Grassroots Liturgist

Have you ever seen a baby, a few months old, in his mother’s arms at a social event?   Everyone gathers round to take a look and, inevitably, some will ask to hold the baby.   Maybe after just a few seconds, maybe having been passed on to a second or third cooing adult, the baby gets upset, agitated and distressed, and begins to cry loudly.   Finally, the baby is handed back and only then, in the arms of his mother, he calms down.   The baby looks up at his mother and is reassured; he feels safe….he is at peace. I have often seen this scene played out, and they came to mind several times this Eastertide, which ended last weekend with Evening Prayer on Pentecost Sunday. The first words that the Risen Jesus said when he appeared to the apostles on Easter Sunday were, “Peace be with you.” In the original Greek of the New Testament, the word used is ε ἰ ρήνη ( eiréné ), and it has connotations of peace of mind.   In the Hebrew, shalom , there are ideas of hea...

It is often said that Pentecost is the birthday of the Church.   But why is this? First, let us look at the purpose of the Church, if we may speak in those terms.   We can identify three reasons why the Church exists.   Each is distinct but intimately connected.   Each is clearly visible when the Church as a whole, or a local parish community, is healthy and balanced.   Each nurtures the other two and, together, they build up the Christian community.   They are: the exaltation of God, the edification of the saints, and the evangelisation of the world.   In other words: to praise God, to increase the holiness of its members, and to spread the Good News to others.   These three are the signs of a living, Spirit-led Church or parish community. Looking back on my youth, there seemed to be a culture of ‘franchising out’ our evangelical responsibilities.   We raised money for the missions, in much the same way that we raised money for chariti...

Do you remember when your parents first gave you your own key to the family home?   It was a significant occasion.   You were being given responsibility.   Even before that, if parents are away from the house for a period of time, they might give the house key to the eldest child, a symbol that that child is now in charge until they return; they are to take care of the property but, more importantly, take care of their younger siblings. So what did Jesus mean when he said to Simon Peter, “ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven ”?   We can certainly leave behind the cartoon imagery of Peter at the pearly gates, deciding whether to open them for you on the day of judgement.   Instead, Jesus is alluding to Isaiah 22.   In the kingdom of David, there was an office called ‘ al bayith ’ or leader ‘ over the house ’ of David.   The prophet Isaiah said of this office, “ I will place on his shoulder the key of the House of David. ”   ...

In our last reflection, we saw how Simon being renamed by Jesus, from Simon to Peter, was deeply rooted in the Old Testament and was highly significant: it indicated Peter’s role in God’s plan of salvation. We are all familiar with the name Peter meaning rock, indicating a solid foundation on which Jesus’ Church would be built.   But what is this Church?   In English, the word church can mean several things.   But the Greek word used here in the Gospel was ekklesia (or ecclesia) and specifically referred to a group of people who have been called out of the world and to God – an assembly or congregation.   So here, church doesn’t mean building or even the ‘institution’, but the gathered, assembled people of God.   Again, there are echoes of the Old Testament when the Assembly of Israel would be called out from their homes to gather in the Temple and worship the Lord.   We cannot over emphasise the importance of the temple to the Jewish people.   ...

We are in an unusual period of time.   Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has died but our next Pope has not yet been presented to us.   Perhaps this is an opportune time to reflect on the papacy.   After all, the authority of the Bishop of Rome is a significant reason why we are separated from our brothers and sisters of other Christian denominations. The Peter that we read about in the gospels is not a simple, one-dimensional figure. He is presented as something of a hot head, prone to speaking before thinking or before seeing the whole picture, of making grandiose promises that he does not fulfil, and yet God blessed Simon Peter with remarkable insight when he, alone of all the apostles, stated “ You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God .” (Matt 16: 16)   Jesus replied, “ Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.   And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build...

Following the death of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, on Easter Monday this week, there have been many stories and anecdotes about his life and deep faith cropping up in the news, on the internet, etc.   A repeated theme that I have noticed is how strongly his faith was rooted in his life of prayer, and how important the various sacred liturgies of the Church were in nurturing his faith.   Again we come back to the importance of full, conscious and active participation.   It is so easy for us weak, fallen mortals, to say or read the prayers or the Bible without really absorbing into our innermost being what it is that we are saying or reading. I have often noticed, however, that truly holy men and women naturally, without thought, make reference to the Bible, Psalms, or other prayers and readings when talking about or explaining the Christian faith.   I have seen it often in monks, nuns and other religious.   But also lay people. And one story that I read ...

When I was a boy, my mother wouldn’t allowed me to play with the other children on our street on two days of the year.   I knew that these days were important – after all, they had names: Good Friday and Holy Saturday.   I suspect that this was a cultural hand-me-down from her Irish Catholic heritage.   So often, these cultural traditions are rooted in good theory but, after some time, they become an unquestioned expectation of social norms. As such, I never received an explanation other than, “It’s Good Friday/Holy Saturday,” which, to my young mind, seemed a weak justification for curtailing my play time.   I do wish that she had been able to offer a fuller explanation because now, in the greying years of my life, I believe that she was on to something. It comes down to our attitude to the liturgical manifestations of our Faith. One of the oft-repeated phrases to come out of Vatican II is that we, the laity, should have a full, active and conscious partic...

