – the word tells us that we cannot understand the Divinity hiding beneath the Bread and Wine. Our five senses cannot penetrate the Mystery or comprehend its creation. Our eyes, touch, and taste tell us that the bread is still bread and the wine is still wine. Our ears and nose also tell us there is no change – and yet – we KNOW there is. In our hearts, we know. We know, and the Mystery of the infinite God, contained in humble bread & wine, starts to make sense. Faith perceives it – Faith knows it is True.
Faith – the great gift of God that allows us to see The Truth that our sinful nature cannot see. “Flesh and blood” do not reveal this great mystery to us. We, just like Peter and his confession that Jesus is “the Christ,” are given this ability by the Holy Trinity, especially the Holy Spirit.
After the priest genuflects before our Eucharistic LORD in the species of Bread and Wine he invites us to proclaim the Mystery of Faith. This invitation is more than a rubric of the Mass; it is an invitation to express our wonder and awe at God’s presence on the altar. This climax of the Sacred Drama is punctuated by the words in the Mystery of Faith. The congregation joyfully exclaims what it perceives through the eyes of Faith – “Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.” The story of our Salvation is summarized in these 10 simple words.
Ten words that speak of our Jesus’ past, His death; His present, risen from the dead; and His future, He will come again. These same ten words speak to our past, our death to sin through Baptism; our present, our new life in Christ; and our future, eternity with God, if we are loyal to His precepts. All of this lies on the altar of sacrifice in the form of bread and wine. Past – Present – Future --- Father – Son – Holy Spirit --- The Mystery of Faith perceives it and proclaims it. May God renew “The Mystery of Faith” within us.
Next time we will continue our discussion on the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. May you have a wonderful and Holy Advent and a Merry Christmas. Please remember to pray for our priests during this Year for Priests.
Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi
Our August discussion on the Institution Narrative or Consecration was reprinted in the November edition. We learned about the priest retelling the story of the Eucharist at the Last Supper, the story shifting from the past to the present at the Consecration, and Heaven touching Earth on the Altar. The Eucharistic mystery, the bread & wine have become the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus, The Christ. We are fully immersed in the mystery that is the Holy Trinity. This mystery takes Faith, the focus of this month’s article; “The Mystery of Faith.”
Mystery – the word tells us that we cannot understand the Divinity hiding beneath the Bread and Wine. Our five senses cannot penetrate the Mystery or comprehend its creation. Our eyes, touch, and taste tell us that the bread is still bread and the wine is still wine. Our ears and nose also tell us there is no change – and yet – we KNOW there is. In our hearts, we know. We know, and the Mystery of the infinite God, contained in humble bread & wine, starts to make sense. Faith perceives it – Faith knows it is True.
Faith – the great gift of God that allows us to see The Truth that our sinful nature cannot see. “Flesh and blood” do not reveal this great mystery to us. We, just like Peter and his confession that Jesus is “the Christ,” are given this ability by the Holy Trinity, especially the Holy Spirit.
After the priest genuflects before our Eucharistic LORD in the species of Bread and Wine he invites us to proclaim the Mystery of Faith. This invitation is more than a rubric of the Mass; it is an invitation to express our wonder and awe at God’s presence on the altar. This climax of the Sacred Drama is punctuated by the words in the Mystery of Faith. The congregation joyfully exclaims what it perceives through the eyes of Faith – “Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.” The story of our Salvation is summarized in these 10 simple words.
Ten words that speak of our Jesus’ past, His death; His present, risen from the dead; and His future, He will come again. These same ten words speak to our past, our death to sin through Baptism; our present, our new life in Christ; and our future, eternity with God, if we are loyal to His precepts. All of this lies on the altar of sacrifice in the form of bread and wine. Past – Present – Future --- Father – Son – Holy Spirit --- The Mystery of Faith perceives it and proclaims it. May God renew “The Mystery of Faith” within us.
Next time we will continue our discussion on the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. May you have a wonderful and Holy Advent and a Merry Christmas. Please remember to pray for our priests during this Year for Priests.
August 2009 A.D.
Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi
Last month we discussed the Epiclesis and the Holy Spirit’s role in the Mass. This is the same Spirit that hovered over the water at creation, the same Spirit that was with the Israelites throughout their history, the same Spirit that was with Mary at the incarnation, and the same Spirit that was with Jesus during His work on earth. The Trinitarian God is present at every Mass, at every hour, throughout the world. This Holy Spirit will change our offering – the bread and wine – into the Body and Blood of Jesus. This mystery becomes a reality when the priest speaks the Institution Narrative, also known as the Consecration.
The Institution Narrative brings the Jewish Passover meal to its fulfillment in the Eucharistic Sacrifice. The apostolic priesthood joins the earthly man, a creature of God, with Jesus the God-man and creator of man. This union, accomplished through the Holy Spirit, lets the priest act in persona Christi (in the person of Christ) and as alter Christus (another Christ). The priest can then speak the Eucharist into existence just like God spoke the universe into existence. The words are those of Jesus. The words he spoke at the Last Supper, but not all of them. We focus on the words about bread and wine; the words that instituted the Eucharist. Let’s explore these words and what happens when they are spoken by the priest.
These words come to the forefront as the priest continues his role as our mediator before God the Father. The Eucharistic prayer tells the story of the Last Supper and brings it to life by re-presenting the Calvary sacrifice using Jesus’ words and actions by the priest. Heaven and earth meet on the altar during this perfect prayer by raising oru hearts and minds to God and God comes closer for us to hear, see, feel, touch, & taste.
