Cosmos-Liturgy-Sex

In the last week, the issue of what is exactly meant by “active participation” in the liturgy, on the part of the laity has come up, so of course having a blog one must take the opportunity to vent.

I have been consulting with a rather large diocese that is trying to develop a catechetical certification program. As part of this consultation, they asked me to review several existing catechetical programs for applicability to their requirements. Several of these existing programs are offered on-line, so I have been observing some of the classes.

Unfortunately, these classes offer ample post material (which in part explains many of the problems we still experience in the liturgy) but I will stay on topic here. One class I have been monitoring on the Sacraments had a discussion going on this topic but it was not on the meaning of “active participation. ” Rather all the participants seemed to presuppose the answer and discussed how active participation could be increased among the parishioners.

I agreed with the general thought that more adult catechesis is needed but that is as far as my agreement went. In addition to the usual suspects (get more people involved being lectors, “Eucharistic ministers,” etc.) here were some gems.

• Open the Mass up to the congregation in order to let them share their thoughts and feelings
• Allow parishioners to choose during the Mass which songs they want to sing next (by voting I suppose?)
• Allow parishioners to have more influence about how the Mass is done so that they can feel that their opinions were being taken seriously, and of course
• Make sure that everyone is clear that the Mass comes not just under the authority of the clergy (your guess is as good as mine on this one)

There is a priest facilitating this class. I was hoping that he would correct this erroneous line of thinking and explain that active participation is an active intention to offer to the Father, the work of the “People,” in other words the work of the Church and our personal prayers, works, joys, and sufferings, joined to the Sacrifice of the Cross for the reparation of sins and the building up of the Church. In other words, I was hoping that he would explain that “active” means an involved and engaged attention to what is taking place during the Mass, its significance, and the part we are called to play in it, all within the context of the approved rubrics of the Mass.

Rather, what the class got was an affirmation of their ideas but the warning that such an approach might make some people angry.

Now this mistaken idea of active participation can also be found at otherwise, solid parishes as well. For example, at a parish in which I know the priest to be quite orthodox, during Catholic schools week the students were given the responsibilities for lectoring. Besides the fact that most times the students are not very good at being lectors, this again feeds the mistaken notion that to be actively “involved” one must do some extraordinary activity. If this were the case, then there would still be very little opportunity for all parishioners to be “actively involved” every week, which is not the case.

Add to this that in our worship, we must offer back to God the best we have. This ought to be the case, par excellence, in the Mass. Thus, the Mass must not be used (abused) as a “Toastmasters” venue or a way of making people feel more part of the Church. Preparing people to be good lectors must come outside of the Mass and they should be scheduled during Mass only at that point in time in which they are sufficiently prepared. As with the music, those who are truly gifted at lectoring, ought to be those whom we appoint as lectors. Making people feel more part of the Church, especially children, ought be done through other means, such as catechesis.

It is no wonder, that most of the laity has lost their sense of the Transcendent Mystery that is the Mass. With our tepid and banal music, and the lack of excellence that we have come to expect in our execution of the liturgy (not to mention that lack of respect we have for the rubrics), it is a wonder that we have as many Catholics come to Mass as we still do, since most do not have a clue about what they are celebrating.

Liturgical excellence is possible and when we understand what the Mass is, I do not understand how anyone can imagine offering anything less. While part of the answer is better seminary formation for our priests, better catechesis for our adults and children, I think a greater part of the answer is a change of heart for all of us as well.

By the way, if you haven’t been to their website yet, here is an excellent example of a parish that demands and delivers liturgical excellence: Our Lady of the Atonement.