essay summary: living a eucharistic life2011/04/08 · essay summary: living a eucharistic life 3...

What We pray and What We Believe Shapes How We Live.

• Throughout the Church’s history, the underlying dynamic of the Eucharist has remained the same:ChristiansgathertocelebratetheEucharistandarethensentforthtolivewhattheyhavecelebrated.

• TheEucharisthasauniqueandcentralroleinthelifeoftheChurch.

• TheEucharistisamysterytobebelieved,celebratedandlived.

• TheEucharistisintegral toandintegrative ofthewholeChristianlife.

• The Eucharist is the central act of our salvation, and the means for our continuing personal andcommunalsanctification.

• ThecelebrationoftheEucharistonSundayisthecentralsacramentalofthewholeChurch’slife.Totheoldadage,lex orandi, lex credendi(Whatweprayiswhatwebelieve)isaddedathirdphrase,lex vivendi(WhatweprayandbelieveisalsothelawofChristianliving).

• TheenactmentoftheEucharistleadstotheenactmentinhumanlifeoftheWordcelebratedandtheEucharisticsacrificeperpetuated.

Liturgy, Prayer and Spirituality

• Therelationshipandconnectionbetweenliturgy,prayerandspiritualitycanbeshowndiagrammaticallyasthreeconcentriccircles.Thecentralcirclewouldbeliturgy,withtheEucharistastheprimaryfocus.Thesecondcirclesurroundingthefirstwouldbeprayer,andthethird,encompassingtheothertwo,wouldbespirituality.

• Theterm‘liturgy’includesalltheritesoftheChurch’spublicprayer,buttheEucharistisattheheartofliturgicalprayer.

• Liturgyisalwayssetwithinthecontextofotherkindsofprayingandlivingthespirituallife,butitisat

EssaySummary:

LivingaEucharisticLife

PreparedbyMissalReferenceGroupbasedontheessaybyTheRev.MonsignorKevinW.Irwin

©2010,InternationalCommitteeonEnglishintheLiturgy,Inc.Allrightsreserved.

Essay Summary: Living a Eucharistic Life

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thecentrebecauseitistheprivilegedanduniquemeansthroughwhichbelieverscanparticipateinChrist’sDeathandResurrection.Throughtheveryactoftheliturgy,wecelebrateourdyingandrisingthrough,withandinhim.

• TheChurchisthehomeofavarietyofwaysofprayingand‘schools’ofspirituality,butallofthefaithfulsharetheEucharistincommon.ItistheEucharistthatisanecessarypartoftheCatholic,Christianlife,sincewithouttheEucharistwecannotexistasCatholics.

• LiturgyisthepublicprayeroftheChurch,butitisnottheonlyformofpraying.OurrelationshipwithGod and each other is nurtured by various kinds of prayer (meditation, devotions, adoration, lectio divina[aprayerfulreadingoftheScriptures],forexample),butalwayswiththeliturgyatitscentre.

• Spirituality encompasses nothing less than the entirety of the Christian life lived in whatevercircumstanceswefindourselves.WelivetheChristianlifeintheworldastheGospel’switnesses.

• Liturgyandprayershapeandformustobewhoweareandwhatweareevercalledtobe:heraldsoftheGoodNews.

• Liturgydoesnottakeusawayfromotherprayer,nordoesittakeusawayfromtheworldinwhichweliveourspirituallives;liturgyisalwayssetwithinthecontextofthewidercommunityandinservicetothewiderworld.

• Spiritualityisawayofthinkingandactingintheworld,basedontheGospel.Italwaysincorporatesoneintothecommunal,ecclesialsearchforGod.ItisleadingthelifeofvirtueinharmonywiththeGospelandtheChurch’steachingsandpractices.

• A‘liturgical’spiritualityisonethatisshaped,nourished,fosteredanddeepenedbythecelebrationoftheliturgy.

The Constitution on the Liturgy– Principles about Spirituality Derived from the Liturgy

Liturgy and Life/Liturgy in Life

• ‘TheLiturgyisthesummittowardwhichtheactivityoftheChurchisdirected;atthesametimeitisthefountfromwhichalltheChurch’spowerflows’(SC,no.10).