The priest recounts the story to God the Father for our benefit. The priest takes the role of Jesus and acts out the story to help us live the moment with Jesus. The priest’s gestures include things like picking up the bread when he tells us that Jesus “took the bread.” When he tells us that Jesus looked up to heaven, he looks up to heaven just as Jesus did. Soon the priest comes to the words Jesus spoke; when he does, he bows slightly and speaks the words of Jesus. This is a major shift because the story has shifted from taking place in the past to happening now – in the present – and we are there while it happens – we are part of the sacrifice. The priest speaks the words of Jesus “Take this, all of you, and eat it: this is my body which will be given up for you.” The priest is then silent; he elevates the Eucharist before God the Father as our offering. We look at the Eucharist while he elevates it and are in awe of what just happened – we adore and worship our God who is now before us. The priest then genuflects in adoration and as a sign of The Church’s faith in this miraculous moment. We contemplate the mystery that has just unfolded for our salvation. These actions are repeated with the wine so that it becomes the blood of Jesus and we repeat our adoration and contemplation.
Consider it; God has come down from heaven and we have been lifted up to heaven. Bread and wine have been changed to the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus our Savior. God becomes man, sacrifices himself and dies for our sins, makes us part of that sacrifice during each and every Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and all under the little form of bread and wine. God puts forth all of that loving effort so that we can return to the garden where we were created and to way he created us – sinless. What a wonderful mystery and miracle God creates for us through Holy Mother Church.
Next time we will discuss the “Mystery of Faith.” Please pray for our priests during this Year for Priests and check the link at www.usccb.org for more info on what others are doing for their priests. August 15th is the feast of Mary’s Assumption. Pray a Rosary on that day and ask Mary to send us many holy priests. Remember to check Thank God for the rain and enjoy the summer.
Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi
Last month we discussed the Epiclesis and the Holy Spirit’s role in the Mass. This is the same Spirit that hovered over the water at creation, the same Spirit that was with the Israelites throughout their history, the same Spirit that was with Mary at the incarnation, and the same Spirit that was with Jesus during His work on earth. The Trinitarian God is present at every Mass, at every hour, throughout the world. This Holy Spirit will change our offering – the bread and wine – into the Body and Blood of Jesus. This mystery becomes a reality when the priest speaks the Institution Narrative, also known as the Consecration.
The Institution Narrative brings the Jewish Passover meal to its fulfillment in the Eucharistic Sacrifice. The apostolic priesthood joins the earthly man, a creature of God, with Jesus the God-man and creator of man. This union, accomplished through the Holy Spirit, lets the priest act in persona Christi (in the person of Christ) and as alter Christus (another Christ). The priest can then speak the Eucharist into existence just like God spoke the universe into existence. The words are those of Jesus. The words he spoke at the Last Supper, but not all of them. We focus on the words about bread and wine; the words that instituted the Eucharist. Let’s explore these words and what happens when they are spoken by the priest.
These words come to the forefront as the priest continues his role as our mediator before God the Father. The Eucharistic prayer tells the story of the Last Supper and brings it to life by re-presenting the Calvary sacrifice using Jesus’ words and actions by the priest. Heaven and earth meet on the altar during this perfect prayer by raising oru hearts and minds to God and God comes closer for us to hear, see, feel, touch, & taste.
The priest recounts the story to God the Father for our benefit. The priest takes the role of Jesus and acts out the story to help us live the moment with Jesus. The priest’s gestures include things like picking up the bread when he tells us that Jesus “took the bread.” When he tells us that Jesus looked up to heaven, he looks up to heaven just as Jesus did. Soon the priest comes to the words Jesus spoke; when he does, he bows slightly and speaks the words of Jesus. This is a major shift because the story has shifted from taking place in the past to happening now – in the present – and we are there while it happens – we are part of the sacrifice. The priest speaks the words of Jesus “Take this, all of you, and eat it: this is my body which will be given up for you.” The priest is then silent; he elevates the Eucharist before God the Father as our offering. We look at the Eucharist while he elevates it and are in awe of what just happened – we adore and worship our God who is now before us. The priest then genuflects in adoration and as a sign of The Church’s faith in this miraculous moment. We contemplate the mystery that has just unfolded for our salvation. These actions are repeated with the wine so that it becomes the blood of Jesus and we repeat our adoration and contemplation.
Consider it; God has come down from heaven and we have been lifted up to heaven. Bread and wine have been changed to the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus our Savior. God becomes man, sacrifices himself and dies for our sins, makes us part of that sacrifice during each and every Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and all under the little form of bread and wine. God puts forth all of that loving effort so that we can return to the garden where we were created and to way he created us – sinless. What a wonderful mystery and miracle God creates for us through Holy Mother Church.
Next time we will discuss the “Mystery of Faith.” Please pray for our priests during this Year for Priests and check the link at www.usccb.org for more info on what others are doing for their priests. August 15th is the feast of Mary’s Assumption. Pray a Rosary on that day and ask Mary to send us many holy priests. Remember to check Thank God for the rain and enjoy the summer.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
June 2009 A.D.
Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi
Our last discussion included the priest's role as mediator (in persona Christi) before God, his 'priestly pedigree' (Apostolic succession), and the Sanctus. We sing the Sanctus; Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Think of it --- the preface for Mass ends with --- "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest." We acknowledge God as God, kneel in adoration. We anticipate - and long for - the Lord's arrival under the veil of humble bread and simple wine. We strain to see God. We long to touch the Creator, God the Father. He does not disappoint. He comes to us in the simplest way --- bread and wine --- or is it?
This is a good place to describe the Eucharistic prayer and its parts. There are currently four Eucharistic prayers the priest can choose to use for the consecration. This does not count other Eucharistic prayers for special occasions like reconciliation and children's Masses. Each of these prayers uses dignified or 'high court' language that is highly concentrated and poetic. This combination expresses multiple ideas and historical events with the fewest words possible. These few words tell the wondrously beautiful story of our salvation. These characteristics make for what can be called a complete prayer. We will see this completeness as we unpack the Eucharistic prayer and look at its parts.
