Symbolism of the Mass profound

by Letters Editor · March 7, 2013

From� Chris Busschau, Johannesburg

I read the letter from Fritz Rijkenberg (February 13) with real interest. It is always good to find someone who has really applied their mind to an area of concern. I would like to pose a few alternate views for Mr Rijkenberg and other readers to consider.

If we understand the background, history, culture and ritual of the Mass, our experience of the Mass becomes very different.�(CNS photo/Nancy Phelan Wiechec)

Firstly, there is no need for people to be limited to the Mass being the only spiritual support available to them. Parishioners should be encouraged to participate in the many excellent community-oriented programmes available through most parishes. Alpha and Renew Africa are two examples. It really is incumbent on parish priests and parish pastoral councils as the local leadership of the Church to encourage people to take part in these.

And then there are Justice and Peace groups that focus on social justice, economic justice, ecological justice, gender justice�and should be setting out to recruit the wonderful idealism of young people to help drive those initiatives.

The liturgy of the Mass is as boring or as interesting as our understanding of it allows us to be. Some years ago an American visitor asked me to drop him off at a cricket match as he wanted to see one. He was absolutely bemused, and after about an hour of irritation he phoned and asked me to take him home.

A few days later I spent a couple of hours explaining cricket to him, and giving him an insight into the dynamics of the great game. I took him to another match the following weekend. I sat next to him and connected the information I had given him with what was happening on the field. What a difference! He now runs a cricket team in New Jersey!

I have no intention of trivialising the Holy Mass by inferring that it is like cricket, but the same truth applies. If we understand the background, history, culture and ritual of the Mass, our experience of the Mass becomes very different. So, Mr Rijkenberg�s discomfort with chasubles, rituals and what he has called �rote� can easily become excitement at the meaning and impact of the symbolism, the drama and the deep prayers.

The excitement of a celebration that has its roots in Jewish prayer, in particular the Passover seder meal (which, of course, is what Jesus and his disciples were celebrating together at the Last Supper). That meal is the commemoration of the sacrifice of the Paschal Lamb that allowed Moses to lead his people from slavery in Egypt to freedom.

The excitement of becoming aware that the Mass is in fact the celebration and expression of deepest gratitude for that original Paschal event being fulfilled in Jesus as the Paschal Lamb whose sacrifice leads us from the slavery of sin to freedom. The excitement of reaching back over 20 centuries to celebrate in union with the earliest Christians, and the Christians of every age since then. And so much more!

I recommend that all Catholics encourage their priests to offer insight into the Mass. This could be done through elements in the homily each week or through a course of instruction (or both!).