May 4, 2008

"We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us." -- Nelson Mandela

Last Saturday night we had a faith-sharing session with the parents of our First Communion Class. One of the questions was "Do you have any questions about the Mass?" One of the parents asked about the bell and why it was not being used now.

Many of the things we use and do in the Mass have come about in different times in church history. In 313 a.d. under Emperor Constantine, Christianity was accepted. Since Latin was the language of the Roman Empire, the liturgy began to be celebrated in Latin.

The interchange at Mass was between the priest and the altar boys and/or the choir. The people were merely spectators. The bell began to be used to alert the people that it was time for the Consecration. It was rung as the priest, with his back to the people, raised first the host and then the cup for the people to see. There was even a time when the people were not allowed to receive the host, only look at it.

Vatican II breathed fresh air into our church. The liturgy could be celebrated in the language of each culture. Now the people could participate in the liturgy and hear the priest, who was now facing them, invoke the Holy Spirit to come upon the gifts of bread and wine and change them into the Body and Blood of Jesus. So right now using the bell is optional.

If you have any questions about the Mass or the Church, let me know; and we'll get the answers for you.

In church time, Jesus has ascended to heaven and we wait with the disciples for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Actually, we know the Spirit is already with us; but let us heighten our awareness this week, look for the Spirit working in our lives, and be ready to celebrate the Pentecost, the beginning of the church.