Reverence: most important virtue of mass?

[ac_claire]

I read a lot on these forums, and it seems like reverence for the Blessed Sacrament is the #1 most important thing in a mass. Is this a fair/accurate statement? If so or if not, please explain.

Is there anything more important, or of equal importance?

I do believe that Jesus is present so reverence is appropriate. I see it emphasized so much here, and so many judgements made about this mass and that mass and what qualifies as due reverence to the Eucharist, and what qualifies as lack therof. There is something about this that bothers me, but I can’t exactly put my finger on it. Maybe the fault is in my own understanding. (I’ve been sitting ehre for 20 minutes trying to articulate what I mean…) I am not being critical; I would sincerely like to discuss.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I read a lot on these forums, and it seems like reverence for the Blessed Sacrament is the #1 most important thing in a mass. Is this a fair/accurate statement? If so or if not, please explain.

Is there anything more important, or of equal importance?

I do believe that Jesus is present so reverence is appropriate. I see it emphasized so much here, and so many judgements made about this mass and that mass and what qualifies as due reverence to the Eucharist, and what qualifies as lack therof. There is something about this that bothers me, but I can’t exactly put my finger on it. Maybe the fault is in my own understanding. (I’ve been sitting ehre for 20 minutes trying to articulate what I mean…) I am not being critical; I would sincerely like to discuss.

The most important thing is love for God and love for neighbor. Not only did Jesus give us these two great commandments, but they encompass the entire meaning behind the Eucharist. God so loved us that he gave his only son, so that we could share eternal happiness with him.

Jim

 

[fodda23]

Why does it have to be either or? I would imagine that by our study of how we pray, as well as careful study of the documents of the Church, you will most likely find that because of the Eucharist, which is the source and summit of Christian life, we able to love God and neighbor as we ought. Wouldn’t it be both, and?

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Why does it have to be either or? I would imagine that by our study of how we pray, as well as careful study of the documents of the Church, you will most likely find that because of the Eucharist, which is the source and summit of Christian life, we able to love God and neighbor as we ought. Wouldn’t it be both, and?

With love, reverence will be there as it should. Reverence without love is merely religion. Anyone can practice religion.

Jim

 

[PBP]

When I came to understand what a covenental relationship with Jesus was about, I was just blindly going thru the mechanics of the mass. Not until we understand the one flesh union of the covenant, will there be the reverance due the sacrament. The mass is now so beautiful to me where at one time it was just an hour long obligation. I recommend “Theology of the Body” by Christopher West. Have a great day to all.

 

[ac_claire]

With love, reverence will be there as it should. Reverence without love is merely religion. Anyone can practice religion.
Jim

Thank you for these responses. As you can tell by my postings, I’ve maybe become a little obsessive-compulsive since coming to this forum…With anything and everything on the table for discussion, all kinds of doubts and worries have been popping up.

I think my original question probably came up just as a result of all the posts I have been reading…I should realize that most of these threads re: the primacy of reverence are responses to liturgical abuses or specific questions, and not just an unbalanced preoccupation, which I think is what was bothering me. Thanks for the clarity!

 

[benedictgal]

The first of the two great commandments is that we love God. Loving God means showing reverence to Him and keeping his commandments. The second one is to love your neighbor as yourself.

I like what fodda23 says in that the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the source and summit of our lives. From this sacrifice of love flows everything else. The Sacrifice is the supreme testament of the Father’s love for us in that he accepts the offering of His Son’s very Body and Blood as atonement for our sins.

Reverence at the Mass is supremely important. Ppoe Benedict makes this very clear in all of the documents he wrote before he was elected to the See of Peter and now, as Supreme Pontiff. In fact, he has made the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass the cornerstone of his pontificate.

I lived in Austin for about 12 years and was a member of the Paulist parish across from UT (located on the Drag). Inasmuch as I found some of their stuff a tad bit questionable, there was always reverence in the music and in the way the readings were proclaimed. Sometimes, I would go to my Grandmother’s parish (in South Austin, on Oltorf and South Congress). It was rather interesting; however, at my step-grandfather’s funeral Mass, I realized how problematic the parish had become when the Pastor was extolling my step-grandfather (without really knowing him ) during the homily. The homily in the funeral Mass is not a canonization of the deceased; rather, it is supposed to explain the Gospel. Now, I realize that then-Cardinal Ratzinger spoke of JP II when he celebrated the Pope’s funeral Mass; however, the homily was tied to the Gospel in such a way that it made sense. This was not the case at my stepgrandfather’s funeral.

I realize that somewhere along the line, the priorities got messed up and the Mass suddenly became about “us”, epsecially when I was trying to select the hymns when my grandmother died shortly thereafter. I told the music folks at the parish that I wanted my grandmother to be buried with music befitting the glory of heaven. The music director said, but, she should go with the “glory of the people of God.” I told her that she got it wrong, just like she did when she planned the music for my stepgrandfather (Eagles’ Wings, Be Not Afraid). I held firm and stuck to Attende Domine, We Have Been Told, In Paradisium and Salve Regina–Grandma died a week before Holy Week and a day to the year after JP died).

To avoid the same mistakes as my stepgrandfather’s service, for my grandmother’s funeral, I asked my PV to make the 3.5 hour drive up to Austin to celebrate the Mass. The difference was like day and night. Not only did my PV preach about the Gospel, but the reverence he showed as he celebrated the Mass struck the faithful, as well as the cantor and the organist.

Reverence makes a lot of difference in how the Mass is celebrated. Your parish church may not look like St. Peter’s Basilica, but, if the Mass is celebrated with the same reverence and devotion as Pope Benedict exhibits, then, you are really experience the full effect of the Divine Majesty of God.