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One of the Holy Spirit’s roles is to preserve the faith, to preserve the liturgy. For many years I have reflected on the liturgical implications of the Holy Spirit’s role.
The Spirit’s role as one who preserves is not analogous to that of a museum curator—someone who makes sure that everything stays in its pristine form, in mint condition. No, the Church is not a museum, but a living, breathing, active organism—the living Body of Christ.
The role of the preservative here is more like salt. The Spirit preserves the liturgy so that it remains fresh for the people of God. Every time we celebrate the liturgy, it remains for us a fresh and renewed act of the people of God, of the Church, of Christ himself. Every time we speak the prayers, hear the words, sing the songs, and stand in God’s presence, our liturgy speaks to us in new and yet familiar ways. Every time we nourish ourselves with the bread of life and the cup of salvation we say “Yes,” “Amen,” to the Body and Blood of Christ. Every time we are dismissed we are reminded to “Go in the peace of Christ,” a peace which fills our heart with the response, “Thanks be to God.”
All of this would not be possible without the Spirit, who makes it real for us. The liturgy is not just remembering an event of 2000 years ago. As the Catechism says (no. 1366), the Eucharist that we celebrate makes present the sacrifice of the cross. The Spirit—the living memory of the Church—helps us to recall events, celebrate events, and look to their completion.
This action—which the Spirit makes new for us each time it is celebrated—weds earth and heaven in one great liturgy as “we share in a foretaste of that heavenly liturgy which is celebrated in the Holy City of Jerusalem toward which we journey as pilgrims. . .” (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, no. 8)
We are pilgrims on a trip back home. Our voices blend in union with those who have gone before us in faith--as well as with those who are sitting next to us in the pew--and those who are to come after us. The Church is very big, gathered not only from east to west, but also from age to age, so that a perfect offering can be made.
Come, Holy Spirit! Fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love!
The Spirit’s role as one who preserves is not analogous to that of a museum curator—someone who makes sure that everything stays in its pristine form, in mint condition. No, the Church is not a museum, but a living, breathing, active organism—the living Body of Christ.
The role of the preservative here is more like salt. The Spirit preserves the liturgy so that it remains fresh for the people of God. Every time we celebrate the liturgy, it remains for us a fresh and renewed act of the people of God, of the Church, of Christ himself. Every time we speak the prayers, hear the words, sing the songs, and stand in God’s presence, our liturgy speaks to us in new and yet familiar ways. Every time we nourish ourselves with the bread of life and the cup of salvation we say “Yes,” “Amen,” to the Body and Blood of Christ. Every time we are dismissed we are reminded to “Go in the peace of Christ,” a peace which fills our heart with the response, “Thanks be to God.”
All of this would not be possible without the Spirit, who makes it real for us. The liturgy is not just remembering an event of 2000 years ago. As the Catechism says (no. 1366), the Eucharist that we celebrate makes present the sacrifice of the cross. The Spirit—the living memory of the Church—helps us to recall events, celebrate events, and look to their completion.
This action—which the Spirit makes new for us each time it is celebrated—weds earth and heaven in one great liturgy as “we share in a foretaste of that heavenly liturgy which is celebrated in the Holy City of Jerusalem toward which we journey as pilgrims. . .” (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, no. 8)
We are pilgrims on a trip back home. Our voices blend in union with those who have gone before us in faith--as well as with those who are sitting next to us in the pew--and those who are to come after us. The Church is very big, gathered not only from east to west, but also from age to age, so that a perfect offering can be made.
Come, Holy Spirit! Fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love!
Thank you for starting this, Pat! This is great!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful thoughts on the role of the Holy Spirit in the Liturgy!
ReplyDelete