The Holy Eucharist: Signs of Our Time
By Father Matthew A.B. Cole, SMA
If you ever traveled to other countries, especially where a different language is spoken from your own, you certainly appreciate the importance of universal signs. Traffic signs and public signs are universal symbols that need no translator and are crucial in pointing us in the right direction.
In the Catholic liturgy, not everyone understands the signs and “body language” of the priest during the celebration of the liturgy. For example, what is the meaning of the rubrics, gestures (when to stand and sit), the colors of the vestments, why some people receive Communion on the tongue, or under both Eucharistic species, etcetera?
Some parishioners want to have a better understanding of the Holy Eucharist, for the growth of their spiritual and liturgical life. The Pastoral Council decided to take advantage of this opportunity to have a “Teaching / Learning Moment” at the parish.
I volunteered to have talks, Q & A, and presentations, based on my missionary experience as a Catholic priest of 27 years; having celebrated the Holy Eucharist in other Catholic (languages/cultures) countries, and churches both here and abroad. It is my hope that by sharing, people will understand how Inculturation, Acculturation, and other factors have influenced some of the historical developments and parts of the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.
Over the past five years with this parish, I observed that people from other Catholic traditions or rites visited us or even joined us. We are becoming more ‘catholic’ or universal due to this “cultural mixing”. We sometimes see more complex or strange signs in the way people worship among us that differs from the way we do.
In order to minimize the risk of misunderstanding what they are doing or where they are coming from, we must understand at the Last Supper, Jesus Himself gave us The Jewish Pasch (the Passover Meal and tradition of His people, a very powerful sign from His Jewish background) which culminated in the institution of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
Like any signs in a relationship, the signs of the Mass can be misunderstood, or taken for granted because we become familiar with them. “Familiarity breeds contempt”, means if you know someone or something very well, you can easily become bored and stop respecting them, or it. Perhaps, for lack of understanding of the true nature of the Sacred Signs of the Catholic Mass, some Catholics turned away from Church.
Therefore, this is an opportunity to learn, to be open and attentive at each Mass, and to see more deeply into the meaning of the external and the central signs of the Eucharist: Jesus Christ. We must grow these signs into our faith if we want to see the miracle of Christ present, both in the Bread and Wine and in each person of culture, present at the Eucharistic celebration.