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Liturgy Office
Ms. Carolyn Lassek
Director
Assoc. Director
Archdiocesan
Liturgical Commision
Ms. Michelle Clinton
Deacon Robert Dolan
Ms. Sandra Dresbeck
Rev. Kevin Duggan
Very Rev. James Johnson
Ms. Corinna Laughlin
Deacon Juan Lezcano
Mr. William McNamara
Rev. Steve Sallis
Ms. Rose Shandrow
Sr. Beth Taylor |
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LITURGY LINE! |
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On April 29th 197 Priests, Deacons, and Liturgical Leaders gathered with Fr. Paul Turner, facilitator for the International Commission on English in the Liturgy to explore how the Mass is the fullest expression of our Catholic Identity and shapes Catholics to live lives in accord with the teachings of the Church.
Fr. Turner also introduced the new translation of the Roman Missal expected to be approved and published in 2010 or 2011. This opportunity is just the beginning in a series of offerings from the Liturgy Office regarding the upcoming publicatin of the new Roman Missal. Stay tuned! | |
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 Issue #4 |
May, 2009 |
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 COME, HOLY SPIRIT!
Throughout my life, people acquainted with my parents have often approached me to let me know how much I looked like my mother, or like my father, according to others. In fact at times, looking at my image in the mirror, I find myself with this ambivalent portrait. Some of my physical features looked like my mom and some like my dad, but surprisingly some other aspects of my appearance are totally different from both of them, that I can say are all my own, though I do not even know where they come from.
In our Catholic Trinitarian Theology, we profess and confess that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. We know God as our Father and most of His features thanks to His Son our Lord Jesus Christ, who became one of us in a historical appearance 2000 years ago in this world. His contemporaries saw Him, and described His features so we today can have a closer idea of His human image.
But what about the Holy Spirit? What do we know about this Person? Pope Benedict XVI said that the Holy Spirit is not only the Third Person of the Trinity, but is the First Person Plural; it's the "Us" of God's "Oneness."
Though the terms used in Sacred Scripture name  the Holy Spirit, both in Hebrew, Ruach, wind, and in Greek, Pneuma, air, as an entity, the Holy Spirit of God is a person not an object; it's a "He," not an "it," and this is confirmed by St. Paul who uses formulas such as, "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you" (2 Cor. 13:13), (Rom. 5:1ss), (1 Cor. 12:4ss) or as St. Mathew states, "baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (28:19). If to be a "person" means to be in "relationship," then the Holy Spirit is clearly the one who binds the Father and Jesus Christ. We use the term "person," for lack of better word, to talk about the awesome mystery of God, so as not to remain in total silence before Him, knowing that His reality surpasses our understanding, as St. Augustine used to say.
St. Augustine himself calls the Holy Spirit: "The giver of Gifts and the Gift of the Giver" (The Trinity, XV, 18). The first gift we give to someone is love itself, which makes us long for the good of that person. Thus, it is that love which is the primary gift, in the strength of which we offer all other gifts we are able to give. So as The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Love between the Father and the Son, so He is the primary and ultimate Gift of Love (cfr. STh. I q.38 ). "God's Love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us" (Rom. 5:5).
The German Theologian Rhabanus Maurus, Archbishop of Mainz (780-856), who authored the beautiful and very popular canticle "Veni Creator Spiritus," called the Spirit: "gift of God most high, living fountain, fire, love and anointing of the soul, finger of God's right hand, Father's solemn promise putting words upon our lips."
As we all have taken from our mother and father, but still unfold and give our own unified being, this Holy Creator Spirit, will continue to visit our minds and hearts to craft an endless Pentecost where His sevenfold gifts will unfold what Our Almighty Father is, what Our Redeemer has conquered for us, and what The Holy Spirit wants to makes of us, so we can sing with the whole universe the song of God's Love in a majestic symphony.
