Liturgical catechesis AND THE S ACRAMENTARY Linda L. Gaupin, CDP

There was terrible confusion everywhere. If A different kind of confusion is making its way somebody did not like a devotion or prayer, he among the faithful in the wake of the recent simply called it “unliturgical”. Others, on the publication of the new General Instruction of the contrary, used the word liturgical for name- (GIRM), and it is true that history calling. A person who was just queer or “arty” tends to repeat itself. Many of us experienced the or somehow different in his views was given following example of catechesis on the GIRM: the stamp: he is a liturgist. You could hardly Father came out before , announced that Rome say anything worse of him under the law of had made more changes in the Mass and then Christian charity. Being liturgical smacked not proceeded to read a list: only of heresy, stubbornness and a hankering for novelty it was almost a moral blemish. We will now bow in the Creed at the words (Orate Fratres [Collegeville, MN: The “by the power of the Holy Spirit he was Liturgical Press, 1939], 152.) born of the Virgin Mary, and became man” We will now stand at the words If you think this was written to describe the “Pray, brothers and sisters, that our current state of liturgy in the United States, you sacrifice may be acceptable” couldn’t be more wrong. This was written in 1939 Everyone should bow their heads by one of the early pioneers of the liturgical before receiving movement to describe the state of affairs of the early The priest will no longer leave the heroic days of the liturgical revival. sanctuary during the sign of peace One could say people experienced a similar End of catechesis. confusion when the changes in the Mass were implemented following the . A Currently we await an approved English common evaluation of this time notes there was a lack translation of the . Will our catechesis of an appropriate catechesis on “why” the changes in be limited to merely instructing the faithful on the the Mass occurred. One person summed up the new translations for our responses or familiar catechesis in her parish by saying, “Father simply prayers at Mass, or will we seize the moment and announced that the church said we should do it provide liturgical formation that truly leads people whether we like it or not.” For the Catholic in to grasp more deeply the power of the liturgy to the pew, the liturgical reforms were experienced when transform all believers in the paschal mystery? changes in the Mass occurred, like the transition to Catechesis for the revised Sacramentary needs to praying in the or having the priest face the inform, but it also needs to change people’s lives and people during Mass. Many Catholics embraced the deepen their eucharistic spirituality; it be changes while others found them hard to accept. The conversion catechesis. Two examples of this can be alterations were so sweeping that we sometimes seen in how we address the Introductory Rites of the became lost in them, losing sight of the fact that the Mass and the eucharistic prayer. real significance of the liturgical reform was not praying in English or exchanging a sign of peace but, INTRODUCTORY RITES OF THE MASS rather, the sanctification and transformation of people. The GIRM explains that the purpose of these rites The Constitution on the Sacred liturgy (CSL) states: “is to ensure that the faithful who come together as From the liturgy, therefore, particularly the one establish communion and dispose themselves to eucharist, grace is poured forth upon us from listen properly to God’s word and to celebrate the a fountain; the liturgy is the source for Eucharist worthily” (GIRM, #46; emphasis added). achieving in the most effective way possible Yet how often are these rites still perceived on the human sanctification and God’s glorification, part of many as unimportant or merely something the end to which all the Church’s other we do until the late comers arrive? Do the faithful activities are directed. (CSL, #10) see this as truly sacred time?

