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Friday, June 18, 2010

PEOPLE DON'T INVENT SOMETHING IN CELEBRATING THE MASS



THE INCARNATIONAL ASPECT OF BOTH FORMS OF THE ONE LATIN RITE ARE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY AND COME FROM CHRIST HIMSELF, TRUE GOD AND TRUE MAN!

"In the Eucharistic celebration we do not invent something"
The Holy Mass, celebrated in the respect of the liturgical norms and with a fitting appreciation of the richness of the signs and gestures, fosters and promotes the growth of Eucharistic faith. In the Eucharistic celebration we do not invent something, but we enter into a reality that precedes us, more than that, which embraces heaven and earth and, hence, also the past, the future and the present.

This universal openness, this encounter with all the sons and daughters of God is the grandeur of the Eucharist: we go to meet the reality of God present in the body and blood of the Risen One among us. Hence, the liturgical prescriptions dictated by the Church are not external things, but express concretely this reality of the revelation of the body and blood of Christ and thus the prayer reveals the faith according to the ancient principle "lex orandi - lex credendi." And because of this we can say "the best catechesis on the Eucharist is the Eucharist itself well celebrated" (Benedict XVI, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation "Sacramentum Caritatis," No. 64).

It is necessary that in the liturgy the transcendent dimension emerge with clarity, that of the mystery, of the encounter with the Divine, which also illumines and elevates the "horizontal," that is the bond of communion and of solidarity that exists between all those who belong to the Church. In fact, when the latter prevails, the beauty, profundity and importance of the mystery celebrated is fully understood. Dear brothers in the priesthood, to you the bishop has entrusted, on the day of your priestly Ordination, the task to preside over the Eucharist. Always have at heart the exercise of this mission: celebrate the divine mysteries with intense interior participation, so that the men and women of our City can be sanctified, put into contact with God, absolute truth and eternal love.

Benedict XVI
Address to the Ecclesial Convention of the Diocese of Rome
June 15, 2010

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Always have at heart the exercise of this mission: celebrate the divine mysteries with intense interior participation, so that the men and women of our City can be sanctified, put into contact with God, absolute truth and eternal love." I can say, from personal experience, that a reverent consecration and celebration of the Mass has the power to transform hearts. It did mine. And my faith took on a whole new dimension. God bless our priests, whom are entrusted with this amazing reality of bringing Christ to us through the Eucharist.

Anonymous said...

"It is necessary that in the liturgy the transcendent dimension emerge with clarity, that of the mystery, of the encounter with the Divine.."

Between your words and those of our Holy Father, it couldn't have been said better!

Sages, gurus, various mystics have and still atttempt to have a transcendental encounter with the divine. Many spend their entire lifetime attempting it and teaching others how to achieve it. Yet, none of that is necessary; it is available for all in the Eucharistic celebration.
That the God of the universe came through time and space and entered into humanity and put an end once and for all to all the human searching and longing for an encounter with the Divine is such an unimaginable gift!
The way He established to continue this event onward in an unbroken continuity, until He says the end has come, by instituting the ministerial priesthood is the greatest gift for humanity and hugest responsibilty for priests.

Fully grasping the mystical reality of what occurs at each Mass is also a generous gift to those who are open to receive this understanding.
I pray that every priest takes to heart the words of our Holy Father and that every hearer, believer and unbeliever, listens with an open heart soas to receive this gift of gifts of understanding. Oh, the virtue of receiving...

Once a person 'gets it', what more do you want in life?

"Always have at heart the exercise of this mission: celebrate the divine mysteries with intense interior participation, so that the men and women of our City can be sanctified, put into contact with God, absolute truth and eternal love"

So if the Pope calls upon the priests of Rome to celebrate the mysteries with intense internal participation so as to sanctify others, could the laity conclude that they should also celebrate these mysteries, in their role, with intense internal participation so as to sanctify others in their 'cities' i.e. their spheres of influence? Is this an example of the common priesthood?

Templar said...

Amen anonymous. The modernists define "active participation" as hand holding and singing as a congregation, and lay ministers, etc.

True participation is focusing on the miralce taking place and entering fully and willingly into it. It requuires not a single word, sound or action. Modernists like to say the "old mass" was 500 people performing their own private devotions. Hogwash!! It was 500 people, some of whom no doubt we'ren't participating, but but most were entering into the sublime joy and beauty of that glimpse of heaven as the veil was pulled back on the altar, and they were doing so by being internally focused upon it.

Modernists don't get it. Too focused upon earthly things. Too "horizontal" in their outlook. Without some physical manifestation to represent it, they can not fee, see or experience it. Their Mass experience is limited to what others here on Earth can provide for them in the way of an experience and an assurance that this is a good thing. While those who have experinced FULLY what happens at Mass have heard the Angels of Heaven sing, and glimpsed the pure love of Heaven when the Eucharist is elevated.

Modernists are too focused on "us". We must make a joyful sound, whether with bongos, voices, guitars, puppets, or dancers. The concept of their soul being focused on Christ seems lost to them.