Most Rev. Eusebio Elizondo, MSpS
Auxiliary Bishop
Vicar for Hispanic Ministry and Vocations
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| CELEBRATING INFANT BAPTISM AT SUNDAY MASS |
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The Baptism of infants is often treated as a "family" moment, and it surely is; but in Baptism, children become part of a larger family-the Church. As the great poet and Anglican divine John Donne wrote, "The church is catholic, universal, so are all her actions; all that she does belongs to all. When she  baptizes a child, that action concerns me; for that child is thereby connected to that head which is my head too, and engrafted into the body whereof I am a member." We are a liturgical church, a church that expresses what it believes through rites and prayers: "The meaning and grace of the sacrament of Baptism are clearly seen in the rites of its celebration" (CCC 1234). Celebrating the sacrament of Baptism at the Sunday liturgy, in the presence of the whole parish community, is quite simply the best way we have of learning what it means to be baptized.
If you have never celebrated infant baptisms in the context of Sunday Mass before, the Rite of Baptism includes guidelines for adaptations that can be made to keep the celebration flowing smoothly at the Sunday liturgy (see the Rite of Baptism for Children No. 29). Here is a simple outline of the impact the rite will have on the Sunday liturgy:
- CATECHESIS If you've never had baptisms at the Sunday Mass before, some two-way catechesis will be needed: for the parents and godparents of the children to be baptized, and for the parish community. The United States Catholic Catechism for Adults includes a simple explanation of the liturgy of baptism, and some helpful discussion questions as well (see Chapter 15, pp. 181-199).
- ADVANCE PREPARATIONS You will need to reserve seating for the parents and godparents of the children to be baptized. If the baptismal font is located near the entrance of the church, consider placing the families and children near the altar, and reserving the seats immediately around the font for their guests. To keep the liturgy moving smoothly, consider having the anointing with the oil of catechumens take place at an earlier time-for example, at a baptism class or seminar in which the parents and godparents participate. Will the children be clothed in the baptismal garment from the beginning of the liturgy? If not, prepare a space where they can be dressed, as at the Easter Vigil, following the baptism. Make sure that each family has a baptismal candle.
- INTRODUCTORY RITES The celebration begins with the welcoming of the children to be baptized. One way to do this would be to begin with a procession to the doors of the church, where the presider would greet the families, and the signing of the children would take place. The Penitential Rite is omitted, and during the singing of the Gloria, the families, with the presider, could enter and take their places in the church. Alternately, the parents, godparents, and infants could join in the entrance procession, if this seems appropriate, and take places in the sanctuary or in some other place visible to the assembly. The welcoming of the children and the signing with the cross takes the place of the penitential rite. As the children are being signed, the Gloria begins. Mass then proceeds as usual with the opening prayer.
- LITURGY OF THE WORD The Sunday readings are used. The homily should be Lectionary-based, as usual, but it should take note of the sacrament as well. We can never have too many reminders of what it means to be baptized into Christ.
- LITURGY OF BAPTISM The Creed is omitted. The ritual intercessions for baptisms may be used. At the end of the intercessions, there is no concluding prayer: instead, the litany of saints is sung. During the litany, a cross and candles may lead the families and the presider to the baptismal font. The blessing of water follows, and then the parents and godparents make the baptismal promises on behalf of the children. Invite the entire assembly to join in the responses. After the promises come the baptisms. If the children are not yet clothed in the white garment, the families could then be guided to the place arranged for them to be dressed. During the time the assembly is waiting for the entrance of the newly-baptized, the candles, held by the godparents, could be lit from the Paschal candle.
- EXPLANATORY RITES Notice that if there is a large number of children, the prayers that accompany the anointing with chrism, the clothing with the white garment, and the lighted candle prayer are said only once. Even if the children are already clothed in the white garment, the accompanying prayer should be said at this time. Notice that the Ephphatha rite is optional-it may be used at the presider's discretion.
- LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST The liturgy proceeds as usual. The parents and godparents of the newly-baptized, or other family members, might be invited to bring up the gifts.
- SOLEMN BLESSING At the conclusion of Mass, use the solemn blessing from the baptismal rite. It includes a blessing for mothers, fathers, and for all present in the assembly.
- AFTER MASS Families will doubtless have their own celebrations and gatherings in their homes. But it would be good to encourage the parents and godparents to join the rest of the community for a time of hospitality, however brief, after the Mass. The community has been enriched by the birth of these new members of Christ's body: it is a time to celebrate!