Time disappears when someone we love is dying.   Day cedes to night without much notice.   Activities we have promised to do we discard instead, like the sweater we doff on a slowly warming afternoon.   Routines we never break cease.   Something else has taken our attention, is sitting in our brain, has bound our legs and lowered our head.   Nothing else is important but this person who gave meaning to our life and whose threatened passing wicks away the confidence that hitherto steadied our days.   Yet no death completely surprises, and each one bestows a deeper understanding of the meaning of life. Holy Week invites the entire Church into the emotional experience of loss, fear, and redemption.   We remember the One who died for us.   We accompany his waning days, attentive to his final words and actions, discovering anew our love for one who is lost – and the joy of one who returns. The risen Christ abides in the hearts of believers born gen...

For some of you reading this reflection, especially if you live in and around the tropics, a little context may be needed.   Our parish is in the north of England.   In winters we have very short daylight hours – sunrise ~8:20am and sunset around 3:50pm.   Conversely, our summer daylight hours are long – sunrise ~4:38am and sunset ~9:40pm.   So the start of our Easter Vigil can vary greatly depending on how late or early Easter falls.   Some of you will have noticed that the Easter Vigil this year starts a little later.   Why is this? Easter is a moveable feast.   If you want the technical bit, it occurs on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox. Yes, I also had to read that twice!! That by itself, however, does not tell us why our Easter Vigil starts a little later. The Church teaches very strongly that it should be held ONLY during the hours of darkness: “ The entire celebration of the Easter Vigil takes pla...

  “ But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel .” (Lk 24:21) These are the words of the two disciples making their way from Jerusalem to Emmaus.   Their hearts were bereft and their minds clouded in confusion because of what had happened over the last few days. Let’s try to understand and enter their desolation. Jesus had been preaching and teaching for maybe three years.   But in that time, a great multitude had become his followers – his disciples.   They left their homes, the security of all they knew, to follow him – to sit at his feet and listen to his words. Ask yourself whether there is there anyone that you would do that for? And why it was that they did?   We get an idea from the Gospels… “ And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes .” (Mt 7:28-29 & Mk 1:22) It was no earthly authority that Jesus had – that’s...

Today we celebrate the 4th Sunday of Lent, also known as Laetare Sunday.   This term comes from the first word of the Entrance Antiphon for Holy Mass on this day: “ Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who love her.   Be joyful, all who were in mourning; exalt and be satisfied at her consoling breast .” This antiphon is based on Isaiah 66:10-11, part of the last chapter of Isaiah.   The people are called to rejoice with Jerusalem, a city that suffered afflictions and troubles and was destroyed, but was now being rebuilt with God’s help, and there will be plenty for everyone.   Jerusalem’s destruction was a cause for mourning, but those who have mourned her demise need mourn no more. But it wasn’t only the fabric of the city that was to be restored, for that would be meaningless; God’s nation, the people whom he loves, would also be restored. These words of prophecy speak to us today, as we enter the final days of our Lenten pilgrimage.   They foretell the great Pas...

What does it mean to be Christian? There is a temptation to think of our Christian faith as a set of teachings.   But Pope Benedict XVI reminded us that “ Christianity is not an intellectual system, a collection of dogmas, or moralism.   Christianity is instead an encounter, a love story; it is an event. ” In 19 th Century France, an old peasant would enter the church and sit silently each morning before going to work, and return to do the same before going home.   One day, Fr John Vianney, asked the man what he said to the Lord during his visits.   “I say nothing,” replied the man, “I look at him and he looks at me.” Prayer, the divine encounter, can be as simple as that.   We don’t need to make it overly complicated.   A friend of mine always starts communal prayer by saying, “Let us be aware that we are in the most holy presence of God.”   God is always beside us and simply being aware of that is prayer.   In our last reflection we...

The Collect, the prayer at the end of the Introductory Rites of the Mass, can communicate to us so much that is important.   They are instructive.   Catechetical. The Collect last Sunday, for example, was, “ Grant, Almighty God, through the yearly observance of holy Lent, that we may grow in understanding of the riches hidden in Christ and by worthy conduct pursue their effects. ”   We said “ Amen ” to that.   And because of our “ Amen ”, our “ So be it ”, we committed ourselves to enter the holy season of Lent and to live it fittingly – in fasting, prayer, and the giving of alms. I have changed the usual order of those three for a reason… When I was a child – and, I’m afraid, for some time after – I rather went through the motions when I ‘gave up something for Lent’.   It was a goal to be achieved, a target to be met.   I lacked the spiritual understanding that’s so important, and which illustrates why fasting, prayer and almsgiving are so closely al...

