Silence & Liturgy

[Tigg]

We must always remember that we come together as a people to worship Christ … it is not a “me and Jesus” moment - but one that can be better described at “us and Jesus” or as one book explained it “Here Comes Everybody” …

The word “Liturgy” is defined as a …public work or a public service … the work of the Church that is accomplished with people and for people … thus it is not an individual encounter with Christ …

We are one Mystical Body at the communal banquet, but we have a serious obligation to individually make thanksgiving for the gift we have each received. If I am distracted or have no chance to make that thanksgiving, then an inordinate focus is being placed on community rather than the One we Adore and Worship! The ends of the Mass = Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving and Petition.

Silent moments during the liturgy are important because they allow us to take into our hearts the power of the liturgical rites. Silence allows for personal reflection, and reflection is a necessary component for any kind of prayer. The first moment of silence in the liturgy ought to be the silence that precedes the beginning of the celebration, providing for a church that is devoid of the noises of friendly chatter or even the silent noise of ministers and others rushing about at the last minute. Here we have a chance to recollect our reasons for being where we are, and the magnitude of what is about to happen.

liturgy.blogs.com/liturgy_reflections/2010/11/ten-silent-moments-in-the-liturgy.html

 

[HelenRose]

As an organist, while I’ll play the Communion hymn, I always leave adequate time for silence after Communion. There’s no doing a gazillion verses or anything like that. While I enjoy music and a particular type can be very edifying (chant in particular) at that time, that is one part of the Mass in which I do prefer to have some moments of silence. Others have mentioned this to me as well.

I am a pianist for our Church. When the decision is mine to plan the music, I prefer to have a song that is appropriate and is well sung while people are coming forward for communion. The reason for this is that it allows a certain amount of privacy for those who are coming forward. After everyone has come forward I will play quiet communion music . This music covers the rustling sounds of the congregation and hopefully helps people to focus on Christ.

I agree that music at this time should not be music that directs the thoughts of the congregation to the choir. This is a difficult balance for musicians. On one hand we want to present to God our very best and on the other we should not be the anywhere near the center of attention.

 

[Student09]

We are one Mystical Body at the communal banquet, but we have a serious obligation to individually make thanksgiving for the gift we have each received. If I am distracted or have no chance to make that thanksgiving, then an inordinate focus is being placed on community rather than the One we Adore and Worship! The ends of the Mass = Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving and Petition.

^This.

We *should *be having an intimate encounter with Christ when we are at Mass and especially when we receive Holy Communion. If we are not, then something is wrong.

 

[HelenRose]

^This.

We *should *be having an intimate encounter with Christ when we are at Mass and especially when we receive Holy Communion. If we are not, then something is wrong.

Absolutely! Musicians must keep this in mind at all times. There can never be total silence in a building full of people. People cough, children are restless, people are lifting and lowering kneelers and there is constant moving of the lines. The purpose of a music is to turn the people’s ears away from these distractions and toward Christ. In doing so music must not become a distraction of its own.

 

[Corki]

We must always remember that we come together as a people to worship Christ … it is not a “me and Jesus” moment - but one that can be better described at “us and Jesus” or as one book explained it “Here Comes Everybody” …

The Mass actually has elements of both “us and Jesus” as well as “me and Jesus”.

That’s one of the reasons there was such a big fuss over the transalations and the need to use “I” for the creed and the Confiteor. One teacher described it as a cross with both a horizontal and vertical pieces. The horizontal is the “we” and the verticle is the “me and Jesus”. The Mass is a constant swing between the two - the Creed is followed by the prayers of the faithful, the Consecration is followed by the Our Father and the congregational procession for Communion should be followed by a period of silence.

 

[Corki]

I am a pianist for our Church. When the decision is mine to plan the music, I prefer to have a song that is appropriate and is well sung while people are coming forward for communion. The reason for this is that it allows a certain amount of privacy for those who are coming forward. After everyone has come forward I will play quiet communion music . This music covers the rustling sounds of the congregation and hopefully helps people to focus on Christ.

I agree that music at this time should not be music that directs the thoughts of the congregation to the choir. This is a difficult balance for musicians. On one hand we want to present to God our very best and on the other we should not be the anywhere near the center of attention.

Soft instrumental music certainly has its place at Mass. However, it should not substitute for silence. As an example, there was a lamentable practice in some places of using soft music during the Eucharistic Prayer, which includes both the spoken word and silent moments. The Vatican even mentions this in Redemptionis Sacramentum as a practice that is wrong.

