Liturgy at St. Mary's
The practice in the Diocese of San Jose is for all those who are present for the celebration of Mass to stand from the “Great Amen” at the end of the Eucharistic Prayer until the last person receives Holy Communion. At St. Mary’s, the last to receive Holy Communion is the last “Minister of the Eucharist.” It is after this last minister drinks from the Cup that the entire Assembly then is to be seated.
This clarification is provided to indicate that it is not necessary to remain standing while the hosts left from the celebration of the Eucharist are brought to the tabernacle. It is also not necessary to remain standing when an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist to the Sick is called forward for a blessing.
“Be quiet, you’re in church now!” Many of us grew up being reminded regularly that the appropriate behavior for us during Mass was to be silent. Church and the town Library had that in common. Then, with the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, active participation became the norm. Usually active participation is understood as joining in the singing and saying the responses along with everyone else. But more and more, we are coming to realize that the definition of “active participation” needs to include the concept of “communal silence.”
Public silence is frequently very awkward. When it happens, we assume someone forgot their cue, made an embarrassing mistake, or fell asleep! But we also know the heart-gripping impact when a stadium full of people observes a moment of silence. It unifies with not a word being spoken.
The liturgy suggests that we pray without words several times during Sunday Mass. Whenever the Presider invites us by saying, “Let us pray,” after the Scripture readings, after the homily, and again after Communion, we are given the opportunity to become individually intimate with the Lord while in the presence of others. Each of us is encouraged to reflect on what has just occurred, express thanks, seek guidance, or renew our commitment to God during these moments. In these silences, we are united.
Our Parish Liturgy Council made a unanimous appeal last spring to the priests of our parish requesting longer periods of silence at weekend masses. So, perhaps you’ve noticed that there is silence following the homily and more time for silence after Communion. Together, we “actively participate” with one another by quietly turning our hearts to personal prayer, to deepening our intimacy with God as only each of us can express alone…during the silence.
The custom at St. Mary’s will be that at the start of Mass, a “prayer chime” will be rung in a resounding echo throughout the church. It will call us all from the rushes of life and the conversations that may involve us to a quiet silence, respectful of the Lord’s presence in those around us and of honoring the ritual for which we gather. The “chime” will ring again after the homily, beckoning us all into the quiet of our hearts to ponder the presence of the Lord in the proclamation of the sacred scriptures. And following distribution of the Holy Communion, instrumental music will quietly accompany a brief minute of silence so that we may focus more fully and attentively to the Lord’s presence in the sacrament we have shared.
It is our hope that each of us may experience in these moments what we find written in the lyrics of one of our contemporary hymns, You Are Mine (by David Haas):
“I will come to you in the silence.
I will lift you from all your fear.
You will hear my voice, I claim you as my choice.
Be still and know I am here.”
© 1991 GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.
