Last week we shared with you the Liturgy Committee’s vision for the celebration of liturgy in the parish. This week we begin to explore the implications of this vision statement.
We believe that good liturgical celebrations foster and nourish faith. This faith will grow best when the worshipping assembly is fully, consciously and actively participating in the liturgical celebration.
“Faith grows when it is well expressed in celebration. Good celebrations foster and nourish faith. Poor celebrations may weaken or even destroy it.” This statement comes from the US Bishops’ Document, Music in Catholic Worship, released in 1972 (article 6).
The Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, says that “the liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; at the same time it is the fount from which all the Church’s power flows” (art. 10).
The liturgical celebration is a time to gather to become even more aware of, and committed to the action of the Holy Spirit in every part of our lives. Such a celebration demands our participation. Even if we come seemingly unable to participate, good liturgical celebrations allow us to rise above our feelings to share in the work of the community and to respond to God in prayer.
Quite simply, we need liturgy. We need good liturgy. Our Church believes that our very belief in God and in Christ depends on it. Surely a poor celebration would do very little to motivate anyone to “go in peace to love and serve the Lord.”
Liturgy 