Thatistosay,liturgyandmissionaretobeintegratedinsuchawaythattheyareseentobeparallelandcomplementaryaspectsofanintegratedChristianlifeinwhichtheliturgyiscentralandessential.

• ‘TheliturgydoesnotexhausttheentireactivityoftheChurch.Beforepeoplecancometotheliturgytheymustbecalledtofaithandtoconversion....Tobelievers,also,theChurchmusteverpreachfaithandpenance,preparethemforthesacraments,teachthemtoobserveallthatChristhascommanded(cf.Matthew28:20),andinvitethemtoalltheworksofcharity,worshipandtheapostolate...’(SC,no.9)

• WithintheLiturgyoftheWordboththebaptisedandcandidatesseekingentranceintotheCatholicChurcharecalledtoongoingconversiontoChristintheChurch.

• HearingtheWordproclaimedmovestheassemblytogobeyonditselfbynamingandprayingforthosewhoareoppressed,inneed,sick,dyingordeceasedinthePrayeroftheFaithful.TheseprayersremindtheEucharisticassemblyoftheuniversalityoftheChurchandthechallengetoengageincommunalself-transcendence.


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• IntheProcessionofGifts,foodstuffstobesharedwiththecommunity’spoormaybebroughtupwiththebreadandwine.AfterwehavesharedtheBodyandBloodoftheLordinCommunion,wearesentforthwithfoodforthepoor.

• Deacons,thesameoneswhoannouncethepetitionsofthePrayeroftheFaithful,arealsoresponsibleforthedistributionof foodtothepoor.Deaconscanandshouldserveasapermanentreminderoftheintrinsicrelationshipbetweenliturgyandtherestoflife,betweenservingGodintheprayeroftheliturgyandintheserviceofothersindailylife.

• Thecelebrationoftheliturgyservesasaritualreminderoftheadmonitiontopraythroughouttheday.

The Primacy of Liturgy and Other Kinds of Prayer

• ‘PopulardevotionsoftheChristianpeoplearetobehighlyendorsed,providedtheyaccordwiththelawsandnormsof theChurch. . . .devotionsshouldbeso fashionedthat theyharmonizewiththeliturgicalseasons,accordwiththesacredliturgy,areinsomewayderivedfromit,andleadthepeopletoit,since,infact,theliturgybyitsverynaturefarsurpassesanyofthem’.(SC,no.13)

Seven Theological Principles Underpinning the Revised Eucharistic Liturgy

1. Sacramentality

AllCatholicliturgypresumestheuseofandreflectiononthethings of the earth:

• InBaptismweusewater,theonlyelementwithoutwhichwecannotlive;

• IntheEucharistweusebreadandwine–theresultofhumanmanufacturefromthethingsofthisearth.Breadandwinesustainlifeandfestivity.ConsecratedbreadandwinesustainusinthelifeofChristgrantedinBaptism,alifewhichishope-andjoy-filled.

• WedonotshunorleavetheworldwhenweworshipGodinliturgy,rather,wereveretheearthanditsproduceandusethingsfromthisworldtoworshipGod.

• TheintersectionofthethingsofthisearthwiththethingsofGodisanessentialfoundationforourunderstandingofwhatitmeanstousethethingsofthisearthintheliturgy.

2. Word–Proclamationofthe Scripturesisfoundationaltoliturgy.

• OneofthechieffeaturesofallliturgicalritualsrevisedaftertheSecondVaticanCouncilisthateachofthemhasaLiturgyoftheWord,sinceourfaithhasitsrootsintherevealedWordofGod.

• TheeventsofoursalvationoccuramongusastheWordisproclaimed;intheWordproclaimed,Christcarriesontheworkofredemption.

• Lectio divina(aprayerfulreadingoftheScriptures)isthusveryimportant,becauseitpreparesusfortheproclamationoftheWordatMassandcontinuestodeepenwithinusthebiblicalliteracyandfamiliaritywhichtheliturgypresumes.

• BoththeproclamationoftheWordatMassandlectio divinahelptheScripturestobecomesecondnaturetousandbeourcompaniononthejourneyoflife.