Remember; Holy Mass is PRIMARILY a sacrifice. Because God is outside of time; this wondrous mystery brings the past into the present and shows us the future. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross is made present on the altar we see at Holy Mass. It is also the same sacrifice God revealed to Saint John in a vision and he chronicled in the book of Revelation. For these reasons what we celebrate each Sunday has several parts that require God's power to accomplish, a validly ordained priest to manifest, and the words of institution spoken by the priest.
The parts of the Eucharistic prayer are: the Epiclesis, calling upon the Holy Spirit for help, the Consecration or Institution, the actual words spoken by Christ at the Last Supper, the Mystery of Faith, the people acclaim their understanding and thanks for the saving mystery that is unfolding before their eyes. Anamnesis (Memorial) & Offering, we do this in memory of Jesus, the second Epiclesis, we implore more from the Holy Spirit, Petitions, prayers for the Communion of Saints and specific requests, the Doxology (per ipsum) & Great Amen, the priest reminds us that it is "through - with - in HIM, in unity with the Holy Spirit, that we give glory and honor to the Father” and that we have our salvation for sin. We are caught up in the moment and respond with a HEARTFELT and JOYFUL "AMEN!"
We will discuss each of these parts in some detail in the coming months. Until then please keep praying for our community, your own families, Holy Mother Church, Msgr. Lamonde, and my family. Your good prayers will help everyone, especially you. I pray each of you has a wonderful Pentecost, Flag Day, Father's Day, and a safe summer. If you plan to travel this summer remember to attend Holy Mass. Check the website http://www.masstimes.org/ for information on Catholic Churches near your vacation site.
July 2009 A.D.
Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi
Last month we briefly introduced the four Eucharistic prayers and the major parts they have in common. Those major parts are: the Epiclesis, calling upon the Holy Spirit for help, the Consecration or Institution, the actual words spoken by Christ at the Last Supper, the Mystery of Faith, the people acclaim their understanding and thanks for the saving mystery that is unfolding before their eyes, the Anamnesis (Memorial) & Offering, we do this in memory of Jesus, the second Epiclesis, we implore more from the Holy Spirit, the Petitions, prayers for the Communion of Saints and specific requests, the Doxology (per ipsum) & the Great Amen, the priest reminds us that it is "through - with - in HIM, in unity with the Holy Spirit, that we give glory and honor to the Father” and that we have our salvation for sin. We are caught up in the moment and respond with a HEARTFELT and JOYFUL "AMEN!" This article will focus on the Epiclesis.
We are kneeling at this point in the Sacrifice of Holy Mass. Kneeling in humble adoration, kneeling to participate in the greatest prayer know to man, kneeling as we anticipate the physical arrival of our loving God, only moments away. The excitement builds as the moment draws near; the sacrifice is beginning and Jesus is about to arrive. Jesus, who is both priest and victim, will soon be on the altar. First, the priest calls upon the Holy Spirit in the Epiclesis.
The Epiclesis is a prayer to God the Father in which the priest asks Him to send the Holy Spirit upon our gifts of bread and wine. The Greek word means “to call down upon” and these are the implied words of the priest. “Let it (our gifts of bread and wine) become for us the body and blood of Jesus Christ.” A bold request; to say the least. How dare we ask such a thing, and yet we are confident in this request because Jesus told us to do so (Mt. 26:26).
The Most Holy Trinity is actively involved and in a very concrete way. God the Father sends the Holy Spirit to change bread and wine into the body and blood of the Son. This is the same Holy Spirit sent by the Father to a young woman named Mary who agreed to give birth to the Son. This mystery is about to repeat itself by giving life to our offering (bread and wine). The body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus will once again take physical form on earth (bread and wine). Our Trinitarian God is always present, always available to us, always helping us, always.
The Holy Spirit’s actions in Holy Mass parallel His actions in Jesus’ life on earth. The Spirit “spoke through the prophets” to give us the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) that tell about God, His creation (us), our sin, and the promise of a Savior. He gave us the Christian Scriptures (New Testament) to identify that Savior, His life and teaching, His Church on earth, His sacrifice on the cross, and finally His resurrection and ascension into Heaven. These Scriptures tell us about the Passover in Egypt as the Israelites flee from Pharaoh and about the Passover of Jesus (the Last Supper). We hear these Scriptures at each Mass in the Liturgy of the Word. The connection is clear and purposeful. We are naturally led to the Last Supper and to Calvary as fulfillment of the Passover.
Next time we will discuss the Consecration. Please remember this is the Year of the Priest and to pray for all our priests. Holy Mother Church needs priests. May God continue to bless the USA as we celebrate our Independence Day.
Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi
Our last discussion included the priest's role as mediator (in persona Christi) before God, his 'priestly pedigree' (Apostolic succession), and the Sanctus. We sing the Sanctus; Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Think of it --- the preface for Mass ends with --- "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest." We acknowledge God as God, kneel in adoration. We anticipate - and long for - the Lord's arrival under the veil of humble bread and simple wine. We strain to see God. We long to touch the Creator, God the Father. He does not disappoint. He comes to us in the simplest way --- bread and wine --- or is it?
This is a good place to describe the Eucharistic prayer and its parts. There are currently four Eucharistic prayers the priest can choose to use for the consecration. This does not count other Eucharistic prayers for special occasions like reconciliation and children's Masses. Each of these prayers uses dignified or 'high court' language that is highly concentrated and poetic. This combination expresses multiple ideas and historical events with the fewest words possible. These few words tell the wondrously beautiful story of our salvation. These characteristics make for what can be called a complete prayer. We will see this completeness as we unpack the Eucharistic prayer and look at its parts.
