Current Mass Encourages Active Participation
The Latin Mass (really the Tridentine Mass since we may celebrate the new ritual in any language) with its beautiful Gregorian chants was definitely inspiring. The Tridentine Mass shaped the faith of our people since the 1500’s. However, there were some things that it did not encourage and even discouraged. The Latin Mass discouraged the people from any active participation. Unless we were Mass servers or in the choir, we were mainly spectators.
The Church also discouraged Catholics from taking the Scripture readings seriously. Many of us remember the Church’s teaching that we had to be present by the Offertory without committing mortal sin and could leave after the Priest’s communion. Hearing God’s Word was not encouraged. This was a consequence of the Protestant Reformation (1517) who over-emphasized God’s Word, lessening the importance of Christ’s Body and Blood. The Catholic Church counteracted this by over-emphasizing the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist and de-emphasizing His presence in the Word. We lost sight of the ancient truth “When God’s Word is proclaimed, especially the Gospel, the risen Christ speaks to us.” Vatican II teaches “God’s Word is to be venerated as much as Christ’s presence in the Blessed Sacrament.” We could also leave after the priest’s communion because many people did not receive communion without first going to confession. We see traces of this when people leave immediately after receiving communion without spending any time in prayer.
Vatican II teaches that worship now involves the active participation of every person present. Everyone is to join in the Mass through singing and praying. This active participation is encouraged for two reasons. First, our participation is also part of the nourishment Christ gives us. The participation of everyone should have a positive effect upon the faith of the entire community. We are not there just for ourselves, but to strengthen the faith of each other through our worship of God. Second, our external participation moves us to unite ourselves with Christ offering ourselves to God in the Mass and our daily living.
In my experience, it seems that this “job retraining” has not yet taken root in many parishioners who neither sing, nor recite the Creed, nor even respond to the priest’s prayers (although everything is now in English). Even something as simple as “Amen” (meaning “I want what you prayed for”) is hardly audible! We must move from the former mindset of being passive spectators to the new understanding of the importance of our active participation as a blessing for everyone. We are never present at Mass just for ourselves.
Some people say, “I don’t get anything out of Mass,” which may justify their missing Sunday mass. This is an inappropriate way to approach Mass! The danger is that our even our prayer can be very self-centered. It’s all about “me!” The Mass opposes “me alone” because we recall Christ’s self-sacrifice on the Cross for all people.
We must approach our participation in Mass as worship truly worthy of God. Doing so strengthens the faith of God’s people. If everyone approached Mass with an awareness of the importance of our contribution to worship, everyone would leave renewed. The “success” of the Mass does not depend solely on the homily, the choir and cantor, or the way the priest presides (although these are important). The “success” of the Mass depends upon everyone’s participation. Let us ask ourselves “Is the faith of the people with whom I am worshipping strengthened by my participation? If not, then what do I need to do about it?” Only each person can make the decision to move from being passive spectators to active participants in worshiping God, who deserves worthy praise.
Father Sauer continues his series on the Mass in the Feb. 19 issue.
