Advent 2011

We again enter the holy season of preparation for the Nativity of Jesus. This season is called Advent, or “coming,” and “appearing.” It was not always celebrated in the Christian community, and is today only called Advent in the western churches. But it is a tradition we should not neglect, for it is rich in symbolism and spiritual depth.

I am especially mindful of St. Bernard of Clairvaux’s sermon excerpted in the Office of Readings from the Roman Liturgy of the Hours during Advent that speaks of two, and one intermediate coming of Christ. The first in history as the Incarnate Word, the Second Coming at the end of the age, and one intermediate coming through the Spirit as found in the Church, Scriptures, and Sacraments. What a rich tradition indeed, and one that is most complete for our Advent meditations!

This year we continue to face the ongoing recession, political polarization, and church scandals. In Itinerant Ministry we are preaching the wealth of Jesus that does not rise and fall with the economy, the Water of the Spirit instead of Coffee or Tea, and focusing on Jesus instead of good or bad clerical or lay leaders in the church. When we focus on Christ He will help us meet any challenge in the Church or the world. We are renewing the Church one parish at a time, and the People of God one heart at a time. We are bringing hope to the discouraged and are being met with greater spiritual success than ever before in my ministry!

We also fully implement the 3rd Edition of the New Roman Missal at Advent in Roman Catholic churches of the Latin Rite in America this year. So far it is being met with more or less acceptance by the Catholic faithful. Any student of Liturgy knows that it, like the church, has undergone a marvelous development and diversity of expression that gives witness to the dynamic work of the Spirit in our midst. Today’s changes are just one more such development.

Some criticisms have been heard. Some say we are going backwards, or that the “liturgy Nazis,” or “boys in lace” have won the liturgical battle for this period of time. I must admit that there is some truth to such criticisms. But it does not tell the whole story, not by a long shot!

I prefer to see the newest changes in a positive light. The changes are more theologically precise, have deeper linguistic and mystical significance, and are a more literal English translation of the Latin version of the Latin Rite of the last 400 years, and even since Vatican II. Some of the language seems archaic to modern ears. But even this reminds us that modern English does not exist in a vacuum, but is part of an arching continuum of development that is rich and wonderful. Indeed, many religious and secular linguists have bemoaned the impoverishment of the English language in recent decades. The English translation of the Latin addresses, albeit imperfectly, these points.

As a worship leader my main concern is that we continue to simply recite or sing the words externally without really entering more deeply into prayer. That is the real point of any good liturgy! Liturgy is just a road map to help us on our journey to Christ. Many get obsessed with reading the map, and miss the beauty of the journey, and so arrive at the divine destination unprepared and agitated.

Some make liturgy a god, instead of seeing it as a gift of God to lead us back to God! Far too often we get stuck in the gifts and miss the Giver. We miss God by making a god the gifts of God, and so commit idolatry with the very things God has given us for true worship. This is always most tragic.

I must admit that in many parishes I enter the quality of the liturgy is not good. The singing, preaching, and prayer of the people and presiders are bearable, but not optimal. The documents on liturgy teach us that “good liturgy builds faith, and bad liturgy destroys faith.” Far too many have had their faith weakened or destroyed simply because the vibrancy of worship in the parishes is barely discernable by the average person. We mumble and stumble through our liturgies just waiting to “get” Jesus in the Eucharist so we can get home as quickly as possible without getting stuck in the parking lot! This is not what Liturgy was instituted for, and it is what the 3rd Edition is trying to address.

Will it be successful? That is really up to us. There will be an initial time of clumsiness with the new language. That is to be expected. But as we grow accustomed to the words we will lay aside the cards with the new edition, and commit them to memory. It is then that we will either start praying the 3rd Edition deeply, or simply resort to mumbling the words as we recite or sing, and shuffling through the various gestures and such. If we settle for that conclusion, then the whole thing will have been an exercise in futility. It will still be vain, or “fruitless”, religion.

So this Advent let’s really watch for the full Coming of Christ in our personal lives, and in our Church. Let’s be a people of hope in the midst of a discouraged Church and world. Let’s implement the 3rd Edition of the New Roman Missal with great optimism and deeper prayer than ever before. Then we will not get stuck in the roadmap, but will really enjoy the journey and reach the destination spiritually prepared. Then we will be ready for the Nativity of Jesus in our life, the Church, and the world this year!

Have a Blessed Advent!

In Jesus,
John Michael Talbot
Founder and General Minister
Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion Hermitage