LITURGICAL PRAYER: THE SANCTIFICATION OF TIME Sacraments and Prayer Fr. Llane Briese
Feb 23, 2016
LITURGICAL PRAYER:
THE SANCTIFICATION OF
TIMESacraments and Prayer
Fr. Llane Briese
THE LITURGICAL DAY
Section One
THE CHALLENGE “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) But how? Is that possible???
Amidst daily life, making time for God in prayer can be quite difficult.
Personal prayer is essential, but the Church does have a formal liturgical means of fulfilling this command.
Our quest in living a Christian daily life is to sanctify the day. (This is one of the reasons why we stop for prayer so frequently here at OLM.)
2 Goals in Liturgical Prayer: Anamnesis: Remembering God’s Love in the Past Epiclesis: Requesting God’s Love in the
Present/Future
SANCTIFYING THE DAY The Liturgy of the Hours is also known as
the Divine Office. It is contained in a book called the Breviary. It is the Church’s official daily prayer.
Brief History: Jewish tradition of praying the PsalmsChristian MonasticismReform at Vatican II
While clergy and religious are required to pray the Office, it is the prayer of the entire Church, and laity are encouraged to participate.
THE “HOURS” The individual installments of prayer are
called “hours” (but, no, they do not last 60 minutes each!)
In the modern Office, there are 7 of them daily (school-day times approximate for Fr. Briese): Office of Readings (Matins) 5:45 a.m. Morning Prayer (Lauds) 6:45 a.m. Midmorning Prayer (Terce) 9:00 a.m. Midday Prayer (Sext) 12:00 noon Midafternoon Prayer (None) 2:30 p.m. Evening Prayer (Vespers) 6:00 p.m. Night Prayer (Compline) 9:00 p.m.
THE ELEMENTS OF THE “HOURS”
Invitation to Prayer First Hour of the day: Lord, open my lips. All other Hours: God, come to my assistance.
Hymn Chanting the Psalms (and Canticles) Readings from Scripture and Other Sources Gospel Canticles:
At Lauds: Benedictus (“Blessed be the Lord…”) At Vespers: Magnificat (“My soul proclaims…”) At Compline: Nunc dimittis (“Now, you let…”)
Intercessions Concluding Prayer (often the Collect of Mass)
THE LITURGICAL DAY Fun fact: Dies vs. Feria in Latin For Christians, everyday is a celebration
because God’s love permeates life. Ranks of liturgical days:
Sundays: Dominica — the Lord’s Day; begin the night before with First Vespers.
Solemnities: The biggest celebrations; begin the night before with First Vespers.
Feasts: Important days, but contained within 24 hours.
Memorials: Less important celebrations.Ferial Days: Regular weekdays.
TABLE OF LITURGICAL DAYS 1. The Paschal Triduum (Evening of Holy
Thursday through Vespers of Easter Sunday):The Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Holy Thursday eveningThe Celebration of the Passion of the Lord
Good Friday afternoon or eveningThe Paschal Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter
After dark on the night before EasterAlso, a number of traditional practices:
Prayer before the Eucharist (Holy Thursday Night) Tre Ore (Three Hours) / Seven Last Words (Good Friday) Stations of the Cross (Good Friday) Holy Saturday Devotions Easter Sunday Traditions
TABLE OF LITURGICAL DAYS 2a. Four Major Solemnities:
Christmas (December 25—Holy Day Oblig.)Epiphany (In USA, Sunday between Jan. 2-8)Ascension (In most of USA, 6 Sundays after
Easter)Pentecost (7 Sundays after Easter = 50th Day)
2b. Other Major Days (although not all are festive):Sundays of Advent, Lent, and EasterAsh Wednesday (6 ½ weeks before Easter)Weekdays of Holy Week before the TriduumThe Octave of Easter (8 Days beginning on Easter
Sunday)
TABLE OF LITURGICAL DAYS 3a. Other Solemnities Celebrated Everywhere:
Focusing on Particular Mysteries of the Lord Jesus: Annunciation of the Lord (March 25; moved sometimes) Most Holy Trinity (Sunday after Pentecost) Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (USA: 2nd Sun. after
Pentecost) Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: (10th Friday after Good Friday) Christ the King (Last Sunday of Liturgical Year; Nov. 20-26)
Focusing on Mary’s Role in Salvation History: Immaculate Conception (December 8—Holy Day Oblig.) Mary, Mother of God (January 1—Holy Day Oblig.) Assumption of Mary (August 15—Holy Day Oblig.)
Focus on Other Very Important Saints: St. Joseph (March 19; moved sometimes) Nativity of St. John the Baptist (June 24) SS. Peter and Paul (June 29) All Saints (November 1)
TABLE OF LITURGICAL DAYS 3b. All Souls’ Day (November 2) 4. Proper Solemnities (Celebrated Only in Certain
Places) 5. Feasts of the Lord (Celebrated Everywhere)
The Holy Family (Sunday after Christmas or Dec. 30) The Baptism of the Lord (usually Sunday after Jan.
6) The Presentation of the Lord (February 2) The Transfiguration of the Lord (August 6) The Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14) The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica (November 9)
6. Sundays of Christmas Season and Ordinary Time 7. Other Feasts Celebrated Everywhere 8. Proper Feasts (Celebrated in Certain Places)
TABLE OF LITURGICAL DAYS 9. Special Ferial Days:
Late Advent: December 17-24Octave of Christmas (December 26-January
1)All Ferial Days of Lent
10-11. Obligatory Memorials: Usually celebrate the better known saints.
12. Optional Memorials 13. Other Ferial Days
THE LITURGICAL YEAR
Section Two
THE LITURGICAL YEAR The Church relives and remembers
(anamnesis) the various events of Christ’s life throughout the year. She also asks for God’s grace in particular ways (epiclesis) during these different times and season.
