Liturgical Movement…A Gift of Prayer

Often, in time of prayer, we become distracted by our varied busyness in life.  Many people have simply forgotten how to pray.  People confuse “saying” the rosary with “praying” the rosary.  Attending Mass is often done out of obligation instead of looking at it as a blessing or opportunity.  Many of our youth will never “inherit” faith in God, let alone receive the Catholic way.  These realizations have been around for a long time.  In the 70’s, there was a trend to create “exciting” liturgies to keep younger Catholic members from leaving the fold.  In doing so, many elderly Catholics felt they were losing the Church they knew and loved.  In parishes today, every ritual from Baptism to burial has been revised with this one driving concern in mind: that we all actively take part in what God is doing here.

In effort to bring the church forward without losing its traditions, the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy was rewritten several times.  One issue that remains today is the “Liturgical Movement” or “Gestured Prayer” that is often seen at special celebration ceremonies and Liturgies such as World Youth Day and Jubilee 2000.  Liturgical Movement is now largely recognized as a spirit-filled prayer form.  Prior to participating in a liturgy, the minister of liturgical movement uses the song as a mantra many times, and the movement should be looked upon as a “whole body” prayer (much like holding hands during the “Our Father”.)  A person who prays like this often finds that outside distractions are few and far between.  Therefore, they become “full, conscious, and active participants” (as encouraged by the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy) in the liturgy.  A liturgical movement should never be looked at as a performance.  I encourage those seeing liturgical movement to attempt to understand why a specific gesture is made.  Some, but not all gestures are derived from American Sign Language.  Of course, when a gesture is put into liturgical movement, it often becomes changed (much like speaking is different than singing.)  Listen to the words, feel what is in your heart, and move (for God’s sake.)

One individual told me that her reason for becoming Catholic was because the Pentecost procession touched her deeply.  Another said she felt it was a delay of the liturgy (which was her purpose for coming.)  St. Mark’s is a large parish and our hope is that everyone will find blessings and grace within the Liturgy.  Knowing we will not be able to please everybody all of the time, Liturgical Movement will not be an every Sunday prayer style, but will be reserved for special liturgies.  Please be patient with the things you feel are unimportant.  Somebody is being fed.

Liturgical Movement is a ministry at St. Mark’s.  All are welcome.  If interested, please call the parish office at 375-6651.