Remember; Holy Mass is PRIMARILY a sacrifice. Because God is outside of time; this wondrous mystery brings the past into the present and shows us the future. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross is made present on the altar we see at Holy Mass. It is also the same sacrifice God revealed to Saint John in a vision and he chronicled in the book of Revelation. For these reasons what we celebrate each Sunday has several parts that require God's power to accomplish, a validly ordained priest to manifest, and the words of institution spoken by the priest.
The parts of the Eucharistic prayer are: the Epiclesis, calling upon the Holy Spirit for help, the Consecration or Institution, the actual words spoken by Christ at the Last Supper, the Mystery of Faith, the people acclaim their understanding and thanks for the saving mystery that is unfolding before their eyes. Anamnesis (Memorial) & Offering, we do this in memory of Jesus, the second Epiclesis, we implore more from the Holy Spirit, Petitions, prayers for the Communion of Saints and specific requests, the Doxology (per ipsum) & Great Amen, the priest reminds us that it is "through - with - in HIM, in unity with the Holy Spirit, that we give glory and honor to the Father” and that we have our salvation for sin. We are caught up in the moment and respond with a HEARTFELT and JOYFUL "AMEN!"
We will discuss each of these parts in some detail in the coming months. Until then please keep praying for our community, your own families, Holy Mother Church, Msgr. Lamonde, and my family. Your good prayers will help everyone, especially you. I pray each of you has a wonderful Pentecost, Flag Day, Father's Day, and a safe summer. If you plan to travel this summer remember to attend Holy Mass. Check the website http://www.masstimes.org/ for information on Catholic Churches near your vacation site.
July 2009 A.D.
Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi
Last month we briefly introduced the four Eucharistic prayers and the major parts they have in common. Those major parts are: the Epiclesis, calling upon the Holy Spirit for help, the Consecration or Institution, the actual words spoken by Christ at the Last Supper, the Mystery of Faith, the people acclaim their understanding and thanks for the saving mystery that is unfolding before their eyes, the Anamnesis (Memorial) & Offering, we do this in memory of Jesus, the second Epiclesis, we implore more from the Holy Spirit, the Petitions, prayers for the Communion of Saints and specific requests, the Doxology (per ipsum) & the Great Amen, the priest reminds us that it is "through - with - in HIM, in unity with the Holy Spirit, that we give glory and honor to the Father” and that we have our salvation for sin. We are caught up in the moment and respond with a HEARTFELT and JOYFUL "AMEN!" This article will focus on the Epiclesis.
We are kneeling at this point in the Sacrifice of Holy Mass. Kneeling in humble adoration, kneeling to participate in the greatest prayer know to man, kneeling as we anticipate the physical arrival of our loving God, only moments away. The excitement builds as the moment draws near; the sacrifice is beginning and Jesus is about to arrive. Jesus, who is both priest and victim, will soon be on the altar. First, the priest calls upon the Holy Spirit in the Epiclesis.
The Epiclesis is a prayer to God the Father in which the priest asks Him to send the Holy Spirit upon our gifts of bread and wine. The Greek word means “to call down upon” and these are the implied words of the priest. “Let it (our gifts of bread and wine) become for us the body and blood of Jesus Christ.” A bold request; to say the least. How dare we ask such a thing, and yet we are confident in this request because Jesus told us to do so (Mt. 26:26).
The Most Holy Trinity is actively involved and in a very concrete way. God the Father sends the Holy Spirit to change bread and wine into the body and blood of the Son. This is the same Holy Spirit sent by the Father to a young woman named Mary who agreed to give birth to the Son. This mystery is about to repeat itself by giving life to our offering (bread and wine). The body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus will once again take physical form on earth (bread and wine). Our Trinitarian God is always present, always available to us, always helping us, always.
The Holy Spirit’s actions in Holy Mass parallel His actions in Jesus’ life on earth. The Spirit “spoke through the prophets” to give us the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) that tell about God, His creation (us), our sin, and the promise of a Savior. He gave us the Christian Scriptures (New Testament) to identify that Savior, His life and teaching, His Church on earth, His sacrifice on the cross, and finally His resurrection and ascension into Heaven. These Scriptures tell us about the Passover in Egypt as the Israelites flee from Pharaoh and about the Passover of Jesus (the Last Supper). We hear these Scriptures at each Mass in the Liturgy of the Word. The connection is clear and purposeful. We are naturally led to the Last Supper and to Calvary as fulfillment of the Passover.
Next time we will discuss the Consecration. Please remember this is the Year of the Priest and to pray for all our priests. Holy Mother Church needs priests. May God continue to bless the USA as we celebrate our Independence Day.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Lex Orandi, Lex Crendendi - "As We Pray, So We Believe"
INTRODUCTION
Back in December of 2008, Monsignor Joseph R. Lamonde asked me to write a series of short articles for a monthly parish publication called the Communiqué. Monsignor chose the “Holy Sacrifice of the Mass” as the topic for the articles. I was honored and agreed to give it my best; I also asked that he check each article for accuracy. When I began gathering resources I was quickly humbled by the magnitude of the task; not to mention the enormous responsibility associated with trying to explain the mysteries God has placed in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Fortunately, God strengthens the weak to do his work. Prayer and reflection resulted in the series being titled "Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi."
A heartfelt thanks to a litany of very special people is in order at this point but that would be pretentious. I will say "thank you" to my wife Evelyn for her 33 plus years of loving support. Also; thanks to Msgr. Lamonde for his faith and trust in my relationship with God; and asking me to take on this project. May God richly bless his service to the One High Priest.
