A brief presentation of the Pope’s recent encyclical on the Liturgy, and how we can live it today.
One of the priests from our community was recently transferred. In an informal conversation which recalled his presence in the community, one of the priests remarked: “He was the backbone of the liturgy in the community. Whether it was the mass or the liturgy of the hours, he would take time to prepare, see to every detail and animate the community with joy and decorum. We will miss him.”
Liturgical celebrations are a very important part of Christian life and much more so of the life of priests and religious. And to have someone capable of animating the liturgy well is a great blessing for a community. Recently Pope Francis invited all of us to reflect on the importance of liturgy in our lives through his Apostolic Letter entitled Desiderio Desideravi. This letter was published on 29 June 2022, the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. We shall present in brief some of the key points mentioned by the Pope. It could be an incentive for us to give greater attention to the way we celebrate liturgy.
The title of the letter “Desiderio Desideravi” (I have earnestly desired), is taken from the words of Jesus with which the account of the Last Supper begins in the Gospel of Luke: “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” (Luke 22:15). The Pope says that he wrote this Letter to help all of us, 1) “to rekindle our wonder for the beauty of the truth of the Christian celebration,” 2) “to remind us of the necessity of an authentic liturgical formation,” and 3) “to recognize the importance of an art of celebrating that is at the service of the Paschal Mystery and of the participation of all the baptized in it, each one according to his or her vocation” (DD, n. 62).
- Wonder for the beauty of the truth of Christian celebration
The attitude that we ought to have in front of the Christian celebration is a sense of wonder. We stand in awe and wonder at the beauty and truth of what happens in the liturgy. What is meant by beauty here is an excellence that leads to a deep sense of fulfilment.
Before the Last Supper, Jesus tells the disciples: “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” (Luke 22:15). This indicates God’s great love for each one of us. Each person of the Most Holy Trinity desires to enter into communion with us, out of their great love for us. Jesus gives concrete expression to this great desire by instituting the Holy Eucharist. Through the Eucharist God and humans enter into communion with each other. We go to the Eucharist in response to the great love God has for us, a love that made him to become our food. Pope Francis says: “We may not even be aware of it, but every time we go to Mass, the first reason is that we are drawn there by his desire for us” (DD, n. 6).
In the Eucharist, Jesus, the eternal Son, gives himself to us, unworthy human beings, out his great love. There is, indeed, an infinite disproportion between the greatness of the gift and the littleness of those who receive it. In front of the excellence and greatness of God’s love, his great desire to draw us into communion with him, we bow in awe and adoration.
Fr Jose Kuttianimattathil SDB
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