Pastor's Spiritual Reflections

By Fr. Leo Schneider (07/22/2007)

Dear People of Holy Name,

Rumors and concerns are circulating these days that we are going back to the old Latin Mass. Relax! It isn’t so. In a letter from Pope Benedict the XVI that accompanied “motu proprio data” he clearly states that “the Missal published by Paul VI and then republished in two subsequent editions by John Paul II, obviously is and continues to be the normal Form –the Forma odinaria – of the Eucharistic Liturgy.” (Letter 7 July 2007)

The Pope later gives two reasons, one that the juridical norms of the Church make the mass, as we have it, the norm and also because the actual situation of our communities wouldn’t allow it, since we do not know the Latin language and are not familiar with the older rite.

In places where the Latin Mass is still celebrated, the Holy Father challenges them and states, “The total exclusion of the new rite would not in fact be consistent with the recognition of its value and holiness.” Clearly the liturgy as we know is the norm of our church and is valued as holy.

For me what is more important than which language is used at mass, is that the celebration of the Eucharist be a door to the sacred and that our ritual practices will, by the grace of God, bring us into union with the same Spirit that spoke and worked through the historical Jesus. This God we celebrate in Jesus is timeless, and it is this God we celebrate in our worship and seek in our prayer.

What makes the liturgy work, is that we come to it in the same spirit as Mary comes to the Lord in today’s gospel. That while we are gathered, we leave our other concerns behind and seek to sit at the feet of Jesus to hear his word and immerse ourselves in the presence of the holy. It is there we will receive the “better part.” It is precisely in God’s presence that we are healed, strengthened and transformed into living members of the Kingdom of God.

For me prayer is sitting at the feet of Jesus with mind, body and soul. It is in communion with him we receive what we need to live full and productive lives in God’s service. The liturgy helps us get there so that we can go fourth from our prayer to live the spirit of God. The liturgy isn’t a shelter from the world, but a retreat place of renewal and healing so that we can go forth to live in love and peace of Christ.

I’m happy that people were concerned about changes in our liturgy. It is a sign that what we do speaks to them and that it is an encounter with the holy. As we reaffirm the value of our liturgy, let us resolve to come to the liturgy each week in the spirit of Mary that entering into the presence of the Lord, our lives may be full of his wisdom and power, and that God’s joy may be ours.

May the Lord bless us in our liturgical prayer!

In Christ Peace, Fr. Leo