The monthly articles began in January of 2009 and are included below. I will add a new one each month. Please pray for me. Thank you for your gracious time and attention. May God richly bless you.
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Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi - “As We Pray, So We Believe.”
January 2009 A.D.
This Latin phrase summarizes Church teaching on liturgical celebrations. Holy Mother Church uses her God given authority to spell out, with particular care, how Holy Mass is celebrated. The most common directions are called the rubrics and are in the Sacramentary (the book the priest uses). Ecumenical Council documents, Canon Law, Liturgical Law, and Papal authorized instructions are other tools Mother Church uses to ensure we receive authentic Catholic worship.
Fortunately, most of these documents are available to everyone with an internet connection. A recent document is the 2004 instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum. The Church outlines some serious concerns and the corrective action expected by Her deacons, priests, bishops, and each of us.
Every time we participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass we take part in the highest form of prayer known to man. We need to learn the structure of the Mass and our role within that structure so that Lex Orandi becomes Lex Credendi in our hearts. We will learn more about this Sacred Drama, Divine Liturgy, or Holy Mass in a series of articles over the next few months. My sincere prayer is that these articles will help us understand God’s message to us during this Christmas Season and into this New Year.
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Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi - “As We Pray, So We Believe.”
February 2009 A.D.
January’s article was about The Church’s God given responsibility and authority to ensure faithful worship for all of us. This time we will learn about the major parts of the Mass.
During Holy Mass the priest, acting as alter Christus (another Christ), leads God’s people, in a shared dialogue with The Father. The priest, acting in persona Christi, prays to God in our name while we join our hearts and minds to that prayer. This is an intimate relationship because the priest and the people share in direct prayerful dialogue with God, The Father.
The major parts of the Mass are: The Liturgy of the Word and The Liturgy of the Eucharist. The Introductory Rites begin the Mass. They include the entrance antiphon or liturgical song, greeting, act of penance, Kyrie, Gloria, and opening prayer. Each of these has a specific purpose and a long history in the life of The Church.
The Liturgy of the Word follows the introduction. This proclamation of God’s word from Sacred Scripture is normally performed by a Lector or the Priest. The first reading is usually from the Old Testament followed by the relevant Responsorial Psalm. An Epistle (usually one of Paul’s letters) is the second reading. The joyful singing of the Alleluia and Gospel Acclamation join these three pieces of Scripture to introduce the Gospel reading. The Gospel is always proclaimed by, and the homily is always given by: the Deacon, Priest, or Bishop. The celebrant then begins reciting the Creed and the people join in. The Creed is the super-condensed wording of what we Catholics believe. The Intercessory Prayers are introduced by the celebrant and conclude the first part of the Mass.
Next month we will learn about the Liturgy of the Eucharist and the Concluding Rites. Until then, please pray for all priests, Monsignor, and one another.
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Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi - “As We Pray, So We Believe.”
March 2009 A.D.
February’s article was about the Liturgy of the Word; the first of the two major parts of Holy Mass. We learned that the priest, acting in the person of Christ (in persona Christi), prays to God in our name while we join our hearts and minds to that prayer. This time we will learn about the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
The priest fully exercises his ordained ministry in the Liturgy of the Eucharist which begins with the Offertory. Here we offer our gifts to God. Earlier generations actually brought animals, grains, bread, fruit, and other items as their tithing (10%) or gifts. Today our gifts are largely money and are symbolic of us offering ourselves to God. While the gifts are gathered, the altar is prepared to receive the gifts. The corporal, the Chalice with Paten & Pall, and the communion cups are placed on the altar. The gifts are brought forward in procession to symbolize our unity as God’s family. The bread & wine are placed on the altar. A suitable song usually accompanies the Offertory.
The bread and wine are prepared by the priest with the prayers “Blessed are you Lord God of all Creation…”; and we respond with “Blessed be God for ever.” We are reminded of our divine beginning and the divinity of Christ in the prayer “By the mystery of this water and wine…” which is prayed before the wine is prepared. The priest asks God to accept our gifts, offered with humble and contrite hearts, and then washes his hands. The people and the priest offers the last prayer in this series; “Pray, brethren, that our sacrifice may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father. The people reply with “May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good, and the good of all his (holy) Church. This last priestly prayer with the people’s response is a good summary of why we come to Holy Mass.
Remember; Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, 25 February 2009 A.D. What are you going to do for Lent?
Next month we will continue with the Liturgy of the Eucharist; specifically the preface and the Eucharistic prayer. Until then; please prayerfully prepare for Lent, pray for our community, the ministries we support, Monsignor, and one another.
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Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi - “As We Pray, So We Believe.”
April 2009 A.D.
We began a discussion on the Liturgy of the Eucharist in the March Communiqué. The Offertory and the Preparation of Gifts were the focus of that edition. You may remember that the prayers of the Priest and the people ended that discussion. Priest: “Pray, brethren, that our sacrifice may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.” The people reply: “May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good, and the good of all his (holy) Church.” These last two prayers summarize our basic beliefs, and explain why we come to Holy Mass. Next is the priestly prayer called the “Prayer over the Gifts.” The prayer varies each week and connects the theme of the Opening Prayer with the message in the readings in the Liturgy of the Word. Our job in the Liturgy is to listen to these prayers and take them to heart. The question now is; whose hands make the offering for us?
God teaches us, through The Church, that our one High Priest is Jesus, The Christ. He makes the one sacrificial offering to God the Father. He instituted the sacrament of Holy Orders, and uses that sacrament to make the hands of the next priest – His Hands. Having done so, it is Christ, in the person of the priest, who presents our gifts, prays for us, and offers the sacrifice to the Father. This is what in persona Christi means and it illustrates the functioning priesthood.