• TheliturgicalyearoffersusalensthroughwhichtoreadtheScripturesandgivesusacontextforinterpretation.


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• TheResponsorialPsalmoffersthecommunitytheopportunitytorespondprayerfullytowhathasjustbeenproclaimed.

• KnowledgeoftheScripturesincludesknowledgeofthePsalter,whichhasalwaysbeenastapleofworshipinbothJudaismandChristianity.

• TousethePsalterinourdevotionalprayerchallengesustodeepertrustinGodaswellasencouragesuswhenourfaithisweakandwefeelverydistantfromGod.

3. Paschal Mystery–Allliturgyispaschal.

• TheliturgyistheChurch’sprivilegedmeanswherebybelieversparticipateinthePaschalMysteryofChrist.

• Toname‘ChristourLord’attheconclusionoftheChurch’sliturgicalprayers,therefore,istoinvoketheresurrectedChristasouruniquemediatorwithGod,whoneverceasestointercedeforusattherighthandoftheFather(cf.Rom8:34;Heb1:30).TheconclusionsoftheprayersacknowledgethatGodtheFatherchoseforhisSontoredeemusthroughhishumiliation,suffering,betrayal,dyingandultimaterisingandascendingtohisFather’srighthandinglory.Tospeakthephrase‘ChristourLord’istouseshorthandtocitehowChrist’sPassion,DeathandResurrectionuniteustotheFatherasthecommunityofthesaved,theredeemed.

• Themystery of faith(MemorialAcclamation)addedtotheEucharisticPrayersafterVaticanIIhelpsunderscorethepaschalcharacterofallliturgy:

WeproclaimyourDeath,OLord,andprofessyourResurrectionuntilyoucomeagain.

• The liturgy’s linking of death and resurrection, humiliation and glorification, betrayal andreconciliation, offers helpful models for personal prayer which might tend to emphasise oneaspectoftheseprofoundrealitiesinisolationorasdistinctfromeachother.Theresurrectionoffersusenduringhopeandatotallynewlife;itisthehopefullensthroughwhichweviewanddealwithourownweakness,sickness, terminal illness,humiliationsanddefeats inourdaily life.TheyaretransformedbyourparticipationinChrist’ssavingDeathandResurrection.

• ItispreciselyinthecelebrationoftheliturgythatthedyingandrisingofChristintersectswithourveryhumanlivesinneedofredemptionandsanctification.Nothingcouldbemoreconsolingthantorealisethatitisthroughthiscelebrationthatourdeathsanddefeatsinlifehavebeenovercome,andthatfromtheResurrectionofChristcomesourreallife.

• ThePaschalMysteryofChristisaccomplishedonceandforallandyetiscontinuallyappropriatedbytheChurchinthecelebrationoftheliturgy.

4. Trinity–AllliturgicalprayerisTrinitarian.

• TheChristianChurchnamesGodineveryliturgyas‘Father,SonandHolySpirit’. Inotherwords,therelationalaspectoftheTriuneGodisemphasisedaheadofanyfunctionalaspect(e.g.,‘creator’,‘redeemer’, ‘sanctifier’). Naming God in this relational way models the fact that we, as humanpersons,cananddohavearelationshipwithGod.

• TherecountingofGod’smightyandwonderfuldeedsforushasasitsaimtodrawusintothevery


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beingofthethreepersonedGod,theTrinity.

• TheEucharisticPrayersatMassbeginbyaddressingGodtheFather,andmanyalmostimmediatelyinvokeJesusasourmediatorwiththeFather.TheFinalDoxologyoftheEucharisticPrayeracclaimsthatitisthrough Christ (Through him, and with him, and in him…) in the unity of the Holy Spirit thattheChurchhasthepossibilityandprivilegeofaddressingandthankingGodtheFatherforallhismightydeedsofsalvationastheyareexperiencedanewattheEucharistitself.

• NamingtheTrinityasthreepersonsisacontinualreminderthatthetriuneGodisamysterytobeponderedandappropriated.Whiletheprivilegedplacetodothisisattheliturgy,itshouldalsobepartofotherkindsofprayer.