12 • Easter Triduum • Easter 2005 Today’s LITURGY Catechesis should enable the faithful still perceive this prayer as the private remember Christ’s death and to understand that through our prayer of the priest? How often do resurrection, who unite ourselves with participation in the actions of the people’s eyes glaze over it or only come both the living and the dead, and who Introductory Rites, something significant alert during acclamations? How well is affirm our belief in all that has been happens. We actually take on the form of the prayer proclaimed Sunday after prayed through our “Amen.” This great a community; we become the body of Sunday and, even more importantly, how prayer of praise and thanksgiving, Christ. And when we gather, Christ is many would miss this prayer if they present in our midst. Through these received Communion during a prayed in our name by the priest, not actions, we realize the words of Jesus: celebration in the absence of a priest? only transforms us but also directs the “For where two or three are gathered Richard McCarron aptly describes way we live. Catechesis for the together in my name, there am I in the the need for catechesis on the eucharistic eucharistic prayer opens our eyes to see midst of them.” The Introduction to the prayer when he states: what it means to be and pray as a (IOM), drawing from But many still know liturgical eucharistic people. various sources when doing so, says this assemblies that are but shadows of These are but two examples of the is the “first image that the Church gives who they are called to be and liturgical catechesis on the Mass that are of herself” (#66). celebrations that are slivers of needed if the true spirit of the liturgical How well has the formative power of what they could be. Many stand at the Introductory Rites taken hold of our reform is to take hold in people’s lives. the brink of the valley and behold lives? Do our communities still suffer There are many others. Just imagine dry bones. And when we come to from virulent individualism, or have they how conversion catechesis can address the eucharistic prayer, named the truly taken on that collective identity and the wonder of God speaking to his central prayer of the Sunday responsibility to which the liturgy calls people (GIRM, #55), our participation in liturgy, we behold dry bones us? Do we delight in the presence of indeed. The question is put forth: the social mission of the church (GIRM, young and old, rich and poor, the music Can these dry bones live? (The #73); or the implications of our and language of other cultures at the Eucharistic Prayer at Sunday expression of mutual love and celebration of the Eucharist? Do we see Mass [Chicago, IL: Liturgy reconciliation with one another (IOM, diversity in the assembly not as an Training Publications, 1997], 1.) obstacle but as a gift to be treasured and #125), to name but a few. celebrated? Do we really long to gather Catechesis for the eucharistic prayer The of a new Sacramentary together every Sunday? should make our “dry bones come provides us with a natural opportunity to Catechesis for the Introductory Rites alive.” It is appropriate that catechesis deepen the eucharistic spirituality of the needs to go beyond an explanation of address the approved eucharistic prayers faithful, but it is not enough to simply structure or what words we will use to for use in the United States, their bring people up to date on the new respond to the greeting “The Lord be historical roots and evolution, and even changes; an authentic liturgical with you.” A true conversion catechesis is the approved postures for the prayer catechesis demands a transformation in ultimately about how we transcend used in the United States, but our consciousness or, as the IOM states, a individualism and take on the identity of catechesis fails if it does not take us the to become a beyond these points. formation “unlike any other educational community, a holy people, who Through this prayer, the gifts of endeavor” (Introduction, xv). understand the true meaning of public bread and wine are transformed into the worship and who are transformed to live body and . At the same © 2005 Oregon Catholic Press. All rights reserved. this through “charity toward brothers and time, this prayer manifests who we are sisters who participate with them…in the as a church. Sunday after Sunday we Divine Providence Sister Linda L. Gaupin was same celebration” (GIRM, #95). assent to be a people who lift up our the associate director of the Secretariat for the Liturgy of the United States Conference of THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER hearts to the Lord, who give thanks for all the great things God has done for us Catholic Bishops (BCL) from 1991 to 1994 and is The GIRM describes the eucharistic in salvation, who sing praise to God with director of religious education for the Diocese of prayer as “the center and summit of the the angels, who ask God to send down Orlando, Florida. She holds a PhD in religious entire celebration” (#78). This is drawn the power of the Holy Spirit to transform studies from the Catholic University of America. verbatim from the previous edition of the the gifts of bread and wine and This article can be found on the OCP Web site and GIRM. In reality, however, catechesis on ourselves, who obey the command to easily downloaded into a parish newsletter or bulletin. this prayer has been weak. How many “do this in memory of me,” who www.ocp.org/en/products/books/12583.php

Today’s LITURGY Lent • Easter Triduum • Easter 2005 13