Pastoral Associate for Liturgy-St. James Cathedral
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MUSIC for the SACRAMENTS |
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This season, thousands of infants, children and young adults will encounter the risen Christ in a new and transforming way as they celebrate sacraments of initiation in our communities. What an opportunity and a privilege for us who prepare and animate music for these liturgies, and such a concrete way of extending Easter exuberance throughout the entire 50 days!
The common denominator in all of these special liturgies is the presence of large numbers of visitors who may or may not be familiar with Catholic worship. This factor requires great attention to hospitality in the way that we select appropriate music and in the printed, spoken and non-verbal ways we encourage people to participate fully. A worship aid for the assembly-including the music clips or hymnal citations, assembly responses, and instructions on posture-would be a great idea for these liturgies.
Infant Baptism. The baptismal liturgy is a liturgy on the move. The children and their families are greeted at the entrance to the church, they enter into the assembly to hear the Word, they move to the font, and are finally brought to the altar. For each of these processions, we need to consider music that best supports people on the move (i.e. psalms or songs with easily memorized refrains). The rite suggests psalm 85 ("Show us, O Lord, your kindness, and grant us your salvation") for the procession to the place where the liturgy of the Word will be celebrated, psalm 23 ("The Lord is my shepherd") for the procession to the font, and the baptismal song, "You have put on Christ, in him you were baptized," for the procession to the altar. There are many settings of these texts and many more worthy selections to consider. The rite also calls for the singing of the Litany of the Saints. Incorporate the names of the children into the litany so that the holy ones for whom they are named may also pray for us. Finally, the rite allows the possibility for an acclamation to be sung when the children come up from the water. People will spontaneously burst into applause at this most joyful moment; give them some acclamation to sing that helps give voice to such great emotion.
First Communion. Seven and eight year old children are inherently cute. Large groups of them exhibit a cumulative cuteness. I don't know if this still happens today, but when I received first communion on a sunny May Saturday in 1980, our class returned to the sanctuary after the communion procession to sing "This Little Light of Mine" for our adoring and camera-wielding relatives. Now I agree that children are wonderfully, naturally musical beings, and that music should be a part of their preparation for this sacrament. But instead of the performance piece and photo op, what if we taught our children some liturgical music and helped to form them as fully participating members of the assembly? Teach them some good music and give them some good theology: we sing because we're happy, we sing because we're thankful, we sing because we want to be one with one another as Christ is one with us. This is what we do, after all: we come forward each week with grateful hearts, open hands and a song on our lips, to receive what we already are and are still becoming more fully, the Body of Christ.
Confirmation. The Archdiocese has a set of very thorough and clear guidelines for music for the Rite of Confirmation. In particular, note that to make explicit the connection of the sacraments of Confirmation and Baptism, the penitential rite will be replaced with the renewal of baptismal promises and sprinkling with holy water. A hymn or antiphon is needed here, but musicians prepare to get wet along with the rest of the assembly and be ready for the Gloria, which follows quickly upon completion of the sprinkling. The laying on of hands and the anointing with chrism will take place in silence, except where there are an exceptionally large number of candidates, in which case a single solo instrument may play underneath the anointing, but softly enough so that the dialogue between Arch/bishop and each confirmandi may be heard.
Bill McNamaraCampus Minister for Liturgical Music
Seattle University
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Photography and Liturgy |
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A prominent feature of the Easter season for many parishes is the celebration of First Communion. One issue that typically arises is the use cameras during the celebration. Parents often ask if it is okay to take pictures or home videos of the children during the First Communion liturgy. Their question reflects a natural, healthy desire to record this important event in the life of their children.
It is important, however, to be aware of the difficulties and tensions that can arise when photography and liturgy intersect. Liturgy, including First Communion, is first and foremost an act of communal prayer and worship, and the quality of that prayer and worship must be the primary consideration in setting policies for photography, whether at First Communion, Confirmation, the Sacrament of Marriage, or what have you.