The item in the “Order of the Mass” is the Preface. The Preface takes us to the deep and full meaning of Holy Orders; a mingling of Heaven and Earth begins with this prayer. The priest says, “The Lord be with you,” then “Lift up your hearts,” then “Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.” The people’s responses serve to bring us deeper into the mystery and set us up for the great mysteries in the Eucharistic prayer. This also concludes the priest’s words to the people. The words, “Lift up your hearts,” are more than an invitation, they are a command. The Latin, sursum corda, means, “Hearts on High!” Remember, what we see at the altar is the man we know as Father, Monsignor, or Bishop; in reality it is Jesus who speaks to us, Jesus who commands us, Jesus who leads us – leads us to God the Father.
The rest of the Eucharistic prayer is directed to God the Father, through the Son (priest), and in the Holy Spirit. We join with Mary and the saints to encounter the deep and unending mystery of God as it unfolds in this timeless and ancient prayer. The mystery of one God in three divine persons; the mystery of God become man (the new and perfect Adam); the mystery of His Church; and the timeless mystery of the Eucharist, the climax of the Holy Mass.
We can enter deeper into the “sacred mysteries” by listening closely to the words spoken at Holy Mass, watching the deliberate and reverent postures of the priest and servers, and by performing our parts of the Holy Mass with reverence and awe.
Listening and participating at Holy Mass takes practice and effort on our part. Unfortunately, society, advertising, and the mass media have conditioned us to have a 10-15 second attention span. Remaining focused for an hour is equal to 240 commercials that are 15 seconds long each. Four hours of prime time TV exposes us to the roughly same number of commercials. Increasing our attention span is not a change we can make quickly; unless we have help. We need God’s grace to help us focus on Holy Mass. Please pray for that help for yourself and your family.
Next month we will go deeper into the Eucharistic prayer itself. The mystery that enlivens our souls, leads us to God, and makes our salvation possible is all contained in this beautiful prayer. Please continue your Lenten sacrifices and to pray for our community. Come to the Penance Service and the Sacred Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, & Holy Saturday). I wish each of you a blessed and Happy Easter.
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Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi - “As We Pray, So We Believe.”
May 2009 A.D.
The Preface, its place and purpose in the Holy Mass, and a brief discussion on learning to listen during Holy Mass were our topics last month. We recall that the priest leads the people in a prayerful dialogue that focuses on God the Father. The priest’s last words in this dialogue are “Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.” The people respond with; “It is right to give Him thanks and praise.” All prayers from this point forward are addressed to God the Father. “Father all powerful and ever living God…”
The priest’s voice is the voice of the people and he is our mediator (in persona Christi) before God. He speaks for the people and he speaks as our High Priest (again, in persona Christi). This charism of Holy Orders is unique to the Catholic Church because of her four marks; One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic (remember the Creed?). The Apostolic mark is the source of Holy Orders and gives us priests whose ‘priestly pedigree’ is traceable back to one of the 12 Apostles.
The people’s response at the end of the Preface, “It is right to give Him thanks and praise,” is meant to awaken our need to Thank God for everything --- literally every-thing. Our very existence, our lives, the earth that sustains our lives, our salvation from sin, Jesus (our Savior), the Holy Spirit, Holy Mother Church, the Mass, the Eucharist, and so on, and so on. These are all God’s creations. Aren’t we often too slow in recognizing God’s goodness and thanking Him for those great gifts? This response is meant to remind us of God’s generous and loving care.
Shortly after the priest begins speaking to the Father he quickly comes to the Sanctus, the Holy, Holy, Holy. This hymn is rooted deep in scripture from both the Old and New testaments. This ancient hymn describes the mystery of God in human terms. Isaiah 6:1-4, Ezekiel 3:12-13, Revelation 4:8, and Psalm 118:26 are the primary sources for this wonderful declaration of God’s holiness. Read them for yourself; you will get a deeper understanding of this hymn.
We, who are sinners, rightly and joyfully proclaim that God is indeed God, and that He is HOLY beyond our understanding. Because God is HOLY, the creator of all we know, the source of our salvation, beyond our understanding, and awe inspiring --- we kneel in adoration at the end of this hymn. Adoration is what we “owe” to God, because he is God and we are not. Remember; our sin in the garden was thinking we were gods; it is also the first of the mortal sins. Kneeling in adoration helps us remember that we are creatures honoring the Creator. The Father of us all is entitled to our respect, honor, and awe. Reverence is the more common and more accurate term for this respect.
The Sanctus hymn sets the stage for heaven and earth to meet. We are mysteriously lifted up to heaven and heaven reaches down to earth. We come in the name of the LORD, we sing Hosanna in the highest. We approach the holy of holies; we seek to touch the Creator; we look for Him and we are not disappointed.
Next time we will delve even deeper into the Eucharistic prayer. Our focus will be the consecration; the climax of this sacred drama, and our response to a uniquely Catholic and miraculous event. Please pray for our First Communion class, our community, Monsignor, your own families, and for mine. Please continue to celebrate the Easter mysteries through the Easter Season. He is RISEN; as He said, Alleluia! I wish all mothers a very Happy Mother’s Day.
Back in December of 2008, Monsignor Joseph R. Lamonde asked me to write a series of short articles for a monthly parish publication called the Communiqué. Monsignor chose the “Holy Sacrifice of the Mass” as the topic for the articles. I was honored and agreed to give it my best; I also asked that he check each article for accuracy. When I began gathering resources I was quickly humbled by the magnitude of the task; not to mention the enormous responsibility associated with trying to explain the mysteries God has placed in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Fortunately, God strengthens the weak to do his work. Prayer and reflection resulted in the series being titled "Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi."