• Therichnessof‘Godlanguage’foundinliturgicaltextsmightwellencourageourpersonalprayertobesimilar,inordertosustaininourpersonalprayerthesamedynamicatworkintheliturgy.

5. Church–WeexperienceGodasacommunity of believers.

• 99%ofthepronounsthattheChurchusesinourliturgytonamewhoweareandourneedforGodareintheplural:‘we’,‘our’,and‘us’.

• Essentially,allliturgyisabouttheenactmentofthePaschalMysteryinandamongthe community that is the Church.Godinvitesandwerespond.

• Wewhoarenourishedat thealtarare tobemembersofacommunity thatassumes itsproperresponsibilitytoengageinmissionandactionoutsidetheEucharist.

• InEucharisticPrayerIIIweask:Be pleased to confirm in faith and charity your pilgrim Church on earth.Beforewearecalledfromthis lifetothenextwearethe imperfect, pilgrimChurchonearth.WewhoaretheChurchofChristonearthmuststrivetobecometheless imperfectChurchbybeingre-shapedandre-formedinGod’simageandlikenessthroughtheEucharistandotheractsoftheSacredLiturgy.

• Oneof themainpurposesof theEucharist is tobuilduptheChurch,butnocelebrationof theliturgyiseveronlyaboutitselforclosedinonitself.Itisalwaysaboutthewider,universalChurch,andtheChurchbeingthesacrament of salvationforthewholeworld.

• IneveryEucharisttherearetwoplacesinparticularwherethelocalassemblyprayswithandfortheuniversalChurch:

a) when the Pope and Bishop are named in the Eucharistic Prayer (not as individuals, but asshepherdsoftheuniversalChurchandthelocalChurch.)

b) in the Prayer of the Faithful (Universal Prayer), where the faithful exercise the office of theirbaptismalpriesthoodbyprayingforthesalvationofall.

• We,whoaretheBodyofChristonearth,celebratetheEucharisttoreceivetheBodyofChristinthisSacramentinorderthatwemightbethemoreperfectreflectionofGodastheChurchintheworld.

• Theuseofsuchphrasesaswe offer, we humbly pray, we ask you to accept and bless,showsthattheentiregatheredassemblyjoinsthePriestincelebratingtheliturgyandinofferingthisactofpraisetotheFather.Innowayistheassemblypassive.Infact,theliturgyisacelebrationofthanksandpraise by the baptismal priesthood and ordained priesthood for God’s gifts of redemption andsalvation.


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• The foundation on which the liturgy is based is the communal, covenantal relationship whichthe particular, gathered assembly enjoys with God and the entire Church (universal, diocesan,parochial).AsamemberoftheassemblyIamchallengednottoputmyselffirstandforemost,butthecommunitytowhichIbelong.

• AsChurch,wearealwayspartofsomethingbiggerthanweareasindividuals.Theverygatheringoftheassemblytocelebratebaptisms,weddings,funerals,anointingofthesickaswellasforMassisastatementofbelongingandrelationship.NooneisorcanbealoneintheChurch.

6. Thanks and Praise–Liturgyisaboutthanks and praise.

• ThedialoguebetweenPriestandpeopleatthebeginningoftheEucharisticPrayermakesexplicitwhattheEucharistis–anactofgivingthankstoGodforallhisdeedsofredemptionwhichextendtothepresentenactmentofthePaschalMysteryofChrist.

• IntheBibleandintheliturgy,to blessactuallymeansthatweacknowledgethatallwehaveandarecomesfromGod.

• With the Eucharistic Prayer the centre and summit of the entire celebration begins.The entirecongregationofthefaithfuljoinsitselftoChristinacknowledgingthegreatthingsGodhasdoneandinofferingthesacrifice.

• EucharistismuchmorethananameforMass.ItisthecoremeaningofwhatweengageinwhenwecelebratetheMass–aneventofthanksandpraise.

