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4. The Liturgy: Manifestation of the Nature of the Church

Since it lies at the centre of the Church’s life, the liturgy manifests the Church’s very nature and directs it consciously and explicitly towards its ultimate goal. The Church is seen most perfectly in the celebration of the Eucharist, presided over by the bishop of the diocese, surrounded by his priests, deacons and the community of the faithful (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 26, 41; Dies Domini 34).

This ideal phenomenon is realised in varying degrees in circumstances where the bishop is not able to be present and where he is represented ordinarily by a priest. Even in such circumstances, the bishop remains the essential point of reference and the celebration necessarily reflects the nature of the Church as a “structured communion whose nature is reflected in an “ordered exercise of liturgical action” (On Certain Questions Regarding the Collaboration of the Non-Ordained Faithful in the Sacred Ministry of Priests 6:1-2; Sacrosanctum Concilium 26; Lumen Gentium 10-11).

It is when each takes part in the liturgy according to his or her specific role in the Body of Christ that the whole Body is built up most effectively.

COMMENTS

Every liturgical act is an ecclesial act. Liturgical celebrations in the absence of a priest need to avoid developing a congregationalism.

While priests should be sensitive to the needs of the congregation, authority for priestly leadership does not flow from the congregation but from ordination. The priest receives his delegation from the bishop as the liturgist of the diocese. The present critical climate has undermined some priests’ confidence as celebrants and preachers. The presence at the Church’s liturgy of people there merely to observe or to critique is an abuse.

The Eucharist of the local Church of the diocese — bishop, priests, and people — is the fullest expression of the nature of Christ’s Church. The parish celebration of Eucharist is an extension of the liturgy of the local Church. The parish community is linked with the Church universal through the bishop and its belonging to the local Church. Using the Roman rite is one sign of a sense of Church which is broader than the particular liturgical assembly.

When the nexus between Eucharist and community is broken (as happens when no priest is available on a Sunday) we are left with the troubling question: what kind of Church is evolving?

QUESTIONS

How might we foster a sense of our communion with the Church throughout the world?

Can we find a forum for constructive criticism and fruitful dialogue about how we celebrate the liturgy?