REFLECTIONS OF A FORMER ALTAR BOY

REFLECTIONS OF A FORMER ALTAR BOY
June 2023

I always wanted to be an altar boy. Even before I started school, I remember pretending that I was serving Mass at home while wearing a cassock and surplice my aunt had sewn for me. When I would go to church, I was fascinated watching those boys who could actually serve Mass for real. I became an altar boy "for real" when I was eight years old, in third grade, and continued serving in elementary school and throughout my years in the seminary, run by Benedictines - the religious order acknowledged to be leaders in the liturgy. I was even appointed Master of Ceremonies, which meant I had responsibility for assigning and training servers for all liturgical ceremonies.

All of that is simply to say that the liturgy has always held an interest and attraction for me, which has continued into my "senior years" today. So, I was especially intrigued when Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, the papal preacher, devoted his Lenten sermon of March 24, 2023, to some considerations on the liturgy. I very much appreciated his thoughts and they have encouraged me to share some comments of my own here.

One of Cardinal Cantalamessa's main points is that people today are hungry for an experience of the holiness, mystery, and majesty of God. He maintains that the liturgy, the Mass, should bring us into an experience of that reality. As one who also yearns to experience the holiness, mystery and majesty of God in the liturgy, I respectfully offer these few reflections.

REVERENCE

Today I think there is a widespread reaction to, and rejection of, a lack of appropriate reverence in the liturgy. This is what Cardinal Cantalamessa refers to as "arbitrary and bizarre improvisations" and lack of the "necessary sobriety and composure" during the celebration of Mass.

 I have seen reports that, at times, some truly scandalous liturgical abuses still occur. It seems, however, that what happens more frequently would be things like excessive extemporizing, attempts at humor, and "ad libs" during Mass - all of which tend to focus too much attention on the personality of the celebrant, thereby detracting from the sacredness and solemnity of the Eucharistic mystery.

WORD OF GOD

Cardinal Cantalamessa points out that, due to the conciliar reform, we are exposed to more of the Scriptures. The liturgy is rich in providing readings from God's word. Often enough, however, it appears that the preaching ministry itself leaves much to be desired. Perhaps in a well-intentioned effort to be engaging or relevant, some homilists tend to spend too much time on jokes, stories, and examples, rather than simply giving a clear and straightforward explanation of the Scripture readings.

"Faith comes from hearing" (Romans 10:17), but unfortunately, the preached ministry of the word of God is an area still much in need of  improvement in our Church.

LATIN

Cardinal Cantalamessa makes this comment regarding Latin: " If there is one reason why I regret the loss of Latin, it is that, with its abandonment, some songs which have served generations of believers of all languages to express their warm devotion in front of the Eucharist are disappearing from use: the Adore Te Devote, the Ave Verum, the Panis Angelicus."

After over a half-century, there seems to be a growing recognition now that it was probably not a wise idea to drop Latin from the liturgy entirely. Vatican II did not call for that, but in fact said just the opposite: "Particular law remaining in force, the use of the Latin language is to be preserved in the Latin rites" (Constitution on the Liturgy, 36). Reading further in that section, we see that the Council did allow for the vernacular in "readings and directives" and in "some of the prayers and chants." It does not seem, however, that the Council Fathers would have envisaged the complete abandonment of Latin that followed Vatican II.

Two years after the Council ended, I remember hearing a talk by an internationally-known liturgical scholar, who was by no means a conservative or traditionalist. While expressing his general support for the liturgical reform, he said then, in 1967, that he thought it was a mistake not to keep some parts of the Mass in Latin throughout the universal Church. He mentioned in particular the Kyrie (actually Greek), the Sanctus, Agnus Dei, and the words of Eucharistic Consecration. His point, as I recall, was that the Latin language was an important symbol of unity and universality in worship throughout the Latin rite, as well as a link with 1700 years of history and tradition. At the time, I think I was somewhat surprised to hear that when we were all enthralled with the so-called "new liturgy." Today, over 50 years later, I am inclined to think that he was prophetic!

THE MYSTERY IS STILL THE SAME

In the summer of 1970, I was present at a Mass celebrated by Fr. Johannes Hofinger, SJ, a world-renowned catechist and theologian. I still remember his homily. His main point was that regardless of when, where, and in which language the Mass is celebrated - "the mystery is still the same." That is to say, don't confuse the accidental and external circumstances of the Eucharistic sacrifice with the essential mystery - the bread and wine being changed into the Body and Blood of Christ by the Holy Spirit through the words of Consecration from a validly ordained priest.

Fr. Hofinger said then - and it bears repeating now - that it all comes down to faith. Jesus said, in speaking about the Eucharist, "He who believes has eternal life" (John 6:47). May we all exercise greater faith in the Lord Jesus and in his Eucharistic Presence because..."the mystery is still the same."