the church considers her liturgy

Those of us over 50 (only just) remember

Vatican 11 is like the 1st world War or the invention of the typewriters.

We know they happened but those of us under 50 don’t remember anything radically different about mass except we had a new one

Why a Latin title?

Sacrosanctum Concilium

Means

“This Most Holy Council…”

Preamble SC (Sacrosanctum Concilium) approved

by Pope Paul V1 on December 4th 1963 was the first of the documents of the Council.

The introduction had several points in mind not only for the reform of the liturgy but for the Council itself...

What task did the Council set itself?

Increasing vigour to the Christian life of the faithful.

To adapt more suitably to the needs of our own times

To foster union among all who believe in Christ

To call all people into the Church.

The POWER of LITURGYSpecifically the Constitution wished that

Liturgy will help us to:

1. live the mystery of CHRIST

2. We are the Body of the Lord

3. Present Christ to the world.

“BECOME WHAT YOU RECEIVE”

So what’s the fuss about? On a certain Sunday we

went to mass and found it very different.

Mass was in Latin and English

Instead of the server “answering” mass we also spoke out loud the responses of the Mass

We heard the Epistle and the Gospel in English and not in Latin

• Possibly the most influential of all the documents.

• Everyday lives of millions of Catholics have been influenced.

• Approved by a huge majority of bishops• (2,147 to 4) • Promulgated by Pope Paul 1V in 1963

Why study this document today?

Why is it so important?

“the liturgical renewal is the most visible fruit of the whole work of the Council”

“for most people the message of the Second Vatican Council has been experienced principally through liturgical reform” John Paul 11

Not only the Mass but the other sacraments.

Why is it so important?

“I would like everyone to make a commitment to study this great mystery especially by revisiting and exploring the Council’s text on the liturgy Sacrosanctum Concilium, so as to bear witness courageously to the mystery”

(Benedict XV1)

Times They are A-Changing Fun loving 1960’s

Vietnam war

Sexual revolution

So lets all change the mass!

Gradual changes

In French and German monasteries monks were concerned with recovering the original meaning of the mass

1910 Pius X called for “active participation in the rites of the mass”

1950’s Pius X11 restored the Easter Vigil to its former glory on Holy Saturday night as well as a reform of the Triduum

Aggiornamento

Bringing things up to date

John XX111 called for the Church to update its presentation of its message

He did not want the Church to loose touch with contemporary world

But he wanted to return to the early centuries back to the sources

• Most immediate effect of the Document on the lives of individual Catholics

“Mother Church earnestly desires that all the faithful should be led to that fully conscious and active participation in liturgical celebrations...”a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a redeemed people”(1Peter2:9) it is their right and duty by reason of their baptism (SC14)

Participation of the Laity

A Living Tradition

The Church has to pass onto the next generation what is essential, what must be handed on to maintain the truth of the Church

We do this by going back to the way mass and other sacraments have been celebrated in the past

The new generation must be aware of the past before they can grasp that which is essential for the present.

Key points to look for

The Paschal Mystery,

Death

Resurrection

Glorification

Of JESUS the chief meaning of all

the Sacraments and upon which everything else depends.

The Church

Not the Vatican

Not the Pope and Bishops

But ALL OF US

Baptism plunges us into this mystery

We gather as an EUCHARISTIC PEOPLE

The LITURGY Is the “Source and Summit” of the life

of the Church

liturgies are not private ceremonies

All of us have a part to play

Several masses

What lay behind some of the changes?

A Noble Simplicity short, clear and readily understandable

Sacred Scripture –ample, varied, more suitable.

Ministry of preaching is part of the liturgy. From Sacred Scripture; the proclamation of God’s wonderful works.

Did everything change then?

Not immediately

To begin with very cautious

Holy Communion under both kinds

Concelebration

Dialogue mass in Latin

Canon in Latin

So what happened?

The Constitution did not immediately change the mass

Paul V1 convened a committee to oversee the Mass and other Sacraments.

There have been later signs of renewal

Women in the Sanctuary

Vernacular

Gradual change in the Mass The Eucharistic Prayer was retained in

Latin, and no substantial changes were made. In 1967, the Canon was permitted to be said in the vernacular, and in 1969, the New Rite (Ordinary Form was introduced)

Benedict XV further requested translations to be faithful to the Latin

Reordering of our Churches

In order to enable greater participation many Churches were reordered.

A proper dignified place for

The Altar

The Ambo

The Presidential Chair

The People

Exciting developments

A real need to read this for yourselves!

The Council Fathers discussed how the local languages were to be used: how cultural adaptations could be brought into the liturgy.

But always the fine balance between doing your “own thing” and the approval of the local bishop

Norms some of these we take for granted now Devout and active participation of

everyone

Bible to be opened up

The Homily on Sundays and Holy Days

Common Prayer or Prayers of the Faithful

Vernacular limited at first. Latin to be retained some parts said by laity

Communion of the Lord’s Body from the same sacrifice is warmly recommended

(Tabernacle)

Communion under both kinds – limited but now universal in this Diocese

Concelebration

Catecumenate restored (RCIA)

Norms some of these we take for granted now

What are your thoughts on all this?

Can you turn to your neighbour and chat about what you have heard.

Do you feel that during mass we are included or does it seem like a performance of an ancient liturgy?

Do you think that the aims of the Council Fathers for a renewal of liturgy were realised?