What does "actuosa participatio" actually mean? What is the goal?

[snarflemike]

I know the phrase gets translated to “full, conscious and active participation,” but that doesn’t tell me much (if it is even an accurate rendition).

Does it require physical activity? Can it involve silence? Can it involve listening? Can it happen during a Mass in a language one is not fluent in?

I was once at a Mass (OF) at a church with an excellent choir, which sang the entire Ordinary in a polyphonic setting. Afterwords we were talking to one of the singers, and the question of “active participation” came up, and I blurted out, “my tears were my participation.” Comments on that?

 

[goout]

I know the phrase gets translated to “full, conscious and active participation,” but that doesn’t tell me much (if it is even an accurate rendition).

Does it require physical activity? Can it involve silence? Can it involve listening? Can it happen during a Mass in a language one is not fluent in?

I was once at a Mass (OF) at a church with an excellent choir, which sang the entire Ordinary in a polyphonic setting. Afterwords we were talking to one of the singers, and the question of “active participation” came up, and I blurted out, “my tears were my participation.” Comments on that?

All the elements of communication. Listening, speaking, singing, silence before God, standing, kneeling, sitting, all with a consciousness of the meaning and purpose and end of it all (the Eucharist).

What it is not: just being there as a shell with your mind elsewhere, not participating. It;s like being in the presence of a friend speaking to you and you are not paying attention, not listening, not responding, maybe “checking your phone” instead.

 

[JimG]

If you’re not dozing, and you’re paying attention, you are participating.

 

[HomeschoolDad]

Some might quibble with me on this, but I approach “active participation” as simply being there, freeing oneself from distractions, and putting oneself in a mindful and prayerful communion with Almighty God. No particular prayers, responses, singing, or postures are strictly required. As far as postures, of course you will want to do whatever the others are doing, but if you are simply unable to do all the kneeling, sitting, and standing, then you may just sit there. Some find it more conducive to prayer, to do each response, sing every hymn, and so on. That is fine. Some prefer a freer form of worship. As long as you are not disrupting anything, that is fine too.

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

I will open the can of worms here (maybe) and say this was likely directed in its original intent toward the concept of people praying the rosary in the pew because they did not or could not engage with the Mass. Therefore, what the others have stated before me I agree with provided your prayerful status is directed toward the reason you’re there and what’s happening there: the Mass. If you’re engaged in something else, even another form of prayer, that’s not active participation in Mass.

 

[po18guy]

We attend mass out of obedience to our Lord’s command - yes. We do so out of a sense of obligation as well. Yet, our purpose is to offer the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ to the Father in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

But that is not all. We are to offer ourselves - our entire being - to the Father for the exact same purpose as we, through our Baptism, are members - living and breathing parts of Christ’s mystical Body on earth. The mass is a holy sacrifice, and there is no worship without sacrifice. We show our worship via sacrificing that which is most dear to us - ourselves - to God the Father.

How can we expect grace if we are a closed vessel? We must be open to whatever God intends for us - focusing always on His Kingdom, because we are not at home on this earth.

We actively participate by offering, by giving.

 

[Mary888]

Actual.participation? It must mean concentrating all your thoughts on the liturgy. As much as you can. And also follow the required rituals.
I have problem concentrating as well.
So I love that at our parish the priests allow all the congregation singing the parts where it says “choir response”.

 

[JohnLilburne]

Here is how the word “active” is used in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. I have omitted the footnotes.

“This people, though holy in its origin, nevertheless grows constantly in holiness by conscious, active, and fruitful participation in the mystery of the Eucharist.” (n. 5).

“18. This will fittingly come about if, with due regard for the nature and other circumstances of each liturgical assembly, the entire celebration is arranged in such a way that it leads to a conscious, active, and full participation of the faithful, namely in body and in mind, a participation fervent with faith, hope, and charity, of the sort which is desired by the Church and which is required by the very nature of the celebration and to which the Christian people have a right and duty in virtue of their Baptism.

19 . Even though it is on occasion not possible to have the presence and active participation of the faithful, which manifest more clearly the ecclesial nature of the celebration, the celebration of the Eucharist is always endowed with its own efficacy and dignity, since it is the act of Christ and of the Church, in which the Priest fulfils his own principal function and always acts for the sake of the people’s salvation.

Hence the Priest is recommended to celebrate the Eucharistic Sacrifice, insofar as he can, even daily.

20 . Since, however, the celebration of the Eucharist, like the entire Liturgy, is carried out by means of perceptible signs by which the faith is nourished, strengthened and expressed, the greatest care is to be taken that those forms and elements proposed by the Church are chosen and arranged, which, given the circumstances of persons and places, more effectively foster active participation and more aptly respond to the spiritual needs of the faithful.”

“The Bishop should therefore be determined that the Priests, the Deacons, and the lay Christian faithful grasp ever more deeply the genuine significance of the rites and liturgical texts, and thereby be led to the active and fruitful celebration of the Eucharist.” (From n. 22)

“35. The acclamations and the responses of the faithful to the Priest’s greetings and prayers constitute that level of active participation that is to be made by the assembled faithful in every form of the Mass, so that the action of the whole community may be clearly expressed and fostered.

36 . Other parts, most useful for expressing and fostering the active participation of the faithful, and which are assigned to the whole gathering, include especially the Penitential Act, the Profession of Faith, the Universal Prayer, and the Lord’s Prayer.”

Continued in next post.

 

[JohnLilburne]

“Among the faithful, the schola cantorum or choir exercises its own liturgical function, its place being to take care that the parts proper to it, in keeping with the different genres of chant, are properly carried out and to foster the active participation of the faithful by means of the singing.” (From n. 103)

“In the local Church, first place should certainly be given, because of its significance, to the Mass at which the Bishop presides, surrounded by his Presbyterate, Deacons, and lay ministers, and in which the holy People of God participate fully and actively, for it is there that the principal manifestation of the Church is found.” (From n. 112)

“Therefore, churches or other places should be suitable for carrying out the sacred action and for ensuring the active participation of the faithful.” (From n. 288)

“The faithful and the schola cantorum (choir) shall have a place that facilitates their active participation.” (From n. 294)

“The renewal of the Roman Missal carried out in our time in accordance with the decrees of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council has taken great care that all the faithful may display in the celebration of the Eucharist that full, conscious, and active participation that is required by the very nature of the Liturgy to which the faithful, in virtue of their status as such, have a right and duty.” (From n. 386)

[Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.]

 

[ProVobis]

For what it’s worth, I believe in Spanish “actual” means “current” and that’s exactly where you need to be.

 

[HomeschoolDad]

I will open the can of worms here (maybe) and say this was likely directed in its original intent toward the concept of people praying the rosary in the pew because they did not or could not engage with the Mass.

These people who prayed the rosary during Mass back in the old days were not doing one thing wrong, nor would they be doing so now, under the same circumstances. The Mass is ultimately a mystery and they didn’t even begin to understand Latin. I would hope they stopped during the vernacular reading of the scriptures, if those were provided, and during the homily if there was one. The bells and the elevation indicate when the consecration takes place. It is obvious when communion is administered to the faithful. Knowing precisely what is happening and when, while desirable, is not essential to active internal and spiritual participation in the Mass.