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5. Authentic Promotion of the Liturgy

In today’s rapidly changing world it is all the more necessary to return constantly to the authentic teaching of the Church on the liturgy, as found in the liturgical texts themselves and, among many other authoritative sources, as reaffirmed and explained in a lucid and accessible manner in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Many people today call for a more “transcendental” liturgy, and indeed liturgical celebrations must be permeated with a proper religious sense born of faith in unseen realities (Dies Domini 43). Care must be given to the beauty and elegance of the vestments, sacred vessels, surroundings, furnishings, and to the eloquence of the words and actions themselves, to factors which will encourage the participation of the faithful, and to catechesis concerning the meaning of the liturgical signs (Sacrosanctum Consilium 11, 14: lnaestimabile Donum 16- 17; Dies Domini 35).

At the same time the liturgy must be a living event accessible to the people. There is a need in catechesis, in all pastoral care and in liturgical celebration itself to involve all Catholics, above all the young, more fully in the liturgy and help them to understand and live out its meaning. The Church in Australia, as in other countries, faces a notable decline in recent years in the numbers of Catholics attending Sunday Mass, a situation which calls for a pastoral response. (Dies Domini 36, 46-49).

COMMENTS

Liturgical formation is a priority. In this the Catechism of the Catholic Church is a rich resource. It reaffirms and explains in a lucid and accessible manner what is found in the liturgical texts themselves and in other authoritative sources.

The desire for a more “transcendental” liturgy is one of the signs of the times to which we need to be responsive. The simple beauty of the Roman liturgical tradition needs to be retrieved. Unfortunately some celebrants lack a sense of the occasion.

The National Liturgical Commission has prepared resources dealing with the appropriateness of vestments, sacred vessels and furnishings. The Pastoral Introduction to the revised Sacramentary, recently approved by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, has highlighted these issues and offers detailed practical guidelines.

Over the past twenty-five years some parishes have resorted to the use of domestic utensils and fairly prosaic vesture and furnishings.

In the long tradition of the Church, appropriate encouragement has been given to artists and artisans to use local material and local mediums, rather than importing liturgical items.

Sacred vessels, vestments and furnishings should be beautiful. However, moderation is also called for. Some of the great bishops and saints of the Church sold costly liturgical items to give the money to the poor!

Liturgy must be a living event, accessible to the people. There is a need to reflect further on liturgical celebrations in particular settings such as schools and for particular age groups such as young people. A Directory for Masses with Youth paralleling the Directory for Masses with Children may be desirable.

In the Bishops’ consultation with Youth, liturgy came up strongly as an issue. When bishops conduct parish visitation, a constant concern expressed is worry about “kids not at Mass”.

Local guidelines could help to develop a devotional life among young people. When things go wrong or tragedies happen in the school setting, devotions such as the Rosary can provide a structure for communal prayer and lament.

In recent years there has been a notable decline in the number of Catholics attending Sunday Mass. This calls for a pastoral response, including efforts to foster good liturgy, good preaching, good music, a prayerful environment and a sense of a welcoming community.

QUESTIONS

What might we do to make our celebrations more welcoming, especially for people who are not frequent churchgoers?

How might we foster a sense of God’s presence in our celebrations?