I am aware that, for some reason, the hosts of my liturgical blog are posting a "Sensitive Content" warning. I have no idea why this is so - as you will know, there is nothing in my blog that deserves such a warning. I have received no reply to my communications of concern and, if it is not sorted soon, I may look for an alternative doomain to host my blog.

There is a story of a little boy who received lots of chocolates at Christmas.   How he wanted to fill his face with those chocolates immediately!   But his mother said, “I am making a delicious Christmas meal for us and for Grandma and Granddad and, if you eat your chocolates now, you won't be able to eat this lovely meal.” Of course, the boy was unable to resist.   He ate so much chocolate that not only was he full but he began to feel sick.   Mum was true to her word, and there was lots of delicious food on the table.   Everyone had a wonderful time eating, drinking and laughing.   Except the little boy who sat there feeling sorry for himself, staring at what he was missing out on. There was no room in his tummy. We fallen creatures are not very good at controlling our desires or even knowing what is best for us.   We seek satisfaction, to be filled.   But we fill our lives with so much that is fleeting – the sensory pleasures like food...

In Lent, there are echoes from significant past events.   One of those is the Jewish people being led through the wilderness towards the land that God had promised them.   Despite some hiccups, they trusted God and allowed him to lead them. Their journey was not just a trek with a destination, but a pilgrimage – a journey of transformation; they were being made fit for the Promised Land.   Any pilgrimage that does not lead to a transformation of the person making it is, in the end, no more than a long walk. And Lent is very much a pilgrimage.   In his recent Message for Lent 2025 , Pope Francis asks us to reflect, “ Am I really on a journey, or am I standing still, not moving, either immobilized by fear and hopelessness or reluctant to move out of my comfort zone?   Am I seeking ways to leave behind the occasions of sin and situations that degrade my dignity? ” Pope Francis also reminds us that we do not make this pilgrimage alone, but in fellowship, as di...

“ …the dismissal of the people by the deacon or the priest, so that each may go out to do good works, praising and blessing God. ” (GIRM 90c) The Dismissal is very much one of us being sent and not a mere casual departure.   In the same way that we are called to be consciously and actively engaged with the celebration of Holy Mass, so are we called to be consciously and actively involved in sharing in the sacrifice, the self-giving, of Jesus Christ in our everyday life; offering up our lives to God in everything – yes, everything that we do. In the Penitential Act, we acknowledge that we have not always been true ambassadors for the Kingdom of God; as we go out into the world from Mass, we resolve to be better signs of the Kingdom this time. An athlete takes on good nourishment so that he/she can win the race, and in holy Mass we have been nourished by Word and Sacrament so that we have the strength to “ Fight the good fight of the faith and win the eternal life to which you...

I have been tossing ideas around my head about how we can improve our Paschal Triduum liturgies since last year's were actually happening.  But we have been pitched a curve ball in that we have lost our organists for Maundy Thursday and the Easter Vigil.  So, much more thought will be required. Our parish planning meeting for Lent and Easter took place in January.  Last year, we introduced sung Evening Prayer for the Sundays of Lent up to Easter Sunday, which completed the Triduum.  This year, we will continue with this through the Easter Season until pentecost, so I will have the composing of Antiphons and the production of booklets to add to my list. Easter is very late this year, only five days shy of being as late as it can be.  Therefore, since we are obliged not to start the Easter Vigil until the hours of darkness, I fear that our numers will be down.  I find this a shame; it is THE most important celebration of the Christian calendar, but it hasn't ...

What, I wonder, are your thoughts when you hear the words of the Dismissal at the end of our celebration of holy Mass?   I am not sure that I even dare articulate some possibilities!! There are four options for the Dismissal that the priest or deacon may use.   The first is, “Go forth, the Mass is ended.”   The word ‘forth’ here is important; this is not the cry of a weary landlord, pleading with his customers to ‘Go! Go anywhere, but just get out!’   The use of ‘forth’ turns ‘go’ into something intentional, something purposeful. The next two options were explicitly added to the Missal by Pope Benedict XVI after the Synod on ‘The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church.’   They were added so that the connection between liturgy and daily life would be more evident – they give us a greater insight into the meaning and purpose of the Dismissal:   “Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord,” or “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.” ...

“There follows the Rite of Peace, by which the Church entreats peace and unity for herself and for the whole human family, and the faithful express to each other their ecclesial communion and mutual charity before communicating in the Sacrament.” (CCC 82) What do you make of the Sign of Peace?   What are your feelings when you exchange the Sign of Peace during mass?   What is going on in your heart and in your mind?   Is it just a little light relief from the drama of the Mass unfolding before you?   A chance to greet others or to catch the eye of someone that you haven’t seen for a while? The early Christians exchanged peace during their celebration of the Eucharist, but the practice fell out of use until after the Second Vatican Council. Let’s explore a little what is behind this ancient symbolic act in the holy Mass. Christian peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but rather the unity of spirit and of and purpose under God.   A unity of love f...