7. Petition–Weofferprayers of petitioninthecontextofofferingthanksandpraise.

• BecauseofourrelatednesstoGod, toeachotherandtheearth,wecanconfidentlyaskGodtograntwhatwelack.ThepatternoftheliturgyisthatweofferpraiseandthankstoGodforthegooddeedsofourredemptionandthen,inthatcontext,offerpetitionsforwhatweneed.

• InthePrayeroftheFaithful(UniversalPrayer)thegatheredassemblypraysnotonlyfortheneedsoftheChurch,butforthewholeworld,andespeciallythoseinneed.Wehavetheconfidencetodothisbecausewehavejusthadthe‘goodnews’ofGod’ssavingloveandmercyproclaimedintheLiturgyoftheWord.

• Petitionoughtnotbesodominantthatiteclipsestheofferingofthanksandpraise.ItisduringouractsofthanksandpraisethatweareremindedofwhoGodisandhowGodhasworkedamongusforoursalvationandsanctification.ThedeeplyfelthumanneedtoaskGodforwhatwelackisbestunderstood,then,asaresponsetoGod’sowninvitation.

• Theliturgyis‘epicletic’,thatis,itinvolvestheaction of the Holy Spirit.

• Intraditionalliturgicalunderstanding,‘epiclesis’meanstoinvoketheHolySpirit.InthecontextoftheEucharist,therearetwomomentsofepiclesis:

a)theSpirit iscalledupontotransformthegiftsofbreadandwineintotheBodyandBloodofChrist;

b)theSpiritisaskedtobringabouttheunityoftheChurch.

Challenges for Living a Eucharistic Life

Catechesis and Education about the Liturgy


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• Inorderthatliturgicalparticipationwillhaveitspropereffectinpeople’slives,educationaboutandfortheliturgyisessential.

• Liturgicaleducationmustgobeyondmereexternalsandritualperformance:theConstitutionontheSacredLiturgy(SC,no.16)asksthatliturgybetaughtunderits‘theological,historical,spiritual,pastoral,andcanonicalaspects’.LiturgyiscelebratedwithinthecontextofthewholeoftheChristianlifeandstudyofliturgyshouldreflectthiswidercontext.

• Thechiefmeansofbeingpersonallyandspirituallyformedisbyparticipationin‘thesacredmysteries...[whichare]thoroughlypermeatedbythespiritoftheliturgy’(SC,no.17).

• Pastorsaretopromotebothinternalandexternalparticipation.Inotherwords,participationreferstoboththeoutwardengagementofourbodiesandfaculties(sight,sound,smell,tasteandtouch)aswellastheinternalengagementofourminds.

Preparation for the Liturgy

What we bring to the liturgy

• Webringtotheliturgythecircumstancesofourhumanlives–boththejoysandsuccessesandthechallenges,defeatsandeventragedies.

• WebringtotheliturgytheentirelifeoftheChurch:WhatparticularprojectsistheChurchinvolvedinthatneedourprayerfulintercession?WhatinourChurchneedshealingorreconciling?Whatmissioncountriesneedourspecialprayerandintercession?

• Webringtotheliturgyournationandourworld.Whatissuesarebeingfacedintermsofpeace,equitabledistributionoftheworld’sgoods?Whatchallengesarewefacingwithregardtogoodstewardshipoftheearthanditsresources?

Preparation for the Proclamation of the Word

• Prayerfullyreviewingthetextsbeforehand(asmanytimesasnecessary)willallowforarichexperienceof the Word, even if there are some things that happen in the event of the liturgy that hindercomprehension.

• TheWordchallengesustoevaluateourlivesbeforeGodandinviteGodtoactamongusinnewways.TheChristianfaithissooftenaboutparadoxes(deathgivingwaytolife,sufferingleadingtoglory);thechallengeistowelcometheseparadoxesintoourlivesandtocelebratethem.

The Challenge of Table Fellowship Today

• The celebration of the Eucharist is an act of dining, but contemporary experience in much of theindustrialisedworlddoesnotprovideanadequatemodeloffamilialdining.Familiesnolongerdinetogetherasoftenastheyoncedid,andthefamiliarbondsforgedbytableconversationcannolongerbepresumed.

