How we can receive more from the Mass - 18 (Universal Prayer/Prayer of the Faithful)

If we stop to think about it, there is a wonderful, organic flow to the celebration of Holy Mass that is in harmony with the needs of our fallen human nature.

We gather in song, a sign and celebration of our unity as members of the Church.  We then acknowledge to ourselves, to each other and to God, our failings and our need of him.  Then, liberated by his loving mercy, we may truly and joyously sing his praise in the Gloria.  Having done so, we are more able to open our ears, our minds and our hearts to listen to and absorb, to assimilate his life-giving Word to us; that his Word may written on our hearts, and not remain mere external instruction.  And, fed and nourished by his Word, we can confidently state our shared faith in the words of the Creed.

Then, having expressed our baptismal faith, we exercise our baptismal priesthood – yes, all the baptised share in Christ’s priestly ministry – by offering up to God our intentions and petitions for the Church and for the world.  This Prayer of the Faithful provides a space for us to come together as one.  And our role in these is very much active, not passive.

After each intention, there follows a period of silence.  This silence is not merely a waiting to say something, but is filled with our own personal prayer for that intention.  Then, as one, we draw these prayers together by saying, “Lord, graciously hear us,” or something similar.

Notice that the naming of the intention by the deacon, priest or reader is not prayer of itself - it is not addressed to God; rather, the intention invites us to pray, which we do in the silence of our hearts.  And by actively participating in these prayers, we feel a sense of belonging and connection to the larger faith community.

So, the rite of Holy Mass do provide a ritual, a structure, that meets the needs of our fallen nature.  The angels and the saints in heaven have no need of the structures that we have in the Mass; their nature isn’t fallen like ours – they forever bathe in the most holy presence of God with no barriers caused by sin to hinder them.  And we hope, one day, to share in that perpetual light.  But here on earth, through the celebration of Holy Mass, heaven and earth meet.  And we are enabled to glimpse something of that eternal banquet.

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