Actuosa Participatio

Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Second Vatican Council’s great Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, famously calls for “fully conscious and active participation” in the Liturgy (SC 14). In this, the Council Fathers echoed the words of Saint Pope Pius X in his Motu Proprio Tra le sollecitudini of 1903.

But what does that mean?

Fifty and more years on, it’s become quite obvious that what it does not mean is “give everybody a job in the sanctuary” or “get everybody to sing the latest pop songs”.

Recently, Rev. Dwight Longnecker had a great blog article exploring the topic. It’s well worth a read.

Maybe what the faithful actually want is not syrupy, sentimental hymns and breath taking music. Maybe what they want is a quiet, dignified Mass with a simple, skilled choir or schola. Maybe what they want–even if they don’t know it–is a Mass where they simply watch and pray and listen and wonder at the mystery of what is going on at the altar.

Maybe they are ‘fully participating’ in this way and who am I to judge? So I am moving increasingly to the position that I will let the people do what they want at Mass. I will encourage them and direct them, but I will not dictate my views or my tastes and impose them. I will simply say the black and do the red and preach the gospel and try to be a priest not an entertainer.

…

If I am right, then suddenly I understand “full participation at Mass” I am there fully and completely and attentively in body, mind and Spirit. I am caught up with the action of the Mass and the transaction between earth and heaven. My whole being is participating in what is going on and as I receive my Lord–Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity–I am fully participating in that sublime and contemplative action of Grace.

“Full participation” does not mean everybody has to do something. It means each person participates fully–worshipping with their whole body, mind, soul and spirit. It means each individual joins in the liturgy with their whole mind and heart.

Read the rest here.