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St. Ann
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| Posted: Jan 11 2011 at 2:10am | IP Logged
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MicheleQ wrote:
JennGM wrote:
And in contemplating the Liturgical year, since it repeats this annual cycle, it's an invitation to go deeper every time. Every year it might look and feel a little different, as we contemplate the mystery, the outside activity might lessen while the spiritual intensifies.
I keep thinking of the Narnia "Come Further Up and Further In." That pretty much sums up the Liturgical Year for me. |
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Yes! And that sounds precisely like what the Holy Father is saying to us! We're not remembering an event, we are living a mystery. |
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I wish a could draw a picture here. Living the liturgical year is not a repetitive circle, but more like a spiral. Although when I look back in my life there were some blind years when I did live the Church year more circular  through my own fault and through the lack of catechism. But then again, if the Church celebrates the Mass with all Her beauty, then even the uncatechized cannot help but be brought into the mystery.
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Stephanie
Wife and mother to Hannah '96, Maria '99, Dorothea '01, Helena '03
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St. Ann
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| Posted: Jan 11 2011 at 2:21am | IP Logged
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The subject of "JOY" may seem a bit off topic, but actually abstinence does play an integral role in leading us to this joyfilled experience of living the liturgical year. The contrast of the bare altar and lack of the "Gloria" to the many lit candles, flowers, incense and bells ringing the Gloria at Midnight Mass is a vivid example. I am blessed to live near Parishes that appreciate the riches of the Church liturgy and we have an excellent organist which makes a huge difference on the degree of festiveness(?).
I wasn't really accurate about my statement about fun and it being an american thing.
It is a matter of language, too. At a certain point in my faith journey the question, "Are you having fun?" really started to drive my nuts! The question seemed so foreign to me. Fun was just not a factor at all in the decisions I was making. It was evident though, that FUN was the criteria for many whom I dearly love. And it hurt.
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Stephanie
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JennGM
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| Posted: Jan 11 2011 at 7:56am | IP Logged
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St. Ann wrote:
| I wish a could draw a picture here. Living the liturgical year is not a repetitive circle, but more like a spiral. Although when I look back in my life there were some blind years when I did live the Church year more circular through my own fault and through the lack of catechism. But then again, if the Church celebrates the Mass with all Her beauty, then even the uncatechized cannot help but be brought into the mystery. |
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I used that same imagery in some talks I've given. It's not a flat repeating circle like a merry-go-round that you can't get off. For each person it should be an upward spiral.
But it's also not a flat spiral, but with peaks and valleys according to the seasons and feasts. Not all days look the same, but there's a priority and order of precedence.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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JennGM
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| Posted: Jan 11 2011 at 8:05am | IP Logged
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St. Ann wrote:
The subject of "JOY" may seem a bit off topic, but actually abstinence does play an integral role in leading us to this joyfilled experience of living the liturgical year. The contrast of the bare altar and lack of the "Gloria" to the many lit candles, flowers, incense and bells ringing the Gloria at Midnight Mass is a vivid example. I am blessed to live near Parishes that appreciate the riches of the Church liturgy and we have an excellent organist which makes a huge difference on the degree of festiveness(?).
I wasn't really accurate about my statement about fun and it being an american thing.
It is a matter of language, too. At a certain point in my faith journey the question, "Are you having fun?" really started to drive my nuts! The question seemed so foreign to me. Fun was just not a factor at all in the decisions I was making. It was evident though, that FUN was the criteria for many whom I dearly love. And it hurt. |
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I keep seeing the little children in an atrium, sitting quietly, contemplating with joy.
Or the times when the only words I can use to express are "My cup overflows".
Rachel Watkins talk on joy really embraces these ideas.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Family in Feast and Feria
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JennGM
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| Posted: Jan 11 2011 at 5:17pm | IP Logged
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MicheleQ wrote:
Speaking of, did you see what the Holy Father said on Epiphany?
Quote:
| "The liturgical celebration of Christmas, then, is not only a remembrance but is above all a mystery; it is not only a memory but also a presence. To appreciate the meaning of these two indissoluble aspects, one must live intensely the whole Christmas season as the Church presents it. If we consider it in a broad sense, it extends for 40 days, from Dec. 25 to Feb. 2, from the celebration of Christmas Eve to Mary's Maternity, to the Epiphany, to the Baptism of Jesus, to the wedding of Cana, to the Presentation in the Temple, precisely in analogy with Eastertide, which forms a unity of 50 days, until Pentecost. " |
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I had heard people say this before but I always thought it was in connection with the old calendar, and even then I couldn't find anything that ever stated it officially. Not that the pope's comments make it "official" but it really is a beautiful way to look at it!
The full text (he said a lot more!) can be read here in Italian and on Zenit in English.
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I've been mulling over this. The parallel periods (Christmas Period, Easter Period) is something that was highlighted more in the traditional calendar than it is now. I know Pope Benedict is not pushing aside and saying that Easter is not the center of the Liturgical year, so I'm trying to figure out how to have the central and yet the parallel periods.
I've been thinking of it as the beginning of ministry and then the end of His ministry, but I'm sure there are deeper things.
During Advent I was reading a book by Mother Mary Francis. It's only minor, but I was struck how she embraced the moment, the current liturgy and just meditated on what was presented. She didn't have a going back and forth, and "if only this hadn't change" or "the old calendar had this". I think I'm in that mode so often, it was a nice change to not think like that. After all, I'm not a theologian or a Vatican liturgical expert that is going to implement any change. If anything will change, Pope Benedict is our man to do it.
But in the meantime, I felt like I needed to do a little shift of attitude. I can still look at both calendars, take meditations from before and after Vatican II, but I want to be positive. If nothing changes, I need to remember to embrace what we have now, because it is what the Church has given us and is true and good.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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CatholicMommy
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| Posted: Jan 11 2011 at 7:45pm | IP Logged
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I have a thought on the parallel/primacy issue with Christmas/Easter. I'll use a very odd example, so bear with me 
All of our meals are important. But which meal is in prime place when it comes to family time? Supper for most families, right?
But do the other meals not follow a similar parralel pattern?
Better yet - think of a special meal you have once a year, whether it's Thanksgiving or another particular meal. But do other dinners not follow a similar, albeit, not as deep pattern?
Back to the faith specifically - every Sunday is a little Easter - we fast beforehand (Lent), prepare our hearts, receive Jesus, and spend the rest of the day resting in Him (ideally) - we also generally want Sunday meals to be more special because it is the Lord's Day.
But the Easter and Christmas seasons are like extended Sundays (minus the required rest from unnecessary labor). But neither replaces the other.
I'm not sure I'm making my point, and I'm making this worse as I go, so I'm going to click submit and hope I've said something worth thinking on 
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Garden of Francis
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JennGM
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| Posted: Dec 26 2014 at 7:58pm | IP Logged
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Bumping this thread. I'm a little late for today, but as I went back to this thread I found this discuss very edifying.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Family in Feast and Feria
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Abstinence during octave?