• TheEucharistisalwaysaboutdining,butitisalwaysaboutbeingattablewithothersatGod’sgraciousinvitation. It is always about both Word and altar, about gathering, presenting bread and wine,Communionanddismissing.Itisaboutblessedfoodanddrinktakeninrelationship,atasacredmeal,incommunionwithothers.

• Tablefellowshipimpliesfidelityandrelatedness.Tobreaktablefellowshipistobetrayarelationshipas


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strongasthoseformedbyfamilyandbloodrelations.

• TheactofcelebratingEucharististocelebratewithandforaChurchcommunitythatismuchwiderthanourcircleoffamilyandfriends.Itistobeunderstoodasanactthatbridgesideologicalboundariesandcrossculturaldivisions.ThecommunitythatcelebratestheEucharistislikeamosaicofstonesofdifferentshapesandsizesthattogethercompriseapieceofartofferedtothegloryofGod.

Mission to Live What We Celebrate

• ThesimpleConcludingRitesmakeexplicitwhatisimplicitandunderstood:thatwearesentforthfromtheEucharisttocontinuetolivewhatwehavecelebrated.Ineffect,wegatherforthesacredEucharistinordertobedismissedfromit.Tobesentforthisanintrinsicdynamicofthecelebrationoftheliturgy.

• Liturgycallsforchangesinourlivesandattitudesinlife.WegatheratGod’s initiative,weenactthesacredmysteriesathisinitiative,andaresentforthbyhimfromthegatheredassemblytocontinueourmissionintheworld.

• WhenweviewalloflifethroughthelensofthePaschalMystery,weareabletoevaluatewhatreallymattersandtoputawaywhatdetractsfromlivingreallife,basedontheGospel,inthefaithandlifeoftheChurch.

• ‘Worship pleasing to God can never be a purely private matter, without consequences for ourrelationshipswithothers:itdemandsapublicwitnesstoourfaith....ConsequentlyCatholicpoliticiansandlegislators,consciousoftheirgraveresponsibilitybeforesociety,mustfeelparticularlybound...tointroduceandsupportlawsinspiredbyvaluesgroundedinhumannature.ThereisanobjectiveconnectionherewiththeEucharist’.(PopeBenedictXVI,Sacramentum caritatis,no.83)

• ThecelebrationoftheEucharistisnotaboutgettingusoutoflifeforarespiteinordertobetouchedandgracedbyGod.Rather,itismoreabouthowthissacredactionhelpsustoexperiencethelivingGodinthisactandthentorediscoverthatsameGodindailylife.

• TheEucharististheChurch’sprivilegedmeansofdiscoveringGodinalloflife.ItisanintenseexperienceofGodincarnateamongus.

Eucharistic Sacrifice and Sacrificial Living

• TheEucharistisasacrificeandtakingpartintheEucharisticsacrificeis‘thefountandapexofthewholeChristian life’ (Lumen Gentium, no.11). Implied in this sacrificial understanding is a commitment toleadlivesinpersonalself-sacrificeandincommunalself-transcendenceasconsequencesofwhattheEucharistisanddoes.

• Christ’scommandtodo this in memory of mecanbeunderstoodasacalltoliveourlivesinsacrificialserviceasmuchasacalltocelebratetheEucharistforgenerationstocome.Inotherwords,theEucharistcallsustopresent your bodies as a living sacrifice(Romans12:1).

Conclusion

ThecelebrationoftheEveningMassoftheLord’sSupperonHolyThursdayhastwofeaturesthathighlightthespiritualityinherentineverycelebrationofEucharist:wewashfeetandwecollectgiftsforthepoor.Wecandononeofthisifweliveinisolation.WeneedtodoallofthisbecauseweliveincommunionwithoneanotherandwithGod.


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TheCollectforthatliturgysumsitallup:Wegather,OGod,forthemostsacredSupper,inwhichyourOnlyBegottenSon,whenhewasabouttohandhimselfovertodeath,entrustedtotheChurchforeverthenewsacrificeandthebanquetoflove;grantus,wepray,thatoutofsogreatamysterywemaydrawthefullnessofcharityandlife.

essay summary: living a eucharistic life2011/04/08 · essay summary: living a eucharistic life 3...

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