[53.] While the Priest proclaims the Eucharistic Prayer “there should be no other prayers or singing, and the organ or other musical instruments should be silent”,[132] except for the people’s acclamations that have been duly approved, as described below.

 

[Student09]

The Mass actually has elements of both “us and Jesus” as well as “me and Jesus”.

That’s one of the reasons there was such a big fuss over the transalations and the need to use “I” for the creed and the Confiteor. One teacher described it as a cross with both a horizontal and vertical pieces. The horizontal is the “we” and the verticle is the “me and Jesus”. The Mass is a constant swing between the two - the Creed is followed by the prayers of the faithful, the Consecration is followed by the Our Father and the congregational procession for Communion should be followed by a period of silence.

I would just add that there is such a thing as communal privacy - we can all share the experience of being intimate with Jesus. Community doesn’t have to mean we are focused on each other. If we are all focused on God, that is communal, too. I hope I"m saying this in a way that makes sense.

Personally, I feel closer to people when I am praying silently - privately - together with them at Adoration, than when I am shaking hands with them at the sign of peace. I believe I am closer to them at Adoration, because we are all being drawn together into that same Sacred Heart of Jesus. In being focused on Him and not on ourselves, we can be a community in a purer and more intimate way than is possible through merely human interaction.

 

[Brendan]

Soft instrumental music certainly has its place at Mass.

And even then, it is generally prohibited during Lent

GIRM 313

1. The organ and other lawfully approved musical instruments are to be placed in an appropriate place so that they can sustain the singing of both the choir and the congregation and be heard with ease by all if they are played alone. It is appropriate that, before being put into liturgical use, the organ be blessed according to the rite described in the Roman Ritual.[124]

In Advent the organ and other musical instruments should be used with a moderation that is consistent with the season’s character and does not anticipate the full joy of the Nativity of the Lord.

In Lent the playing of the organ and musical instruments is allowed only to support the singing. Exceptions are Laetare Sunday (Fourth Sunday of Lent), solemnities, and feasts.

 

[Brendan]

Pope John Paul II in his address to the US Bishops, Nov 1998

Yet active participation does not preclude the active passivity of silence, stillness and listening: indeed, it demands it. Worshippers are not passive, for instance, when listening to the readings or the homily, or following the prayers of the celebrant, and the chants and music of the liturgy. These are experiences of silence and stillness, but they are in their own way profoundly active. In a culture which neither favors nor fosters meditative quiet, the art of interior listening is learned only with difficulty. Here we see how the liturgy, though it must always be properly inculturated, must also be counter-cultural.

 

[Student09]

Pope John Paul II in his address to the US Bishops, Nov 1998

I wish the priests who shout “Mass is not a spectator sport!” would read this.

 

[englishredrose]

Talking of silence in the Mass and moving onto bowing/geneflecting.

I have been going to church for 20+ years and never saw the point to bowing or geneflecting because people performed it out of showy carelessness whenver I have seen it, which ever church I have been in Roman Catholic or otherwise. Its always been so carelessly executed as such. No real reverence in it. Piously executed rather than careless I might be better saying.

So I being me have always refused to bow etc as I hate the pious side to how people behave in church. Can’t smile during a service never mind during eucharist part. Some do but ooh if you saw some people they look so cold in their bid to be that perfect pious christian.

However, our new parish priest changed all that for me about bowing. He doesn’t know it. It is only by his own deliberate slow calm example that I am beginning to comfortably follow his lead in bowing. Nothing pious. Just simply reverence. He has made it meaningful but its taken 20+ years to find one person who by example made it meaningful and something want to copy and do. Rather than stubbonly don’t want to because of its image. Up to him I didn’t know where to bow because for me God, Jesus is everywhere. He hasn’t spoken of it and neither have I to him. But his example has changed meaning of bowing to me. I slip up but it takes alot to break 20+ years of habit. But when I do so it is with meaning now.

So relating this to silence. Some people find meaning and some people don’t. Most people would find 2 minutes silence quite challenging bearing in mind it also means keeping our minds totally silent. No good being able to verbally shut up if we can’t mentally shut up and just simply focus on being with God in wholesome total silence. 2 minuetes is a long time for the experienced at being wholely silent. Our inner voice needs to be silent too and do you, most of you claim to do that?

