Back in August I joined a local church conference for the first time! And boy did I learn a lot! ❤️ Never knew such events are important to attend until I went to one.
So here's a breakdown of my notes and such on the first talk. I only took note of those that I think are important and/or I can relate to. I will be posting the other two one after the other. 😁
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All about LITURGICAL SPIRITUALITY
I'll just give it in bullet points. These are directly from the presentation slides or from what the speaker Rev. Fr. Angelo Legal, OSB said.
Rev. Fr. Angelo Legal, OSB, giving the talk.
The speaker actually decided to combine liturgy and spirituality into one topic as you can see in his first presentation slide above.
Liturgy = worship
We're all called to be holy.
We can become a saint in our own way (via Church activities, etc.). The intention is to show holiness in every walk of life.
Spirituality consists of full and faithful performance of the duties demanded by one's station in life at home or at work.
Holiness is linked to the office of shepherding, as we all have priestly duties as a Christian. The more profoundly we are aware of our identity as ministers
6 Elements of Liturgical Spirituality (The Mass)
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1. Liturgy: Summit and Fount
Every time the priest speaks (during mass) it is Christ who speaks. Every time priests listen to confession, it is Christ who listens to us. (In persona Christi)
All spirituality is liturgical. It is on this that the different types of spirituality are based.
Examples: Benedictines: prayer and work, Dominicans: rosary and meditation, Franciscans: spirit of poverty, Jesuits: Everything for God's glory, Augustinians: sense of sacrifice, Carmelites: in darkness there is life in Christ, Salesian is for the youth.The liturgy is the source and summit of the Church's activity because it is the presence of Christ's saving mystery in ritual form.
Christ's saving work is available to us in the liturgy of the Church where we experience spiritual rebirth, etc.
Holiness includes participation in the liturgical actions of the Church.
2. The Here and Now of Liturgical Spirituality
Liturgical spirituality requires us to give full attention to the words we recite or listen to and to the ritual actions we perform. (Mind and heart work hand in hand with our actions.)
- Sign of the cross 3x after Gospel (at forehead, mouth and chest): Makes our minds clear, our words clearer and our hearts full of joy to listen to the Lord.
Basic aspect of liturgical spirituality is that we are aware of what we say and do and mean them during the mass.
Every time we gather together in the Eucharist, we are outside time.
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3. The Word of God
In the liturgy God speaks to His people and Christ still proclaims His Gospel.
Christ is present in His Word, since it is He Himself who speaks when the Holy Scriptures are read in the Church.
Before going to mass, it's best to listen to or read the Gospel readings of the day in order to prepare for the celebration.
We are people of the book so during mass digital devices should not replace the books being used.
When a priest or commentators/readers reads the scripture in the mass it is Christ speaking to us
Christ is present in: the priest/minister, the Word, the Eucharist, in the sacraments, in the proclamation of God's word, the participation of people
If we pay attention during mass we can become holier. When in church both in mind and heart, you are given grace by God. Your mere presence during mass will make you receive God's grace.
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4. The Sacraments
Liturgical spirituality means that the prayer of the Church for the faithful who receive the Sacraments is also the priest's personal prayer for them.
In every sacrament or celebration of the Eucharist we perform or participate in, we make present what Christ has done 2,000 yrs ago. It is not a representation but all are of reality in the here and now.
Side notes:
When praying for others, what's important is our intention and sincerity in our hearts. Have faith in God.
The sick people have a role. Those who are ill must continually pray and offer their sickness to the Lord for the salvation of everyone.
5. The Psalms
- Psalms are used in practically all the liturgical celebrations, particularly in the Liturgy of the Hours.
- The church interprets the psalms to refer to Christ and his church.
- Our favorite psalms can become an unceasing prayer.
- The psalms teach us what it means to be human and Christian.
Side note:
- Question: Why did God create us?
- Answer: To know Him, to love Him, to serve Him and to be with Him in paradise.
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6. The Church
- Liturgical spirituality is ecclesial (community).
- St. Ignatius of Antioch: "Where the bishop is there is the Catholic Church." No eucharist is valid w/o the authority of the bishop.
- The local community embodies the Universal Church. We must be aware of being part of an assembly that represents the Church gathered at the time and place. Going to mass is participating in the prayer of the universal church which is being celebrated all over the world.
- Each family is a domestic church. Simple prayers are already liturgy and ritual. Every time we pray before and after eating, or even praying the rosary, it is already a celebration of the liturgy. When we make the sign of the cross before doing something or when we get a blessing from elders (pagmamano) when we leave or arrive home, it is already a ritual and a prayer.
- Liturgical spirituality requires us to be in union with the Church.
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Conclusion:
According to St. Ambrose of Optina (Apparently this guy was an Orthodox Christian and not Roman Catholic) :
The Holy Eucharist is the first, most important, and greatest miracle of Christ. All the other Gospel miracles are secondary. How could we not call the greatest miracle the fact that simple bread and wine were once transformed by the Lord into His very Body and His very Blood, and then have continued to be transformed for nearly two thousand years by the prayers of priests, who are but simple human beings? And what is more, this mystery has continued to effect a miraculous change in those people who communicate of the Divine Mysteries with faith and humility.
Question and Answer portion
Well I only wrote down the answers. 😅 Don't remember the questions anymore.
Pray for others especially distractions during the mass and other things we see in the church.
Prayer and action go hand in hand.
Bible studies need priests to explain things. To understand the Gospel find the commonality. There should be a combination or summary of 1st reading, 2nd reading and Gospel.
Online mass is incomplete, we still need holy communion in person. Online mass is for sick people.
Sincerity of the heart is important in prayer. There are many ways to make us holy, giving glory and thanks to God. Start and end the day in prayer.
Monday to Saturday masses are devotionals.
So, what do you think? Found anything interesting? Feel free to share in the comments!
