The Silence
In
contrast to the acclamation of the congregation, there is
silence. Of course, silence does not creat a celebration,
Christians do not come together to enjoy a community silence
any more than they come together to acclaim. They came to
Mass first of all to celebrate together the resurrected
Christ. However, in this celebration, silence is an element
of foremost importance.
There
are two types of silence
Dead
silence where nothing is going on, where everyone waits
for something to happen. One asks the questions: Has the
priest forgotten his glasses? will he find them? Has the
cantor lost his page? Will he catch his note? Has the organist
mislaid his music? Will he know what he has to play>?
Or more simply: What's next? Thes dead silences kill the
rhythm of the celebration.
Living
silence which is heavily populated by the presence of God.
These silences are harbors of peace, fountains of prayers.
In the deserted plains of the heart, they trace the way
toward God. The maintain the rhythm of the celebration.
All
Human life needs, from time to time, silence. It needs --
let's not be too demanding -- five or ten seconds of lucidity
when each one of the fithful presents himself before God
not as he seems in the eyes of others but as he is in the
nudity of his heart ... five or ten seconds of lucidity
during which, as the prophet says, one regards God "eye
to eye" (Isa. 52:8) ... five or ten seconds which can
change a whole life, transfigure a journey capture in mediocrity
into an immense song of joy.
Now
the Sunday Mass each week funishes the ideal opportunity
for these vivifying silences:
- A
few seconds of silence during the Penitential Rite
when the songs wears itself out, and when we beseech
with the publican of the Gospel: "O Lord, have
mercy on me, a sinner!" (Luke 18:13).
- A
few seconds of silence before the Opening Prayer
when we implore: "Help me, Lord, my god! Save me
because of your love!" (Ps,109:26)
- A
few seconds of silence after the Homily when
we make in the silece of our hearts that homily which
no priest can make for us: "Speak, Lord, your servant
is listening!" (cf.ISam.3:10).
- A
few seconds of silence at the end of the General
Intercessions during which, as did King Ezechias,
we unfold in front of the Lord the letter that we have
just received saying: "Lord, look!" (IIKings
19:14-16). Or agin with Martha and Mary we repeat: "Lord,
the one whom you love is ill!" (John 11:3). Or
again very simply we implore: "I am in pain; Lord,
see the wound."
- A
few seconds of silence after Communion during
which we repeat with the prophet Jeremiah: "It
is good for me, Lord, to await in silence your salvation"
(cf. Lam.3:26).
The
new Order of Mass has forecast these shores of silence.
It would be criminal to pollute them by babblings at the
mike.