 

[YADA]

Ahem. Via dolorosa, Latin for “sorrowful way”, i.e. the way of the Passion.

Yes - you are correct … thats what happens when you get in a hurry and confuse various foreign languages that you can barely pronounce let alone spell or write … with horrible typing to boot and learned to read the old fashioned way - phonics … no whole language or whatever they call it … …

my only saving grace is that at least you knew what I meant …

 

[YADA]

The Mass actually has elements of both “us and Jesus” as well as “me and Jesus”.

That’s one of the reasons there was such a big fuss over the transalations and the need to use “I” for the creed and the Confiteor. One teacher described it as a cross with both a horizontal and vertical pieces. The horizontal is the “we” and the verticle is the “me and Jesus”. The Mass is a constant swing between the two - the Creed is followed by the prayers of the faithful, the Consecration is followed by the Our Father and the congregational procession for Communion should be followed by a period of silence.

And I do not disagree - the Mass is the source oand summit of our experience …

Even though we have moments of silence, the profound Eucharistic miracle and Jesus present in our midst … there is a distinct difference between a meal eaten alone, or with your spouse and the large extended family gathering … There are other moments that you can have that absolute silence and time with our Lord … there are many opportunities - the ability to seek out Eucharistic Adoration, droping by your local parish during the day, and even weekly masses - though the more worshipers in attendance - they more noise and distractions there can be … and then - as many other posters have noted - you can develop you inner peace and focus your mind upon our Lord - tuning out the noise and distractions of those around you …

Personally - I can sometimes do that well - other times ir is harder … My pet peaves are people who come to Mass and then immediatly after it starts they constant crush of people leaving to use the restroom begins … and then there is the raising and lowering of kneelers - and why do some people have to be so noisy standing up and down … I personally try to do that as quietly as possible … others do not feel so compelled - that fact that I do does not make me more pious, more loving of Christ …

We are family - a people of God … some are more mature - not only in age but faith [and some of the most faithfull are the younger ones] … some come with tears and noisy habits … some are quiet and well behaved - all are loved by Christ …

and I often remind myself when I am feeling angst - that if Jesus wanted a pefect Mass - he would have entrusted it to Angels - not humans

 

[OraLabora]

At the local abbey, the communion antiphon and one or more verses of its psalmody are chanted in Gregorian chant as people receive. After everyone has received, the celebrant and the monks sit for a few minutes of sacred silence. It’s heavenly!

 

[paulmalti]

Well you are unique, being able to concentrate, while a singer is shouting ! I cannot see how we can discern and allow the Holy Spirit to work on us, in a noisy athmospher !

 

[paulmalti]

Are you sure its heavenly ? Or is it sentimentalism , false passion ? A need to feel something to justify our holiness ??

At the local abbey, the communion antiphon and one or more verses of its psalmody are chanted in Gregorian chant as people receive. After everyone has received, the celebrant and the monks sit for a few minutes of sacred silence. It’s heavenly!

 

[pnewton]

The songs that are sung by most parishes at this time are, indeed, very distracting. Gregorian chant would be more conducive to private prayer and contemplation than what is usually sung.

For some this is true. For others it is the reverse. In any case, there is a need for some silence also. We have a rule in our dicoese that there can be no more than one verse of a hymn after the last communicant so at least half the time, the altar is cleared in silence.

 

[MissRose73]

It depends on the parish and type of Mass you are at regarding music and silence while Communion is received. Generally, at most weekday Masses and most Extraordinary Form Masses (mainly weekday ones, sometimes Sunday ones for EF), it is quiet most of the time with music being a rarity. Most of the time there is a Communion hymn or 2 depending on the lines. Sometimes there may be just instrumental music. I do prefer to spend some time in reflection after receiving Communion, and it does not matter if there is music or not while I am reading prayers from my missal. It would be nice to have a minute or so of silent reflection after all have received Communion before the Priest does the Post Communion Prayer then closing of the Mass.

 

[OraLabora]

Are you sure its heavenly ? Or is it sentimentalism , false passion ? A need to feel something to justify our holiness ??

And what is the point of your comment?

I attend Mass at the abbey for two reasons: the liturgy is correctly done and most reverent, and secondly, I am an oblate of the abbey. I have a very strong spiritual attachment with the place and the community.

I feel a strong need to escape the noise of the world and that’s where I go to achieve that and recharge my batteries.

 

[paulmalti]

We are going to be judged by our deeds. All other things lead us to live a saintly life !