When the Holy Mass is
properly celebrated there are moments in which the voices of the clergy and
faithful become silent. Father continues
to officiate, Deacon continues to model the postures and gestures proper to the
liturgy, and the congregation follows in watchful, prayerful
participation. What do these periods of
quiet signify? What does stillness
really imply?
Stillness implies above
all that we stop talking and let silence be allowed to prevail. That no other sounds – sounds of movement, of
turning pages, of coughing and throat-clearing be audible. We are living beings and we move. But stillness is still, and it is a choice
that we make. Stillness is more than the
absence of noise and movement, it is the conscious decision to be present to
the Holy Spirit.
People often say, “But I
can’t help coughing” or “I can’t kneel quietly”; but when we’re stirred by a
concert or engrossed in a movie we forget all about coughing and
fidgeting. A congregation must truly
desire stillness for it to know what it is.
But once true stillness is encountered many begin to wonder how they
ever lived without it.
Sadly, we live in noisy
times. It is hard to find a place that
the distractions of the world don’t surround us. Most people become uncomfortable within a few
brief seconds when things are still; and when they become uncomfortable many
feel the need to whisper to their neighbor or clear their throat just to fill
the void.
Stillness is the outward
sign of a tranquil inner life. It is us,
collected, present, receptive, alert, and ready to be in the presence of
God. Without stillness our prayer and
worship remains an unfulfilled task.
The teachings of the
Church tell us that when the presider says, “Let us pray,” he and the community
are still for a moment. During this time
of stillness we all reflect upon our own needs, our hopes, and our prayers, and
present them to the Lord. The presider
then collects our prayers and offers them as a gift to God.
As we’re told in Psalm
40, “Be still,” says the Lord, “and know that I am God.”
No comments:
Post a Comment