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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.
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