LITURGY


The Second Vatican Council document on the liturgy states that liturgy, which is the work of the people, is the “source and summit” of our lives as Catholics—it is our path of holiness! This teaching comes from the experience of the Church throughout the centuries following that first gathering with Jesus and the disciples. Everything about who we are and what we do revolves around liturgy.

“The celebration of Mass…is the center of the whole Christian life for the church both universal and local, as well as for each of the faithful individually.” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, #16) Participating in the Mass puts us at the center of the Church’s life—it is our most important activity. We listen to the Word of God and we give thanks for life and salvation. All the baptized have something to do at Mass—we have the responsibility to participate fully, actively, and consciously at Mass. It is not only the priest or bishop who offers our gifts—all the priestly people offer their lives, remember Jesus’ Sacrifice, and share the communion with one another. Together we all give thanks and praise to our God.  CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MASS.


PRAYER

Participating in the Mass is the best way as Catholics, but we have a rich prayer tradition that enriches and strengthens our relationship with God.  Whether we know it or not, we are already in the presence of God; prayer helps us bring to consciousness this precious bond we have with God. Thomas Merton writes:

  • “In prayer we discover what we already have…we already have everything, but we don’t know it and we don’t experience what we already possess. The whole thing boils down to giving ourselves in prayer a chance to realize that we have what we seek. We don’t have to rush after it. It is there at all times, and if we give it time it will make itself known to us.”

There’s nothing that God doesn’t know. We can’t hide anything from God so, this frees us to be truly honest in our prayer. We can express our anger, our doubts, our fears, and any other feelings we have.

The Lord’s Prayer, which Jesus taught, is the best model of prayer:

     Our Father, who art in heaven, 

     Hallowed be thy name.

     Thy kingdom come,

     Thy will be done,

     On earth as it is in heaven.

     Give us this day

     Our daily bread

     And forgive us our trespasses

     As we forgive those who trespass against    us

     And lead us not into temptation 

     But deliver us from evil. Amen