167 Recalling the Mystery of Christ, part 4

YOUCAT Lesson 167, part 4 of 6 parts

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

167  What is liturgy?

Liturgy is the official divine worship of the Church.  [1077-1112]

…….Hymn above: …..”Keep In Mind” is an example of how a hymn can convey religious truths.  (See CCC #1103 below.) …..167

A liturgy is not an event that depends on good ideas and great songs.  No one makes or invents a liturgy.  It is something living that grew over millennia of faith.  A Mass is a holy, venerable action.  Liturgy becomes exciting when one senses that God himself is present under its sacred signs and its precious, often ancient prayers.

Power came forth from him and healed them all.  Luke 6:19b

…….THE LITURGY - WORK OF THE HOLY TRINITY

…….The Holy Spirit recalls the mystery of Christ

…….1099 The Spirit and the Church cooperate to manifest Christ and his work of salvation in the liturgy. Primarily in the Eucharist, and by analogy in the other sacraments, the liturgy is the memorial of the mystery of salvation. The Holy Spirit is the Church's living memory.(compare John 14:26)¹⁹ –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

…….1100 The Word of God. The Holy Spirit first recalls the meaning of the salvation event to the liturgical assembly by giving life to the Word of God, which is proclaimed so that it may be received and lived:

In the celebration of the liturgy, Sacred Scripture is extremely important. From it come the lessons that are read and explained in the homily and the psalms that are sung. It is from the Scriptures that the prayers, collects, and hymns draw their inspiration and their force, and that actions and signs derive their meaning.( Sacrosanctum concilium 24)²⁰ –CCC

…….1101 The Holy Spirit gives a spiritual understanding of the Word of God to those who read or hear it, according to the dispositions of their hearts. By means of the words, actions, and symbols that form the structure of a celebration, the Spirit puts both the faithful and the ministers into a living relationship with Christ, the Word and Image of the Father, so that they can live out the meaning of what they hear, contemplate, and do in the celebration.—CCC

…….1102 "By the saving word of God, faith . . . is nourished in the hearts of believers. By this faith then the congregation of the faithful begins and grows."( Presbyterorum ordinis 4)²¹    The proclamation does not stop with a teaching; it elicits the response of faith as consent and commitment, directed at the covenant between God and his people. Once again it is the Holy Spirit who gives the grace of faith, strengthens it and makes it grow in the community. The liturgical assembly is first of all a communion in faith.—CCC

…….1103 Anamnesis (a recalling to mind) . The liturgical celebration always refers to God's saving interventions in history. "The economy of Revelation is realized by deeds and words which are intrinsically bound up with each other. . . . [T]he words for their part proclaim the works and bring to light the mystery they contain."( Dei verbum 2)²²    In the Liturgy of the Word the Holy Spirit "recalls" to the assembly all that Christ has done for us. In keeping with the nature of liturgical actions and the ritual traditions of the churches, the celebration "makes a remembrance" of the marvelous works of God in an anamnesis (a recalling to mind) which may be more or less developed. The Holy Spirit who thus awakens the memory of the Church then inspires thanksgiving and praise (doxology).--CCC