Understanding our Faith

Where to from here?

Having looked at the actions of Jesus at the Last Supper, which we do in memory of him each time we are at Mass, I am wondering if it would be helpful to look at a short history of the Mass and subsequent to that, to go through the Mass step by step. I would be very happy if anyone has any suggestions about anything it would be helpful to look at in this series of the parish newsletter each week.

A look at the history of anything is valuable. The history of the Church enshrines for us a view of the development of our tradition and of the movement and changes that have been part of it. The Church has lived through many different situations and has lived in very different cultures. And these differences are reflected in the way in which the Mass was and is celebrated and in the way it was understood. We could even say that each period has brought out different aspects of the mystery of Christ among us that is celebrated in the Eucharist. Each age has also known difficulties and deviations.

An awareness of such differences and changes can also help us to move on into the future because they help us to see what is at the core of the Eucharist and what customs and ways of doing things are the result of the influence of particular times and cultures.

The precious references that we have in the New Testament enable us to see into the roots of our tradition and they act as stimuli for renewing our practice and understanding of the Mass. At the same time, we have to acknowledge that much of what they say has to be understood within the biblical and Jewish culture within which they occurred. That context needs to be understood as a unique source of nourishment for us today. It is also important to know something of each period of the history of our tradition and to see the continuity and differences in each particular period.

All comments welcome.

By Fr Frank O’Loughlin