Reflections: Silence and Liturgy (Part 1 of
3)
The
reason the Church calls for silence, and a great deal of silence, during the
liturgy of the Mass. Silence amplifies
the reality of what we experience.
Silence is a proper response to a reality which words cannot express—in
the case of the Mass, to the reality of God’s presence.
We
are invited to silence several times during the Mass. We are first of all called to be silent
before Mass begins. We need that space
of time to recollect ourselves in order to enter into prayer. This is why there
should be no video presentations or even choir rehearsal during those five or
10 minutes before Mass begins.
We
are then called to silence as we recall and repent of our sins. We are called to silent reflection after each
Scriptural reading, and after the homily.
We are all called to silence after we have received Holy Communion. And we are invited, at the conclusion of
Mass, to kneel down for a silent prayer of Thanksgiving before departing for
the parking lot.
These
periods of silence are intended to bring reality into focus. At Mass we express to God our contrition, we
hear his word, and we receive his physical presence sacramentally. These realities go beyond our
comprehension. To hear and understand
the Word of God is an expression of his great love for us. To receive the body of Christ is the deepest
kind of communion with God. The silence
in the liturgy punctuates a rich and profound time of prayer with opportunities
to reflect on the reality of our experience.
The silence of the liturgy is a gift which helps us to understand the
greatest gifts we can receive.
….continued next week
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