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The Mass needs to afford people opportunities to reflect on what is happening during the liturgy and to incorporate that into their lives... At the recent presbyterate continuing education days, Bishop Rhoades spoke strongly of the need for these times of silence during Mass.
The first moment for quiet reflection is at the Penitential Rite when we have an extended moment to reflect on our sinfulness and God’s mercy before we pray the Confiteor and/or the Lord, Have Mercy. The next moment is before the opening prayer. When the priest says, “Let us pray,” it is an invitation to take a moment for our personal quiet prayer, which is then “gathered together” in the Collect, or opening prayer. An extended time of quiet reflection after the homily is an important opportunity for us to reflect on the readings proclaimed to us in light of the homily. Another moment of extended prayer comes after communion. While we actively participate in the communion rite by singing the communion hymn, we then have the opportunity after the hymn for an extended time of personal prayer. For this reason, there is no piano or organ instrumental music “filling in” the silence… I pray that the Eucharist, as the source and summit of our lives as Christians, will continue to form us into a community of prayer and discipleship.
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