Grassroots Liturgist

My children's Godmother was born and raised in the Caribbean.   On several occasions, she has commented on what she sees as the lack of joy in a great many Catholic parishes in this country, and contrasts this with the abundant joy in the parishes back home. The Dowager Lady Grantham dismissed this English characteristic as being merely a consequence of our climate, and we in Glossop know a lot about such weather.   But as I reflect, I think it goes much deeper than that. My recollection of my own Catholic upbringing could be summed up by the word conformity .   We were expected to conform, to do certain things – go to Holy Mass, say our prayers, give money to charity, etc.   And there is little joy to be had in conformity. When I am confronted by parishes or Catholic societies and organisations that are evidently joyful, I notice one common element: hope. By hope, I do not mean mere wishful thinking.   But a hope that stems from a vibrant, living...

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...