From Rev. Cyril M. Robitaille re Liturgy.The recent articles about the Vatican halting halt·ing adj. 1. Hesitant or wavering: a halting voice. 2. Imperfect; defective: halting verse. 3. Limping; lame. Liturgical li·tur·gi·cal also li·tur·gic adj. 1. Of, relating to, or in accordance with liturgy: a book of liturgical forms. 2. Using or used in liturgy. abuses (June 2004), and Father John Mole's writing (March/April 2004) about the thinking of Cardinal Ratzinger have caused me to reflect once more on a thought I have long held dear. The words of the four main Eucharistic prayers--from the moment after the Sanctus till the Lord's Prayer--are addressed without interruption to God the Father (save the Memorial Acclamation In the Roman Catholic Church, the Memorial Acclamation (sometimes wrongly called the Mystery of Faith) is a part of the Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass recited by the congregation. ). If the celebrant is speaking to God the Father, why should he face the people? Ideally, after the Liturgy of the Word, when he is addressing the people, he should turn, place himself in their midst, facing them as the symbol of God's presence in their midst, and say, IN THEIR NAME, the words of the Eucharistic prayer. This also expresses the concept in Articles 875 and 876 of the New Catechism catechism (kăt`əkĭzəm) [Gr.,=oral instruction], originally oral instruction in religion, later written instruction. Catechisms are usually written in the form of questions and answers. . Then the interruption for the MEMORIAL ACCLAMATION would be well served by a gesture of turning to the people. And the GREAT AMEN Amen: see Amon. amen Expression of agreement or confirmation used in worship by Jews, Christians, and Muslims. The word derives from a Semitic root meaning “fixed” or “sure. would have meaning--indeed it would be the moment when the people in whose name the priest has spoken (he uses WE 22 times in the first Eucharistic prayer) now proclaim pro·claim tr.v. pro·claimed, pro·claim·ing, pro·claims 1. To announce officially and publicly; declare. See Synonyms at announce. 2. loudly their approval of what he has said and done in their name. When facing the people, their manner of saying the Great AMEN sometimes sounds like: "Thank God that's over." While in the active ministry I was often tempted to put a little table/altar in the middle of the centre aisle and finish Mass from there. The ideas of "presiding pre·side intr.v. pre·sid·ed, pre·sid·ing, pre·sides 1. To hold the position of authority; act as chairperson or president. 2. To possess or exercise authority or control. 3. " at the Eucharist and an elevated chair, thus also appear to be foreign. Yes, the entrance ceremonies, the Liturgy of the Word, and whatever blessings or enrollments come after the Gospel/homily need a director. But the Eucharistic prayer? Perhaps if there are many concelebrants; but we used to call him the Master of Ceremonies. No doubt the debate will long continue but, hopefully, with more attention to the meaning of the words used. Thornhill, ON |
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