"Theme of the Mass" disagreement - thoughts?

[Balance]

I recently had an minor argument with a couple of people - I said that the idea that each Sunday Mass has a theme is not a helpful one; that the “theme of the Mass” is surely simply God’s love for us, expressed through the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, and always talking about (or, for example, putting up a slide at the start of Mass like “Welcome to Mass - today’s theme is …”) a “theme of/for the Mass” is forcing something on the Mass which it, and we, don’t need. Also that although the readings are selected carefully, and are most often linked in some way - at least the Gospel and First Reading - they’re not chosen to express a “theme;” that any theme written in the rubrics in a missal is just a simple indicator of a key idea expressed in the readings for the day (perhaps only for the benefit of the homilist) - certainly not a “theme of the Mass.”

I’ve just reread the Introduction to the Lectionary online (I think it’s from the English and Welsh edition) which is what first made me start thinking along these lines.

Paragraph 68.

catholic-ew.org.uk/liturgy/Resources/Rites/Lectionary.pdf

Is it just me?! Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[otjm]

I think it is just you…

If one was to follow the cycle of readings throughout the year, the major beliefs of the Church will be presented (which is one of the reasons that RCIA, if it is the lectionary format, should run year around… but that’s another thread).

The readings are not just something we sit through to get a bit of good advice, and then off to the most important part of the Mass; they are integral to it and go back tot he earliest Church.

And yes, there is a theme in the readings, and it is not just somehting that “happens” to be there.

One might keep in midn that the charge from Christ was to “go out to the whole world and preach the Good News”. The readings from the Old and New Testament are part of that charge. Vatican 2 explicitly wanted the faithful to be more immersed in Sacred Scripture; the additional readings are directed to that and help to fulfill that.

Does the “theme” permeate throughout the Mass? Well, sit down some time and look not just at the readings but also the additional prayers, and re-look at the issue. If that is what the Church is probviding us, then perhaps there is a reason for it, something a little deeper than the pastor or some liturgist “thunk up”.

 

[SMHW]

Well, if a theme for a Mass means someone actually stands up at the beginning and says, “Today’s theme is…,” then I agree with you. I think that sounds kind of tacky. But I don’t have a problem with a commentator saying something like, “In today’s readings we see how God is merciful to those who repent,” which could be thought of as a “theme” but is not labeled as such.

For those who are involved in preparing for the Mass, I think it is important to consider the “theme” for that day. I’ve heard it said by a liturgy teacher at our local seminary that the Responsorial Psalm can be thought of as a theme.

I think that those who lead RCIA Breaking Open the Word sessions, those who are responsible for writing petitions, those who need to prepare a homily (presumably bishops, priests, and deacons), those who select music, those who lead liturgy based RE/formation classes, perhaps the environement people, and anyone else who likes to look at the readings and prayers of they day prior to attending Mass ought to consider what the “theme” of that Mass might be.

 

[VociMike]

Another place where one can often find a unified “theme” for each Mass is in the Proper prayers of that Mass.

Remarkably, though the Propers are an integral part of each Mass, the USCCB website doesn’t even post the Propers. That oversight is rather outrageous and unpastoral of them

Here is one site I found that looks like it may post a running list of the Propers for upcoming Sundays:
www2.stveronica.net/content/blogcategory/26/45/