Taking pictures or video taping can quickly become a source of distraction and interruption to the liturgy. Cameras clicking and whirring, flashes going off, picture-takers standing up or moving about during the liturgical action, are all problematic. Such activity can border on rudeness and even irreverence. Needless to say, these activities are as distracting for those who are taking the pictures as for those around them: it is well nigh impossible to focus on the prayer while trying to capture the "Kodak moment." What's more, for the young First Communicants themselves, being aware that someone is trying to take their picture can be a distraction as well. It is challenging enough to foster the liturgical attention and focus of little children without adding to the difficulty by having cameras clicking away at them during the celebration.
What might parishes do then in response to the desire of parents and families to have photographs and/or videos of the celebration? Setting clear guidelines and communicating them in advance is a start. Here are some ideas:
- Provide a time and place for group photos as well as individual shots to be taken before
 and after the liturgy. Have a clearly-expressed policy for photography during the Mass - for example, it is quite reasonable to ask people to turn off the flash on their cameras, and to take pictures from their seats, not moving about during the Mass.
Arrange for a single professional photographer, perhaps someone in the parish, to take pictures and/or video during the Mass. Meet with the photographer in advance to plan discreet locations for the positioning of camera equipment, places that will avoid distraction while still providing suitable angles for visibility. The photographer can unobtrusively take pictures during the ceremony, leaving children, parents, relatives and friends to focus on the liturgical prayer.
- It is important to communicate beforehand with parents as to the parish's policy in regard to photography during the liturgy, along with the reasons for it, of course. It is also wise to include a brief explanation of the policy in the program or worship aid, and even to announce the policy verbally prior to the start of the celebration. This can be done respectfully and effectively as part of a brief welcome and introduction that is given just prior to the start of the Mass.
With a little catechesis, planning, preparation and cooperation, the requirements of good liturgy, as well as the desire of parents to have photographs of their children's First Communion, can both be realized.
Pastor Mary Queen of Peace, Sammamish
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Pilgrimage in the Year of St. Paul |
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In this Jubilee Year of St. Paul, all are welcome to obtain a Pauline Plenary Indulgence by Pope Benedict XVI. To fulfill the condition of a pious visit in the form of a pilgrimage, Archbishop Brunett has designated various parishes throughout the Archdiocese as a holy place of worship.
St. Paul Parish in Seattle will be welcoming pilgrims every first Saturday of the month until June 2009. The Church will be open for private prayer from 2:00pm - 5:00pm. Confessions will be heard from 4:30pm-4:45pm and Mass will follow at 5:00pm. Archbishop Brunett will celebrate a Liturgy to Close the Jubilee Year of St. Paul on Sunday, June 28, 2009 at 10:30am at St. Paul Parish in Seattle. All are welcome to this celebration.
St. James Cathedral in Seattle welcomes pilgrims to attend Vespers with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, every Sunday at 4:00pm. In addition, the Cathedral will mark the solemn conclusion of the Jubilee Year with a novena beginning June 20, 2009. Each Mass will conclude with a procession to the Place of Prayer and the praying of a litany in honor of St. Paul. Find out more at www.stjames-cathedral.org.
St. Paul Parish (Swinomish) welcomes pilgrims on the First Friday of each month. The church will be open for prayer and pilgrimage from 9am to 9pm, with the opportunity to pray the rosary in Lushootseed.
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| LITURGICAL MINISTRIES INSTITUTE Update |
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Two upcoming opportunies. It's not too late:
May 16 The Liturgical Year, St. Brendan, Bothell
May 30 Scripture & the Liturgy, Chancery, Seattle
Associate Director
Liturgy Office Archdiocese of Seattle |
| Upcoming . . . |
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- May 16 Young Adult Conference
- May 25 Memorial Day Mass 10:30 AM - Gethsemane Cemetery, Federal Way
- May 25 Memorial Day Mass 10:30 AM - Holy Rood Cemetery, Shoreline
- June 11 Blessing of Frederic Ozanam House 10:00 AM, Seattle
- June 13 (Saturday), 10:00 AM - Ordinations to the Priesthood at St. James Cathedral
- June 22-25, Priest Days, Ocean Shores
- June 28 Jubilee Mass for the Close of the Year of St. Paul 10:30 AM - St. Paul Parish, Seattle
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| Other happenings . . . |
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May 6-9, 2009
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