A heartfelt thanks to a litany of very special people is in order at this point but that would be pretentious. I will say "thank you" to my wife Evelyn for her 33 plus years of loving support. Also; thanks to Msgr. Lamonde for his faith and trust in my relationship with God; and asking me to take on this project. May God richly bless his service to the One High Priest.
The monthly articles began in January of 2009 and are included below. I will add a new one each month. Please pray for me. Thank you for your gracious time and attention. May God richly bless you.
+++ +++ +++
Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi - “As We Pray, So We Believe.”
January 2009 A.D.
This Latin phrase summarizes Church teaching on liturgical celebrations. Holy Mother Church uses her God given authority to spell out, with particular care, how Holy Mass is celebrated. The most common directions are called the rubrics and are in the Sacramentary (the book the priest uses). Ecumenical Council documents, Canon Law, Liturgical Law, and Papal authorized instructions are other tools Mother Church uses to ensure we receive authentic Catholic worship.
Fortunately, most of these documents are available to everyone with an internet connection. A recent document is the 2004 instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum. The Church outlines some serious concerns and the corrective action expected by Her deacons, priests, bishops, and each of us.
Every time we participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass we take part in the highest form of prayer known to man. We need to learn the structure of the Mass and our role within that structure so that Lex Orandi becomes Lex Credendi in our hearts. We will learn more about this Sacred Drama, Divine Liturgy, or Holy Mass in a series of articles over the next few months. My sincere prayer is that these articles will help us understand God’s message to us during this Christmas Season and into this New Year.
+++++
Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi - “As We Pray, So We Believe.”
February 2009 A.D.
January’s article was about The Church’s God given responsibility and authority to ensure faithful worship for all of us. This time we will learn about the major parts of the Mass.
During Holy Mass the priest, acting as alter Christus (another Christ), leads God’s people, in a shared dialogue with The Father. The priest, acting in persona Christi, prays to God in our name while we join our hearts and minds to that prayer. This is an intimate relationship because the priest and the people share in direct prayerful dialogue with God, The Father.
The major parts of the Mass are: The Liturgy of the Word and The Liturgy of the Eucharist. The Introductory Rites begin the Mass. They include the entrance antiphon or liturgical song, greeting, act of penance, Kyrie, Gloria, and opening prayer. Each of these has a specific purpose and a long history in the life of The Church.
The Liturgy of the Word follows the introduction. This proclamation of God’s word from Sacred Scripture is normally performed by a Lector or the Priest. The first reading is usually from the Old Testament followed by the relevant Responsorial Psalm. An Epistle (usually one of Paul’s letters) is the second reading. The joyful singing of the Alleluia and Gospel Acclamation join these three pieces of Scripture to introduce the Gospel reading. The Gospel is always proclaimed by, and the homily is always given by: the Deacon, Priest, or Bishop. The celebrant then begins reciting the Creed and the people join in. The Creed is the super-condensed wording of what we Catholics believe. The Intercessory Prayers are introduced by the celebrant and conclude the first part of the Mass.
Next month we will learn about the Liturgy of the Eucharist and the Concluding Rites. Until then, please pray for all priests, Monsignor, and one another.
+++++
Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi - “As We Pray, So We Believe.”
March 2009 A.D.
February’s article was about the Liturgy of the Word; the first of the two major parts of Holy Mass. We learned that the priest, acting in the person of Christ (in persona Christi), prays to God in our name while we join our hearts and minds to that prayer. This time we will learn about the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
The priest fully exercises his ordained ministry in the Liturgy of the Eucharist which begins with the Offertory. Here we offer our gifts to God. Earlier generations actually brought animals, grains, bread, fruit, and other items as their tithing (10%) or gifts. Today our gifts are largely money and are symbolic of us offering ourselves to God. While the gifts are gathered, the altar is prepared to receive the gifts. The corporal, the Chalice with Paten & Pall, and the communion cups are placed on the altar. The gifts are brought forward in procession to symbolize our unity as God’s family. The bread & wine are placed on the altar. A suitable song usually accompanies the Offertory.
The bread and wine are prepared by the priest with the prayers “Blessed are you Lord God of all Creation…”; and we respond with “Blessed be God for ever.” We are reminded of our divine beginning and the divinity of Christ in the prayer “By the mystery of this water and wine…” which is prayed before the wine is prepared. The priest asks God to accept our gifts, offered with humble and contrite hearts, and then washes his hands. The people and the priest offers the last prayer in this series; “Pray, brethren, that our sacrifice may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father. The people reply with “May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good, and the good of all his (holy) Church. This last priestly prayer with the people’s response is a good summary of why we come to Holy Mass.
Remember; Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, 25 February 2009 A.D. What are you going to do for Lent?
Next month we will continue with the Liturgy of the Eucharist; specifically the preface and the Eucharistic prayer. Until then; please prayerfully prepare for Lent, pray for our community, the ministries we support, Monsignor, and one another.
+++++
Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi - “As We Pray, So We Believe.”
April 2009 A.D.
We began a discussion on the Liturgy of the Eucharist in the March Communiqué. The Offertory and the Preparation of Gifts were the focus of that edition. You may remember that the prayers of the Priest and the people ended that discussion. Priest: “Pray, brethren, that our sacrifice may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.” The people reply: “May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good, and the good of all his (holy) Church.” These last two prayers summarize our basic beliefs, and explain why we come to Holy Mass. Next is the priestly prayer called the “Prayer over the Gifts.” The prayer varies each week and connects the theme of the Opening Prayer with the message in the readings in the Liturgy of the Word. Our job in the Liturgy is to listen to these prayers and take them to heart. The question now is; whose hands make the offering for us?
