UNDERSTANDING THE LITURGY by John J. O'Brien, C.P.

SINGING A NEW SONG UNTO THE LORD: the meaning of the words sacrament and liturgy

Because the Sunday Eucharist is the source, the foundation and the summit, the high point of Christian life, every participant will want to deepen her or his appreciation of our public prayer. Each week St. Malachy's parish bulletin will contain a column that will inform and inspire us to sing a new song unto the Lord.

The first three columns will explain some important words: sacrament and liturgy, the domestic church, and the assembly. Today we shall look at the words, sacrament and liturgy.

Our Church has always searched the Bible or the culture for the right word to describe our identity and our actions. For example, the liturgy of the Roman church was originally in Greek. When it went into Latin, the language of the people, church thinkers sought to translate the Greek word, mysterion/mystery. Tertullian, an early North African writer, borrowed a Latin word sacramentum, to translate mystery. This word, sacrament, referred to the oath that a soldier in the Roman military took to demonstrate his loyalty to the emperor and the Roman gods.. The Church took the word and applied it to baptism. Every sacramental experience was intended to demonstrate where the Christian community placed its allegiance, i.e., with Christ.

The word liturgy originally came from the secular culture. It referred to the public work done by the people. For example, the public work could be building a road or deciding on a public matter. On the bottom line, the word meant doing something that was public and that was significant or hard work. The Church took the word to name our worship. Liturgy is worship. Liturgy is the public work of the people, the entire community. We, a local church, do the strenuous work of public praise and thanksgiving which we call Eucharistic liturgy. We do the public work of baptizing new members and immersing them in our Christian life. We do the public work of anointing our frail and sick members. We do the public work of announcing the good news of the Bible and of sharing that word with our catechumens, our children, and our adults.

All our liturgies, i.e., Eucharist, baptism, anointing the sick, proclaiming the Word of God, are public and hard work. No one should come and expect a passive, free ride. To do liturgy well requires that all of us prepare by personal prayer and Scripture reading. To do liturgy well means that all of us have to show up earlier than we do. It takes a few minutes preparation to engage in the strenuous, yet joyful work of public praise and thanksgiving. Full and active participation demands energy output. To move one's body, to sing with gusto, to listen attentively, to stand reverently, to walk beautifully in processions, to greet each other with the holy kiss requires that we energize each other and work well together as God's people. Liturgy is our public work. As our bishops said: "Good celebrations foster and nourish faith. Poor celebrations hinder and destroy faith." Keep up the good work week by week, brothers and sisters!