The Major Liturgical Seasons:AdventChristmasLentThe Sacred TriduumEasterThe Time throughout the Year (Ordinary
Time)
ANAMNESIS AND EPICLESIS The seasons of Advent and Christmas
make up the Christmas cycle during which “we pray that we may be inwardly transformed through him whom we recognize outwardly like ourselves.” (Paul VI, M.P. Mysterii paschalis)
For Lent and Easter, “while we celebrate Christ’s Pasch, we ask almighty God that those who have been reborn with Christ may hold fast in their lives to the Sacrament they have received in faith.” (Ibidem)
ADVENT Begins four Sundays before Christmas
(between Nov. 27 and Dec. 3) “A period of devout and expectant
delight.” (UNLY 39) Focuses on preparation for Christmas (and
remembering his First Coming) and looks forward to his Second Coming in glory.
December 17-24: Late Advent Days (“O” Antiphons at Vespers)
Traditional Practices:The Advent WreathCelebrations of the Sacrament of Reconciliation
CHRISTMAS SEASON Begins with First Vespers on December 24 and
continues until the Sunday after January 6. “After the annual celebration of the Paschal
Mystery, the Church has no more ancient custom than celebrating the memorial of the Nativity of the Lord and of his first manifestations, and this takes place in Christmas Time.” (UNLY 32)
Christmas Day: December 25 Octave of Christmas: December 26-January 1 Epiphany: In USA, Sunday between Jan. 2-8 Baptism of the Lord: In USA, Sunday after
Epiphany unless it falls on Jan. 7 or 8, in which case it occurs on the Monday after Epiphany.
Traditional Devotions: Gifts and the Nativity Scene
LENT Ash Wednesday through Holy Thursday Historical Origins: Catechumens preparing
for Baptism and Penitents preparing for absolution.
Twofold Focus: Recall Baptism and Do Penance
Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving Ash Wednesday Holy Week Traditional Devotions:
“Giving Something Up for Lent” Stations of the Cross Friday Abstinence and Church Gatherings
HOLY WEEK Begins on the Sunday before Easter and
is the week in which the Church remembers the saving events of Christ’s life (anamnesis) and begs that they may bear fruit in our lives (epiclesis).
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion: Recalls the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and also recalls his Passion (in Mt, Mk, or Lk).
Chrism Mass: Priests renew promises; holy oils blessed/consecrated.
Three Main Triduum Liturgies
HOLY THURSDAY:MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
Anamnesis of: The Institution of the Eucharist The Institution of the Priesthood The Commandment: “Love One Another” (Jn 13:34)
Epiclesis: “that we may draw from so great a mystery, the fullness of charity and of life.” (Roman Missal, HT, no. 8)
Notable Elements: Readings:
Exodus 13: The Institution of the Passover 1 Corinthians 11: The Institution of the Eucharist John 13: The Washing of Feet
The Washing of Feet The Transfer of the Eucharist
GOOD FRIDAY:THE PASSION OF THE LORD Anamnesis: The Death of the Lord Jesus Epiclesis: That his death may take effect
in the world. Notable Elements:
A Meditative Silence Readings:
Isaiah 52-53: “My servant shall justify many.” Hebrews 4-5: Christ, Priest and Victim John 18-19: The Passion and Death of the Lord
The Solemn Intercessions Adoration of the Holy Cross Holy Communion (but NOT a Mass)
THE EASTER VIGIL Anamnesis: The Lord’s Resurrection Epiclesis: That those for whom Christ died and rose
may be born again to new life through Baptism, become sealed in his Spirit through Confirmation, and may be nourished by him in the Eucharist.
The mother of all liturgies, “in which the Church, keeping watch, awaits the Resurrection of Christ and celebrates it in the Sacraments”. (Paul VI, Mysterii Paschalis)
Occurs after dark on Holy Saturday evening. Four Parts:
Lucernarium Liturgy of the Word (7 OT Readings; Romans 6;
Resurrection Narrative) Baptismal Liturgy (Celebration of Baptism and
Confirmation; Renewal of Baptismal Promises) Liturgy of the Eucharist
EASTER SEASON Begins at the Easter Vigil (during the Triduum)
and continues through Pentecost. Easter Octave: 8 Days from Easter through
following Sunday (2nd Sunday of Easter = Divine Mercy Sunday)
Ascension of the Lord: Traditionally celebrated on a Thursday 40 days after Easter; in our area, moved to next Sunday.
Pentecost Sunday: 50th Day of Easter = 7 Sundays after Easter.
Traditional Practices: First Communions Focus on Living Graces Received in the Sacraments
of Initiation
ORDINARY TIME(TEMPUS PER ANNUM) Celebrates the mystery of Christ in its
entirety, rather than focusing on one specific aspect.
The green vesture is symbolic of life; we are seeking to grow in holiness.
Has 2 parts:Shorter part between the end of the Christmas
Season and Ash Wednesday (beginning of Lent): a few weeks in mid/late winter.
Longer part between the Monday after Pentecost and the Saturday before the First Sunday of Advent: most of summer and fall.
LITURGICAL YEAR 2013-2014
First Sunday of Advent: December 1 Christmas Day: December 25 (Wed.) Epiphany (in USA): January 5 (Sun.) Baptism of the Lord: January 12 (Sun.) Ash Wednesday:March 5 Palm Sunday: April 13 Easter Triduum: April 17-20 (TH-SU) Ascension (in our area): June 1 (Sun.) Pentecost: June 8 (Sun.) Sacred Heart: June 27 (Fri.) Christ the King: November 23 (Sun.) First Sunday of Advent: November 30