God teaches us, through The Church, that our one High Priest is Jesus, The Christ. He makes the one sacrificial offering to God the Father. He instituted the sacrament of Holy Orders, and uses that sacrament to make the hands of the next priest – His Hands. Having done so, it is Christ, in the person of the priest, who presents our gifts, prays for us, and offers the sacrifice to the Father. This is what in persona Christi means and it illustrates the functioning priesthood.
The item in the “Order of the Mass” is the Preface. The Preface takes us to the deep and full meaning of Holy Orders; a mingling of Heaven and Earth begins with this prayer. The priest says, “The Lord be with you,” then “Lift up your hearts,” then “Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.” The people’s responses serve to bring us deeper into the mystery and set us up for the great mysteries in the Eucharistic prayer. This also concludes the priest’s words to the people. The words, “Lift up your hearts,” are more than an invitation, they are a command. The Latin, sursum corda, means, “Hearts on High!” Remember, what we see at the altar is the man we know as Father, Monsignor, or Bishop; in reality it is Jesus who speaks to us, Jesus who commands us, Jesus who leads us – leads us to God the Father.
The rest of the Eucharistic prayer is directed to God the Father, through the Son (priest), and in the Holy Spirit. We join with Mary and the saints to encounter the deep and unending mystery of God as it unfolds in this timeless and ancient prayer. The mystery of one God in three divine persons; the mystery of God become man (the new and perfect Adam); the mystery of His Church; and the timeless mystery of the Eucharist, the climax of the Holy Mass.
We can enter deeper into the “sacred mysteries” by listening closely to the words spoken at Holy Mass, watching the deliberate and reverent postures of the priest and servers, and by performing our parts of the Holy Mass with reverence and awe.
Listening and participating at Holy Mass takes practice and effort on our part. Unfortunately, society, advertising, and the mass media have conditioned us to have a 10-15 second attention span. Remaining focused for an hour is equal to 240 commercials that are 15 seconds long each. Four hours of prime time TV exposes us to the roughly same number of commercials. Increasing our attention span is not a change we can make quickly; unless we have help. We need God’s grace to help us focus on Holy Mass. Please pray for that help for yourself and your family.
Next month we will go deeper into the Eucharistic prayer itself. The mystery that enlivens our souls, leads us to God, and makes our salvation possible is all contained in this beautiful prayer. Please continue your Lenten sacrifices and to pray for our community. Come to the Penance Service and the Sacred Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, & Holy Saturday). I wish each of you a blessed and Happy Easter.
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Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi - “As We Pray, So We Believe.”
May 2009 A.D.
The Preface, its place and purpose in the Holy Mass, and a brief discussion on learning to listen during Holy Mass were our topics last month. We recall that the priest leads the people in a prayerful dialogue that focuses on God the Father. The priest’s last words in this dialogue are “Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.” The people respond with; “It is right to give Him thanks and praise.” All prayers from this point forward are addressed to God the Father. “Father all powerful and ever living God…”
The priest’s voice is the voice of the people and he is our mediator (in persona Christi) before God. He speaks for the people and he speaks as our High Priest (again, in persona Christi). This charism of Holy Orders is unique to the Catholic Church because of her four marks; One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic (remember the Creed?). The Apostolic mark is the source of Holy Orders and gives us priests whose ‘priestly pedigree’ is traceable back to one of the 12 Apostles.
The people’s response at the end of the Preface, “It is right to give Him thanks and praise,” is meant to awaken our need to Thank God for everything --- literally every-thing. Our very existence, our lives, the earth that sustains our lives, our salvation from sin, Jesus (our Savior), the Holy Spirit, Holy Mother Church, the Mass, the Eucharist, and so on, and so on. These are all God’s creations. Aren’t we often too slow in recognizing God’s goodness and thanking Him for those great gifts? This response is meant to remind us of God’s generous and loving care.
Shortly after the priest begins speaking to the Father he quickly comes to the Sanctus, the Holy, Holy, Holy. This hymn is rooted deep in scripture from both the Old and New testaments. This ancient hymn describes the mystery of God in human terms. Isaiah 6:1-4, Ezekiel 3:12-13, Revelation 4:8, and Psalm 118:26 are the primary sources for this wonderful declaration of God’s holiness. Read them for yourself; you will get a deeper understanding of this hymn.
We, who are sinners, rightly and joyfully proclaim that God is indeed God, and that He is HOLY beyond our understanding. Because God is HOLY, the creator of all we know, the source of our salvation, beyond our understanding, and awe inspiring --- we kneel in adoration at the end of this hymn. Adoration is what we “owe” to God, because he is God and we are not. Remember; our sin in the garden was thinking we were gods; it is also the first of the mortal sins. Kneeling in adoration helps us remember that we are creatures honoring the Creator. The Father of us all is entitled to our respect, honor, and awe. Reverence is the more common and more accurate term for this respect.
The Sanctus hymn sets the stage for heaven and earth to meet. We are mysteriously lifted up to heaven and heaven reaches down to earth. We come in the name of the LORD, we sing Hosanna in the highest. We approach the holy of holies; we seek to touch the Creator; we look for Him and we are not disappointed.
Next time we will delve even deeper into the Eucharistic prayer. Our focus will be the consecration; the climax of this sacred drama, and our response to a uniquely Catholic and miraculous event. Please pray for our First Communion class, our community, Monsignor, your own families, and for mine. Please continue to celebrate the Easter mysteries through the Easter Season. He is RISEN; as He said, Alleluia! I wish all mothers a very Happy Mother’s Day.
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