the church considers her liturgy
TRANSCRIPT
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?